The Gifts of the Spirit and Unity

1 Corinthians 12:4 (NIV) There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Let's look at the different gifts, services, and workings mentioned here:

1. A message of wisdom.
2. A message of knowledge.
3. Faith.
4. Healing.
5. Miraculous powers.
6. Prophecy.
7. Distinguishing spirits.
8. Speaking in languages not of their own.
9. Interpretation of those languages.

Of course, Paul mentioned nine but the gifts may be endless. I believe elsewhere a few more are mentioned, totaling eleven. However, it is not the gift that is important but the one and the same Spirit, and who gets what gift is determined by God (verse 11).

Usually, those who propagate  "speaking in unknown tongues" focus on this chapter. Others dispute the gift of languages by this same chapter. However, scripture is not meant to separate but to unify. This entire chapter is about unity in the Spirit. Unfortunately, Christians use this chapter as a weapon to defend their particular doctrine.

I'll be honest: the use of the gift of speaking in languages which I don't understand is scary to me for two reasons: (1) I don't have the gift of tongues, and (2) all speaking in tongues are obviously not genuine. If one speaks and is not interpreted, which it must be according to scripture, it is likely not of the same spirit - the genuine Spirit.

God has given us many attributes, blessings, and gifts. God is even the source of pleasure. However, Satan's misuse of God's gifts is the deception used to lead people to sin. Satan fooled Adam and Eve. They were the first of "the elect". Always, even genuine people have been deceived. Scripture recognizes that:

Mark 13:22 (KJV) For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

The gift of languages is a "sign". The Jews first spoke in languages at Pentecost. Why so?

1 Corinthians 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom.

Some people, specifically the Hebrews, needed this gift to increase their faith. Thus with greater faith, the Church was born. However, Paul discouraged in his preaching that others should look beyond "tongues" for salvation. As he did at Athens, Paul used the gift of wisdom.  Reason and logic was effective with the Gentiles.  By the way, as you can see, "wisdom" is first in the list of gifts, and the second is knowledge - the basis of wisdom.

Let me point out that the idea of "unknown tongues" is not scriptural. The word "unknown" was added to put the Greek into context. It is the product of interpreters, and has caused much dissension. Most places "unknown" is not there, but in 1 Corinthians 12:10, genos is used - meaning "kindred". Perhaps each of the language groups were understood by other language groups. Certainly, the speaking and understanding of different "kinds" of languages would be convincing and useful to grow the early Church! Whether Spiritual languages are extant today, only those who need and have received the legitimate gift would realize it. However, many who misuse that gift, or any other, are deceived.

Gift number seven above is "distinguishing spirits". We all need that gift. It is what protects us from the evil one!  As a Christian, when I am apprehensive of what I'm hearing but not understanding, fear is generated within me. My own discernment in many cases has been to question the spirit which I hear. I truly believe that the ability to "distinguish spirits" is my own gift. That is spiritual discernment. To be truthful, that is a lonely gift! When I read Holy Scripture, I feel a sense of joy when I read it. I understand the "mystery of Christ" of which Paul spoke. Most others do not, and indeed, most people have never even heard of that mystery! For me, it opened up the entire Old Testament as all about Jesus! However, it causes me to recognize sin and judge others too vehemently.

However, the same Spirit which gives me joy also makes me apprehensive. I weigh everything according to the Word. As such, I usually do not sin because of carelessness but with intent. Of course, the penalties of either type of unconfessed sin is the same, but intentional sin is a greater sin. (For those who do not believe in degrees of sin, check it out in the Bible).

"Wisdom" (gift number one) is realizing that my "knowledge" base (gift number 2) is not unlimited. Implied within the gift of wisdom is meekness: I know that I don't know everything, and that is valuable to know! Therefore, with the gift of tongues, I admit: I don't know everything! I know neither the gift of tongues nor the interpretation of them. In fact, if I did, I would take too much pride in that. Those are not my gifts because I would misuse them. They are not for all: "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them." (1 Corinthians 12:4 above).

I will never insult God by thinking that no one today does not speak in tongues by the Holy Spirit. God can do anything that He wants, and He has the power to enable people to speak and hear in tongues, which  I neither speak nor understand. They may be unknown to me but other "kinds" (nationalities) may communicate freely with each other. Perhaps even the ability to learn and speak kinds of languages is the gift. We do know that many have that gift. I do not, regardless of how hard I try! However, I have confidence that if I needed that gift for the mission field, that God would endow me both with speaking and understanding! That would be a miracle to me.

Enough, now, of that discussion. It is not a winnable argument either way, and my goal is not to win, but to have the reader to test all things by the Word. The Word is the ultimate "body of knowledge" superseding even science. I say that because of my ability to "distinguish spirits". Certainly, science is not in the Spirit of God but in the spirit of the World. They would not deny that. In fact, "science" is predicated on the notion that it has eminence over God!

"Faith" is the third-mentioned gift. It seems that they are indeed in the order of importance! Why? It takes knowledge  of "the Word" to have wisdom - that which is necessary to understand God. Once wisdom organizes knowledge into two groups: falsehood and truthfulness, that gives rise to faith. Wisdom is the discernment between the knowledge of God and the knowledge of the world. If one concludes rightly, faith ensues.

"Healing" is the exercise of faith. We think of Spiritual healing. Jesus does that. Actually, we never heal anyone - God does, but we lead people to the faith that they are healed. God's job assignment to those who have faith is "to heal the nations". That is Spiritual healing and the Great Commission.  Healing, or presenting the gospel, is a demonstration of faith as we share the faith with others. The healing part is "love of others". We demonstrate the ability to love by having the genuine love like that of God:  we "want that none should perish" (John 3:16).

We don't think of "miraculous powers" today but every time we speak the Word, we are using power given us to God. When we heal the nations, "the Sword of the Spirit" is the Doctor's tool (Ephesians 6:17). We say often, there is power in the blood. That Power was bled by Jesus, and Scripture is all about Him! When we use Scripture to heal the nations, it's not us, but God's "miraculous power".

The Old Testament is prophetic; the New Testament is it's fulfillment. Both are the Word, and the "knowledge base" to persuade others of God's truths. Logic is used to demonstrate truth. When we read that Isaiah knew the birth, death, life, and resurrection of Jesus, that knowledge should convince even the skeptical that Jesus is Truth, and that we can count of God to keep his promises. The "gift of prophecy" is the demonstration in the "miraculous power" of the Word. Since, all prophecy has been fulfilled, the "gift of prophecy" is teaching how it was fulfilled. 

"Distinguishing spirits", better said as "Spiritual discernment" is understanding that what was prophesied - really happened, was God's Plan, and will continue to happen. When I read the Old Testament my eyes are bright. I "see" Jesus in most Holy Scripture. As such, I understand prophecy, the power of that understanding increases my faith, and so forth. Each gift supplements the higher ones.

The last two gifts were for those who need miracles. They too demand the gift of "distinguishing spirts", and are part of the gift hierarchy because they lead to faith. Which came first: the chicken or the egg? It seems that the gift of tongues came before the great faith. In fact, on Pentecost, it was to increase the faith, and bestowed on those with a little faith, faith, and even great faith because great faith was needed to go about the gift of "healing the nations".

When God spoke things, he had reasons for speaking them, and the order in which He makes His presentation is significant. Paul put the "tongues" at the bottom of the list because the Spirit gave him the "spiritual discernment" to do that. Later on, Paul even validated that tongues were the least of the gifts. Are they important today? Some believe that they still need that gift! I doubt that many are convinced (wisdom is a Gentile trait), but those who have little faith may need that to increase their faith. Only they can discern by which spirit they speak. We can merely stand back, and let God admonish them by His Word.

Let's look again at "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom." Let me call, the nine gifts above, "the hierarchy of gifts". We know that the Jews couldn't quite get into their heads that their Messiah is indeed Jesus Christ. Therefore, God shot low with them. It took the "sign" of tongues, which by the way, is on the lowest metric on the hierarchy. With the Greeks, on the other hand, God shot high. They sought not after tongues but wisdom!

As we say now, "different strokes for different folks". Because of the stubbornness of the Jews, God's stroke for them was tongues. For the Gentiles God's stroke was wisdom.