Introduction to the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Introduction: We are going to teach on the gifts of the Spirit. I would love to be able to demonstrate what I am teaching but I cannot. They are not my gifts but His and He gives them as He chooses not as we chose. Let me say, however, you will never find the gifts of the Holy Spirit operating in the life of someone who has not been Baptized in the Holy Spirit.
I. Are the gifts for today?
1 Corinthians 13:8 - 13 (NKJV) 8Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now - I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Prophecy will fail
Tongues will cease
Spiritual knowledge will vanish
When?
10But when that which is perfect has come,
What is the perfect?
The Bible? The “canon” of scripture did not come into being until 400AD! The original text had disappeared so which was perfect – the Latin translation, or perhaps the English KJV in 1611?
ILL: I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God but I also know that the original Greek and Hebrew texts do not exist – that the Bible as we know it was developed over centuries and each language has its distinct translations and interpretations. So the Bible was not what Paul was referring to!
When I see Him “face to face”
Now all revelation is imperfect “12For now we see in a mirror, dimly”
Mystery
I Tim 3: 16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
God£ was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory.
ILL: The fact of the matter is I do not know what God looks like!
Until “that day” I need every help I can get!
The nine gifts of the Spirit
1 Corinthians 12:1 - 11 (NKJV) 1Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 3Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. 4There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10to 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. 11But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
A. Three gifts of revelation – the eyes of God
A Word of Wisdom
A Word of Knowledge
Discerning of Spirits
B. Three gifts of Power – the hands of God
Special faith
Gifts of healings
The working of miracles
Three vocal gifts – the mouth of God
The gift of Prophecy
The gift of Tongues
The gift of Interpretation
Understanding the Gifts
God wants you to understand the Gifts
1 Corinthians 12:1 - 2 (NKJV) 1Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.
B. Each believer is to have at least one
1 Corinthians 12:4 - 7 (NKJV) 4There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
C. We are to desire Gifts and ask for them
1 Corinthians 14:1 (NKJV) 1Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
D. The Holy Spirit is the source of the gifts
Hebrews 2:1 - 4 (NKJV) 1Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
We are not to neglect the Gifts
1 Timothy 4:12 - 14 (NKJV) 12Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.
2 Timothy 1:3 - 7 (NKJV) 3I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
IV. Description of the Gifts
Word of Wisdom - has to do with future events
Illustration of Word of Wisdom
Acts 21:10 - 14 (NKJV) 10And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” 12Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”
Agabus was a Prophet but prophecy does not always tell the future it is forth-telling as well as for-telling. A prophecy can make things happen a word of wisdom tells what will happen!
Word of Knowledge – has to do with the now!
Illustration of Word of Knowledge
John 4:7 - 18 (NKJV) 7A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. 10Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” 11The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? 12Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?” 13Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” 15The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” 16Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ 18for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.”
ILL: A man stepped into the darkened room where I was ministering. I said, “The man who just entered the room said to himself, ‘if God is real let Him show it and I will turn my life over to Jesus. Sir, God is and you need Jesus in your life!” The man ran to forward and gave his life to Jesus.
ILL: I was in a counseling session. The woman was greatly distressed and had even been in a mental hospital. Suddenly the Holy Spirit spoke to my mind. “Ask her about her underwear!” I thought, “I don’t care what kind of underwear this woman is wearing” Once more the Spirit said, “ask her about her underwear!” So I said, “Is there anything unusual about your undergarments?” She stared at me for a moment and then tearfully replied, “they were given to me at the temple endowment ceremony when I married my husband for time and eternity. He has since divorced me and remarried with the same ceremony and I am going to be his second wife in eternity!” Now before I was saved as a Christian I was a Mormon and a member of the priesthood of the Mormon Church. That Word of Knowledge, like the Word of Knowledge to the woman at the well helped me to get that women set free!
Discerning of Spirits
Illustration of gift of Discerning of Spirits (this is not judging people)
Acts 13:6 - 12 (NKJV) 6Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 11And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
Gift of Faith
Illustration of the Gift of Faith (this is special faith for a situation)
Acts 28:1 - 6 (NKJV) 1Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. 2And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. 3But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” 5But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
Gift of Healings
Illustration of the Gift of healings (this is not the person being healed faith but a gift to the one through which the healing comes)
Acts 3:1 - 10 (NKJV) 1Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Gift of Miracles
Illustration of the gift of miracles ( the gift of miracles puts aside physical laws – such as Jesus feeding the multitudes)
Acts 8:34 - 40 (NKJV) 34So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” 35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” 37Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.
ILL: Philip was transported from near Jerusalem to Azotus -Minister Randy King and myself were transported in an automobile from near Richmond VA to Fairmont West VA in a matter of minutes. The next time we took the trip it took hours and we passed through towns we had never seen before.
Prophecy
Illustration of how prophecy is to be used – it is not fortune telling!)
1 Corinthians 14:1 - 5 (NKJV) 1Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
Edification = build up, strengthen
Exhortation = encourage and motivate
Comfort = sooth in time of sorrow, remove hurt.
Tongues and interpretation = prophecy and must do the same things!
Illustration: Prophecy tongues & interpretation must be confirmed!
1 Corinthians 14:26 - 33 (NKJV) 26How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
ILL: If it cannot be confirmed do not accept it!
Over 30 years ago a woman from Dunn NC prophesied that my ministry would be like in three pipes, each would be larger then the first and out of the last pipe sparks would fly out to the world. A short time after a man from South Africa prophesied that my ministry would be like three buckets, each would fill with water, from the third bucket drops of water would go around the earth. Both my spirit and the elders agreed with both prophesy. The first building closed to our ministry moving us into a second, the second closed and we built the Cathedral of His Glory. TBN put the Cathedral on satellite and sparks went to the world. Our missions have carried the water of the Gospel to the world. Those prophecy have strengthened, encouraged, motivated me and in times of trouble they have removed sorrow.
When I was in Denmark two years ago a Pastor came to my hotel room who had a Word of Wisdom for me he told me some things that were going to take place in my ministry – some things I did not like – but he also told me that after these things some very positive things would happen. I already had been told by the Holy Spirit some of what he was telling me – the end results I am beginning to see but his words encouraged me during the difficult times.
Conclusion: The gifts can be imparted and activated by the laying on of hands by anointed ministry gifts.
Romans 1:8 - 12 (NKJV) 8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— 12that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
