The Gifts That God Gave - Lesson 6
Notes
Transcript
Lesson 6 Spiritual Gifts
Lesson 6 Spiritual Gifts
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 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: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Prophecy - prediction, a discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden. Thayer’s definition.
This gift of the Spirit is one of the greatest gifts we can seek after. Often times during the preached Word of God we hear prophecies and don’t think much of them.
This gift is over spiritualized and misused far to much. We do have the ability to speak certain things into existence (Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” ). However, the true gift of prophecy is to be used to bring about a deeper trust in God.
The primary purpose of prophecy is to bring men to repentance.
Prophecies can be warnings for those who are about to face difficult times. They can also speak of blessings that are about to come. Either way a prophetic Word comes, it is designed to bring about a deeper trust in God.
Prophecies from God are not self-fulfilling.
They require the flesh to submit to the Spirit.
A prophecy from God is the perfect will of God being foretold. For it to come to pass then the flesh must submit to the perfect will of God.
This does not give the prophet freewill to say whatever they want then blame the lack of evidence on someone who didn’t submit.
The Prophet is still subject to the voice of God. He will be held accountable for the things he says.
At any time, if a gift of the Spirit is being used to bring about self glorification, it is being used incorrectly. All gifts from God must be used through love. If love is not the source then the source is not God. 1 Corinthians 13:2 “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”
2 Peter 1:19–21 “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
Prophecy is designed to bring light to dark places. It is designed to show God’s purpose and God’s design. It is not for self affirmation and self righteousness. It only flows through the Spirit for the purpose of enlightening those who will believe.
Prophecy, can bring things that are not, into existence. 1 Timothy 4:14 “Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.”
Prophecy should be done in accordance with the faith of those who are receiving the prophecy. Romans 12:6 “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;”
If we are speaking to a group of unbelievers we should not begin to prophecy spiritual things that they cannot understand. So we must know our audience.
Discerning of spirits - distinguishing and determining if something was from God or not. There were many false spirits operating in the first century and there are still many false spirits operating today. We need to seek to discern what is from God and what is not.
This gift is used primarily in correlation with the other gifts.
When someone prophecy’s we discern if it is from God.
When someone has a Word of Knowledge, we determine if it is from God.
When someone has a Word of Wisdom, we determine if it is from God.
This gift of the Spirit is sometimes not recognized as such.
This gift will give us direction in many different areas of our lives. We can use discernment to help us know who we can trust, who we can help, who is operating in love, who is operating in pride. This gift can also be used to determine what kind of spiritual attack is happening.
This is used to further build a trust in God and His purpose for us.
If we have discernment but not love, we have nothing.
Different kinds of Tongues - This gift is when the Spirit of God moves on us and an individual is given a Word for the church in an unknown tongue. This speaking in tongues is not the same as the initial evidence of the infilling of the Holy Ghost.
Paul gives us direction on when this type of tongue is used that we should also wait for an interpretation which is another gift of the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 14:27 “If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.”
These two gifts are the most common and easily recognizable in todays churches. If an unknown tongue is given then we should wait for the interpretation. This is done for the edifying of the church.
Once someone has been used in this gift they often are used by it again. We must be carful to use this gift appropriately and in decency. We cannot allow for chaos or confusion.
If a preacher is speaking the appropriate time for tongues is not at that moment. God uses preachers in gifting as well the gift operating through tongues. God will not do things out of order.
