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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WHERE IS YOUR TIME?

MEMORY VERSE: My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Psalm 31:15

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 25-27

There are three basic types of time: natural time, human time and God’s time. Naturally, all over the world, midnight marks the beginning and ending of each day. In other words, a day starts at 12am. With the human time it’s different and it varies with individuals. For some, their day starts at 5am; others start before 5am or after 5am. However, God’s day start in the evening. Genesis 1:5 says, “And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.” The same thing for the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh day.

Going by nature or natural time, a child becomes an adult when he is 18 years (age of consent). From this age, he is free to make his decisions. If he commits a crime, hopefully he doesn’t, he would be sent to prison. Humans, depending on culture and religious beliefs, put the age of maturity at different times. In some cultures, it is believed that once a girl enters puberty she can now be treated as an adult; some even become brides at that age. In some cultures, not until a man is 30 he is not regarded as an adult. According to scriptures, a child becomes an adult around the age of 20 (Leviticus 27:1-7). When it comes to serving God, there is natural time to serve God and that is the age of consent. The human time to serve God is when one is old - probably around 65 years. Between the age of 17 and the age of retirement is a time to concentrate on one’s career and enjoy life. This is why when people see a young brother actively serving in church and serving God with vigour, they say he is not ambitious. This is why when they see a young woman dressed modestly, no parts of her body exposed; they say it is too early to dress in that fashion. The expectation is that one should dress hot and sexy whilst one is young. Going by God’s time, no one is too young to serve God. Ecclesiastes 12:1 says, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.”

Going by nature, the time to get married is four years after a child enters puberty and this is around the age of 18. The human time for an individual to get married varies. The general consensus is once a man has a job and a house, he can consider marriage. However, God’s time for each individual to get married is different. There are instances where God may decide not to give a brother a wife until He trains him for his future and the training may not end until he is 30 years. In a nutshell, there are things nature expects one to have at certain times. Also, there are things humans expect one to have at certain times. When one does not have those things at the expected time, one may be regarded as a failure. The expectation is after 10 years in ministry, one's congregation should have grown to a certain number. One should be doing this and that. However, God does not work like this. He may decide to give one something before the human time or after the human time. Samuel started hearing God's voice from a tender age. Moses did not start his ministry until the age of 80. I want to encourage you to put your time in God’s hands. Let Him give you what He wants to give to you in His own time.

NOTE: A lot has destroyed their lives because they received certain good things at the wrong time.

PRAYER POINTS: Father, help me to be more patient.

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CHRISTIANS AND HYPNOTISM

MEMORY VERSE: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Thessalonians 4-5

What is hypnotism? Is it dangerous? Should a Christian under go hypnosis? What does the bible say about hypnotism? These are some questions Christians, all over the world , ask from time to time. Hypnotism is a form of therapy in psychology and psychiatry. There are instances where hypnotism has been used as an alternative to anaesthesia in medicine and dentistry. Hypnosis is a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination. During hypnosis, one is fully conscious but tuned out of most of the stimuli around. The subject (the person being hypnotized) approaches the suggestion of the hypnotist, or his own ideas as if they were reality. During hypnosis, one is highly suggestible. If the hypnotist suggest that the subject’s tongue has swollen up to twice its size, the subject will feel a sensation in his mouth and may even have trouble talking.

We have taken time to explain what really happens during hypnosis so that you will appreciate the dangers involved. Hypnotism places the soul in a passively receptive state thereby opening the door to morbid spiritual influences that may bring oppression that last for years, until the person is delivered through prayer and exorcism. There have been several instances where the enemy has taken over people’s mind during hypnosis. For example, an eleven year old girl, some years back, came out of hypnosis a changed person. She started acting strangely and this continued for several years. At a point, she was involved in a car theft. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” Hypnotism is a no-go area for Christians because: 1) It involves the transfer of control away from ourselves to another person which is contrary to biblical teaching. As we follow the Spirit’s lead, He will give us the power to better control our own selves (Galatians 5:22-23). 2) During hypnosis the subject yields himself - body, soul, and spirit – to the hypnotist. We are to yield ourselves – body, soul, and spirit – to God not man (Romans 6:11-13). 3) Hypnotism is often promoted as a simple way of refocusing oneself and finding the answer within us. As a Christian, our focus is to our Savior, Jesus, not on ourselves or anything else (Hebrews 12:2). 4) Many of the techniques used in hypnosis are shared by mystical, philosophical, and religious systems, including the occult.

In one sense, everything we have been talking about - mind reading, astrology, fortune telling, Spiritism ,etc - are all forms of sorcery, for we may define sorcery as the effort to gain power and control in the ‘spiritual’ world as to get information, influence other people, get wealth and power, or other material advantages. The purpose of the believer is to get to know and love God. Fortunately for us, God desires to bless us in every way, and therefore we find, as we get to know Him that He wants us to ask and claim good things for ourselves and others. He delights to give them, as we believe for them, but He Himself is always the greatest Good and the greatest Gift.

NOTE: These occultic beliefs carry with them demonic power; if you have ever been involved in any of them, renounce them in the Name of Jesus. Ask God to forgive you. Claim the protection of the Blood of Jesus, and ask the Holy Spirit to fill every area where any false beliefs have been. There are instances where people with psychic and occult abilities try to bring these abilities to God to be used for Him. Although this is desirable, God does not need Satan’s second hand goods! If you have such ‘powers’, you must get rid of them, and let God give you His gifts.

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MIND READING FORBIDDEN

MEMORY VERSE: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 14-15

Clairvoyance is the idea that a human being can obtain information from beyond his physical senses by ‘occultic’ or psychic means. Clairvoyance comes in different forms. There are clairvoyants who claim the ability to diagnose diseases and prescribe cures by means of occultic powers. There is water witching or dowsing. Water dowsing, also known as ‘Water Witching’ or ‘Divining’ is an interesting method in which persons use a variety of tools, such as twigs, hanging medallions, or even cut off coat hangers in order to find water underground. The process is very mysterious. A person walks around the yard carrying an apparatus and when it moves a particular way, the determination is that the water is beneath them. In certain cases, the dowser can predict the depth of the water. There are also parlor games (indoor games) like ‘pendulum’ where an object on a string or chain is hung over a person’s hand and questions are asked. The swinging of the pendulum allegedly indicates the answers. All these types of games should be left alone. These games and practices open the door of the spirit of oppression into one’s life.

Another type of physic belief is mind reading or telepathy. Mind reading is the idea that a human being can detect and read the thought of another person, or can project his own thoughts to another person. The idea that one is able read the mind of people is interesting. Many have even made fortune out of it. Who wouldn’t want to read people’s mind to know whether what they are saying is true or not? Telepathy or mind reading is forbidden by God. First of all, it destroys relationship. Actually, how many friends will you have, when they know you can read their minds? This practice destroys human continuity and fellowship. Satan, our spiritual enemy, would love to have us try to learn to do these things. The so-called extrasensory perception (mind reading, clairvoyance, etc) is the direct action of the powers of darkness - Satan and his angels and demons – bringing the information to the person who is foolish enough to seek it. If you attempt to read someone’s mind, or to foresee the future, or to gain information from a distance by clairvoyance, Satan is overjoyed. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” Although, Satan cannot read one’s mind, he has access to the information that you are seeking, and he can bring it to your mind, knowing that you will think that you have acquired the power to do it yourself. This way he accomplishes several things: (a) He causes you to become proud and self-centered, and even though you may be ‘doing good’ with your supposed abilities you yourself are becoming more and more self-important; (b) He is setting you, and all who believe you, up for a mighty let down.

NOTE: Most of these practices appear harmless but they are not. They open one to forces of darkness.

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FORTH-TELLING VS FORTUNE TELLING

MEMORY VERSE: There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Deuteronomy 18:10

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Kings 21-25

Two major things happened after the fall of man. Firstly, man became Satan’s servant. Romans 6:16 says, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Everything man owned, including all God had given to him – the world and its riches, was transferred to Satan. Luke 4:6 says, “And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.” Secondly, man died spiritually. Since man could only reach God through his spirit, which is now dead as a result of sin, his fellowship with God was broken. John 4:24 says, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” After this (spiritual) death, man began to operate from his soul and body. (Note: the soul is composed of our will, our intellect, and our emotions.) The soul is wonderful, when it is under the control of God through the Spirit, but when it is out of control it does terrible things. This is why human history is the record of hate, bloodshed, cruelty, and confusion; human beings are dead spiritually – “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1) and trying to live soulishly while being out of touch with God and therefore lost (Luke 19:10).

When Satan moved in and took over this world after the fall of man, he created a counterfeit spiritual realm, and any human being who tries to find God, or to come into contact with God, or influence God, by his own psychological efforts, by thinking, willing, or feeling, is likely to come into contact with Satan’s ‘spiritual’ world which is more accurately termed the ‘psychic’ world. One of the psychic beliefs is fortune-telling. Fortune-telling works on the premises that a human being can validly foretell the future by means of visions, crystal balls, playing cards, palm reading, Ouija boards, meditations, drugs, etc. Lurking behind the concept of fortune-telling or precognition is the idea of a fixed ‘fate’, an unchanging future that is already laid out and cannot be changed. This idea in itself is unscriptural. Christians don’t believe in ‘fate’ or ‘destiny’ but in a living God who guides all things. God knows the future, not because He foresees it but because He sees it. He is already there, just as He is in the present and in the past. The future is dependent on the free actions of free beings, and of God. The bible says, if you are willing and obedient you will eat the good of the land (Isaiah 1:19). Fortune-telling works on the premises that whether you are willing and obedient or not, if it is in your destiny to eat the good of the land you will eat it. This is a contradiction to the Bible! If Satan is able to deceive people into thinking that they can know the future, he can also make them believe that “what will be, will be”, and adopt a fatalistic attitude towards life. According to Deuteronomy 18:10-13 fortune telling is strongly condemned and forbidden in the Bible.

NOTE: Biblical prophecy is forthtelling not fortune telling. The fortune teller says, “I have the power to peer into the future, and i will tell you what i see!” The biblical prophet, on the other hand says, “I was talking to God, and He told me to tell you so, so, and so...” If a prophet of God foretells the future, he does so because God has chosen to share with him something that He, God, is going to do and there is usually a condition attached to it.

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NECROMANCY FORBIDDEN

MEMORY VERSE: And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself. 1 Samuel 28:14

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 90-92

READ: 1 Samuel 28:12-19

Spiritism is the general name for the practice of attempting to contact the departed or the dead. It involves getting into contact with the ‘spirit world’, and especially with their departed relatives and friends, through the help of ‘spirit guides’ and mediums. This is also known as ‘necromancy’. The so-called ‘spirit world’ people get into contact with is a domain of demons. Human spirits do not remain in this world after death, but are either with God in His kingdom, or are in hell awaiting judgment. Hebrew 9:27 says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” The person who seeks to get in touch with a dead friend or relative by spiritualism, if he or she contacts a genuine medium, will be put in touch, not with the human spirit of that relative or friend, but with a demonic spirit masquerading as the human person. I want you to know that all the details of dress, physical appearance, etc, are available to the enemy, as are secret thoughts and knowledge. A person will say: “but I know it must have been my aunt, for she spoke of things that only she and I knew about. She even called me by a pet name that only she and I used….” Friend, Satan and his helpers, demons, know about these things.

This is why you SHOULD not accept as true any story of a person who had died appearing spiritually on this earth, whether it be the blessed mother of Jesus, one of the great saints, or some person in your own family whom you love, and who is with the Lord. There are three seeming exceptions to this in scriptures. The first is the return of Samuel’s spirit (1 Samuel 28:12-19).This is, however, a special act of God, and Saul is specifically condemned for instigating it. The other two are the appearances of Elijah and Moses in the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9). Elijah never died, but was taken directly up to heaven (2 Kings 2:11). Although, it was said of Moses that he died ( Deuteronomy 34:5), there was something unusual about it, for we are told that the Lord Himself buried him, and that his sepulcher was unknown ( Deuteronomy 34:6). In Jude 9 we have a mysterious reference to some kind of altercation between Michael and the Devil over the body of Moses. It would seem that Moses’ body was in some way preserved, in order that he and Elijah might appear physically, not spiritually, with Jesus, in the Transfiguration. There is, of course, no prohibition against the appearance of a revived physical person, such as Lazarus, on the earth after his death, nor a resurrected person, such as Jesus after His death and rising again, or those saints that were raised with Him ( Matthew 27:52-53). The injunction is against the manifestations of spirits of the departed. Any kind of direct communication between those living on this earth and the faithful departed is strictly forbidden, and whenever it seems to occur, you may be sure that Satan is up to his tricks. No seeming visitation of a departed person to this earth should be accepted as valid, no matter in what guise it may be presented.

NOTE: We are speaking of real visitations, not dreams, or visions. God may permit one to dream about a departed person in order to bring something to your remembrance. He may give you a vision of that person in Heaven, in order to reassure you of his happiness.

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THEN SAID I, WOE IS ME! FOR I AM UNDONE

MEMORY VERSE: Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Isaiah 6:5

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: John 1-2

READ: Isaiah 6:1-6

After the death of king Uzziah, Isaiah had a vision that changed his life forever (Isaiah 6:1-6). He saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple. He saw seraphims worshiping the Lord saying, “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” When the angels spoke, the post of the door shook violently. In the midst of all these, Isaiah saw himself for the first time. Isaiah 6:5 says, “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” The word ‘undone’ means not done or finished. You will agree with me that under-cooked food tastes awful.  I heard that some prefer under-cooked meat or chicken, please desist from eating under-cooked food especially meat as it causes food poisoning.

When Isaiah heard those thundering voices in the vision... When he saw the angels worshiping Jesus....When he beheld the holiness and majesty of the Lord, he said “woe is me, for i am undone.” This great man of God saw himself as God saw him. Although he was respected and revered by all, he was not at the level the Lord expected him to be. Friend, men maybe  celebrating you but is heaven celebrating your life? Men may recommend you but will heaven recommend you? It does not matter what men says about you, wait until you hear what God has to say about you . This brings us to this soul searching question, are you ‘done’? Isaiah was undone because of his unclean lips? Why are you undone? Is it malice? Is it uncontrolled anger? Is it envy? Is it your eyes? The moment a woman walks past you, do you start to imagine terrible things?  Is it impatience? Is it unforgiveness? Is it pride? The fact that a man is displaying the gifts of the spirit does not mean he is done. Isaiah was a fiery preacher yet by God's standard he was not done!  You can even be a choir master and be undone. You can be the youth leader and be undone. Please don’t be fooled by the gifts of the spirit. Are you undone? Isaiah did not hide his unclean lips. He exposed it to the Lord and the Lord sent an angel to burn his lips with a live coal. Although the experience wasn’t a palatable one, it had to be done. The process of becoming done may not be a palatable one but it has to be done.

PRAYER: Father, please touch me.

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