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The Gifts of the Holy SpiritWe all have been given gifts of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). In Acts chapter 8 and in 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14 It's like the gifts are laid under the Christmas tree with our names on them. It is up to us each and every one to open them and use them in the way they are meant to be used. Isaiah 11:2-3 speaks of seven different spirits or gifts: These are important gifts and some of them are similar to but different from the gifts of the Spirit that Paul talks about in the New Testament in I Corinthians chapter twelve. There are nine gifts of the Spirit mentioned by Paul in I Corinthians chapter twelve: 1) Word of Wisdom 2) Word of Knowledge 3) Faith 4) Gifts of Healing 5) Working of Miracles 6) Prophecy 7) Discerning of Spirits 8) Divers (or different) kinds of Tongues 9) Interpretation of (different) Tongues Romans chapter twelve lists them as well as I Corinthians chapter twelve. (v 1). There are different kinds of gifts, but the Holy Spirit brings them to each of us (v 4). No two gifts are the same (v 7). The Gift of Wisdom The first gift written about here is the gift of wisdom (v 8). Using this gift would be recognizing that our actions today or moment by moment can effect what happens later or tomorrow. When we operate in this gift we find that the things we do often seem to predict the coming of harm or blessing in the future. When we do things now that takes us or others out of harms way or towards blessing in the future we are benefiting from this gift. The Gift of Knowledge The next gift of knowledge allows us to know things that we have never learned in any conventional way. When we just know something that we should not know by reason or education then this gift is operating in us. (v 8). The Gift of Faith The gift of faith is that very important gift we all have that gives us confidence to believe that Jesus came and died for our sins then resurrected and is living in us today. He lives in us through the Holy Spirit which came to us after he arose into heaven to sit on the throne of God with the Father. It is this gift that helps us use the other gifts. (v 9). The Gift of Healing The gift of healing has been a controversial one (v 9). We must remember that this gift comes from God and not us. It can and often does work through us but ultimately it's God's gift to give. Not everyone we pray for will be healed in the way we might want. The Gift of Miracles The gift of miracles or demonstrating miraculous powers is another gift of the Spirit that is very controversial (10). For example, Jesus walked on the water and fed 5,000 people with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread. We may be used by God in similar ways but I have yet to see God have another human being walk on the water. The Gift of Prophecy (Speaking) The gift of prophecy is that of prophetic speaking (v 10). If understood properly this is an important gift in that God can speak through us of things that have not come to pass but will come to pass. The Gift of Discernment The gift of distinguishing between spirits is having the gift of discernment. With this gift we can discern between evil and good to the extent that we may make choices in our lives that are most helpful to us and others. The Gift of Tongues The gift of tongues is the ability to speak in an unknown or diverse tongues (v 10). Another very controversial and misunderstood gift. When the outpouring of the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost, there were many speaking in tongues. This gift is ours to use as all the others are. We must seek these gifts and use them in a deliberate and ambitious way to get the full benefit from them. The Gift of Interpretation of Tongues The next gift Paul mentions is the gift of interpretation of tongues (v 10). This gift allows us to interpret the gift of tongues. In this scenario, we or others will speak in unknown tongues and then we or others will interpret what the Holy Spirit has communicated throught the unknown tongues. Fruit of the Spirit of God Galatians 5:22-23 New International Version (NIV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. The nine fruits of the Spirit of God are found in the bible. It would appear that there is a suggestion in this scripture that those who seek God regularly would bear these fruits in our lives. How many of us are bearing these fruits is a matter for each of us to consider. How many of us are bearing these fruits is a matter for each of us to consider. Notice that love is the first listed. I would say they are all important but when we consider the teaching of Jesus on what the greatest commandments are, being love, then we recognize the importance of the fruit of love. It seems to me that love effects the others. When we seek the presence of the Holy Spirit, asking for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, as we are filled with and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit the fruit grows in our lives. We know we have the Holy Spirit in our lives if we see the fruit of the Holy Spirit growing in us. Prayer for AbortionsAfter by Scharlene WalkerBroken World Broken People by Scharlene WalkerPrayer for SalvationPrayer for Healing
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