27.02.2015 Views

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

33<br />

13.<br />

Discerning <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>Spirit</strong>s<br />

14. Giving Giving<br />

15. Helps<br />

16. Mercy<br />

17. Leadership<br />

18. Administrat<br />

ion<br />

Leadership<br />

19. Tongues Tongues Tongues<br />

20. Interpretation<br />

<strong>of</strong> Tongues<br />

Interpretation<br />

<strong>of</strong><br />

tongues<br />

Interpretation<br />

<strong>of</strong><br />

tongues<br />

21. Martyrdom<br />

?<br />

22. Celibacy<br />

14<br />

HOW MANY GIFTS?<br />

In responding to <strong>the</strong> question, “How many different gifts are <strong>the</strong>re?” John Stott replies, “At<br />

least twenty are specified in <strong>the</strong> New Testament, and <strong>the</strong> living God who loves variety and is a<br />

generous giver may well bestow many, many more than that.”<br />

“It is doubtful that <strong>the</strong> lists are intended to be exhaustive. A comparison <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

different lists amounting to some twenty different items suggest that nei<strong>the</strong>r Paul<br />

nor Peter was intending to produce a single exhaustive list; each was illustrating<br />

what he meant when emphasizing ei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> variety <strong>of</strong> gifts or <strong>the</strong> unity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

purpose for which <strong>the</strong>y were given.” 15

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!