Spiritual Gifts (3)

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is important. we all have Gifts. The Gifts are freely available and the Gifts are given to a person not as a reward but freely by God.

Living Waters Church Kyabram – 16th Sept 2018

Last week we looked at the introduction to this topic. We saw that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is important that we all have Gifts that they are freely available and not given to a person as a reward but freely by God.

Spiritual Gifts are to be used to glorify God and build up the church.

1 Corinthians 12:8–10 NIV

8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

The Spiritual gifts in to 10 are the expression of God’s Grace at work, first in the Church and then into the wider community as an expression for the common good.

In the New Testament we see four main listing of Spiritual Gifts.

1. Phanerosis – Manifestation of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:8–10 NIV

8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

Words of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healings, miraculous powers, prophecy, discerning of spirits, kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues.

Words of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healings, miraculous powers, prophecy, discerning of spirits, kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues.

2. Diakoniai – Ministries of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:28 NIV

28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.

Apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, gifts of healing, helps, administration, tongues.

Apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, gifts of healing, helps, administration, tongues.

3. Charismata – Gifts of grace.

Romans 12:3–8 NIV

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Prophecy, serving, teaching exhortation, giving, organising, mercy.

4. Domata – Equippers of the saints.

Ephesians 4:8–14 NIV

8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.

Eph 4:8-14

Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors / teachers.

5. Miscellaneous Gifts.

Celibacy (),

1 Corinthians 7:7–8 NASB95

7 Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that. 8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I.

Philanthropy Using your money for good works (),

Hospitality ()

1. Manifestations of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:8–10 NIV

8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

3 categories of the Manifestations of the spirit.

a) Gifts of revelation

Words of wisdom – Word of knowledge – Discerning of spirits

b) Gifts of power

Gift of faith – Gift of healings – Working of miracles

c) Gifts of communication

Gift of prophecy – Kinds of tongues – Interpretation of tongues

When you come together...

when you come together...

When you come together

The body is one unit though all its parts are many, they form one body.

We are all baptised by one spirit into on body

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Try to excel in gifts that build up the church.

So if the whole church comes together.

When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.

About the Gifts.

They are to be used for others. -

They are developed as we take a risk in the willingness to use them and to fail as well!

It is important that as the gifts are used and developed that we remain teachable and available to learn. See the gifts become very dangerous if we are not teachable.

They don’t come via study or research, they are sovereignly given by God and need to be used and respected as God’s Gift.

The gifts are not trophies given as prizes for faithful etc. - Each believer receives at lest one Gift, regardless of age – years of salvation or experience.

The gifts are like tools – helping the believers to effectively minister as required. Equipping believers for service.

The Gifts Explained.

Gifts of communication

1. The Gift of Tongues.

This is spontaneous inspired utterance by the Holy Spirit where the normal voice organs are used, but the conscious mind plays no part. The languages spoken or sung are entirely unlearned by the speaker.

The Gift of Tongues expresses in 3 ways

a) In Public

The tongue is used and not understood by the speaker, but is overheard by a member of the public and without interpretation is understood by those listening because it is in their native tongue.

Acts 2:4–8 NIV

4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?

4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?

Purpose is so that the Tongue is a sign to the unbeliever of the reality of the Kingdom of God.

Acts 2:12 NIV

12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

1 Corinthians 14:22 NIV

22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.

12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

22Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.

Illustration:- Chris on the building site.

b) In worship

Enables the church to function as a body as different members of the body are relying on each other. To interpret the tongue needs to be given and the message in tongues relies on the interpretation. Both members are blessed as they have to work in unity for the gifts to be effective.

c) In Private

The main purpose of tongues in private is to edify and build up the person speaking.

Jude 20 NIV

20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,

1 Corinthians 14:4–5 NIV

4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.

But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit

4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,£ but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues,£ unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.

So Tongues builds up and shows verbal intimacy with God providing a whole new dimension to a persons prayer life. No man can understand it and it cant be hindered by man or the devil.

Paul tell us in

1 Corinthians 14:5 NIV

5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.

5I would like every one of you to speak in tongues...

So do it!

2. The Gift of Interpretation.

This gift is a supernatural revelation through the Holy Spirit which enables the Christian Believer to communicate in the language of the listeners the Interpretation of the message just spoken in tongues.

The gift of interpretation is not operated via the mind of the believer but rather the spirit of him or her knowing the mind of Christ.

Both the tongue and the interpretation are a supernatural event.

The act of interpretation edifies the church, without an interpretation the believer is built up but the interpretation edifies the church.

The interpretation is not a translation but an interpretation.

Illustration:- when i was a kid it confused me that a tongue could go on for 2 mins and the interpretation only 30 secs.

The interpretation catches the heart and the meaning of the tongue.

Greater faith is need for the interpretation than the tongue, as people test the interpretation more than the tongue.

What if you give a tongue and no interpretation is given?

Then the person who gave the tongue should interpretation. In fact the person who gives the tongue should also pray for the interpretation.

1 Corinthians 14:13 NIV

13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.

3. The Gift of Prophecy

1 Corinthians 12:10 NIV

10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

1 cor

1 Corinthians 14:1 NIV

1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.

The gift of prophecy found in and 14:1 is the special ability that God gives to members of the Body of Christ to receive and communicate an immediate message to God to his gathered people, via a divinely anointed utterance. The message could be for the group, part of the group or an individual.

The gift of Prophecy can involve many areas of Christian service. Eg Preaching can be prophetic, music, etc

Prophecy involves foretelling.

Purpose of Prophecy.

a. To bring glory to God.

Revelation 19:10 NIV

10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”

b. To build up, encourage and strengthen.

b. To build up, encourage and strengthen.

1 Corinthians 14:3 NIV

3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

c. To be a sign for the unbelievers.

1 Corinthians 14:24–25 NIV

24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

d. To be a warning or help in times ahead.

Jeremiah 18:7–8 NIV

7 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, 8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned.

How to respond to Prophecy.

a. All Prophecy should be carefully weighted.

1 Corinthians 14:29 NIV

29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.

b. Use the gift of discernment

c. Prophecy should be tested against the Bible

2 Peter 1:20 NIV

20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things.

d. Prophecy should confirm what God is already saying to you in most cases

e. Put it on the shelf if not sure.

– Mary Treasured in her heart the things about Jesus

f. Do not over rate or under rate the gift of prophecy

1 Corinthians 13:9 NIV

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,

– we know in part and prophesy in part

– we know in part and prophesy in part

1 Thessalonians 5:20 NIV

20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt

– do not treat prophecies with contempt.

– do not treat prophecies with contempt.

Gifts of power

4. The Gift of Discernment

This is a supernatural gift of perception given sovereignly by God to enable individuals in the church to distinguish the motivating spirit behind certain words or deeds.

The ability of being able to tell a good person or a person with a good spirit is not the gift of discernment, the man with the legion of demons could tell who Jesus really was.

Mark 5:7 NIV

7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!”

7He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!”

This gift can be used in:-

a. Weighing up of prophecy

1 Thessalonians 5:21 NIV

21 but test them all; hold on to what is good,

– test all things in the context of Prophetic utterances

– test all things in the context of Prophetic utterances

b. Deliverance Ministry

c. Exposing the source of error or evil

Acts 13:10 NIV

10 “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?

– Elymas exposed as a worker of evil

– Elymas exposed as a worker of evil

Matthew 16:23 NIV

23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

– Jesus says to Peter – Get behind me Satan.

– Jesus says to Peter – Get behind me Satan.

d. Recognising true faith against the fake

John 1:47 NIV

47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”

– Jesus recognized that Nathaniel was a man in whom was nothing false

– Jesus recognized that Nathaniel was a man in whom was nothing false

e. Understanding someone’s spiritual state

Is the person you meeting today in need of salvation? They may say they are saved but what does the Spirit Discern?

5. Words of Wisdom

The gift of the word of wisdom is the special ability that God gives to members of the body of Christ to receive instant insight on how a given revelation may best be applied to a situation or need arising.

Words of wisdom comes from God’s infinite mind.

4 kinds of Wisdom

1. Normal Human Wisdom

1. Normal Human Wisdom

2. Fallen world’s Wisdom

2. Fallen world’s Wisdom

3. Spiritual Wisdom

3. Spiritual Wisdom

4. Spiritual Gift of Words of Wisdom

4. Spiritual Gift of Words of Wisdom

Results of acting on words of wisdom

a. There is heavenly blessings

b. Healing and release or some kind of help

c. Amazement from others

d. Glory for God

1 Corinthians 2:10–13 NIV

10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.

10but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We 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. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

6. Words of Knowledge

This is the supernatural revelation of facts about a person or situation, which has not be learnt by the natural mind, but is knowledge given by God to the believer about a person or situation.

Different Kinds of Knowledge.

1. Natural Human knowledge

2. Fallen worlds supernatural knowledge

3. True Spiritual knowledge

4. The Word of Knowledge

Examples out of the bible.

Ananias being sent to Saul

Acts 9:11 NIV

11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.

11The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

Peters insight into the source of corruption in the church

Acts 5:3 NIV

3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?

3Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?

I always think that together with the word of knowledge you always need the word of wisdom as the important factor is what do I do with the knowledge that has just been given to me. How do I use it so that God will be honoured and what actions do I need to take so that love is the motivation behind the actions.

Gifts of revelation

7. The Gift of Faith

The gift of faith is a supernatural surge of faith from the Spirit of God which arises within a person faced with a situation or need.

Four Kinds of Faith in the New Testament.

a. Faith that is a creed

This is the Doctrine we profess to believe. We heard it said – what faith do you follow or belong to.

, ,

b. Faith that is a basis trust

8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God

c. Faith that is a Fruit of the Spirit

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

d. Faith that is a Gift from God

2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

How the Gift of Faith can be used.

a. To Give Supernatural Blessing.

- By Faith Isaac blessed Jacob.

b. To Give Personal Protection.

– Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and the fiery furnace. God will deliver us and if He does not we will not serve you gods or worship the image...

c. To sustain supernaturally in times of famine or fasting.

– Jesus in desert.

The heavenly man – fasting without food or water for 74 days

The family who were cut off and had no food for 3 months

d. To bring about the promise of God.

Sarah and Abraham –

20Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

e. To bring about great victories in our life.

Moses holding up his hands – the battle was won.

f. Helping to resolve debt.

– Elisha and the widow with the oil. – go and get jars

g. To raise the dead.

– Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead

h. To curse.

– Jesus and the fig tree

The gift of faith is powerful but sometime does not look as powerful as the power gives as often the supernatural is done in private, or over a period of time. And is often linked with other gifts – eg Lazarus – healing faith word of knowledge etc.

8. The Gift of Miraculous Powers

The gift of miraculous powers operates through individuals by the supernatural intervention of the Holy Spirit in the natural order.

It is worth noting that Jesus’ operation of the gift of miraculous powers was mostly out of compassion for people.

a. Walking on water to comfort His disciples

b. Fed the multitude because there was no food and they were hungry

c. Turned water into wine to fix a problem and save embarrassment

It is difficult and not necessary to draw a line between the gift of healings and miraculous powers. - Sometimes we are too worried about the how to instead of the doing!!

Examples of the gift:-

a. Deliverance – crossing the Red Sea

b. Confirming the word preached – Acts13:11-12

c. Deliverance from Danger – – Jesus speaks to the storm

d. Raising the Dead –

9. The Gifts of Healings

These gifts are supernatural healings of diseases and sickness to glorify of God.

The healing is God’s work made available through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Isaiah 53:4 NIV

4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.

Healing is spiritual warfare

Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.

Healing is spiritual warfare

Sickness is :

The domain of the Devil –

Acts 10:38 NIV

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

Often the person who is operating in the area of healing will experience spiritual attacks

Often the person who is operating in the area of healing will experience spiritual attacks

Depression – Tiredness – anger or frustration – strife with other around them – sense of not being worthy – Etc

People who move in healings can often be tempted to take the glory for themselves – remember all the glory belongs to God.

Healing is a part of our inheritance.