#16 How Many Gifts are There?

C. Peter Wagner continues telling us, "A textbook on anatomy would tell us how many parts the human body has.

Fortunately, the Body of Christ is not that complex.

Differences of opinion exist as to exactly how many spiritual gifts there are.

The research I have done and summarized in my book, Your Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow (Regal Books) lead me to suggest that there are 27, although I have no quarrel at all with others who come up with different numbers.

How do I arrive at 27 gifts?

First, I recognize three major lists of spiritual gifts in the New Testament found in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4.

None of the tree lists is complete in itself — many overlap. Some gifts are mentioned in one list only, some in two, and some in all three.

A composite of the 3 lists gives us 20 gifts; Prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, mercy wisdom, knowledge, faith, healings, miracles, discerning of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues, apostle, helps, administration, evangelist and pastor. 

Several gifts are also mentioned apart from the three major lists, five to be exact: celibacy 1 Cor. 7:7, voluntary poverty 1 Cor. 13:3, martyrdom 1 Cor. 13:3, hospitality 1 Peter 4:9,10 and missionary Eph. 3:6-9. This gives us a total of 25 gifts indicated as gifts in the New Testament.

Now this next issue is very important for understanding the gift of intercession.

If none of the 3 major lists of spiritual gifts was complete in itself, and if the composite of the 3 was not complete, could it be that the 25 gifts found in the New Testament could also be an open-ended list and that more cold be added?

I think it could, although I will be the first to admit I cannot come up with an airtight argument to prove my case.

I take some encouragement from the fact that several other scholars and authors have independently drawn the same conclusion. 

We do it biblically because the Bible does not say the lists are closed, recognizing that an argument from silence proves very little. 

But we also do it from in-depth observation of how Christians function as members of the Body of Christ.

 Some others who follow this line of reasoning suggest 4 gifts, which I do not include in my list of 27, although I have no quarrel with doing so.

They are; craftsmanship, preaching, writing and music.

I have wished more than once that I had included at least music and made my list 28.

Be that as it may, the two gifts I do add to the biblical list are exorcism
(which might better be called deliverance) and intercession.

A major reason for doing this is that I have seen them in operation."

Today’s post -#How Many Gifts are There, in the series taken from C. Peter Wagner’s book, PRAYER SHIELD, How to intercede for pastors, Christian leaders and others on the spiritual frontlines. (pgs. 43, 44) By Regal Books

The next post from Wagner's book is 8/13 - #17  The Gift of Exorcism

Let’s pray: Father, we come to You now, to have Your Spirit move on us, to reveal to us our gifts. We want to be a blessing to others in our church Body. Help us to become aware of the particular gifts You've deposited in us, and may we be lead to find ways to be instructed to become successful in some ministry. In the Name of Jesus our Savior we ask, amen.

Today’s Bible verse: Is. 60:2b "But the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee."

Today’s quotes: Max Lucado – “If God is able to place the stars in their sockets and suspend the sky like a curtain—do you think it remotely possible God is able to guide your life? Could it be He is mighty enough to light your path? Jesus said, “Look at the birds in the air.  They don’t plant or harvest or store into barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them.  Why do you worry about clothes?”  Matthew 6:26.

Anne Cetas – “God has graced each of His children with skills and abilities so that He can minister to others through us. You can find those gifts listed in Rom. 12:4-13, 1 Cor. 12:27-31, Eph. 4:7-12, and 1 Peter 4:9-11. The Lord has gifted us “that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever:” 1 Peter 4:11.

Our thought today: The Word of God is so powerful. We need to read His Word for his guidance.

Tomorrow’s post:  Me? Follow a Budget?  Jean Oathout

A popular post:   ONE BEAUTIFUL MOMENT God uses another gallery to display His glory—humans. We too are made out of something ordinary—dust

[Google images added]

jowildflowers@gmail.com

Samples of Jean's crafts & craft blanks

http://twitter.com/jeanoathout

http://facebook.com/jean.oathout

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1938499999/  Link to Granny’s Guide to Marriage in Verse  my book with new title and cover for women contemplating marriage.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DP77URG/  Kindle addition