Part 3 Understanding Spiritual Gifts: Who is the Giver, and who are the Receivers?

One may ask, “Who is the giver of spiritual gifts, and who are the receivers of spiritual gifts?”

The gift/s giver of course is the Triune God. God, the Father wrought or gives spiritual gifts because of His grace. It is God the Father who determines the diversity of working or diversity of power, and the realized end result/s. (1Cor.12:6).

It is God the Holy Spirit, who distributes the gifts as He wills (1Cor 12:4&11). God, the Holy Spirit also decides who gets what gift, so no one needs to get all discomposed over the work God is doing that is His business, we would do well to leave it up to Him.

Gifts are given to magnify God the Son, and it is Jesus Christ, God the Son who leads one to use the gift in a specific area of service (1Cor. 12: 5 cf. Eph. 4: 10-11).

“Who then are the receivers?” Good question. Speaking to believers the Scriptures state “…the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man [and woman] to profit withal…” (1Cor. 12:7) “As every man [and woman] hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1Pet. 4:10)

I maintain that only believers are receivers of spiritual gifts. I stress that in the first place every believer is the recipient of at least one spiritual gift and usually more spiritual gifts, and that they are permanent gifts (1Cor. 12:11; 1Pet. 4:10; Rom. 11: 29). In the second place I stress that NO believer has all the gifts. Otherwise that one would be a local “independent” Church and would not be dependent on any other believer. Thus the Apostle Paul asks this question, “If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?” (1Cor. 12:17)

It must follow that unbelievers are un-receivers. Unbelievers would not, could not, do not, and cannot, possess or operate, use nor abuse a true spiritual gift from God (1Cor. 12: 12-27 esp. v.18). Counterfeit gifts, however, are a different matter. The unsaved may and do at times possess something that looks similar, and some times may appear very much like the authentic gifts, as to be deceived and to deceive others (cf. Mat. 7:21-23; 2Ths. 2:8-12). The modern “charismatic” movement is ripe and loaded with counterfeit spiritual gifts.

Therefore heed these warnings:

Take heed that ye be not deceived 4105: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. (Lu 21:8)

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived 4105…(1Cor. 6:9a)

Be not deceived 4105: evil communications corrupt good manners. (1Cor.15:33)

Be not deceived 4105; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Gal. 6:7)

Do not err4105, my beloved brethren. (Jas 1:16)

4105 planaw planao {plan-ah'-o} to cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way; to go astray, wander, roam about (metaph.) to lead away from the truth, to lead into error, to deceive; to be led into error; to be led aside from the path of virtue, to go astray, sin; to sever or fall away from the truth; of heretics; to be led away into error and sin.

The point of this post in regards to spiritual gifts is that... the giver is God, the receivers are believers only, unbelievers are non-receivers, and watch out for imitations and imitators.

It is wonderful to know that we have been given spiritual gifts from God to carry out his purposes. Do you know what your spiritual gift/s is/are?

We will begin to look at particular gifts in the next post.