Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb20020106.htm

SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY (ORGANIZED BIBLE KNOWLEDGE)
Part XI: Pneumatology (Doctrine Of The Holy Spirit)
D. The Gifts Of The Holy Spirit
2. The Permanent Spiritual Gifts
  1. Introduction
    1. As we learned some spiritual gifts were temporary, other spiritual gifts are permanent for the church.
    2. If this is so, the believer may not know the identity of his own gift, and may then wonder what he should be doing to serve Christ effectively.
    3. A study in the permanent spiritual gifts provides answers to these concerns (as follows):
  2. The Permanent Spiritual Gifts (I am indebted to Ryrie's, The Holy Spirit among other works)
    1. Every believer has at least one supernatural gift from God, 1 Peter 4:10.
    2. These gifts are enablings for supernatural spiritual service which exist in two major classifications:
      1. One may have a "starter" gift enabling others to mature for effective service, Eph. 4:11-16.
      2. One may have a "sustainment" gift that responds to the starter gifts to edify others, Eph. 4:13-16.
    3. These gifts are to be developed by the believers who possess them, 2 Timothy 1:6-7.
    4. We can list the "starter" gifts from Scripture as follows:
      1. [Apostle (Eph. 4:11) - though the office of apostleship is long since passed off the historical scene, some believe the gift of being able to plant missions, churches, etc. is an apostle ("sent one") gift for today, cf. Bible Knowledge Commentary, N. T., p. 634-635.]
      2. Evangelist (Eph. 4:11) - This gift equips one to witness very effectively to the unsaved.
      3. Pastor-teacher (Eph. 4:11) - A pastor-teacher (one article for both nouns in Eph. 4:11) is able both to shepherd others (guide, protect, provide) as well as to teach them God's Word.
      4. Pastor (Acts 20:17, 28; 1 Peter 5:1-4) - Usually applied to the role of elder, one thus gifted tends to guide, counsel and protect others whom he oversees in a very practical way.
      5. Teacher (Romans 12:7) - A spiritually gifted teacher can explain the harmony and detail of God's revelation to other believers.
    5. We can list the "sustainment" gifts existing today as follows:
      1. Ministering (Rom. 12:7; 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:12) - This gift is the ability to serve the needs of other believers and equip them to be more efficient in their own service for God.
      2. Exhortation (Rom. 12:8) - This gift is used to motivate others to apply God's truth to action!
      3. Discerning Spirits (1 Cor. 12:10) - This gift is the unusual ability to tell if one is speaking by the Holy Spirit's leading or by an evil demonic enabling.
      4. Showing Mercy (Romans 12:8) - This gift focuses on helping those who struggle with spiritual defeat.
      5. Giving (Romans 12:8) - Though all believers are told to give to the Lord's work (1 Cor. 16:1-2), some are given unusual desires and capacities to give relatively greater amounts on a more consistent basis.
      6. Administration (Romans 12:8 "ruleth" KJV; 1 Cor. 12:28 NIV) - This is the gift to rule others and have others willing to follow such oversight in an organizational setting.
    6. The believer can discover an area of expertise God has for him in USING his gift (as follows):
      1. The expertise of faith (1 Cor. 12:4-6; 12:9a) - The believer with this expertise excels in trusting God for unusually challenging achievement regarding his particular gift, whatever that gift may be.
      2. The expertise of knowledge (1 Cor. 12:4-6; 12:9a) - The believer is given an unusual ability to glean deep facts from Scripture in his teaching, preaching, guiding, etc. type of ministry of the Word.
      3. The expertise of wisdom (1 Cor. 12:4-6; 12:9a) - The believer may have an unusual capacity to apply Scripture to life's circumstances, something of great value in using his unique gift of Christian service.
    7. To discern one's particular gift and area of expertise in using that gift, here is Biblical guidance:
      1. As God nowhere commands one know his gift, but suggests the gifts are already recognized (cf. 1 Cor. 12:29-30 with rhetorical questions expecting a negative answer), a believer can gain feedback from godly fellow believers in discerning his spiritual gift, cf. also 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6.
      2. One's own evaluation as to how God has led him to date in his life and service, and how God has used him to bless others provides such a spiritual gift identification, cf. Romans 15:17-19; 1 Cor. 9:1-2.
      3. Finally, even if a believer is not sure about the specifics of his gift, if he follows God's leading in his life, God will cause him to use his gift the way he should! (Mk. 1:17; Gal. 2:1-2, 9; Phil. 2:12-13)