THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!
by john roy bohlen & John 5:30
OTHER KINDS OF SPECIAL GIFTS
Have you ever met any guys who thought they were God’s gift to women? Well there actually are those in the Body of Christ who are “God’s gift to the Church” as His own special gift ministries - namely, the Apostles, the Prophets, the Evangelists, the Pastors, and the Teachers. We will be talking about these special gifts to the Church.
“Fear not little flock. It is the Father’s good pleasure to GIVE to you the Kingdom Of God!" Luke 12:32
“He HAS GIVEN us all things richly to enjoy." 1Tim.6:17
“He HAS BLESSED us with ALL THINGS that pertain to life and godliness." 2 Peter 1:3
“He will withhold no good thing from those who walk uprightly.” Ps.84:11
“He who spared not His Own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not also with Him FREELY GIVE us ALL things." Rom.8:32
“All things are yours, and ye are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s." 1 Cor.3:21,22
“To him who overcomes, I will GIVE to rule over the nations with a rod of iron..." Rev.2:27
“For God so loved the world, that He GAVE: His only begotten Son." John 3:16
“Seek ye first the Kingdom Of God and all these things, SHALL BE ADDED unto you!" Matthew 6:33
“Delight thyself in the Lord, and HE SHALL GIVE THEE the desires of thy heart." Ps.37:4
“Give, and it shall be given unto thee, good measure..." Luke 6:38
THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
“For to one IS GIVEN by The Spirit THE WORD OF WISDOM; to another THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE by The Same Spirit; to another FAITH by The Same Spirit; to another THE GIFTS OF HEALING by The Same Spirit; to another THE WORKING OF MIRACLES; to another PROPHECY; to another DISCERNING OF SPIRITS; to another kinds of TONGUES; to another THE INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES. I Corinthians 12
1. THE WORD OF WISDOM
2. THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE
3. FAITH
4. THE GIFTS OF HEALING
5. THE WORKING OF MIRACLES
6. PROPHECY
7. THE DISCERNING OF SPIRITS
8. THE GIFT OF TONGUES
9. THE INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES
We are going to begin with number 6:
6. THE GIFT OF PROPHECY WHO SHOULD PROPHESY?
Moses said, “Would God that ALL YAHWEH’S PEOPLE WERE PROPHETS, AND THAT YAHWEH (God) WOULD PUT HIS SPIRIT UPON THEM.” Numbers 11:29.
The Bible says, “For you may ALL prophesy, one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.” I Corinthians 14:31.
WHY WE SHOULD PROPHESY?
1. BECAUSE GOD COMMANDS US TO: 1 Cor.14:37 “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.”!
Then, the Bible goes on to say in verse 38: “But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.” Next, the Bible commands in verse 39, “Therefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.” KJV
God says, “Wherefore...COVET TO PROPHESY .” I Cor. 14:39a.
God says, “DESIRE (or, covet earrrrnestly) spiritual gifts, but rather ESPECIALLY THAT YOU MAY PROPHESY.” I Corinthians 14:1b.
2. TO EDIFY PEOPLE AND BUILD THEM UP: I Cor. 14:3a
3. TO EXHORT AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE. I Cor. 14:3a
4. TO COMFORT PEOPLE AND CHEER THEM UP. I Cor. 14:3a
“But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.” I Corinthians 14:3a.
5. TO EDIFY THE CHURCH AND BUILD IT UP! God says, “But HE THAT PROPHESIES, EDIFIES (builds up) THE CHURCH. I Corinthians “For GREATER IS HE WHO PROPHESIES... THAT THE CHURCH MAY RECEIVE EDIFYING.” I Corinthians 14:5b.
6. BECAUSE PROPHECY IS THE GREATER GIFT. God says, “ WOULD THAT YOU ALL spake with tongues, but rather THAT YOU PROPHESIED, for greater is he that prophesieth...” I Corinthians 14:5a.
7. TO CONVINCE UNBELIEVERS THAT GOD EXISTS, AND THAT HE IS PRESENT. (See the following).
8. TO INSPIRE UNBELIEVERS TO WORSHIP. God says, “But if ALL PROPHESY, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, HE IS CONVINCED OF ALL, and he is judged of all: and thus are THE SECRETS OF HIS HEART MADE MANIFEST; AND SO, FALLING DOWN ON HIS FACE HE WILL WORSHIP GOD, AND REPORT THAT GOD IS IN YOU OF A TRUTH.” I Corinthians 14:24,25.
THE IMPORTANCE THAT PROPHESY SHOULD PLAY IN OUR LIVES
God commanded Apostle Timothy, in I Timothy 1:18, “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, ACCORDING TO THE PROPHESIES WHICH WENT BEFORE ON THEE, THAT THOU BY THEM MIGHTEST WAR A GOOD WARFARE.” And again in chapter 4:14 - “NEGLECT NOT THE GIFT THAT IS IN THEE WHICH WAS GIVEN BY PROPHESY, WITH THE LAYING ON OF THE HANDS OF THE PRESBYTERY.” (Note especially - “NEGLECT NOT!”
WHY PEOPLE DON’T PROPHESY
(or move in other gifts of the Holy Spirit)
1. They don’t know they are commanded to, supposed to, privileged to, called to, chosen to.
2. Fear:
A. Of making a mistake
B. Of grieving God
C. Of looking bad
3. Disobedience
4. They haven’t done their homework. They don’t know how to listen to or hear from God.
6. They don’t know enough of the Word.
7. Sin in their lives that disqualifies.
A. Makes them feel guilty
B. Takes away their confidence
C. Makes it so they should not prophesy
8. They are not full of God.
A. Baptized of Holy Spirit
B. Full of Holy Spirit
C. Anointing
9. Don’t know how to be led by God in whether or not to speak up in the first place, continue or stop in the second place.
DEFINITION: “THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS IS THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY” Rev.19:20
I Corinthians 14:3 says, “But HE THAT PROPHESIETH SPEAKETH UNTO MEN TO EDIFICATION, EXHORTATION, AND COMFORT.”
PROPHESYING TO INANIMATE OBJECTS
The young prophet prophesied to the altar. 1 Kings 13.
The following examples from the Book of Ezekiel. Prophesy against the forest. Prophesy unto the mountains. Prophesy upon these bones. Prophesy unto the wind. Ezek 6:1 “The word of the LORD Yahweh came to me: 2 ‘Son of man, set your face against the mountains of Israel; prophesy against them 3 and say: “O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign LORD Yahweh. ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD Yahweh says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: “I am about to bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places.” ’ ” ’ ” (from New International Version)
Joshua prophesied to the moon and the sun, and they stood still! Josh.10:12.
Jesus prophesied when He spoke to and commanded the wind, the waves, etc. Mark 4:39 Indeed, every thing He said was Prophecy!!!
PROPHESYING ACCOMPANIED WITH MUSIC &/OR INSTRUMENTS
I Chronicles 25:1 indicates that at the height of his kingly rule in the glory of the kingdom, David commissioned certain ones who should PROPHESY WITH HARPS, WITH PSALTERIES AND WITH CYMBALS.”
Do you remember that David repeatedly drove the evil spirit away when he played on his harp in the presence of demon possessed King Saul? 1 Sa.16
Elijah called for the man to play a harp before he would prophesy. 2 Ki.2:15.
Now we will talk about 1. THE WORD OF WISDOM: The word of wisdom is a supernatural God given awareness of what to do in any given situation. The word of wisdom is a gift from God to enable us to know what to do about any situation.
2. THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE: is a God given knowledge of any given situation or person. It is insight, awareness, knowing, that is from God. I was ministering in Virginia, when a teen-ager stood before me for ministry, and God supernaturally told me that the girl was being sexually molested by her father. I had no way of knowing in the natural. With the pastor present, the girl admitted that it was true. The word of wisdom is God’s answer as to how to handle the problem. Another time, God revealed that a man was emotionally crippled because of his shortness of stature. Then the Lord revealed what to do about the matter, and the man was healed. God has used the word of knowledge in many situations, by imparting knowledge of facts that could not have been supernaturally known. A number of times, when I was ministering in Africa, God revealed that the host pastor was committing sin. The Lord supernaturally revealed to me what the sin was, how to confront and handle the situation.
3. FAITH: The gift of Faith, is a special gift of faith for a specific situation. It is an endowment, a gift, a boon, a blessing for something, or someone, like the woman who touched the hem of Christ’s garment. Like the men who let down the bed through the roof, like David running to kill Goliath, like the harlot who begged the spies to save her when they returned.
4. THE GIFTS OF HEALING: All of us have, perhaps, known times when there was a need for healing and when prayer was made, nothing happened, of which we were aware. But there are times when we have done something, and God simply supernaturally brings about the healing. Sometimes the difference between God healing and a miracle from God is very fine, as every healing is a miracle. But there have been many instances in which someone who was not expected to be restored, like Hezekiah, and, in answer to prayer, the person was restored, “from that very hour”. See our section on Healing.
5. THE WORKING OF MIRACLES: A number of years ago, our friend, Ed Stube prayed for a man who had to be carried everywhere because his legs were shriveled up stumps. Ed told me that he (Ed) had no faith, but out of sheer obedience to God, he prayed for the man, and, while the multitude watched, the man’s legs grew out to normal, and he began running and leaping and praising God. That, my friend, is a gift of the working of miracles! I once prayed, with another brother, for a woman who was afflicted with massive internal cancer. God instantly healed her. On another occasion, we prayed, and God supernaturally removed several hideous scars that were widely spread over her body.
6. PROPHECY: We have already covered this one.
7. DISCERNING OF SPIRITS: is the God-given awareness of what ever spirits, good or bad, are motivating or empowering in any given situation or person. The discerning of spirits could be also understood to mean the kind or quality or motivation behind a person’s human spirit. Please understand: the discerning of spirits, is NOT, I repeat, is NOT the same as the gift of suspicion. Here is a poem that helps one to know the difference:
SUSPICION!
John Roy Bohlen
In the Body of Christ, there is a special "gift",
It is known as: "The Gift of Suspicion"!
It is one of the gifts of the Evil spirit.
Fueled by hate and ugly superstition.
It was this trait, Jesus faced in the crowd,
This "talent" led to His crucifixion.
This thing stops Love's flow in the Bride of Christ,
This powerful "Gift" - Suspicion.
Some folks think this gift is to be admired,
To be carefully sought and greatly desired.
They think God is mightily moving through them,
Think it's right to suspect, point out fault and condemn.
Perception, Awareness, Revelation, Knowing,
Inspiration, Discernment, Wisdom, God showing,
These are of God, but suspicion is of satan.
Even God, faced with this, experiences frustration.
Would you like it if do others be suspicious of you?
Criticize your best intentions, and distrust your motivations?
Love thinks the best of every person,
Accepts the best of the loveliest version,
But suspicion rejects before love has e're begun,
Was impossible for acceptance for even God's Son.
What do you do if they're suspicious of you?
Let Jesus be your Life, all life through!
Overcome evil with good, each minute, every hour.
Love them in return, praise God with might and power!
This is an area where most mistakes are made in the Body of Christ. There are those who believe themselves to be really spiritually perceptive, but who, in their immaturity “judge unrighteous judgement”.
TEACHING BY NEGATIVE EXAMPLE
You can be more wise if you have had the privilege of being victimized by others who have done this to you, because, sometimes, the best way the Lord has of teaching us is by negative example. Sometimes the Lord will allow or take us through an unpleasant situation in order to insure that we do not treat others the way we ourselves have been treated.
“GOD TOLD ME …!”
An old apostle gave some valuable advice almost 40 years ago. He said that it is better to not say, “God told me this!”, or “God told me that!” Etc., but to instead say, “I believe that God told me this, or that.” But not, “I think God told me this.” “God told me” is too strong, is a claim to infallibility, and forces your revelation upon people, whereas, “I think”, is too week. No one can argue with you, if you say, “I believe - --”
But, many people, in their immaturity, want to prove or demonstrate or show off their ‘spirituality’, perhaps, because they are suffering from feelings of inferiority, or inadequacy, and are trying to compensate, so as to prove to others that they really are spiritual and mature. But, one who is truly mature, does not feel the compulsive need to prove their spiritual maturity. Therefore, we believe that it is best to say, “I believe that the Lord showed me - - - “
8. THE GIFT OF TONGUES: Please see our teaching on “TONGUES”
9. THE INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES: is the God-given ability to sense by faith, the meaning intended by a message in tongues, and the sharing of this meaning. It may not be a word-for-word translation. There may be times when an interpretation given, may not be the interpretation at all, but may be a prophesy. In addition, there may be several people who participate in bringing one interpretation If a message in tongues is brought, and there is no interpretation coming forth, the person who gave the message should be encouraged to “pray that he (or she) may interpret”. Otherwise, the leader should give the interpretation, so the message in tongues is not “left hanging”, uninterpreted.
Please keep in mind that all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit are to be a result of “stepping out in faith” and a matter sometimes, of trying our wings. We must be patient and loving with each other. These gifts of the Holy Spirit can be imparted/received by the laying on of the hands of the apostles and prophets. I myself received the gift of the interpretation of tongues, and the gift of prophecy, when Apostle Edward Stube laid his hands upon me when I was about 22 years old. It is acceptable for you to seek such a person out, and request from them, the impartation of gifts of the Holy Spirit.
FALLACY: “I am only entitled to 3, (or, ‘several’ gifts of the Spirit).”
1 Cor 12:11 “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will.” KJV Some people believe that on the basis of this verse, that each person is only entitled to 2 or 3 of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In the first place, ‘several’ here, does not mean 2 or 3, as you can see by the following translations:
1 Cor 12:11 “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.” NAS
1 Cor 12:11 “All these are inspired by one and the same Spirit, Who apportions to each one individually as We wills.” RSV
1 Cor 12:11 “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines.” (NIV)
In the following verses, the Bible says, that, “God is no respecter of persons.” Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25; James 2:1; 1 Peter 1:17; 2 Peter 3:11.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are like spiritual tools that ever household should have available to them. Again, we ask the question: What is the best spiritual gift? The answer is: The best spiritual gift is the one needed most at the time – the gift that the Holy Spirit is directing, should be used at a specific time for a specific reason. We believe that every household should have a tool box that should include the following items: a hammer, a measure, a screw driver, a saw, a drill, a pencil, etc. In that same manner and for the same reason, every person should be able and equipped to move in all nine of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, “that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” Tim 3:17 NAS
May God mightily bless you, as you step out in faith!!!