When He Is Come - Media Sabda Org

WHEN HE IS COME
by
Joshua Stauffer
Chapter 15
THE IMPORTANCE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS
The great purpose of the coming of the Holy Spirit into the world for this age is the gathering out
of the church, a people for the name of Christ. The "people for the name of Christ" will be the bride
of Christ. At conversion, the believer takes the name of Christ on his lips and identifies himself with
Him, then after the second coming of Christ, the church will be united in marriage with the Lamb,
to go forever by His name. Even as Eliezer had everything Abraham possessed at his disposal when
he went after a bride for Isaac, so the Holy Spirit has everything Deity possesses at His disposal in
the gathering out of the church. The Spirit employs saved people in the saving of lost souls. He
equips every Christian in some manner to be of service in the work of the Lord. The Spirit works
through believers in the accomplishment of His purposes. For this purpose spiritual gifts are
bestowed on believers to qualify them for gospel service.
I. The Importance of Spiritual Gifts
The successful farmer needs a supply of the right implements to equip him along the line in which
he specializes. If he specializes in raising wheat, certain implements are essential to enable him to
produce wheat. The better he is equipped, the more wheat he will be able to produce. The carpenter
who would be successful in building houses must have a good supply of carpenter tools with which
to work and build. If he lacks the proper tools, he will be limited in building. In order to be
aggressive, every church should have among its own group a variety of gifts and Christians who are
qualified to work for the Lord along every line of Christian work. These gifts will not save the
possessors, but will make them more efficient in the ministry. The objective is the salvation of
others.
II. The Classification of Spiritual Gifts
The apostle Paul has more to say about spiritual gifts in his writings than all the other Bible
writers. In Rom. 12:6-8, there are seven gifts mentioned. "Having then gifts differing according to
the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on
exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that
showeth mercy, with cheerfulness." In I Cor. 12:8-10, we read of the nine gifts of the Spirit: wisdom,
knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, different
kinds of tongues and interpretation of tongues. Then in I Cor. 12:28, we read of eight spiritual offices
and gifts: apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, gifts of healings, helps, governments, and diversities
of tongues. In Eph. 4:11, Paul writes of the gifts which are the grant of the Son of God. These gifts
are men that Christ gave to the church that the body of Christ may be built up and the saints
perfected. These are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. By comparing these four
lists and grouping them together it seems clear that there are the following gifts: