In this posting we will study the gifts of the Holy Spirit the Lord has made available to His true church. In First Corinthians 12:1 the Apostle Paul gives us a command relative to the acts of the Holy Spirit: HE TELLS US NOT TO BE IGNORANT OF THEIR EXISTENCE OR HOW THEY ARE TO BE MANIFESTED. In verses 4 through 7 Paul informs us that the gifts, operations and administrations are from the Godhead (Father and Son) and are manifested through the power of Their Holy Spirit.

The instructions Paul provides refer to how church services are to be conducted when the Holy Spirit is in operation. In verses 8 through 11 we are told that to one man is given the word of wisdom and to another the word of knowledge. To another is given extraordinary faith and to another the gift of healing. To another is given the power to perform various miracles while another would prophesy. To another is given the ability to identify evil spirits (devils/demons–fallen angels). To another is given the power to cast them out of people. One is given the ability to speak in a language he does not know (an “unknown tongue”), while another receives the ability to interpret what the speaker said, even though neither of them knows the language that was voiced. In verse 11 we are told that any man at any time might be given one or more of the spiritual gifts. This rule applies during church services as well at other times and under other circumstances.

At various times God has manifested all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit through me, with one exception. I have never interpreted a message given in an unknown tongue. Normally, God uses me when I am alone, or with the person or people which whom I am dealing directly. In some cases the incidents have taken place in small home gatherings. He has used me in some unusual locations–for example, in a parking lot and in a crowded cafe, as well as over the phone. In verse 13 Paul tells us to seek to be used by God using the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

However, as Paul points out in chapter 13, there is a quality that is greater than all of the gifts combined. This quality does not replace spiritual gifts, but adds to them in a very good, very God-pleasing way. That quality is LOVE (CHARITY). In verses 2 through 8 we are told that without love, nothing else one can do in the name of the Lord will be of any value, regardless of how spiritual and spectacular it might be. Jesus speaks to this Truth in Matthew 7:21-23 where He is prophesying about Judgment Day when church leaders will stand before Him expecting to be rewarded for their ministry work which will include “… the wonderful works we have done in Your (Christ’s) name.” About that Day Jesus warns that only those who have proved their love for God by obeying Him will enter His kingdom. Though they will call Jesus their Lord and remind Him of all they had done in His name, He will say to them: “I NEVER KNEW YOU, DEPART FROM ME YOU WHO WORK INIQUITY.” Note it: though they had preached, cast out demons, healed the sick, etc. IN HIS NAME AND UNDER THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THEY THEMSELVES WILL BE OUTCASTS because they had not done the will of God–THEY HAD NOT OBEYED HIS LAW, THEREBY MAKING THEMSELVES “WORKERS OF INIQUITY.” They had not been Christ’s friends (read about the friends of Jesus using the key word–Friends). They had not been His spiritual brethren (Mat. 12:46-50). They had not proved their love for Him by obeying His Law (read Jn. 14:15; 15:10/ Mat. 15:8,9; 19:17). They had been “ever learning but never coming to the knowledge of God’s Truth” (2 Tim. 3:7). Instead, they had substituted their own denominational truths. Observing Satan’s Sunday Sabbath for God’s Sabbath is an excellent example. Read “All That Glitters” 2.0., Who Are God’s People? and “My People Who Are Called By My Name.” Key words–Glitters, People and Called respectively.

In chapter 13 beginning with verse 8 ,we find one of Paul’s teachings the Apostle Peter was referring to when he described Paul’s words as being “hard to be understood.” And for that reason “unstable and unlearned men twist what he says to their own (and others’) destruction.” Those who reject what Paul says in chapter 14 about speaking in tongues use this passage to “prove” that speaking in unknown tongues is no longer part of the Christian experience because the spiritual gift had been exercised by “childish” people in spiritual darkness. They contend that when “that which is perfect” came, the gift of tongues was discarded. These “unlearned and unstable” men claim that “that which is perfect” refers to the Holy Bible. However, the Bible does not have a “face” (vs 12) which true believers will see when Jesus Christ returns to earth. “That which is perfect” is Jesus Christ. For those who question Jesus being referred to as “that” need to realize that He was called “THAT” as well as a “THING” in Luke 1:35 where He is referred to as “… that holy thing….”

Recall that Paul had seen the Lord (1 Cor. 9:1) and had received His Gospel directly from Him (Gal. 1:12). We must determine whose word we are going to trust relative to spiritual issues–God’s Words or the words of men? As for me, I’m going with the Lord. Unlike the false prophets Paul warns us about, I am not more mature than God who, according to them, is still stuck in the “childish” stage of spiritual development. We must not forget what the Apostle Peter said in First Peter 4:17,18: “Judgement has begun in the church. And only the righteous will be saved, and they scarcely.” Note it: ONLY THE RIGHTEOUS WITHIN THE CHURCH WILL BE SAVED. JESUS SAID THEY WOULD BE FEW IN NUMBER (Mat. 7:13,14; 22:14).

In the next segment we will look deeply into the tongues question. We will trust the Holy Spirit to lead us to God’s Truth relative to the subject. We will conduct a “fine print” study on a very controversial subject. L.J.

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Progressive Christianity/ The Stephen Syndrome/ The Ingathering: The Rise of the End-time Church/ The Monster Among Us/ Cognitive Dissonance/ The Conscience/ Bible Phobia/ The Temple/ That Old Time Religion/ Overcoming/ Spiritual Guidance/ The Gospel of Christ/ Tolerance/ Faith Versus Works/ Satan’s Sex Saturation/ Sodom and Gomorrah Pt. 2)/ “But I Think”/ Same-sex Marriage/ A Generational Thing/ Charleston: Tragedy and Error/ Church Unity/ The Third Adam/ Simon of Samaria: The Legacy/ The Verdict/ Spiritual Warfare/ The Gospel of Christ/ The Perfect Storm/ Hell/ John 3:16/ National Victimization