CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTS

MEMORY VERSE: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. Isaiah 11:2

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 1-4

There is a need for one to know about spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:1 says, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.” This knowledge will be of tremendous help in one's spiritual growth. As such, we will be looking at the gifts of the Holy Spirit in these series. 1 Corinthians 12:7- 10 says: “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues.” Out of the nine gifts lifted above, seven of them – ‘Word of Wisdom’, ‘Word of Knowledge’, Gift of Faith, Gifts of Healings, Working of Miracles, Gift of Prophecy and Discerning of Spirits - were manifested in the Old Testament and Gospels from time to time as people were moved upon by the Holy Spirit. As we define each gift, we will provide incidents in the Old Testament and Gospels where each gift was manifested. To these seven were added two more since the Day of Pentecost: The Gift of Tongues and The interpretation of Tongues. Believers who have not yet experienced Pentecost may manifest any of these seven gifts occasionally, much of the time not even recognizing them as such. Elijah, Elisha, Daniel, etc, manifested some of these gifts long before the Day of Pentecost. However, after the fullness and overflow of the Spirit, any or all nine gifts may be manifested frequently and in power through the life of the believer.

The first seven gifts of the Holy Spirit ( ‘Word of Wisdom’, ‘Word of Knowledge’, Gift of Faith, Gifts of Healings, Working of Miracles, Gift of Prophecy and Discerning of Spirits) should not be confused with the Seven-fold Gifts of Grace mentioned in Isaiah 11:2 which says: “And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” These are not spiritual gifts at all, but characteristics of the Holy Spirit in His sevenfold Nature, referred to in Revelations 1:4 as the ‘seven spirits’ which are before God’s Throne, the sevenfold Spirit of God. Revelations 1:4 says, “John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne.” Nevertheless, we can see a direct relationship between these last six characteristics of the Holy Spirit (the first being ‘the Spirit of the Lord’ Himself), and the nine fold Gifts. As a believer, if you want the Lord to use you in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, you must learn to listen to God and He speaks through several ways (we have already discussed in times past). The gifts of the Holy Spirit are good gifts and perfect gifts (James 1:17). Although God’s gifts are perfect, we need to be reminded that the mortal channels through whom they are expressed are not. Don’t follow a person just because he has a ‘gift ministry’. Instead, look for the fruit in his life, for honesty and purity brought about by the Spirit of Truth – the Holy Spirit- and a hunger for and appreciation of God’s word. Look for balanced teachings between literal and spiritual meanings of the Scripture, look for fellowship with other brethren; and then receive only that which is quicken to you by the Holy Spirit, and which agrees with the scriptures.

NOTE: Christians don’t follow signs, signs follow Christians.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world