GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Good Evening to All!

The answers to last night's Bible Challenge "Obedience to God" are as follows:

1. eight (Genesis 7:13)
2. b) Noah (Genesis 8:20)
3. d) she turned to salt (Genesis19: 1-26)
4. b) Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19)
5. c) sacrifice their best products, carefully chosen and prepared
(Leviticus 1;3,2:1, 3:1,etc.)
6. c) sacrifices (1 Samuel 15:22)
7. b) Absalom (2 Samuel 15:1-6)
8. c) his wives (1 Kings 11:4)
9. d) refusing to dine on royal meat and wine (Daniel 1:8)
10. D) Stephen (Acts 7:54-60)

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Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
(1 Corinthians 12:1)

Much has been written about the gifts of the Spirit throughout Christian history. The Bible itself teaches us the importance of the gifts of the Spirit and the importance of our not being ignorant of them. Yet, in spite of all the information available today on the subject, many people are totally ignorant of these gifts.

There are many varieties of "gifts" but they are all given by the same Spirit, the Holy Spirit. When our relationship and faith run deep for God within us. We can be used by God to use these gifts from Him. When we let God LEAD us in the use of these gifts, they will help us to reach a deeper level of power in our lives. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 says: For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; (9) To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; (10) To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers
(indefinite quantity) kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: (11) But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. ( These gifts are given all by the Same Holy Spirit and He will give them out however He desires. He may give several gifts to one person and 1 gift to someone else. It is His choice. He gives us these gifts so that He may use us as His instruments to reach the world and do the works that Jesus did.

A lot of people believe that these gifts are not for us today, but they are. God made us this promise. He said that we would be doing His works and more. He also assured us that His promises are for them back then and for generations afar off, (meaning us).

All of these things are abilities and gifts of supernatural power by which the believer is enabled to accomplish something beyond the ordinary, but only if their faith in God is strong. We must remember when we are doing these things, it is not us, but God's power flowing through us to the other person. or in the case of wisdom, knowledge, discerning of spirits, from God's Spirit to our heart and mind. It is an amazing feeling to be used by God in that respect.

Some people actually believe that these gifts such as the gift of tongues can be taught. Don't be deceived. These gifts are God-Given. They will come naturally by God. No Man can teach the Heavenly Language of tongues. It is God's language. We cannot choose which gift we will have. God does that for us. We must pray and ask God which one He has given us and listen for His reply. Then use it. All the while remembering that you must have faith that something will happen. Without faith, the "work" is dead.

I hope to go into more detail about each individual gift over the next few days. They are so important. The gifts of the Holy Spirit should be a normal part of your everyday life.

Good Night to All and May God Bless!

LOVE = THE MORE EXCELLENT WAY

Good Evening to All!

I started a devotional tonight that had one particular verse. 1 Corinthians 12:31. The problem with that is for some reason, the verse seems incomplete. It need the verses above and below it to show its importance. For example: at the beginning of Chapter 12 it is talking about the Spiritual Gifts. It explains how they are diverse. We all have different gifts, none of which are more important than the other. ALL of them are needed. We are all members of the body of Christ, and we each have the gifts which the Holy Spirit has bestowed upon us. As we get further into the reading, His Word goes from speaking of the gifts and the members of the body of Christ to positions in His body. (1 Corinthians 12:28) God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings helps governments, diversities of tongues. (29) Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? (30) Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? (31) But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. THEN Chapter 13 comes in and says All gifts, however excellent, are noting without charity: (4) the praises thereof. A more excellent way, meaning LOVE.

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The beginning of Chapter 13 clearly tells us that no matter how many or which of the gifts which the Holy Ghost has bestowed upon us, and we may operate in, they are not good unless we are also operating in love.

Some people which God has honored with these gifts misuse them. Rather than focusing on the love involved in using their gift, they think about putting the attention on themselves. This counteracts the gifts and makes them useless. If people would just realize. When the man who was let down through the roof to be healed, Jesus told him that his friends' faith had made him whole. So really while God is the true healer, it isn't when we lay hands on people, or speak in tongues, that make the difference, its the faith and love for God which we show. The faith and love which we have in God and His abilities, definitely not our own.

In 1 Corinthians 12 there are nine gifts of the Spirit listed and several others in Romans 12. The Gifts of the Spirit are extremely important and we should ALL desire them, and there are nine fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5. These fruits are extremely important also. They are the attributes which we need to achieve being Christ-like, which is what God's Word asks us to strive for. These are word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues.

He knows we aren't perfect. After all, He made us. He says to strive for perfection. The way I look at it is if there was a chance for us to be perfect before we are caught up in the air with Christ, He would not have had to sacrifice Himself for our sins. He could have found a man who was perfect to be the sacrifice.

OK back on track. The Fruits of the Spirit are what we strive for when we have been baptised in the name of Jesus, had our sins washed away, the old man was "taken off" and the new man put on. According to Acts 2;38, we SHALL receive the Holy Ghost. When this happens He will guide us into all truths and teach us. He will help us to achieve the nine Fruits of the Spirit.

If we achieve these nine Fruits of the Spirit, then we will undoubtedly have love, and operate with love in our hearts. Now let me say, you can have love without all of the Fruits but there must be some. Which ones do you have?

Love , Joy, Peace, long-suffering (patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance (self control).


Good Night and May God Bless!

GOD USES ALL KINDS

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And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12)

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I had originally planned to go a different direction and explain the difference between each of the callings, but after reading and researching here is what I discovered. The main thing is that ALL of them were and are called to declare the Word of God to the People.

Pastors have the highest and most important post because He is responsible for guidance, as well as preaching and teaching the Word. It is his responsibility to preach and help us to know what God expects from us, and how to live for God. The "teachers" are just that. They are suppose to teach us lessons from God's Word to help us get along in this life, yet still maintain being a Christian unless we have the knowledge and the "spiritual weapons" to do so. Evangelists: These are "traveling preachers", although their main concern in their messages are people receiving Salvation.

As Children of God, it is all of our responsibility to spread God's Word. This is one reason God says to hide His Word in our hearts. There may come a time when we come across someone who is in real need of encouragement from God, or guidance from Him and we may be the one who is there to give it. He has given each of us certain gifts, but it is up to us whether we choose to use and develop them or not.

While we need to be cautious about who we listen to because God does warn us about false preachers, God uses all kinds of people. some may not be well educated, (even the Bible says some of the disciples were unlearned), but that is the purpose of the Holy Spirit. He is to teach us and lead us into All Truths. So this tells me that someone who studies the Word (even on their own), spends a lot of time with God in Prayer, and has an intimate relationship with Him is one whom I would trust to give me a Word from the Lord. I have several ladies in my church to whom I can go to with questions and would take their word just as easily as I would my Pastor's, because I know their hearts are as close to God as one can be. I sincerely believe that He places people in our lives for a specific time and specific reason. He places these people in our lives specifically to help and build up believers, for "the full equipping of the saints" to help us in our spiritual warfare.

I can't and won't say that I was specifically chosen by God to proclaim the Word of God. What I will say is that I feel that it is my duty as a "True Christian" to do so, especially because of the demoralization of the world's status. Not only that, I enjoy talking about God. He is my favorite subject. I can't help but feel that if He is the main thing I talk about, then somewhere along the line, something I say to someone will be just what they NEEDED to hear, and will change their life for the better. We need all of the outspoken Christians we can get to proclaim the Word of God and Salvation we can get. The latter days are here, and the time is drawing nigh for Jesus' Return. When it's my turn to stand in front of my Creator, I want Him to see that I did all I could to bring people to Him and lead them toward Salvation. I look forward to hearing the words "Well done, thy good and faithful servant".

I encourage you to allow God to speak to you through whomever He chooses and to not resist a message from Him by rejecting someone He sends to speak His word to you. After all, He used a donkey to talk to Baalam, so why is it so difficult to believe that He would use an "average" person to send you a word from Him?

Another way of edifying God or building up "the church" is by the use of "Spiritual Gifts".
The Spiritual gifts are Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues. God divides these gifts among His people as He sees fit.

We must pray, and focus on God's Will, to know which He has given to us. Then use it. The main key, though, is faith. We must have faith that Our God will hear our prayer and do as we ask. according to His Word. After all, His Word does say in John 15:7, If ye abide in Me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. This is only one of many verses that say if we know His word and will believe in Him, and His ability, what we ask, He will take care of. Without faith, our gift is useless. After all, it is God that works through us. not our own abilities.

Remember: God places certain people in our lives for a reason. Learn to enjoy a variety of people and the gifts God has placed in them for your benefit.

Good Night to All and May God Bless! Don't forget to enter my book give-away! Remember you get one entry for each way that you follow me and also one for letting me know your Blog Frog Identity!

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The Fruit and Gifts of the Spirit

Good Evening to All!

I read something the other day that really got me to thinking. I began to wonder how many of us "limit God's power because we don't think or "realize" that everything the disciples and people had in Biblical times we still have today. To say that something doesn't apply to us "today" is just like saying God could do it back then, but not now. What He did back then doesn't happen to us. Well, sorry, but I tend to disagree. Tonight, I would like to delve into the "Fruits of the Spirit" and the Gifts of the Spirit.

I don't think there is any disagreement that the "Fruits of the Spirit still exist. According to Galatians 5:22-24, the fruit of the Holy Spirit is the work which His presence within us accomplishes. These consist of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. Against such there is no law. Those who are in Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. These attributes are what we as "Christians should strive for.

Now for the more controversial subject. The Gifts of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:4 says There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of
activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit , to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another "discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

I have heard many times people say "these aren't for us today". That was just in Biblical times. According to the Word, John 14:12, Jesus said, Most assuredly, I say to you he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he shall do also ; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name , I will do it.

In other words WE as Christians have these gifts as long as we believe and have
faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

These were brought about by baptism of the Holy Ghost according to Acts 2:38-39.

In Acts 2:36, it said Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (37) Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter, and to the rest of the apostles men and brethren, what shall we do? (38) the Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remissions of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

According to Acts 2:17 for example, says, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.

I also believe in revelations from God. Before I start my post, I pray for God to let me know what He wishes for me to tell you. No, He has never been audible like He was to Paul on the road to Damascus, presented Himself as a burning bush and told me to take off my shoes, but I do get a strong feeling in my spirit of what He wants. I will not say He doesn't do that, just that He has not manifested Himself physically or audibly to me personally.

We have all experienced them. How do you explain when you leave your house in the morning, and forget something, just to have to go back home, thereby avoiding an accident or something bad happening to you. What about when you're thinking about something, and a little while later someone brings something up in affirmation to what you were thinking without you saying anything? These to me are all revelations from God. The word revelation simply means to reveal something, which we get on a daily basis from God if we just think about it and look around us.

I hope this has shed a little light on the subject of Fruit of the Spirit, Gifts of the Spirit, and Revelations from God.

Good Night and May God Bless!