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Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Definitions are Important:
Charis is a Greek word which means grace. Charismata is the Greek word for gifts of grace. A gift is a Spirit given ability for Christian service. The Holy Spirit is both gift and giver. Charismatic describes men or movements emphasizing or manifesting the gifts (chaismata) of the Holy Spirit. These gifts are available today to all Believers who will yield themselves to the Leadership of the Holy Spirit for the purpose of bringing honor to Jesus our Lord. The Holy Spirit empowers Believers with both His fruits and His gifts. This ministry of the Holy Spirit in and through Believers brings the supernatural reality of God into their lives.
Biblical Statement:
The gifts of the Spirit are supernatural endowments for service and are given according to the character of the ministry that is to be fulfilled. The purpose of all gifts is the same; to edify the Body of Christ. We should first seek Jesus, the Giver of the Spirit, not for the gifts Then set your heart on the best gifts according to 1 Corinthians 12:31.
Scriptures:
1 Corinthians 12:7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
1 Co 12:8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
1 Co 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
1 Co 12:10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
1 Co 12:11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
1 Co 12:12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
Romans 12:6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
Rom 12:7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;
Rom 12:8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
Eph 4:12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
Eph 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
1 Peter 4:9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
1 Peter 4:10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:
Paul the Apostle encouraged his readers to abound in the things of the Lord. In Matthew 6:33: Jesus urges us to seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things (both temporal and spiritual) will be added to us. The focus of the Kingdom is Jesus Himself, so seek to know Him better. As you seek Jesus you will encounter the Giver of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Do your part, as well in earnestly desiring the gifts of the Spirit.
There is a tendency to regard the gifts as measures of spirituality. We are known by our fruits, not by our gifts. Fruits of the Spirit are the virtues or qualities of the Spirit and these are available to all Christians. Gifts are also resident in the Holy Spirit and in that sense are available to all. However, gifts are given specifically by the Holy Spirit to edify and minister to all who are in the Body of Christ or for the good of all. This includes impacting those who have not yet come into salvation.
Tongues is the most problematic of the gifts.
If you encounter someone who objects to speaking in tongues as the Spirit prompts them, refer them to:
1 Corinthians 14:39 : So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
If someone refers to speaking in Spirit led tongues as madness, then refer them to:
1 Corinthians 14: 23, 24 : If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
1Co 14:24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,
1Co 14:25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
1Co 14:26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
If you encounter someone who is abusive with the gift of speaking in tongues, then refer them to :
1 Corinthians 14: 18, 19
1Co 14:18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
1Co 14:19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
In prayer, ask the Lord Jesus to reveal Himself to you. You received the Lord Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior through faith. It follows then that you should be able to openly receive the gifts of the Spirit in the same way. Use the gifts of the Spirit to draw people to Jesus and always be motivated by His love flowing through you. Ask the Holy Spirit to position you and give you the opportunity to release His fruit and gifts to others, so that Jesus is glorified.
Charis is a Greek word which means grace. Charismata is the Greek word for gifts of grace. A gift is a Spirit given ability for Christian service. The Holy Spirit is both gift and giver. Charismatic describes men or movements emphasizing or manifesting the gifts (chaismata) of the Holy Spirit. These gifts are available today to all Believers who will yield themselves to the Leadership of the Holy Spirit for the purpose of bringing honor to Jesus our Lord. The Holy Spirit empowers Believers with both His fruits and His gifts. This ministry of the Holy Spirit in and through Believers brings the supernatural reality of God into their lives.
Biblical Statement:
The gifts of the Spirit are supernatural endowments for service and are given according to the character of the ministry that is to be fulfilled. The purpose of all gifts is the same; to edify the Body of Christ. We should first seek Jesus, the Giver of the Spirit, not for the gifts Then set your heart on the best gifts according to 1 Corinthians 12:31.
Scriptures:
1 Corinthians 12:7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
1 Co 12:8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
1 Co 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
1 Co 12:10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
1 Co 12:11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
1 Co 12:12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
Romans 12:6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
Rom 12:7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;
Rom 12:8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
Eph 4:12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
Eph 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
1 Peter 4:9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
1 Peter 4:10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:
Paul the Apostle encouraged his readers to abound in the things of the Lord. In Matthew 6:33: Jesus urges us to seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things (both temporal and spiritual) will be added to us. The focus of the Kingdom is Jesus Himself, so seek to know Him better. As you seek Jesus you will encounter the Giver of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Do your part, as well in earnestly desiring the gifts of the Spirit.
There is a tendency to regard the gifts as measures of spirituality. We are known by our fruits, not by our gifts. Fruits of the Spirit are the virtues or qualities of the Spirit and these are available to all Christians. Gifts are also resident in the Holy Spirit and in that sense are available to all. However, gifts are given specifically by the Holy Spirit to edify and minister to all who are in the Body of Christ or for the good of all. This includes impacting those who have not yet come into salvation.
Tongues is the most problematic of the gifts.
If you encounter someone who objects to speaking in tongues as the Spirit prompts them, refer them to:
1 Corinthians 14:39 : So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
If someone refers to speaking in Spirit led tongues as madness, then refer them to:
1 Corinthians 14: 23, 24 : If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
1Co 14:24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,
1Co 14:25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
1Co 14:26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
If you encounter someone who is abusive with the gift of speaking in tongues, then refer them to :
1 Corinthians 14: 18, 19
1Co 14:18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
1Co 14:19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
In prayer, ask the Lord Jesus to reveal Himself to you. You received the Lord Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior through faith. It follows then that you should be able to openly receive the gifts of the Spirit in the same way. Use the gifts of the Spirit to draw people to Jesus and always be motivated by His love flowing through you. Ask the Holy Spirit to position you and give you the opportunity to release His fruit and gifts to others, so that Jesus is glorified.
