MY LESSON
1. Spiritual gifts are gifts of Jesus Christ given at the Ascension to the body of Christ and are imparted by the Holy Spirit particularly through the laying on of hands and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:5,8; Ephesians 4:1-16, 1 Timothy 4:14, 2 Timothy 1:6
2. The Holy Spirit is IN the believer from the moment of conversion for holiness, wisdom and the fruit of the Spirit see Ephesians 5:18, Galatians 5:22,23. Also the Holy Spirit comes UPON the believer in a Pentecostal experience of power to be a witness, for the various gifts of the Spirit. Acts 1:5,8; 10:44-48
3. Spiritual gifts are not separate different spirits; they are just different ways in which the one Holy Spirit works. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
4. The gifts are to be used in a united and coordinated way and in love. 1 Corinthians 12:12-20, 13:1-13 Love is the ultimate gift.
5. Each gift is valuable and honorable 1 Corinthians 12: 21-26
6. Yet there is a distinct order among the gifts and a kind of hierarchy of greater and lesser gifts 1 Corinthians 12:27-31
7. Spiritual gifts are to be used for the edification of believers and for the conversion of the lost. Ephesians 4:11-16, 1 Corinthians 14:5, 12,25
8. There are five office gifts: Apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher. Ephesian 4:11
9. There are numerous functional gifts such as healings, tongues, interpretation, administration etc. 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, Romans 12:3-8
10. It seems that some gifts are occasional or intermittent e.g. prophecy, miracles while others are fairly constant e.g. teaching, administration
11. The gifts are given as the Holy Spirit wills (1 Cor 12:11) but can also be sought (1 Cor 14:1,39)
Baptism In The Holy Spirit
12. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a powerful initial experience of the Holy Spirit coming up on a Christian to empower them spiritually for Christian service and witness and often involves speaking in tongues. Acts 1:5,8 2:1-21
13. It is part of a three-way set of experiences. Conversion, water baptism and Spirit baptism that can happen all at once. Acts 10:44-48
14. An analogy: Conversion = falling in love Water baptism = the wedding vows Spirit baptism = intimacy, growth, multiplication
15. Conversion without baptism – the thief on the Cross. Conversion and water baptism w/out Spirit baptism – Ephesian disciples in Acts 19:1-5, Spirit baptism prior to water baptism – Cornelius’ house Acts 10:44-48
16. Without the baptism in the Holy Spirit we have zeal and wisdom but no real power e.g. Apollos Acts 18:24-28
17. Despite personally knowing Jesus and being sent into the Harvest by Him the apostles were to wait in Jerusalem for the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:5
18. The baptism in the Holy Spirit mostly comes through prayer and the laying on of hands such as in Acts 19 and with Timothy but can also happen spontaneously such as at Pentecost.
19. The baptism in the Holy Spirit both empowers and imparts spiritual gifts. So a teacher becomes a much more anointed teacher e.g. Apollos, or receives an entirely new gift e.g. tongues.
20. The baptism in the Holy Spirit does not create a special superior class of Christian!