Working definitions of the Gifts of The Spirit as seen in scripture and their practical application in the church

SPIRITUAL GIFTS [1]

We believe the Holy Spirit empowers spiritual gifts as God wills to His children. These gifts are designed to testify to the presence of the God’s Kingdom and distributed to equip the saints for worship and ministry to build up the body of Jesus Christ (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-11; Ephesians 4:11-12). The miracles and revelatory gifts dispensed to the apostles and prophets of the early church are active today. The use of spiritual gifts is for the purpose of edification within the Church that it would be built up in Christ (1 Corinthians 14:12). We believe that God uses these spiritual gifts to display His glory and anointing in individual saints for the work of His ministry established in the timeless message of the Bible (Acts 2:1-4).

In addition to effecting regeneration and sanctification, the Holy Spirit also empowers believers for Christian witness and service. While the Holy Spirit at conversion indwells all genuine believers, the New Testament indicates the importance of an ongoing, empowering work of the Spirit in the life of a believer. The Holy Spirit desires to fill each believer continually with increased power for Christian life and witness, and believers should seek this filling as a regular and recognizable blessing for the Christian life.

The Holy Spirit also imparts His supernatural gifts for the edification of the Body of Christ and for various works of ministry in the world. All the gifts of the Holy Spirit at work in the Church of the first century are available today, are vital for the mission of the Church, and are to be earnestly desired and practiced.

We believe that the ministry of the Spirit in signs and wonders continues to be as broad, tangible, and powerful among believers today as it was in the early church. We also believe that all the biblical gifts of the Spirit continue to be distributed by the Spirit today; that these gifts are divine provisions central to spiritual growth and effective ministry; and that these gifts are to be eagerly desired, faithfully developed, and lovingly exercised according to biblical guidelines. (John 14:12; Acts 2:14-21; 4:29-30; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; 12:28-31; 14:1-33; Galatians 3:1-5.)

Before moving forward, we believe that the following is a helpful and succinct definition of Spiritual Gifts:

A Spiritual Gift is any ability that is empowered by the Holy Spirit and used in any ministry of the church.[2] 

Serving Gifts

Serving Gifts are characterized by their role in the church to manage, serve and build up the body of Christ in practical and loving ways.

Serving

The gift of serving is the Spirit empowered ability to see practical needs and to gladly and quietly take initiative to meet those needs.

Mercy

The spiritual gift of mercy is founded in God’s mercy towards us as sinners and is consistently expressed with measurable compassion, empathy, and practical care/help to those suffering. Those with this gift are led by the Spirit to notice the often overlooked, go to them and help bear their burdens.

Giving

The gift of giving expresses itself in believers who are guided by the Holy Spirit to joyfully give in unusually generous and remarkable ways with the aim of assisting those in need or initiatives that further the Kingdom.

Administration

The gift of administration is expressed through individuals who under the guidance of the Holy Spirit competently identify needs and then organize, plan, execute, and implement systems to meet said needs.

Leadership

The gift of leadership is a gift by which the Spirit enables people to envision, guide and encourage the church, mobilizing the body to accomplishing goals. 

Exhortation

The gift of exhortation is expressed in individuals who are gifted by the Spirit to competently encourage, motivate, counsel, strengthen, and urge fellow believers to persevere and apply the Gospel in their lives and the life of the Church.

Hospitality

The gift of hospitality is enabled by the Holy Spirit and expresses itself in a quick, practical and felt love toward others. This spiritual gift places strangers at ease and invites/draws them into the community of Jesus in our gatherings, workplaces, campuses and homes.

Foundation Gifts

The Foundation Gifts are those which were fundamental to the establishment and function of the church. Those with these gifts are needed for planting new churches and ministries today. Foundation Gifts represent both abilities and offices which serve to lead the church. These gifts and offices also serve to equip the church body for the variety of expressions of ministry that the church is called to.

At Metro Life Church we distinguish between the Gift and the Office in this way: the gift is the divine ability to accomplish where the office is the divine calling recognized in the local church to train others in a particular gift.

Teaching

The Spiritual gift of teaching is the ability to instruct in both explanation and application the truths of God’s Word to build up, unify and mature believers.

Prophecy

The gift of Prophecy is the spirit led ability to receive and communicate a message in our own words that God has brought to mind (revealed). It is often spontaneous but is always subject to His Word. While the gift of prophecy is not primarily predictive, God uses it to build up, comfort and console.

Pastor / Shepherd

The gift of Pastor is given to individuals for the care and direction of the church. This is accomplished primarily through preaching and teaching that calls for a response to God’s truths. This gift is given to equip the church for its primary mission: The Great Commission.

Evangelism

Evangelism is a divine gift for the building up of the church by adding new members to its fellowship by clearly, effectively and zealously communicating the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others.

Apostleship

The spiritual gift of apostleship, otherwise known as apostolic ministry, is given to individuals who are sent to the church to send out from the church. Apostolic ministry can find expression in a variety of ways in the church including an envisioning for church planting, building up and caring for churches with an aim to advance the Great Commission. 

Revelatory Gifts

Revelatory Gifts are those in which The Lord imparts or reveals information to be used to guide, warn, correct and encourage the church while bringing glory to Himself.

Wisdom

Wisdom is a divine gift that joins appropriate Biblical teaching and actions to a particular situation or need.

Discernment

Discernment is understanding guided by the Spirit to know the difference between what is true and false. It is able to see through to the source of what is being said or acted upon whether divine, angelic/demonic or human influences.

Interpretation of Tongues

The Interpretation of Tongues is the companion to the Gift of Tongues. Interpretation may include a word-for-word clarity or the essence of the prior utterance. The Interpretation of Tongues is intended to edify the church and glorify God amongst those who hear.

Knowledge

Knowledge is the Spirit-enabled ability to bring truth and practical understanding to a variety of circumstances. It is concerned with the correct articulation of the truths of God bringing insights to clarify Biblical passages. 

Manifestation Gifts

Also known as Miraculous Gifts, these are overtly supernatural and display the power and presence of The Lord among His people. They serve as evidence of the authority of God over all things.

Faith

Distinct from saving or sustaining faith the supernatural gift of faith is a unique impartation in a particular moment or circumstance. This is intended for the good of others in strengthening their faith and to encourage trust in God in the face of apparently insurmountable odds.

Healing

The Gift of Healing is divinely given to reveal the God of Heaven to the sick and tormented. While healing alleviates suffering it’s primary concern is the spiritual well being and relationship with Jesus of those who are being healed. Individuals who are given this gift do not directly perform “healings” rather they participate in this gift from God our Father.

Tongues

The gift of tongues is given by the spirit in a variety of languages or speech directed to God. Tongues are an individual gift without an interpretation, which is the only time they are appropriate in the assembly. Tongues allow the ability to pray, worship, give thanks, or speak in a language other than your own or one you might have learned.

Miracles

Miracles are given by God, through His Spirit, to the church to reveal the presence and glory of God among His people, creating a sense of awe, wonder and Godly fear. They meet a particular need in a way that only the supernatural can do, demonstrating God’s power over all. 

In Closing

Since our beginning in 1985, Metro Life Church has sought to live out what we see in scripture both in right belief (orthodoxy) as well as right practice (orthopraxy). Over the years we have benefited greatly from a variety of resources related to the person and work of the Holy Spirit and the Gifts that are given to individuals for the benefit of the church. Our desire in putting this resource together is to bring clarity to what we believe that God has called us to as a church where it relates to the Gifts of the Spirit.

Our aim here is to provide clarity to the definition and expression of the Gifts of the Spirit at Metro Life Church. Helping both in right belief, teaching and practice of the gifts in all expressions throughout the church.

Our Affirmations of Faith

Key sections of the Metro Life Church Affirmations of Faith pertaining to the person and work of The Holy Spirit follow.

PURPOSE

God exists and has revealed Himself to mankind. We believe that our conscience and actions must be directed by and submitted to God’s truth. This truth comes to us in many ways but has particularly been given in the form of the special and unique revelation of the Bible. This affirmation is a summary of those truths revealed in the Scriptures about His nature, character, work, and the promises He has made. It is also a statement of what we believe are essential for the understanding and defense of the gospel, for instruction in godly living, for the order of the New Testament Church, and for sharing the gospel in our daily lives. This document is a foundational guide for all instruction, teaching, and preaching at Metro Life Church.

THE WORD OF GOD

We believe that the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. In it is found the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of mankind through faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible is the only essential and infallible record of God’s self-disclosure. (Matthew 5:18; John 10:35; 17:17; 20:31; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21.)

THE TRINITY

We believe that one true God exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that these, being one God, are equal in deity, power, and glory. We believe the Trinity is without division of nature, essence, or being (1 John 5:7; Matthew 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 13:14). The Father is of none, neither begotten; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; and the Holy Spirit eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son (John 15:26; Galatians 4:6).nj Each person of this Triune executes distinct but harmonious functions in the work of creation, history, providence, and redemption.

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit is fully God, eternally one with the Father and Son. The primary ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit also convicts unbelievers of their need for Christ and imparts spiritual life through regeneration (the new birth). The Spirit indwells, sanctifies, leads, illumines, and graciously empowers for godly living and service all that come to faith in Christ. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ baptizes believers in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit fills, empowers, and anoints believers for ministry and witness. (Matthew 3:11; John 1:12-13; 3:1-15; 15:26-27; 16:7-15; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13-14, 5:18.)

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[1] from the Metro Life Church Affirmations of Faith
[2] Wayne Greudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Theology