Gift of The Spirit

Peter, in 2 Peter 1, reminds us that everything we need for life and godliness has been given to us by God’s divine power. He continues that even though all has been given as a gift, we have a responsibility to grow in wisdom and character in order that we would not be ineffective and unproductive as we walk our spiritual lives. The most important gift we have received is the Holy Spirit and therefore we have the ability to operate in the gifts of the Spirit that Paul identifies in 1 Corinthians 12. As we grow in wisdom and knowledge, we can rightly divide the Word of Truth, and not be undone by our enemies schemes. One of our enemies primary tactics is fear. There is no force in all the world whose presence is to be so deplored as fear. Fear is destructive. Fear breeds suspicion, jealousy and hatred. It is fear which sets men (and nations) at conflict. It is fear that has kept the world at war, and has hindered progress through the years. In the spiritual realm, fear is our greatest foe, Satan's most formidable weapon. It is the FEAR OF DEATH that keeps the unsaved in bondage. Hebrews 2:15 It is the FEAR OF MAN that brings a snare; (or in other words, that hinders a Christian in his life or service unto his Lord). Proverbs 29:25 It is fear that keeps many of God's people from going on in their Christian experience into the realm of the Spirit. The BASIS OF ALL FEAR is IGNORANCE. If the unsaved were not ignorant of the existence and plan of Salvation, if they understood the significance and the reality of the new birth, their fear of death would vanish away, they would accept Jesus Christ, they would be saved from their sins. When we receive enlightenment on the things of the Spirit, our Fear of the supernatural will disappear and it will be replaced by Faith; faith in the things of God, faith in Christ Himself, and in the things which pertain to the furthering of His Gospel. Nothing is more apparent than the fact that God desires His people to understand the things which belong to their peace. He would not have us to be ignorant. In the begin- Notes ning He said: “Let there be light”, and there was light. Isaiah encourages us to walk in that light. Jesus said we were to be as wise as serpents. Paul would have us “wise to do that which is good”. James said that if any man lack wisdom let him ask of God “who gives generously to all without finding fault ”. Genesis 1:3 Isaiah 2:5 Matthew 10:16 Romans 16:19 James 1:5 God does not want us walking in darkness. His Word is a lamp for our feet and a light on our path. Psalms 119:105 His Word sheds light and understanding upon every phase of Christian experience. He makes the way of salvation so plain that the wayfaring man, though a fool, shall not go astray. Isaiah 35:8 He does not leave us in the dark concerning them which sleep in Jesus Christ. I Thessalonians 4:13-18 We are not left in ignorance as to the devices of Satan. 2 Corinthians 2:11 It is made very clear by our text that we are to have a concise and proper conception of spiritual gifts also. I Corinthians 12:1 Notes The Gifts of the Spirit are not new. The gift of prophecy was in operation in the life and ministry of Enoch, the seventh from Adam. Jude 14 The record of its use down through the four thousand years before Christ includes such well known Bible characters as:  Isaac, blessing his sons before his death  Jacobblessinghisgrandsons.  and later his sons.  Joseph’s prophesy regarding the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. Genesis 50:24  Baalam likewise prophesying regarding Israel. Numbers 22, 23, 24  Saul on his way to Gilgal. I Samuel 10-11 Also major and minor prophets whose prophetic utterances comprise so much of our scriptures. The Gift of the Word of Knowledge is seen in operation in the ministry of Joseph. and that of Daniel. Samuel also, who was called “the Seer”. Elisha's ministry would have been impossible without it. The Gift of the Word of Wisdom is referred to as in evidence in the ministry of Joshua. Joseph saved Egypt in time of famine by its operation. Solomon very manifestly possessed this gift. Genesis 41:25-32 Daniel 2:1-45 I Samuel 8, 9, 10 2 Kings 5, 6 Deuteronomy 34:9 Genesis 41:33-39 I Kings 3:26-28 Genesis 27:27-29, 39-40 Genesis48 Genesis 49 The Gift of healing was evidently present in the ministry of many of the priests and prophets of the Old Testament days. The Gift of the performing of Miracles was a mighty weapon in the hands of Moses to the liberating of the people of God; and in the hands of Elijah and Elisha to the con- founding of the enemies of the Lord. Our forefathers in the faith accomplished tremen- dous feats by the operation of the Gift of Faith. Hebrews 11 However, the Gifts of the Spirit in operation in their fullness were to be the earmarks of the Dispensation of Grace, and to this both the Old and New Testaments agree. Isaiah 61:1-2, Mark 16:15-18 It is worth taking note of the fact that when Jesus commenced His Ministry, He first read from Isaiah's prophecy as it is recorded in. Isaiah 35:4-8 Luke 4:14-22 I Corinthians 12:8-10 identifies nine gifts of the Spirit. They divide, by their very nature, into three groups of three, and are listed below under their respective headings. NOTE: These headings are suggested by the various characteristics of the gifts and, as titles, are used commonly to designate the groups. UTTERANCE GIFTS The gift of tongues. The gift of interpretation of tongues. The gift of prophesy. REVELATION or INSTRUCTIONAL GIFTS The gift of the word of knowledge. The gift of the word of wisdom. The gift of the discerning of spirits. POWER or IMPARTATION GIFTS The gift of faith. The gift of healing. The gift of the performing of miracles. The gift of tongues is the God-given ability to speak in languages that you do not understand, and to speak at your own will. The gift of the interpretation of tongues is the God-given ability to bring forth in the language of your understanding the sum and substance of what has been spoken in another or unknown tongue. The gift of prophesy, the product of the operation of which constitutes the testimony of Jesus, is the God-given ability to bring forth in your own language a message from God to the people that is always unto edification, exhortation and comfort. These three are referred to as utterance gifts because that is their mode of operation. Also referred to as worship gifts as they are principally used in the worship of God. Commonly called inspirational as their use inspires both the user and they that hear. The gift of the word of knowledge is the God-given ability to receive from God a word of knowledge, which constitutes a revelation of facts concerning something, any- thing, about which it is humanly impossible for you to know anything at all. The gift of the word of wisdom is the God-given ability to receive from God a word of wisdom, this being a revelation of what to do about a situation once you know the facts concerning the case. The gift of the discerning of spirits is the God-given ability to detect the pres- ence and ascertain the identity of spirits. This also is accomplished by revelation re- ceived from God. Therefore, these gifts are referred to as revelation gifts. They are also called instructional gifts, this being because by their use the child of God is instructed in spiritual warfare. The gift of faith is the God-given ability to not only believe for the fantastically impossible to come to pass, but also to pass on, i.e. impart and inspire faith in the hearts of others. The gift of healing is the God-given ability to impart the healing virtue of Christ to those who believe, providing they are in a position to receive. Notes NOTE: The Scriptures refer to gifts of healings. Some interpret this as: One has a gift to heal one manner of sickness and another the ability to heal another type. This, of course, is an error. Please remember that every healing is something received from God. Therefore, every healing constitutes a gift, and for this reason the scripture refers to gifts of healings. The gift of the performing of miracles is the God-given ability to per- form miracles; i.e. - acts that are contrary to or beyond the realm of the laws of nature. These are called Power gifts because they operate by the effectual working of that power which is in us, i.e. - the power of God. They are referred to as impartation gifts because by their operation you impart something to others, as for example, when you impart the healing virtue of Christ, (or in other words, when you exercise the gift of healing), something goes out of you. Before we go one step further we would have you to understand fully the significance of the term GIFT as it is used here, with reference to these manifestations of the Power of God. The gift is the God-given ability to perform the Act. I Peter 4:10-11 The Act, is each gift, differing. I Corinthians 12:4-6 For instance, in the gift of tongues, the gift being the God-given ability to speak in tongues at your own will, the act being the speaking in tongues. This same principle applies to any of the gifts. With all these thoughts in mind let us begin our study on the Gifts of the Spirit, knowing we are in the will of God in so doing for He Himself said, “Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed ” I Corinthians 12:1