AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Friday – October 16, 2020, Tishrei 28, 5781
GIFTS – PART FIFTY
GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT – PART ELEVEN
Greetings and welcome to all who join this blog, the Friday Bible Study titled “Gifts” and currently focused on the nine gifts of the Spirit (Holy Spirit). Please take a moment and share this teaching as widely as possible to expand the reach of this Ministry and the reach of the Truth. Now, let’s dive into this study of the Gifts of God, specifically the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit given to the Church. Recall that the word ‘gift’ can be used as a verb or a noun. The verb form is the action of giving. God gives us these gifts as He wills for the building up of the Church. He gives them to us willingly. Jesus has already paid for these to be available to the Church. What could one pay even if the whole earth were at our disposal? What would be sufficient? Just think about it. To pay money for any supernatural gift of the Holy Spirit, anything from God, is the same as hiring or employing the Holy Spirit. Can you imagine hiring God? God is the giver of these gifts and we are the thankful recipients. The word ‘gift’ as the recipient is in the noun form. A gift can be a talent, skill, or ability, a present, or something granted. In the case of the gifts of the Spirit it is a gifting which conveys a specific supernatural ability. Now, let’s turn our attention to the Apostle Paul’s discussion of these gifts by the unction (leadership and teaching) of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:1 (KJV)
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (KJV)
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 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 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.
You may recall that last Friday we left off with the gift of miracles in verse ten of our primary Bible text above. Today we will pick up with the gift of prophecy. This study will focus on prophecy as one of nine gifts of the Holy Spirit and not the Office of Prophet with prophetic gifting. A Prophet is one appointed, ordained, of God to the Five-Fold Ministry which is for the maturing or perfecting of the saints for ministry and exercising governing authority in the local and greater Church.
Ephesians 4:11-12 (KJV)
11 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:
These are five offices of the Church with authority given of God. It was never intended for the Pastor to be the lone governing authority in a Church. That is not to say the Pastor does not play a key, a vital role in the Church. The Pastor, as the under shepherd, is responsible for the coordination of the Church and making sure the congregation has the very best feed. Notice the office of Pastor does not appear in the following passage.
1 Corinthians 12:27-28 (KJV)
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28 And 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.
Every Church unless they are large may not have an Apostle but every Church should have one from time to time and each Church (the congregation) should know not just who the Pastor is but who the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, and Teachers are in and for that congregation. These people are the governing body of the Church. I realize that this is not a common topic and perhaps you have never heard or even thought about this topic, this issue. This is important because the absence of these gifts, persons, functioning in the Church is a major hindrance in the Church today. There has been a usurping of authority by the Pastors. These offices are to function in the scheduled services and outside of scheduled public services. The time that is used before services and after (not just during) should involve serious ministry by these office holders instead of the social club atmosphere we have today.
Lord willing, I will pick up with this next Friday.
2 Chronicles 20:20b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it, believe it, and speak over yourself and your family by faith in Jesus name! Quit asking God to bless you, you are already blessed, you have the Blessing, give Him something to do by the words of your mouth. Once you know the will of God, decree the thing (Job 22:28, Isaiah 45:11, Mark 11:23). (The Blessing is the Holy Spirit) We have left God way to long with nothing to do in our lives.
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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