02.08. THE HOLY SPIRIT - 02 - Spiritual Gifts

THE HOLY SPIRIT – 02 – Spiritual Gifts

We read in the New Testament of a large number of special gifts being bestowed upon different Christians. These endowments are called by Paul "spiritual gifts" (1 Corinthians 12:1). A reading of Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; 1 Corinthians 12:28-30; 1 Corinthians 14:1-18, is recommended. Many non-miraculous endowments which we possess--traits of character, mental and spiritual qualities--may fittingly be called gifts of God and of His Spirit. But it is evident from the above passages that certain miraculous gifts were bestowed in the early church on other than apostles. We have the gift of speaking with tongues, the gift of interpreting these tongues (by another than the one speaking with the tongue), gifts of healing, gifts of prophecy, working of miracles, or "powers," as exorcism (Acts 16:18; Acts 19:11-12). We have the intimation that such gifts were transmitted on the laying on of apostolic hands (2 Timothy 1:6). Acts 8:14-19 bears this out. It seems that Philip, not an apostle, had no power to pass on the gifts, hence Peter and John laid hands on the Samaritans. Simon Magus prayed, not for the gifts, but that the apostles would grant to him their power of transmitting the gifts (Acts 8:19). Such gifts must he distinguished from "the gift of the Holy Spirit" promised to the obedient believer (Acts 2:38). This we shall deal with in next lesson. The Samaritans in Acts 8:1-40 had already complied with the conditions of receiving the Holy Spirit, and the Corinthians had the Spirit dwelling in them (1 Corinthians 3:16). But both Samaritans and Corinthians received in addition special manifestations of the Spirit. These miraculous powers were peculiarly fitted to corroborate the message of the gospel in its first great conflict with the hosts of evil. Evidence is [asking that such gifts are at our disposal to-day.