What are the gifts that God gives? Were they only for the Apostles? Are they for this present time?


There are a few key passages to determine these questions:

 

 

The Spiritual Gifts/Manifestations/Ministries                                                                


The Seven Gifts*

Romans  12:6-8

 


Manifestations (Gifts - I Cor 12:31)

I Cor 12:7

 

 

Prophecy 

Service (Ministry - Diakonia+)

Teaching

Exhorting

Giving

Leading (Pastor?)

Shower of Mercy

-- According to Grace Given

-- One Body Different Functions

 

 

 

Word of Wisdom

Word of Knowledge

Faith

Gifts of Healing------------------5

Miracles-----------------------------4

Distinguishing of Spirits

Kinds of Tongues---------------8

Interpretation of Tongues

-- As the Spirit Wills

-- In Each One

  


Ministries (Diakonias)

Eph 4:11

 


The Eight (Nine?) Gifts

I Cor 12:27-31

   

Apostles-----------------------------1

Prophets----------------------------2

Evangelists

Pastors (Leader?)

Teachers----------------------------3

 

-- Eph 4:7 Gifts**

-- From Christ Ascended

 

 

 

 

Apostles-----------------------------1

Prophets----------------------------2

Teachers----------------------------3

Miracles-----------------------------4

Gifts of Healing------------------5

(Helps)-------------------------------6

(Administrations)---------------7

Kinds of Tongues---------------8

Interpretation of Tongues--9

-- Gifts - I Cor 12:31

-- Appointed*** - I Cor 12:28

 

*Xarisma - Spiritual Gift  

**Dohrea' - A Gratuity  

***Tithehmi (or short form Theoh) - To Place, To Appoint

 

I Peter 4:10 As each one has received a gift* employ it in serving one another as good stewards of God's manifold grace.

II Timothy 1:11 For as I was appointed*** a preacher and an apostle and a teacher (Paul)

What determines our maturity?

 

The Spiritual Gifts/Manifestations/Ministries                                                                

So there are 20 (or more) gifts of the Spirit!

Apostles-----------------------------1

Prophets----------------------------2

Teachers----------------------------3

Miracles-----------------------------4

Gifts of Healing------------------5

(Helps)-------------------------------6       Service

(Administrations)---------------7

Kinds of Tongues---------------8

Interpretation of Tongues--9

Exhorting

Giving                                        to Give, to Share

Leading                                     Pastors

One who shows Mercy

Evangelist

Word of Wisdom

Faith

Distinguishing of Spirits

 

The first nine are in order in relation to each other. The relation of the others as for which are more important than any others in the full list is to be determined by you.

 

As for the question of if the gifts are still for this day, for one check out and read between the lines of I Cor 13. Also, even though Steven was not an apostle, he still had the gifts. This shows that the gifts did not die out with the apostles.

 

I would refer you to one page of Pastor Jim Feeney, PhD - The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are for Today! 

However, I would agree with the stance that speaking in tongues is not necessarily the first sign of being baptized in the Holy Spirit. A series of events in the Bible should not be our basis for theology statements without some theology statement from the Bible.

 

And going further, I am in agreement with Dr. Charles Stanley, that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs when you are saved.

Now whether you continue on to be filled with the Holy Spirit and stay filled with the Holy Spirit is entirely up to you. And definitely speaking in tongues is not a requirement for salvation! That would be a heretical interpretation of some out-of-context verses!

 

So what is important if you are saved is to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Be not drunk with wine, but be filled with the Holy Spirit.) So what is stopping you from praying to be filled with the Holy Spirit right now? Abide in the Vine, Dwell in the Spirit, Rest in Him, and be filled with the Holy Spirit could all be different ways to say the same thing.

 

Would I shun someone who believes differently? No. Would I shy away from telling them how I believe? Not that either. We all have experienced the Holy Spirit in different ways for the most part. To judge someone else's experience based on my experience would get me into a bad practice. Again, seek for you yourself to be filled with the Holy Spirit!

 

 

Related is Are Tongues a Gift for Today? But don't miss Secret Church 5: Exploring the Holy Spirit