WORDS USED RELATING TO ‘GIFTS’

In the OT about 9 different words are used but mainly from one or two root ideas. In the NT about 8 different words, again mainly tied to one or two general meanings.

DIDOMI  X 416 TIMES IN THE NT

DORON – ‘GIFT FROM THE GODS’ (Used by Homer in the Iliad)

CHARISMA – Mainly in Paul’s writings.

The Greek root word ‘char’  means thins which produce wellbeing. It is probably where the word ‘charm’ is derived from, hence the wearing of charms to ward off evil or so called ‘good luck’ charms.

From this springs the word CHARIS…..Anybody know what that means ?

CHARIS = GRACE.

It is why John Wimber referred to the gifts of the spirit as ‘gracelets’

Charis in the NT X 155 (Paul has 100)

You will find no grace in Matthew and Mark! Word is never used by either.

There are probably around 9 lists/passages that refer to ‘spiritual gifts’.

ROMANS 12:6-8.

1 COR 12:8-10.                 1 COR 12:28.

1 COR 13:1-3.                  1 COR 13:8.

1 COR 14:6                       1 COR 14:26.

EPH 4:11.                         1 PET 4:9-11.

For ease of use I will group them under 3 headings, although my understanding is that Paul was at pains to point out the diversity of gifts rather than give

a specific outline. As I’ve said before, UNITY IS NOT UNIFORMITY. (Hence the illustration of the Body).

Today, obviously, we cannot possibly cover such an exhaustive list, so I am simply going to look at Tongues, Interpretation & Prophecy.

Let us start with the one that seemed to be causing the problem at Corinth;

TONGUES

Practical as well as spiritual this morning, ask Lynda Thorpe to share how she receives and uses this gift.

1.       It is Spirit inspired.  V7. V.11. 14:2.

2.    Speaker is not in ‘ecstasy’ or out of control. 14:27-28.

3.    It is speech essentially unintelligible, both to speaker (14:14) and to hearers also. 14:16.

4.    It is speech directed towards God. 14:2, 14-15. 28.

My own view is that ‘language’ is a better translation than ‘tongue’ – therefore we ought to expect tone, inflection, pause, stress, etc.

Corinth felt themselves to be super spiritual, so much so that many of them felt that had attained heavenly status. Hence the neglect of the body and the loose morals as it was of little value, and the inference of the language of angels.

Basically….Look at us, we’ve arrived.

Paul says without interpretation it is useless in a corporate setting , but useful in private prayer.

INTERPRETATION

It is Spirit inspired. 14:5, 13, 27-28.

Can be explained by the one using it, or by another.

PROPHECY

This is the gift mentioned most often in Pauline writings.

A reminder that the background to this will be a Jewish understanding from the OT of how God spoke and used the Prophets.

The Prophet was a person who spoke to Gods people under the inspiration of the Spirit of God.

These inspired utterances came about by revelation.

The Early Church understood that once the Spirit was given at Pentecost then we were in the times spoken of by the prophet Joel, 2:28-30.

And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
I will show wonders in the heavens
and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke.

 1. Gift potentially available to all. 1 Cor 14:24-25, 30-40.

 2. Speaker is in control. 1 Cor 14:29-33.

 3. Must be discerned/judged/evaluated by the community. 1 Thess 5:21-22. 1 Cor 12:10, 14:29.

Concluding comments;

Gifting is useless if love does not motivate. 1 Cor 13:1ff

The gifts are richly varied.

To be exercised as a privileged responsibility.

Used correctly then fruit will follow.

Effective community contains both gift and fruit.

Gifts are to build up.

Remember it’s all about............