The gifts of the Spirit are just that, gifts. Gifts are something that someone gives to someone else. Jesus gives many different gifts to His Saints to use for many different reasons and many different purposes. When a person becomes a Saint, through believing and accepting the ultimate gift of Jesus sacrifice on the cross resulting in the free gift of eternal life, they become part of Jesus body. Jesus is the head of the body and the believers make up the rest of the body. Jesus is the Spirit that fills each believer and each believer makes up a specific and unique part of His body.
Just as the human body has many parts and each part having a specific purpose in helping the body function properly, so does Jesus' body. Jesus supplies gifts to different parts of His body so that they can function in a manner that will have the greatest influence in revealing who He is, what He did, what His desire is, what He wants, which is Salvation for everyone. The Apostle Peter taught us this in his 2nd letter in Chapter 3, verse 9;
"The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient towards you not wishing for any to perish but FOR ALL TO COME TO REPENTANCE."
The main purpose for Jesus' church (body) is to work in unity with Jesus' Spirit to lead people to Salvation. Salvation is who Jesus is. The apostle Paul explains the use of gifts best when he wrote this in his 1st letter to the Corinthians in Chapter 12, verses 1-31;
(1) "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. (2)You know that when you were pagans (unbelievers), you were led astray to dumb idols, however you were led. (3) Therefore I make known to you, that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, 'Jesus is accursed', and no one can say, 'Jesus is Lord', except by the Holy Spirit."
This is an important thing that Paul has revealed here. He showed us how to discern whether or not a person has received the love of the truth as to be saved and is now indwelt by the Holy Spirit. A person who is not indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God, will not acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. Many people will say that Jesus is Lord, but you have to take it to the place that they understand, 'Lord', when they are saying that. Many will say that Jesus is Lord, when they look at Lord as referring to something less than God Himself. A true believer will acknowledge that Jesus is the Almighty God, not anything less. There is only one Lord. The Almighty God gave Moses 10 commandments, with the 1st being this, 'I Am the LORD your God, you shall have no other gods before Me. Paul is saying that only a true Saint indwelt by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus, will acknowledge that Jesus is The Lord our God.
(4)"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.(5) And there are a varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.(6) And there are varieties of affects, but the same God who works all things in all persons."
Notice here that Paul refers to the same Spirit, the same Lord, and the same God. Remember, 'The Lord our God is ONE'.
(7)But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.(8) For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit,(9) to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another the gifts of healing by the one Spirit,(10) and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.(11) But one of the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually Just as He wills.
Whereas fruits of the Spirit that saints bear, give evidence to their faith, the gifts of the Spirit are the things that Jesus gives out to His Saints for the edification and well being of His body, the church, and the Salvation of souls. The fruits of the Spirit are the different characteristics of Jesus that we allow to flow through us. The gifts of the Spirit are things that Jesus manifest to His Saints either as a lifetime gift or a gift that is given in a special moment, all for an eternal purpose according to His will. Each part of Jesus body has an individual function and that function is a gift in itself.
(12)For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.(13)For by the Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.(14)For the body is not one member, but many.(15)If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body', is it not for this reason any the less a part of the body.(16)And if the ear should say, ' Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,' is it not for this reason any the less a part of the body."
Paul is speaking through these verses to Saints who might question their faith because they don't have what they see another believer having. Many churches have helped to foster this insecurity through some of their doctrines. For example, some churches tell the Saints that if they don't speak in tongues they are not filled with the Holy Spirit. Speaking in tongues is just one of the many gifts. Saints are not required to have a gift or even control the distribution of gifts. The gifts are given by Jesus. So beware of doctrines of demons that are meant to foster doubt in the mind of a believer. This may cause them to question themselves in their minds that maybe they are not a Saint. This is intended to cause them to fall away from the faith.
Paul is telling them not to look at what would seem to be a more notable gift that someone else may have, but know that you have a unique gift in yourself, according to Jesus will, for a special purpose. Maybe even greater than what is seen. Remember, being a Saint is a gift in itself. In verse 7, we read that 'each of us have been given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good'. That means that we have all received the gift of eternal life when we received Jesus' Spirit in our souls. Receiving Jesus' Spirit in our souls occurs when, through faith and our acceptance of Jesus sacrifice, we are placed on the cross with Jesus, we died with Jesus on the cross, buried in the grave with Jesus, and then we were raised with Him in the power of the Resurrection to a new eternal life. This is how Jesus became Our Salvation and saved souls for the purpose of making a New Creation. We now use our new life for the common good of all the body and to grow the body as new members enter.
(17)If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were the hearing, where would the sense of smell be? (18)But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. (19)And if they were all one member, where would the body be? (20)But now there are many members, but one body. (21)And the eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you', or again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you'. (22)On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary, (23)And those members of the body, which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our unseemly members have come to have more abundant seemliness,(24)whereas our seemly members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked,(25)that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.(26)And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it: if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it."
I am sure each of you, who are Saints, can relate to situation where another Saint was going through a hard time, trial, tragedy, or struggle where you could actually feel what they were going through and actually were baring some and absorbing some of their suffering. Maybe you didn't know about it until after the fact, but in your spirit you were uneasy and baring their hurt. Where on the reverse a situation where a Saint is being acknowledged for there good works, and in your spirit you are rejoicing with gladness. Or when someone you know comes to the Truth and becomes part of the body.
(27)Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. (28) And God has appointed in the church (body), first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, various types of tongues. (29)All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? (30) All do not have gifts of healing, do they? ALL DO NOT SPEAK IN TONGUES,do they? All do not interpret, do they?(31) But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I will show you a more excellent way."
Paul goes on in Chapter 13 to speak about the gift of Love, but for the sake of not repeating myself, I am reserving that for (Part 7), which will be on Love. Love is one of the fruits of the Spirit, but it is also a gift of the Spirit. Paul goes on, in Chapter 14, teaching about the use of some of the gifts in the church, when assembling together.
(1)"Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
Paul tell us to Pursue love. God is Love. Paul wants us to, "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus", that is a quote from Peter, in his second book, Chapter 3, verse 18. As we grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus (Love), Jesus will use us to edify and grow the church with the gifts He will trust us with. Prophesy is very important because is tells us of Jesus will and future events. No true prophesy will ever contradict the words of Jesus, in the gospels and Jesus Revelation to John, or the words of the Old Testament prophets. There has always been a warning to those who prophesy something that does not come to pass.
Anyone who quotes the words written by the Prophets of the Old Testament or the words that Jesus gave us concerning things that will come to pass, are prophesying. They will never be contradicted. The gift of prophesy will always bare witness to what has already been spoken or it will be a move of the Spirit of God, where Jesus will reveal a word of encouragement, edification, comfort or it might be a warning to the church for correction, which will help edify.
(2) "But the one who speaks in tongues does not speak to men, but to God; but no one understands, but in the spirit he speaks mysteries. (3)But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. (4)One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church."
The gift of tongues is an angelic language that a Saint uses in their prayer life to edify themselves. It is a language spoken between them and Jesus for self edification and growing in their relationship with Jesus. All of this is for Jesus purpose and Jesus will. Again, not everyone is given this gift.
Sometimes in churches that invite Jesus into their presence invoking the name of Jesus, (Matthew 18:20, Jesus said, 'When two or more are gathered in my name, I Am there in the mist of them'), there is a move of Jesus' Spirit that will move upon one of the saints to give an utterance in tongues that will be interpreted by another Saint who is given, by Jesus, the gift to interpret the utterance. This is done this way to verify the legitimacy of the prophesy that Jesus wants us to hear.
(5)Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues(which Paul is implying that not everyone does), but even more that you might prophesy, and more important is the one that prophesies than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying."
Paul goes on in Chapter 14 to teach the importance of using these gifts properly and not out of order and it makes total sense. Maybe just common sense or spiritual sense. Paul teaches that tongues should not be spoken in the assembling of the Saints unless there is an interpretation. This means unless there is a move on a Saint to speak forth a gift of tongue and that it is followed by a saint who is moved with the gift of interpretation to prophesy what was spoken. Done in this way, tongues becomes a sign to unbelievers when followed with an interpretation, which becomes a sign to believers. Paul continues with this in verse 22:
(22)Now tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to unbelievers; but prophesy is a sign, not for unbelievers, but to those who believe.(23)If therefore the whole church should assemble together and all speak in tongues, and men with no gifts or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? (24)But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or men with no gifts enters, he is called to account by all;(25)the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you."
Prophesy is Jesus speaking through the interpreters to all those that He has something He wants them to hear or bear witness to them that He Is, or a message to edify.
(26)"What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.(27)If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or the most three, and each in turn, and let one interpret;(28)but if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the church; and let Him speak to himself and God."
Paul concludes this subject in verses 39 and 40;
"Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. But let all things be done properly and in orderly manner."
Today we don't see much of tongues utterances followed by a prophetic interpretation for various reasons. Some Christian churches teach that the gifts of the Spirit are not available for the church today. They teach that it ended after the time of the Apostles. The body of Jesus (church) did not stop functioning after the Apostles passed and in fact they were just getting started and needed the gifts even more. Prophetic utterances are one of the ways that we hear from Jesus today. We will need these utterances even more as Jesus return approaches. That is why we are taught to,"not forsake the assembling together, even as we see the day approaching". Paul just taught us, in verse 39, "do not forbid to speak in tongues. He followed though with,"let all things be done properly and in orderly manner.
Other churches permit and even encourage the saints to speak tongues in assembly in praise and worship which Paul taught us not to do in verse 28, with his reasoning he gave in verse 23, "that an unbeliever would think you are mad". So for the purpose of being sensitive toward the unbeliever and for their sake, nothing should distract us from the number one purpose why we assemble, the Salvation of souls. With many speaking tongues at the same time, it is not how Jesus intended it and it allows no opportunity for Jesus to speak to us through an interpreter.
We also learned that Jesus told us, "where two or more gather in My name, there I will be in the mist of them". Unfortunately, many churches today and for many years now, have let Satan and demonic spirits come into the churches to prevent Jesus name from being used. Fortunately, Jesus name is returning with the help of a new awakening among newer believers. For a long time some Pastors and worship teams, knowingly or unknowingly, stopped using and magnifying Jesus name. You would here more, Lord, God, He, Him, and Christ. The problem with that is that there is no power in any of those references. If a worship team does not invoke the presence of Jesus using His name, then there is no purpose for a worship team. If the Pastor does not invite Jesus into the assembly acknowledging that we are gathering in the name of Jesus, the Life and Power to the assembly waits in the wings. If I was Satan, and wanted to take the Life out of the body, I would have done that too. You cannot have the gifts of the Spirit if you don't have the Spirit there. You cannot have utterance in tongues and a prophetic interpretation unless the Spirit that gives the interpretation is invited to be there using His name, Jesus.
All the power for the Saints is in Jesus name.
Acts 4:12; "There is Salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved".
Mark 9:38 and 39; "John said to Him, 'Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not of us'. But Jesus said, 'Forbid him not; for there is no man who works a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of me'.
Mark 16:17 and 18; "These signs shall accompany those who have believed; in My name they will cast out out demons, they will speak with new tongues, they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover".
Philippians 2:10 and 11;"so that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those who are in heaven and on the earth and under the earth".
Notice what we just read in Mark 9:38 and 39 that there was a man, that the disciples did not know, who was able to cast out demons using Jesus name. That is something believers will do in Jesus name. It didn't matter whether you were a believer or not, using Jesus name is the power that gets the result. There will be people that will come to Jesus and say that they did many wonders in His name, and He will say to them that He never knew them. These were people who did things that looked like they were using the gifts of the Spirit, but Jesus didn't know them, so they could not have done the works with gifts of the Spirit, so why could they perform these things. It was the name of Jesus that got the results. Jesus allows the results because He does't want Satan to use His name in vain with no results that would dishonor Jesus name.
Jesus said this in Matthews gospel, Chapter 7, verses 22-23;
(22)"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name and in Your name cast out demons and in your name perform many miracles?'; (23)And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'
We covered this in (Part 5). These people never accepted the truth of the gospel. Jesus said they never bore fruit. He said you will know them by their fruit. My point here is that Jesus name holds all the power and Salvation is the desired outcome above all. We use the gifts of the Spirit for Jesus' glory and the edification and the common good for the whole body of Jesus, the church. The gifts are more than just signs of wonders. The gifts are greater and more effective in the smaller silent uses, but all the gifts have there special place and purpose for the perfect goal of giving all the glory to Jesus. Jesus, meaning, the Lord our Salvation, uses the gifts through us to bring souls into the kingdom of God as His body moves as it was designed to.
Paul sums it up all of this in his letter to the Romans in Chapter 12, verses 3-20;
(3)"For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgement, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.(4)For just as we are many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,(5)So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. (6) And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly: if prophesy, according to the proportion of his faith; (7)if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;(8)or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.(9)Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.(10)Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another with honor;(11)not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;(12)rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,(13)contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.(14)Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not.(15)Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.(16)Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in you own estimation.(17) Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.(18)If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. (19) Never take you own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ' Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord.(20)'But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.'(21)Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
As the body of Jesus, the church, moves and functions as Jesus intended, with the Saints using their gifts, not only will all the members of the body be blessed, but the kindness and message will become a living visible message coming forth from the body that will result in the Salvation of many souls. The kindness of the church that will come forth, will result in the heaping of burning coals on the heads of those who oppose us. That just means that they will be convicted. Remember, it is the kindness of God that leads people to repentance. That kindness of God was intended to come forth and be made visible in Jesus body, the church.
