Author’s note: While we have a good English group, and will have another good French group, we are still looking for those with fivefold ministries who want to learn to become teachers and imparters of the gifts of the Spirit. We believe our free online training which begins July 1St and runs through December 31st is the best online training in the gifts of the Spirit in the world today. Why? Simply because the Holy Spirit Himself is the Teacher of the course. We simply come alongside to help. Our graduates raise the dead and do many other miracles. They have helped thousands of others to receive the Holy Spirit. Bless God forever!
If you feel the Spirit poking you to join this training, respond before July 1st and please contact the Rev. Mrs. Sandra Hill the dean of our intern studies, at interns@lightbearers-
THE IMMEASURABLE VALUE OF THE GIFTS
…but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom. 2 Kings 6:12 NKJV
It’s a sad thing to have a tool but never use it or learn to use to its greatest potential. Take golf clubs, for instance. You have to go play the game of golf in order to use golf clubs. They are absolutely of no use at all except to play the game of golf. You can have the most expensive, most precisely custom-made golf clubs, but they are absolutely valueless unless you go play the game of golf!
But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Mark 2:8 NKJV
In our beloved town of Kabale Uganda there is a golf course but no one plays on it. I saw runners once warming up for a run on one of the putting greens. One time an Army helicopter landed on the fairway while bringing an important person to Kabale from Kampala. But, I never saw any golfers playing golf on the course! Somewhere there are bags of golf clubs in Kabale homes that are never used…
Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour. Matt 8:13 NKJV
Now the gifts of the Spirit are just like that set of golf clubs, only with the Spirit’s gifts the game is life, not golf.
If you are not taught at all, or are taught poorly, you will not play at anywhere near your potential with the game of golf. After you are excellently taught, then you must correctly practice, practice, practice until you are confident and familiar with your ability to hit the golf ball with the greatest possible outcome. In one sense, you play against yourself, because no one is ‘playing defense’ against your perfect golf shot. If you hit it perfectly, you will get what they call a ‘hole in one’ – the perfect golf score. Same is true with the gifts of the Spirit…
Now, I’m writing this article, not for dear ones who aren’t Spirit filled, but for those who are like the golfers in Kabale who never get their clubs out of the closet…
One of the great mistakes we have promulgated in the Body of Christ is that God only cares about religious things, not the secular world. I want to tell that the Lord is as much present with you in the boardroom or office on Tuesday as He is on the stage or pulpit in church on Sunday. If we had more miracles on Tuesdays in our businesses and schools then Sundays in church would be much more fun!
Now, let me take you into 1st Corinthians 12 for just a few minutes…
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 1 Cor 12:4-7 NKJV
There is much to learn in these verses, great truths that will help us understand, appreciate and apply the gifts of the Spirit.
Verses four through six show us that the individual born again one has a ministry, an activity peculiar to them, which is a gift to them from the Godhead. Notice the triune nature of the Godhead – Spirit, Lord, God. The whole Godhead is intimately involved in the peculiar gift, ministry and activity that has been given as a gift to you. That truth alone should warrant our undivided attention and complete concern. But does it? Or have we been poorly taught?
The word translated DIVERSITIES and DIFFERENCES is the Greek word DIAIRESIS, meaning ‘differences through God’s choice or option.’ If you bring a gift to someone’s birthday party, it is you who decides what the gift will be, not the recipient, correct? People say they are apostles, but are they? Can I apostle myself? No more so than I can order people to bring certain ‘gifts’ to my birthday party. You are only an apostle, prophet, etc. if God chooses to give you that gift.
Whatever gift you have, and you may have multiple gifts, that gift will be know by its fruit. Carnal Christian people chase religious titles, like secular people chase worldly titles. Titles separate people. Officers in combat wear no insignia and are not saluted. You can’t train to become a prophet. But if you are truly given that gift, then a little training can be useful to bring that gift to maturity. Let your ministry be known by its fruit. Let people discover who you are rather than push it in their face…
Bloom where you are planted. Be zealous in love for the things of God and you will begin to bear fruit that testifies of your gifting. Do you see it?
The Greek word translated GIFT is CHARISMATA, meaning a gift of God’s grace. In the military in peace time I’m told that you don’t salute the man, you salute the rank, the office they are in. Always honor the anointing. David would not touch Saul, when he could have in one sense rightfully killed him, because of the anointing on Saul. In fact, he executed the man who maliciously killed Saul, even though Saul was David’s enemy.
I’m extremely careful about what I say about God’s anointed ones, whether men or women, alive or with the Lord, whom I’ve known or not, because I honor the anointing, the CHARISMATA. I’m like that about all the gifts that come into our ministry. They are holy and must be handled reverently.
The word for MINISTRY is DIAKONOS meaning one who runs to serve. You will always run to serve in the calling you have because your heart will drive you there. It will be a smooth road, in that sense. Get outside of your calling and the road can get bumpy real fast!
The word for ACTIVITIES is ENERGEMA meaning the energizings of God’s power, the anointing. A religious spirit can energize you to do religious things that seek to counterfeit the Spirit of God. Always stay humble, malleable, teachable, without an agenda unless you are on a specific assignment and, even then, don’t magnify the assignment over all else. Never sacrifice the precious (God’s Word, God’s people) on the altar of what is temporal (your assignment).
Now, verse seven…
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 1 Cor 12:4-7 NKJV
Verses four through six deal with the individual and their calling from God. Verses seven through eleven connect us with the tools that enable the individual to succeed at the calling they have been given.
The term ‘manifestation’ is used in the singular like a ‘clump’ of grapes. In one very real sense every born again one has been filled with the Spirit since the time of their new birth. But there is an overflowing fullness that each is to receive. This is actually set off in the Greek manuscript by different words, even though one word – filled – is used in English. That overflowing fullness is primarily first evidenced in speaking in tongues.
TO BE CONTINUED
Remember dear one, we must be about our Father’s business…