Gifts of the Spirit
Part 1 - The Church As It Was Meant To Be
God the Father and Jesus are in the third heaven together. Their connection with us is primarily through the Holy Spirit, which resides in every believer. The Holy Spirit carries out Jesus’ will here on earth, through people who are willing to submit themselves to Him. Disciples know that demons hinder our submission to the Holy Spirit, so the more demons we get out of us, the more we are able to submit to Him.
As we get the demons out and as we submit to the Word, the Holy Spirit moves more freely in our lives. By consistently choosing to do His will over our own, something happens. We are blessed. This blessing is called the “fruit of the Spirit.” The following are the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control. The fruit continuously blanket us as we continuously submit our will to His.
Disciples have learned to submit their own will to His will. They have already tasted the sweet fruit of the Spirit. Individually, disciples have learned the power they have over demons and sicknesses. Their next level of power comes when they meet together. This next level power comes through what’s called the “gifts of the Spirit.”
The Holy Spirit may choose to give a disciple a gift permanently. He may choose to give a gift for a season. Oftentimes, He’ll give a gift only during a specific occasion to fulfill a specific need at that time. When disciples come together and the different gifts are put into action, the power of the group becomes greater than the sum total of each disciple. This is the “church” that’s most pleasing to God. A church allowing the Holy Spirit to flow and lead. A church made up of disciples who fully utilize their power over the enemy. If this was the church of today, society would be falling towards the will of God rather than away from it!
Remember, in the last days men will have a form of godliness, but will deny the power of the Holy Spirit. But know this, that in the last days grievous times will be upon us. For men will be self loving ones...having a form of godliness, but denying the power of it… (2 Timothy 3:1-2,5)(KJ3)
Part 2 - The Gifts
And to each one is given the showing forth of the Spirit to the profiting of each one. For through the Spirit is given to one a word of wisdom, and to another a word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; and to another, faith by the same Spirit; and to another, gifts of healing by the same Spirit; and to another, workings of powers; and to another, prophecy; and to another, discerning of spirits; and to another, kinds of languages; and to another, interpretation of languages. But the one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing separately to each one as He purposes (1 Corinthians 12:7-11)(KJ3)
WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE -
Wisdom and knowledge are two different things.
Knowledge is knowing specific facts and truths about something. The Holy Spirit can give us supernatural knowledge at times, tidbits of knowledge that would have been impossible to know. It may also be a deep knowledge regarding a specific topic such as demons and how they work. Knowledge helps us in specific situations. It also helps us to develop wisdom.
The Holy Spirit can give us the supernatural ability to use our knowledge about things to successfully live our lives, this is wisdom. He can also give us wisdom without having much knowledge about something.
For an example of knowledge and wisdom, lets look at homosexuality. A disciple knows that God doesn’t like homosexuality; therefore, it is a sin (knowledge). A disciple knows that God doesn’t like people supporting homosexuality (knowledge). A disciple knows that our war isn’t against people, but rather evil spirits that are influencing people (knowledge). A disciple knows how to cast out demons (knowledge). When these pieces of knowledge are put together, a disciple uses it for his own wisdom. A disciple refuses to participate in homosexuality and doesn’t support it (wisdom). A disciple doesn’t hate the homosexual, but does hate the demons that push the person into homosexuality (wisdom). A disciple offers a solution, which is sharing with the homosexual the knowledge of God’s feelings about homosexuality, the knowledge of demons, and the knowledge of how they operate (wisdom). If the homosexual is willing to repent, the disciple can cast out the demons causing the homosexual urges. Another evil stronghold will have been torn down!
FAITH -
All believers and doers of the Word are given the Holy Spirit. He gives the believers and doers enough faith that if they continue to believe and do, will allow them to be accepted into heaven when they die.
The gift of faith goes beyond this. The gift of faith allows someone to KNOW the Word is true. Very simply, yet completely. The usual doubt and unbelief that clouds believers minds don’t have much influence over someone with a gift of faith.
With the gift of faith, the bible comes alive. It is read as if it is really true...all of it. Christianity becomes exciting and the bible becomes the source of ALL truth. Becoming a disciple becomes a priority. Making more disciples becomes a deep desire. Carrying out the great commission, in its entirety (the full gospel), also becomes a deep desire. Spreading the full gospel, casting out demons, tearing down evil spiritual strongholds, healing the sick, and the like will be a normal way of life. With the gift of faith, we can more easily submit ourselves to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
HEALING -
All disciples can pray for healing to occur and see success. Praying like a typical Christian by asking God to heal someone isn’t a bad thing. But when we ask God to heal someone, we are asking Him to do something He has already done. But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His wounds we ourselves are healed (Isaiah 53:5)(KJ3). Instead, if we use the power and authority He has given us and directly command the sickness or illness to leave in His name, we’ll see a much higher success rate. The same goes for injuries. A disciple’s primary way of praying is to command the illness to leave or the injury to heal in Jesus’ name.
When I first started to pray for people to be healed by commanding the healing to occur in Jesus name, I saw a high rate of success. The far majority of the time it happened. There were times though that people weren’t healed or only a partial healing occurred. I also saw people who were completely healed, only to see the problem eventually come back. Eventually the success of the healings reduced, but I had a feeling God still wanted to heal the people. I’ve learned he DOES want to heal everyone. I learned I had to start digging deeper to get someone healed. I had to cast out many demons until I found the one that was tied to that sickness. When that demon left, so did the sickness. I learned sometimes we had to get rid of unforgiveness towards someone or spirits of witchcraft. Sometimes we had to remove some generational curses. I found that God DOES want to heal EVERYONE and he uses sickness and other works of the devil to teach us to attack such problems like a disciple, utilizing the guidance and gifts from the Holy Spirit. I learned that if someone doesn’t get healed quickly, a disciple does NOT think that it must be God’s will. Rather, I learned that we must be vigilant and keep spiritually digging until the healing occurs...being obedient like a child.
The gift of healing may be given to a disciple at a specific time to heal a specific sickness or injury. Sometimes the Holy Spirit will allow someone to flow continuously in a gift of healing for a specific sickness. Sometimes the Holy Spirit will allow a particular disciple to generally have a higher success rate than other disciples.
God WANTS us to be healed, but that isn’t His top priority. He uses illnesses and injuries as tools for us to learn to be led by the Holy Spirit on a deeper level.
POWERS (MIRACLES) -
Powers, signs, wonders, and miracles can be given to disciples as the Holy Spirit chooses. These can be anything that promotes God’s kingdom. Casting out demons, raising the dead, and healing the sick can be considered powers. Such things make people listen closely to the person demonstrating such power. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed (Acts 8:6-7)(NIV). To help spread the Word, the apostles walked in power. Truly the signs of the apostle were fully worked among you in all patience, in miraculous signs, and in wonders, and by works of power (2 Corinthians 12:12)(KJ3).
PROPHECY -
The gift of prophecy doesn’t mean the ability to predict the future, although at times it may do just that. Prophesying means to speak forth God’s will. The ability to prophecy may be in close proportion to the amount of faith one has. ...but having differing gifts according to the grace given to us, whether prophecy, according to the proportion of the faith; (Romans 12:6)(KJ3)
The prophets of the Old Testament revealed God’s will through prophecy. God’s will has now been revealed through the completed bible. The prophets of old can be compared to the teachers of the present. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them - bringing swift destruction on themselves (2 Peter 2:1)(NIV). There is scripture that can’t be fully understood without revelation from the Holy Spirit. Someone who can teach scripture to cause revelation can be considered to be prophesying.
DISCERNING OF SPIRITS -
For Christians who don’t strive to accomplish the great commission in its entirety, they often refer to this gift as the gift of “discernment.” They think it's the ability to know if something is truly from God or not.
A disciple on the other hand, who routinely casts out demons, knows that this gift means the ability to identify spirits. This identification can be through a proper name (Leviathan), a general name (pride), or by function (causing one to be offended at the thought they may need deliverance).
We already have some general guidance about spirits. Beloved ones, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God; every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. And every spirit which does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not from God; and this is the antichrist which you heard is coming, and now is already in the world (1 John 4:1-3)(KJ3).
KINDS OF LANGUAGES -
People were originally made speaking the same language. There weren’t different languages until God had to make it happen to curb our evil intentions. Now the whole world had one language...Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves”...The Lord said, ”If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”...That is why it was called Babel - because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth (Genesis 11:1-9)(NIV).
At Pentecost, as soon as the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, they were able to speak in all the many languages of the people who were present. ...the day of Pentecost, they were all with one mind upon the same place and purpose. And suddenly a sound came out of the heaven, as being borne along by a violent wind! And it filled all the house where they were sitting. And tongues, as of fire appeared to them, being distributed, and it sat on each one of them. And they were all filled of the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave to them to speak. Now there were Jews dwelling in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation of the ones under the heaven. But this sound occurring, the throng came together and were confounded, because they were each one hearing them speaking in his own dialect. And all were amazed and marveled, saying to one another, Behold, are not all these, the ones speaking, Galileans? And how do we hear each one in our own dialect in which we were born,... (Acts 2:1-8)(KJ3) As the disciples were speaking, everyone could understand them in their own language at the same time. There have also been many testimonies of a disciple speaking one-on-one with someone of a different language, yet the disciple had never learned that language.
Some people can speak in a heavenly language not understood by people or evil spirits. This speech is only understood by the Holy Spirit, Jesus, and God the Father. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:2)(NIV). This prayer comes from the spirit, not the mind. For if I pray in a foreign language, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful (1 Corinthians 14:14)(KJ3). This heavenly language builds a person up spiritually.
INTERPRETATION OF LANGUAGES -
Sometimes a heavenly language can be spoken at church or to a group of disciples. When this is done there should be someone with the gift to interpret languages present. If one speaks in a language, let it be by two or three at the most, and in turn, also let one interpret. And if there is no interpreter, let him be silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God (1 Corinthians 14:27-28)(KJ3).
Part 3 - Some Things Are Given To All Disciples
Some things are given to all disciples. This includes the ability to cast out demons and heal the sick. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well” (Mark 16:17)(NIV).
While all discilples can cast out demons and heal the sick, someone with a gifting can do it at a more consistent and deeper level.
Part 4 - The Church Should Work Together To Utilize Our Gifts
Disciples don’t quench the Spirit. They allow the Holy Spirit to lead them. This makes them spiritual warriors, good soldiers for Jesus. By allowing the Holy Spirit to move, disciples will find their giftings. Then, when they assemble together and the different gifts are put into action, the power of the group becomes greater than the sum total of each disciple. This is what church is supposed to be like. Through our various giftings, we can support each other with supernatural power. A power that far exceeds anything the devil can throw our way.
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body-whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up on one part but of many.
Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.
If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 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. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I show you the most excellent way (1 Corinthians 12:12-31)(NIV).
Disciples live their lives in a way pleasing to the Lord. To take it one step further, for disciples to live their lives in THE MOST EXCELLENT WAY...we should assemble together and utilize our giftings to help one another.
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