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Gifts Of The Holy Spirit
Contributed by Ruel Camia on May 3, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: The Believer’s Relationship with the Gifts: The gifts are manifestations of the Spirit’s presence. (1 Corinthians 12:7) The Greek word for “manifestation” means – a shining forth, a making visible, a clear display, plain evidence. Thus, we are used to
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The Believer’s Relationship with the Gifts:
The gifts are manifestations of the Spirit’s presence. (1 Corinthians 12:7)
The Greek word for “manifestation” means – a shining forth, a making visible, a clear display, plain evidence.
Thus, we are used to reveal the presence of the Holy Spirit.
The key thought is that we are the “used” and not the “users”
Too many people want to use the gifts rather than be used by the Spirit in the gifts
Too many people have it backwards. They think the gifts are tools we use to do the work of God. In reality, we are tools the Holy Spirit uses to manifest Himself.
Because of this fact, we are “used” and not the “users”. We need to understand:
The Spirit chooses which gift is to operate. (1 Corinthians 12:7)
The Spirit chooses which person is to be used in the gift.
Thus, there is no room for jealousy
The use of the gifts is a cooperation between man and the spirit.
We do not lose control of ourselves
Such “emotionalism” is part of our past unsaved life. (1 Corinthians 12:2)
Such emotional loss of control leads to demon worship, not to God
We are always in control of ourselves. (1 Corinthians 14:32)
We are actually a team with the Holy Spirit.
We are yielded vessels. We have the potential for all the gifts.
The gifts are gifts of grace not earned by our lifestyle or maturity.
The Greek word for gifts:
DORON – an expression of honor for something we have done.
CHARISMA or CHARIS – a grace, unmerited favor.
Therefore the Spirit uses us in the gifts not based our lifestyle or
maturity.
When a person is used in the gifts, it is not because the Holy Spirit approves of his lifestyle.
A very good example is the church at Corinth
Becoming the person the Spirit chooses to use.
Be a person of DESIRE (1 Corinthians 12:31; 14:1)
We are to be earnestly ambitious for the gifts.
We are commanded to desire to be used.
The causes of this desire:
Obedience to God’s command
Love for the other members of the body (1 Cor. 12:7; 14:3)
Be a person of FAITH (Romans 12:6)
Fear of the other members of the body will keep us from being used.
“I’m shy”
“I’m ashamed”
If we are afraid of someone, then we don’t really love them (1 John 4:18)
Fear is the opposite of faith.
Have faith to be used.
By studying about the gifts in the Word (Romans 10:17)
Then step out in faith and yield yourself to be used.
Guidelines for orderly operation of the gifts.
The need for order in the operation of the gifts.
God is always a God of order and never a God of confusion. (1 Corinthians 14:33)
Maintaining order in the use of the gifts.
Motives can destroy order.
An unteachable spirit (1 Corinthians 14:37-38)
There are some people who think they are spiritual because of the way they have learned to act.
They always think they are right when in actuality they only have an unteachable attitude.
People who are unteachable should be ignored and not allowed to minister in the gifts.
Rebellion against God (1 Corinthians 14:32-33)
We can control the Holy Spirit’s movements through us (1 Corinthians 14:32)
Confusion is caused by rebellion
3. Spiritual pride
The desire to be somebody, therefore, we think we should operate in the gifts.
The attitude that we are better than others and need to correct them through the use of the gifts
Motives that cause order.
The desire for edification to take place (1 Corinthians 14:26)
A love for the people (1 Corinthians 14:1)
Practical advise to order:
A gift of tongues must always have an interpretation (1 Corinthians 14:27-28)
Tongues must only operate two or at the most three times in a service (1 Corinthians 14:27)
Prophecies should be spoken one at a time. (1 Corinthians 14:31)
After two or three prophecies, there must come a time of evaluation (1 Corinthians 14:29)
If two are speaking at once, the first who speak should sit down (1 Corinthians 14:30). After the one finishes, the first one may continue.
Guidelines for judgment of the gifts. (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21)
Judgment has the idea of a thorough examination of the operation of the
gift. (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21)
We should not say “judge not lest you also be judged”
We are commanded to judge and to examine the operation of the gifts.
Otherwise, we will be led astray
Otherwise, we will be confused
3.The judgment is not for the purpose of condemnation or rebuke but for the purpose of order.
Guidelines for judgment.
We must keep a few things in mind:
There will be varieties
There will be a variety of effects of the gifts of the Spirit. (1Corinthians 12:6)
