Gifts of the Spirit
Three questions to be answered
1)What are the gifts of the Spirit?
2) How do you get them?
3) What do you do with them?
1 Corinthians 2:7-16
No, we speak of Gods secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our Glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified The Lord of Glory. However, it is written:
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.
But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one know the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing truths in Spiritual words. The man without the spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are Spiritually discerned. The Spiritual man makes judgements about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgement:
For who has known the mind of The Lord that he may instruct him?
But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Now about Spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that when you were pegans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and still to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
1 Corinthians 14:1-5
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church will be edified.
1 Corinthians 14:39
Therefore my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
Romans 12:6-8
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If am man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
1) What are the Gifts of the Spirit?
The Gifts of the Spirit are:
Wisdom Words of knowledge Service
Teaching Faith Encouragement
Healing Giving gifts Miracles
Leadership Prophesy Tongues
Distinguishing Spirits Interpretation of tongues
Eagerly seek after these gifts. Especially prophesy.
It is important to note that the fruits of the Spirit are different than the gifts of the Spirit
Leadership: stands before the church- sets the pace, imparts direction and goals
Faith: ability to believe God for new direction, visionary
Knowledge: God given information
Wisdom: God given information and intuition/insight
Encouragement: building up the character of others
Distinguishing Spirits: Discernment
Service: supporting others
Giving: sharing physical and spiritual gifts
Tongues: ability to speak other languages, spiritual language and physical languages
Interpretation of Tongues: a supernatural ability to interpret languages you do not know
Miracles: Whatever God decides to do- move mountains, raise from the dead
Healing: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual healing
Mercy: Compassionate, loves others well
2) How do I get them?
1) Jesus breathed on them and they received the Holy Spirit
John 20:22 And with that he breathed on them and said "Receive the Holy Spirit."
2) When Jesus was glorified, the Father released the Holy Spirit.
John 7:39 By this he meant the Spirit, who those who believed in him would later receive. Up to that time The Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
John 16:13-15 But when he, the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.he will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.
3) Through the laying on of hands
Acts19:6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied
1 Tim 4:14 Do not neglect your gift, that was given to you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
2 Tim 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan the flame of the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
3) What do I do with them?
1) Use it to serve others. Edify the church.
1Peter 4:10 Each on should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
1 Corinthians 14:3 But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.
1 Corinthians 14: 22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophesy however is for believers, not for unbelievers
* Prophesy: strengthening, encouragement, comfort
* Tongues: revelation or word of knowledge with interpretation
* Heal the sick
* Teach what God has revealed to you
*Serve others- give encouragement, and gifts
Do not neglect your gift.
1 Tim 4:14 Do not neglect your gift, that was given to you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 Do not put out the Spirit's fire, do not treat prophesies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.
With the Gift of prophesy, it is important to note that you should test the Spirits.
1 John 4:1 Dear friends do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
2 Peter 1:19-21
And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all you must understand that no prophesy of scripture came about by the prophets own interpretation. For prophesy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
