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Lord’s Day, January 4, 2026-The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (II)-“The Church Loving One Another” (Part 3)
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (II)
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:10b–11 (ESV)
Sermon Series: The Church Loving One Another (Part 3)
Date: Lord’s Day, January 4, 2026
Preacher:Rev. John Chen
Translated & annotated by: JosephWang(Yufan)
Theme Statement
We must fully understand the kinds of spiritual gifts, and then obtain the benefits of spiritual gifts.
Guiding Question
How should we face the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
Transition
We must consider this from the following aspects.
Introduction
Today we continue to share about the spiritual gifts.
I. Understanding the Kinds of Spiritual Gifts
1. Prophecy
This is the sixth gift. Those who have this gift are particularly able to preach; what they preach is also able to penetrate deeply into people’s hearts. What they proclaim not only expounds the excellence of the gospel, but also points out people’s sins, calling others to repentance. This is precisely the work that church ministers are called to do.
The work of a minister is not merely to point out people’s sins. This is a mistaken understanding that many people have of the work of preaching. What ministers must preach first is Christ, the gospel, and the forgiveness that people receive in Christ. At the same time, ministers must not only preach the good news of God’s forgiveness while failing to call people to repent and turn to the Lord. Preaching is a work that must accomplish both aspects.
Therefore, from this perspective, ministers, in essence, are chosen by God, and then trained through seminaries so that they may continually be shaped and equipped. In the same way, the gift of prophetic preaching also requires learning and practice.
2. The Discernment of Spirits
This is the seventh gift. Those who have this gift are particularly sensitive to influences from the spiritual realm. They are sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and also sensitive to the disturbances of evil spirits. However, this does not mean that they are a special group of people, as if they are especially spiritual. Rather, they are simply people who are particularly familiar with the Word of God. They understand Scripture, they understand the character of God, and in their daily lives they are very attentive to keeping themselves within God’s Word at all times. They continually examine whether they are obeying God’s law, and they often practice self-denial and bearing the cross. Therefore, they are able to discern quickly the work of the Holy Spirit and the work of evil spirits.
This gift is given by the Holy Spirit, yet it can still be exercised. When a person becomes more and more familiar with Scripture, understands the law more deeply, and devotes himself to learning and growing within the church, his spirit will become increasingly sensitive. He will be able to discern which works are from the Holy Spirit and which disturbances are from evil spirits. When the Holy Spirit begins to work, he will follow the Spirit’s leading and not quench the Spirit. When evil spirits begin to disturb, he will pray or take certain measures to restrain the work of evil spirits.
3. Speaking in Tongues
This is the eighth gift. Scripture rejects the idea that tongues are a kind of spiritual language. In the Bible, tongues always refer to real, existing languages. This point must be made especially clear. Many people think that tongues are a kind of non-human spiritual language, an unconscious utterance produced under inspiration, but the Bible contains no such record.
Tongues are regarded by Pentecostalism as a sign of spirituality or even of regeneration. This understanding is completely erroneous.
At that time, the Roman Empire was a multi-ethnic empire, and every ethnic group possessed its own language. This is easy to understand in the Chinese context as well. Sichuan dialect, Wenzhou dialect, Ningbo dialect, Wuxi dialect, Changzhou dialect, Cantonese, Teochew, and many other dialects differ greatly from one another. Before the promotion of Mandarin, communication among Chinese people was very difficult.
The gift of speaking in tongues first appeared at Pentecost, when people were able to speak foreign languages without learning them beforehand (Acts 2:1–4, 8). Here, it may also refer to an ability to learn a language very quickly. The ability to learn languages is itself a gift.
Clearly, language barriers hindered the spread of the gospel. Therefore, the purpose of speaking in tongues was to preach the gospel to different ethnic groups. Early missionaries who came to China translated the Bible into various dialects. Today, Chinese people generally speak Mandarin, and there is no need to learn dialects in order to communicate. This is a grace that God has given to the Chinese people.
4. The Interpretation of Tongues
This is the ninth gift. This gift obviously shares similarities with the previous one, but it also has certain differences, just as the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge have both commonalities and distinctions.
The gift of interpreting tongues refers to the ability to connect, exchange, and move freely between two or more languages, switching back and forth within different language systems, and accurately explaining one language by means of another.
Strictly speaking, this is an ability distinct from speaking in tongues. It requires the interpreter to accurately grasp the essence of another language and render it faithfully. The translator must possess a deep understanding of two or even multiple languages. The principles of translation are faithfulness, clarity, and elegance. In principle, the ability to translate differs from the ability simply to learn how to speak a foreign language. Interpreting tongues refers to fully and completely understanding one language system through the expressions of another.
Of course, the purpose of interpreting tongues is also for the preaching of the gospel. Therefore, within the church, the ability to translate books is also a very important ability. Good translations help promote the spread of the gospel. It is said that even today in Wenzhou, some people translate sermons preached in Mandarin into the Wenzhou dialect so that listeners can understand.
II. The Effects of Receiving the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
1.
The Holy Spirit works in us and then, according to His will, distributes these gifts to each person. From this perspective, anyone who has gifts should not be proud, because there is not a single gift that is not freely given by the Holy Spirit. When we observe the world in this regard, it is truly absurd. People take the gifts God has given them and become arrogant, self-important, and full of themselves.
2.
The purpose for which the Holy Spirit gives us various gifts is not for us to trample one another, despise one another, or hate one another—as the world does—nor for us to use these gifts to make transactions with others in order to seek our own benefit and advantage. Rather, it is so that we may use these gifts to serve one another.
Mutual service and transaction may appear similar, since both involve helping one another, but their motives and outcomes are entirely different. One leads a person to become increasingly humble and increasingly dependent on God; the other leads a person to become increasingly proud, increasingly self-centered, and increasingly distant from God.
3.
A church that serves one another is a flourishing church. Every member benefits within such a church, because each member receives careful and appropriate service, and also serves others earnestly within this community. In this way, the purpose of spiritual gifts—to bring benefit—is achieved.
For example, in past years our church continually supported my studies, enabling me to receive certain spiritual training. Now that I have completed my studies, I am able to serve the church better, so that every member may benefit. At present, we are also equipping Xiao Ran so that he may receive training, and in the future we will likewise benefit from his service. The church is precisely such a community of mutual help, of course under the regulation and restraint of its constitution.
4.
Such a church will also become increasingly harmonious, with the members joined together in unity like the walls of Jerusalem. In this way, the church—this city set on a hill—will display an ever-increasing glory. Outsiders will see the church’s testimony and give glory to God.
5.
At the same time, I believe that when a church increasingly makes good use of spiritual gifts, the Holy Spirit will surely be pleased to bestow even more gifts upon us, for the glory of His holy name.
Conclusion
May God lead us to make full use of the gifts He has given to each of us, to serve one another, so that the glory of God may fill the church.
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (II) I. Understanding the Types of Spiritual Gifts Being a Prophet The focus of prophetic messages is twofold: first, to point out the sins of the people of Israel; second, to tell them that there is hope—salvation through the Messiah. The prophetic office in… Read more
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (II)
I. Understanding the Types of Spiritual Gifts
Being a Prophet
The focus of prophetic messages is twofold:
first, to point out the sins of the people of Israel;
second, to tell them that there is hope—salvation through the Messiah.
The prophetic office in the Old Testament no longer exists today. However, in the present age, the role of the “prophet” is to proclaim the forgiveness of sins. In the New Testament era, prophets—namely preachers and pastors—proclaim the gospel and justification by faith.
If a preacher condemns sin but does not proclaim the gospel, he commits the sin of legalism. In the New Testament epistles, the gospel always comes first, followed by instructions on conduct; this order must never be reversed. Salvation comes through faith in Christ.
Christians do not ask, “How must I keep the law in order to be saved?” Rather, they first believe the gospel, and then repent of their sins. Therefore, the second message a preacher should proclaim is the message of repentance.
“There is no sin so great that Jesus cannot forgive;
and no sin so small that it does not require confession and repentance.”
James 1:22–25 (KJV)
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Discerning of Spirits
Those who have the gift of discerning of spirits are familiar with God’s Word. They understand Scripture, the attributes of God, and the law. Because they know the law, they know how things ought to be done.
When evil spirits accuse sinners, these believers are able to comfort them, encourage them to confess their sins, and exhort them to live holy lives. They are also able to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit and thus contribute to the revival of the church.
By studying Scripture and understanding the law, one’s spirit becomes sensitive. Such a person understands God’s Word and walks according to His will. This gift is not a mystical or supernatural ability to hear voices from the spiritual realm, as emphasized by some charismatic movements.
“Do not quench the Spirit.”
If a brother is in financial need, we should help him.
If someone’s faith is shaken, we should pray for him.
If someone is only interested in making money, we should exhort him.
By walking in God’s will and according to His law, believers are kept and protected, and they overcome evil spirits. This is what it truly means to have the gift of discerning of spirits.
Speaking in Tongues
Speaking in tongues is not a mystical or heavenly language, but a real, existing human language—such as Spanish, English, or French. The ability to speak in tongues is essentially the ability to learn languages.
Of course, at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended, the disciples were able to speak foreign languages instantly. This event was a reversal of the Tower of Babel. However, the emphasis here is not on ecstatic speech, but on the God-given ability to learn a language quickly.
In the Roman Empire, society was multi-ethnic and multilingual. If language barriers could not be overcome, a church would inevitably consist of only one ethnic group. Today in China, preaching in Mandarin allows most people to understand. But fifty years ago, some schoolteachers could teach only in their local dialects.
In order to break down language barriers, promote church unity, and prevent ethnic or linguistic segregation within the church, the gift of speaking in tongues was necessary.
Pentecostalism elevates the practice of speaking in “spiritual tongues,” but this is not the true work of the Holy Spirit. The work of the Holy Spirit is to enable the congregation to understand God’s Word, to love His truth, and to feel conviction when sin is committed. The Holy Spirit brings transformation of life, and only through such transformation can believers overcome the world.
Interpretation of Tongues
The purpose of interpreting tongues is to enable the Word of God to be widely proclaimed. Since both speaking in tongues and interpreting tongues involve real, existing human languages, why are they listed as two separate gifts?
This is because some people can speak a language but cannot interpret it accurately. Without proper interpretation, it is difficult to convey the true meaning of the original message. The standard of translation is faithfulness, clarity, and elegance—it must faithfully convey the original meaning, be understandable, and be expressed in an appropriate and refined manner.
This requires familiarity with two different linguistic systems. Therefore, the eighth and ninth spiritual gifts are related to language.
Orthodox Reformed scholars firmly uphold the view that tongues are human languages. Consequently, believers should also be careful with their own speech—considering the feelings of others, and ensuring that no evil intentions are expressed through their words.
II. The Fruit of Receiving the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
“All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills.”
Here we must pay close attention to the concept of equality. “Equalizing wealth” is not true equality. In Western politics, parties often debate whether fairness should mean equality of rules or equality of outcomes. Conservative parties tend to emphasize fairness under the rule of law, while progressive or democratic parties argue that wealth should be redistributed to the poor.
If we pursue only equality of rules, it can result in injustice toward the poor or those without the ability to generate wealth. If we pursue only equality of outcomes, people lose the motivation to develop their abilities and grow their resources.
God’s wisdom is to hold these two together in balance.
The rules are fair, because everyone is called to use the gifts given by the Holy Spirit to serve the church. Everyone has motivation, because everyone has a role.
The outcomes are also fair, because those who have gifts are called to help those who do not. After all, the gifts themselves are given by the Holy Spirit. God will not treat those without gifts unjustly.
God does not create people all the same—He does not pursue equality of outcome. Rather, He calls each person to cultivate his or her gifts and then use them to serve those who lack such gifts. In the kingdom of heaven, there may still be distinctions in gifts, yet believers will complement one another, and in this way practice genuine mutual love.
The world is a place governed by the law of the jungle. The strong oppress the weak, and the weak strive to become strong. The world’s narrative is one of revenge and domination.
Although we, like the world, also possess different gifts, we use them in a fundamentally different way. We show consideration for one another and work together in mutual dependence, so that the church becomes one body—a city set on a hill—bearing witness to the world of a different kind of unity.
Through this, God’s name is glorified. People are transformed when they enter the church because there they learn the way of Christ.
Worldly abilities and wealth can also complement one another through exchange. However, the value of an exchange depends on the scarcity of what is being traded. Behind such transactions, there is no love.
In the church, God does not operate by means of transaction, but by love. When God grants us salvation, there is no transaction involved at all. This reveals the immeasurable nature of God’s grace.
Today, even marriage is often treated as a transaction. In Chinese society, many women marry much older men for money—not because of love, but because society has become deeply corrupted by transactional thinking. When a husband no longer has economic value, a wife may leave, because there is no love to sustain the relationship.
But this is not how the church functions.
In the church, when others serve me, I also serve others wholeheartedly. God distributes gifts to each one “as He wills” for the purpose of mutual love. Through love, we are bound together.
This is a foretaste of the kingdom of heaven—and through this way of life, the glory of God is made visible to the world.