The Holy Spirit and His Gifts | Page 71

There are five ministry gifts or offices. They are people in the Body of Christ who are called by God to stand in the fivefold ministry. Now let's look at First Corinthians 12:28 in context so we can understand what Paul meant when he said, "... do all speak with tongues?. . ." (1 Cor. 12:30). In First Corinthians 12:28, Paul is also listing ministry gifts, but he lists them in a little different way. 1 CORINTHIANS 12:28 28 And God hath set some in the church, first APOSTLES, secondarily PROPHETS, thirdly TEACHERS, after that MIRACLES, then GIFTS OF HEALINGS, HELPS, GOVERNMENTS, DIVERSITIES OF TONGUES. Now let's look at each one of these ministry gifts, so we can understand the phrase "do all speak with tongues?" As we said, "apostle," " prophet," and "teacher," which are also mentioned in First Corinthians 12:28, indicate those in the fivefold ministry offices. Then Paul also includes the ministry of helps because those in the ministry of helps assist those called to the fivefold ministry. But what about "miracles" and "gifts of healings" (1 Cor. 12:28)? Miracles and Gifts of Healings Those gifts of "miracles" and "gifts of healings" indicate a ministry gift — the office of the evangelist. The ministry of an evangelist is not listed at all here, except as "miracles" and "gifts of healings," indicating the office of the evangelist. Philip is our only example of a New Testament evangelist. We can see the working of miracles and gifts of healings operating in his ministry which indicate the ministry of an evangelist. ACTS 8:5-7 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, HEARING AND SEEING THE MIRACLES WHICH HE DID. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. Later on Philip was called an evangelist. ACTS 21:8 8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of PHILIP THE EVANGELIST, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.