Women, Called and Serving in Leadership

Spiritual Gifts

January 7, 2009 on 4:50 pm | In Women in Ministry | No Comments

Let’s also consider spiritual gifts, which are given by the Holy Spirit’s discretion and not according to the will of man.

1Cor 12:6-11 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

There is no gender differentiation in receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit. God works in all and gives the manifestation of the Spirit to EACH ONE for the common good.

Notice that several of the spiritual gifts are gifts of SPEAKING and not of silence. The Holy Spirit manifests His gifts in both men and women causing them to speak in the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, and prophesy.

The Greek word “logos” is translated as “word” and means, “something spoken”.

Women as well as men are endowed with spiritual gifts of utterance. To silence women in the church is in direct conflict with the intended purposes of the Holy Spirit who has gifted women to prophesy and to speak.

I find it amazing that this portion of scripture where Paul tells them he does not want them to be ignorant concerning spiritual gifts goes on to say in verses 20 – 21 that we are one body, and one part can not say “I have no need of you.”

I hear Paul addressing the situation we have in the church this day – women excluded from the service the Holy Spirit has gifted us to perform. Paul says the body needs each of us, the work to be done needs each one of us and none are to be excluded.

1Co 12:28-31 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. 29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?
31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.

The Holy Spirit gives the manifestation of these gifts as He wills. We find no gender limitations given by Paul as he speaks of the giving of these gifts. Instead, we find the neutral when he commands ALL to earnestly desire the greater gifts.