Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Wow! What a challenging subject to bring before you. There is such division between various denominations and exactly what will be acceptable and practiced within the church.
Often, the very mention of gifts of the Holy Spirit conjures up wild behavior, dancing, shouting, shaking uncontrollably. Falling on the floor after someone has touched their head or body . . . This list goes on and on as each denominaton shares their beliefs.
Often people associate Gifts of the Holy Spirit with praying in tongues, interpretation of tongues… healings, and other signs and wonders.
We need to understand what are, and are not the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Our Father is not a God of confusion and chaos.
We worship the Holy Trinity . . . The Father (Abba), the Son ( Jesus Christ ), and the Holy Spirit. Three in ONE as God.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are, indeed, real! The gifts of the Holy Spirit are absolutely ours and to be used for the Glory of God. We should look closely at Gods Holy Word and allow the Holy Spirit to speak clearly to our hearts.
At the most basic level, gifts of the Spirit are given to us; fruit of the Spirit is developed in us over time- it is the direct result of the Spirit working in our lives. It is important to underst and that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit as He promised.
Acts1:8 KJV states,
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
There are a total of twenty-one different gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in Gods Holy Word given to the Body of Christ for equipping the saints for the work of ministry and edifying the Body of Christ … All to glorify to the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:8-10 NLT:
To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the Spirit gives the gift of healing.
These are powerful gifts and play an important part in our personal walk with Jesus Christ and with our responsibilities within the church.
Wisdom: The ability to speak with wisdom
Knowledge: The ability to speak with knowledge
Faith: The ability to have faith
Healing: The ability to give gifts of healing
Miracles: The ability to perform miracles
Prophecy: The ability to prophesy
Discerning Spirits: The ability to distinguish between good and evil spirits.
Tongues: The ability to speak in different kinds of languages
Interpretation of tongues (vocalization of what has been prayed in the speaking of tongues).
Many do not know that the gifts of the Holy Spirit can be found in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
After Daniel told the king what God had revealed to him, he received favor, great gifts and honor. God gave Daniel wisdom in his time of need.
Because of their obedience to God, Daniel and his fellow Israelites were blessed with knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom.
The Hebrew word translated “wisdom” is chokmah, the very same word Solomon uses when requesting wisdom from God.
Daniel was blessed and given several gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Daniel was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems.
Ezekiel 36:26-27 NKJV
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
Where to find other spiritual references of the Holy Spirit:
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 KJV
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
1 Corinthians 12:3 NIV
I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “ Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord, “except by the Holy Spirit.
Romans 12:6-8
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. If it is serving, then serve, if it is teaching, then teach, 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.
Matthew 28: 16-20 (often referred to as the Great Commission)
Jesus gathered His disciples around Himself and commanded them to go into all the world and bring the Good News. Yes, two-thousand years ago our Lord Jesus commanded His followers to go and preach the good News it wasn’t an idea… He didn’t ask their opinion….. it was a command. Jesus tells the disciples to “ Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.
Moments before Jesus ascended to the Father, He told the disciples, “and these signs shall follow them that believe;
Mark 16:17–18
IN MY NAME (Jesus) shall they cast out devils; THEY SHALL SPEAK WITH NEW TONGUES; they shall take up serpents, if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not harm them.
Matthew 10:8 NIV
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, and cast out demons. GIVE AS FREELY AS YOU HAVE RECEIVED.
Our Lord sent them away EMPOWERED with the Holy Spirit.
We have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
He has Forgiven our sins.
“AND “
We receive the gift and power of the Holy Spirit.
As a believer, we acknowledge this as truth and a gift of God. How do we know what gifts God may have for us? How do we get these gifts? Are we a doubting Thomas?
We must recognize that God’s holy Word is absolutely infallible. God does NOT make mistakes. Jesus, HIMSELF, told us He would send a comforter. That comforter is the HOLY SPIRIT.
This Holy and precious gift is of God is never to be taken lightly. This gift has purpose for each of our lives, and the body of the church.
Some individuals and some churches believe that these gifts were only for His disciples and at the time of Pentecost. This is a grave error. There is NOWHERE in God’s Holy Bible that says that the gifts of the Spirit are only for that time.
The Holy Spirit and the gifts He bestows uoon us are very real … miracles do happen . . . Healings do happen. Comfort is given and Gods holy Word is taught. Wisdom and discernment also exist as do many others.
1 Corinthians 12: 29-31 NIV
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. Love is indispensable, And yet I will show you the most excellent way.
Paul teaches that all spiritual gifts are important and should be valued in the church. He also compares the Christian church to a human body. Each having their own gift or gifts but all of one body. Each gift of God to be used to glorify Jesus Christ as Lord.
Abba . . . Our Father has provided the way and the answers we seek.
Matthew 7:7 NIV.
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Do not become frustrated … each of us is a member of the body of Christ Jesus. Each of us has a calling upon our lives. Together, we are one needing the other and the gifts God has freely given.
If you want a specific gift ask … Abba will and has abundantly poured out His holy Spirit on this wonderful church.
You must serve God using by using the wonderful gift(s) He has poured out upon you. These are heavenly givfts fo the Holy Spirti who is your comfortor and you guid
May God bless and keep you as you use His gifts with joy. As you use them within the walls and of your community, and especially your hospitals. Reach out just as Christ commanded His followers to do over two-thousand years ago. He expects us to continue reaching out today.
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Most people call William Moorhead, Papa Moose. He brags that he is married to an angel with her wings clipped. He and Marilyn have been married for nine years. Writing is something he never thought that he’d be called to do. However, God pricked his heart five years ago and he can’t put his pen down. He never knows what the subject will be or when God will stir his heart to write. It is Papa’s hope and prayer that his short stories will touch the hearts and minds of those who read them.
Image by Arnie Bragg from Pixabay
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