SPIRITUAL GIFTS (2)

1. Introduction

a) 4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NIV)

2. What are the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit?

a) 7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. (1 Corinthians 12:7-11 NIV)

i) Gifts of Speech (Utterance)

- Tongues
- Interpretation of tongues
- Prophesy

ii) Gifts of Revelation (To "see" in the Spirit)

- A word of wisdom
- A word of knowledge
- Discerning of spirits

iii) Gifts of Ability (To "do" the works of God)

- Gift of faith
- Gifts of healing
- Working of miracles

3. How do we move in the gifting?

a) Desire earnestly to move in the gifting

i) 31Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:31 NIV)

ii) 1Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. (1 Corinthians 14:1 NIV)

b) Be thirsty for the gifts

i) 3For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. (Isaiah 44:3 NIV)

c) Ask God for the gifts

i) 9"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:9-13 NIV)

d) Obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit

i) Be bold and step out in faith to Spirit's promptings and God's Word. God will speak to us through out thoughts, inner voice, pictures, impressions, visions, numbers etc.

e) Have the right attitudes. How?

i) Move in love

@1. 31Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way. (1 Corinthians 12:31 NIV)

@2. 1If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. 11When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:1-13 NIV)

@3. 1Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. (1 Corinthians 14:1 NIV)

ii) Do it not for personal gain but encourage the body of Christ

iii) Dwell in unity

@1. 1How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity! 2It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down on the collar of his robe. 3It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore. (Psalm 133:1-3 NIV)

iv) Be humble and teachable

v) Exercise the gifts and minister to the needs

vi) Pray in faith and mountain will go

@1. 22"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23"Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:22-24 NIV)

4. Prayer focus

a) Pray for the gifting of God as the Holy Spirit wills to impart.