Do you understand the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
The Apostle Paul knew there would be a lack of understanding about this subject so he clarified it in his letter to the Corinthian Church.
He explained to them and believers today that all the gifts are administered by and through the Holy Spirit as “He” wills! Through God’s word we learn that the Holy Spirit is a person not some kind of invisible force. We read in the Book of Acts that he was lied to by Ananias and Sapphira who were told that when they lied to the Holy Spirit they had lied to God. The Holy Spirit is a living being, the third person of the Trinity. He is responsible for doing the will of the Father and one of his responsibilities is the dispersement of Spiritual Gifts in the Body of Christ, the Church.
Although there are varieties of gifts, they include ministries and varieties of effects but they all come from God through the Holy Spirit to each person for the common good. The Holy Spirit works in all these things distributing to each one individually JUST AS HE WILLS!
I have heard some in the Church speak of one having “The gift” of healing, this cannot be true. The exercise of the gift is by the Holy Spirit alone! (The believers are the vessels through which the “Greater Works” of Jesus are being done today.)
Those Greek words for healing are translated in the plural; “Gifts of Healings”. What takes place through the Holy Spirit could be a physical, mental or spiritual healing, whatever God has willed for that person.
Paul writes that not ever believer has the same gifts, not all are preachers, teachers but all are one Body of Christ and even if one is a toe in the Body, he gives them more honor, they may be the most gifted in your Church!
I believe there are some in Churches that preach or teach but do not have those gifts, maybe their Dad was a preacher or teacher and they just followed thinking it was the thing to do.
I remember being in a Church and I said to the Pastor that Christians did not need any man to teach them. I remember on the next Sunday, from the pulpit he rebuked me saying that he spoke to a Church member who said we didn’t need teachers of the Bible. My heart sank as I knew he did not understand that I was speaking about the Holy Spirit who is our true teacher and works through those with the gift of teaching. I truly believe that this Pastor did not have the gift for that position. I do remember his Pastor Father, a Spirit filled man, and we spoke together as brothers one night, we both were weeping, two weeks later he went to be with the Lord. The Holy Spirit had moved us both that night. I remember him asking me; “Brother Ken, will you join me in praying for a woman in need” He honored me and I honor him and miss him.
*I also remember a teacher that told our Sunday School Class that Jesus could have sinned along with saying he drank grape juice, not wine, I think he should try being an Usher which may be his gift.
The gifts of the Spirit are to be earnestly desired, pray that you will abound for the edification of the Church. Pursue Love which is the greatest and never fails!
*Love never fails! John 3:16 If Jesus could have failed, God would be a failure but his will cannot be resisted as the Bible tells us. Jesus the second Adam could not sin or fail as he is God the Word in human flesh. Prophesy in the Old Testament confirms the Lord’s victory over sin. In God’s mind it was already done, the Old Testament Saints like Job, Abraham and Moses looked forward to Christ’s death and resurrection which was first promised by the Lord to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel Genesis 3:15 NIV.
Please read 1-Corinthians, chapters 12 and 13, in chapter 13 you will find the gifts will only cease when Jesus returns, we will see him “Face to Face” and know as we are known for we shall be just like him.
Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 11-John 3:2 NLT.
Author Ken
May 2013