GIFTS-GOD'S POWER IN ACTION

FOCUS

story about trying to focus at my vision test

#1 when we are intentional in asking and seeking for the benefit,and blessing of the truth, and all that accompanies that, we develop a dependence on the truth-Jesus

the focus here is on God doing through His people for His church and His gospel. verse 7 says to each is given, it could be a permanent possession or it could not be and when we understand the gifts through the clear lens of the Holy Spirit, we see that the focus is on God meeting a particular need in a particular situation by equipping the members of is body with a gifting from Himself. you may get to be used this time and it may be someone else next with the same gift.

#2 these gifts are not rewards for being a better Christian or a good little boy or girl, they indicate God’s grace and His power

God gives both gifts and people to His church, we cannot assume or falsely assimilate that those who have or get a gift are more spiritually capable, maybe willing and seeking but not better than

Gifts Defined

word of wisdom-wisdom of God that comes to a person with clarity in a situation, sometime to shed light in confusion, sometimes bring perspective..etc Solomon and the baby-he knew that the proper mother in that situation would save the child

words of knowledge-Holy Spirit gives a knowledge of a specific fact that would not be known to anyone else other than who it is intended for-Peter=Ananias and Saphira Spurgeon broke from his sermon once pointed to a man and said “young man , those gloves you are wearing have not been paid for:you have stolen them from your employer.” he came after service to Spurgeon and confessed

Faith-not the gift of faith to believe to salvation, nor the fruit of the Spirit in your christian character. This faith looks to the immediacy of the situation to Him who is invisible. Hebrews 11 says that through faith, they were assured of things they could neither see nor prove and constantly pressed on with God. say to this mountain!!!

conversion faith, continuing faith, charismatic faith.

gifts of healings=not a healing ministry-james says that if your sick come to the elders and ask them to pray…by faith!!! the woman suffering from bleeding and Jarius the one of 10 lepers who returned Jesus says your faith has made you well

paul lists at least 4 times he could not heal…tim,epaphroditus, himself Trophimus

working of miracles=inworkings of powers=Paul had induced blindness on Elymas, water to wine, raised from the dead 1. it is an extraordinary or startling event 2. It cannot be reasonably explained in terms of human ability or other known forces 3. it is oercieved as a direct act of God 4. it is usually understood to have a symbolic sign value like pointing to God as redeemer

Prophecy-a human report of a divine revelation=speaking forth in merely human words of something God has spontaneously brought to mind. we are to actually earnestly desire this one both men and women

distinguishing of spirits- 1 john 4:1 tells us to test the spirits and that we can all do with the word of God…gift of discernment falls in a different category KNowing that something or someone is demonic

ability to distinguish between spirits-