GOD'S FREE GIFTS
Let’s look at the different gifts that we can have. Sometimes we have gifts and are unaware of what they are... Once we see our gifts, then the Holy Spirit helps us grow in them. Notice in the following verse how we are to show ourselves as an example to those who believe..not unbelievers... and notice what is required.
1 Tim 4:11-16
“Prescribe and teach these things. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in SPEECH, CONDUCT, LOVE, FAITH and PURITY, show YOURSELF AN EXAMPLE of those WHO BELIEVE. Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to EXHORTATION and TEACHING. Do not neglect the SPIRITUAL GIFT WITHIN YOU, which was bestowed upon you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. Take pains with these things; BE ABSORBED IN THEM, so that your progress may be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.” (NAS)
Your youthfulness could also be your Christian age as a Babe in Christ. Did you notice where we are not to neglect the Spiritual Gift within us? Not only do we receive the Holy Spirit by prophetic utterance and laying on of hands but also by baptism.
Acts 2:38 “And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (NAS)
Does not the following verse tells us The Same Spirit? Most of our teaching tells us that this gift mentioned above is the gift of tongues. Yet the same Spirit gives all gifts.
1 Cor 12:4-11
“Now there are VARIETIES OF GIFTS, but THE SAME SPIRIT. And there are VARIETIES OF MINISTRIES, and THE SAME LORD. And there are VARIETIES OF EFFECTS, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But TO EACH ONE IS GIVEN THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT for the common good. For to one is given the WORD OF WISDOM through the Spirit, and to another the WORD OF KNOWLEDGE according to the same Spirit; to another FAITH by the same Spirit, and to another GIFTS OF HEALING by the one Spirit, and to another the EFFECTING OF MIRACLES, and to another PROPHECY, and to another the DISTINGUISHING OF SPIRITS, to another VARIOUS KINDS OF TONGUES, and to another the INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.” (NAS)
1 Cor 12:28-31
“And God has appointed in the church, FIRST APOSTLES, SECOND PROPHETS, THIRD TEACHERS, then MIRACLES, then GIFTS OF HEALINGS, HELPS, ADMINISTRATIONS,various kinds of tongues.All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? BUT EARNESTLY DESIRE THE GREATER GIFTS. And I show you a still more excellent way.” (NAS)
Love is the greatest gift we are given. Yet we forget that this indeed is a gift. It is not the same as the spiritual gifts yet without it what good are they?
1 Cor 13:4-10
“LOVE is patient, LOVE is kind, and is not jealous; LOVE does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. LOVE never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.” (NAS)
1 Cor 14:1-5
“PURSUE LOVE, YET DESIRE EARNESTLY SPIRITUAL GIFTS, BUT ESPECIALLY THAT YOU MAY PROPHESY. For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. But one who PROPHESIES speaks to men for EDIFICATION AND EXHORTATION AND CONSOLATION. One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church. Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.” (NAS)
Is Exhortation to be used to tell someone off? Or is it to be used to encourage, build up and restore?
1 Cor 14:22-26
“So then TONGUES are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to unbelievers; but PROPHECY is for a sign not to unbelievers, but to those who believe. If therefore the whole church should assemble together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, HE IS CONVICTED BY ALL, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you. What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. LET ALL THINGS BE DONE FOR EDIFICATION.”
Ever hear a prophecy that is all sweet and nice? You know the ones that say: “Oh my children you are so delightful and pleasing to Me. You will be given more blessings soon and you will be able to move mountains in My name. Etc” Just a part of what I call fluff prophecies. Notice above where the Word says: HE IS CONVICTED BY ALL?
I see this type of prophecy as a stepping stone of learning. I do not call these Christians false, but faithful in stepping out with what they feel the Lord wants them to do. If you follow these faithful souls you will indeed see their growth as they mature in their gift. Hopefully they will have someone who mentors them who has the gift of discernment and exhortation. Realize this also, how would we develop our gift of discernment if we did not have the fluff variety?
Now for some of us who no longer go to a church that has a time for prophecies we can write them out and give them to our Pastors. It is then up to them if they share it or not. Sometimes we can give to an individual person that we feel led to. I caution you please; Pray and Seek the Lord before you start doing this. We need to let others see our walk with God and know who we are in Christ. When they see this they will be very open to getting prophecies from you but not until you have shown to them your life in Christ. Do not get out in front of your cart. You will get run over..
See if you notice the difference in the fluff prophecy and the following prophecy. Is there any conviction in the following?
You want to hear His voice, yet you do not:
Be still and know that he is God.
You cry out in your despair, "I do not hear You Lord!"
Yet you are not obedient to His words.
He desires a relationship with you, but once
He blesses you, you turn away until you need Him again.
Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you.
“Prescribe and teach these things. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in SPEECH, CONDUCT, LOVE, FAITH and PURITY, show YOURSELF AN EXAMPLE of those WHO BELIEVE. Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to EXHORTATION and TEACHING. Do not neglect the SPIRITUAL GIFT WITHIN YOU, which was bestowed upon you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. Take pains with these things; BE ABSORBED IN THEM, so that your progress may be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.” (NAS)
“Now there are VARIETIES OF GIFTS, but THE SAME SPIRIT. And there are VARIETIES OF MINISTRIES, and THE SAME LORD. And there are VARIETIES OF EFFECTS, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But TO EACH ONE IS GIVEN THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT for the common good. For to one is given the WORD OF WISDOM through the Spirit, and to another the WORD OF KNOWLEDGE according to the same Spirit; to another FAITH by the same Spirit, and to another GIFTS OF HEALING by the one Spirit, and to another the EFFECTING OF MIRACLES, and to another PROPHECY, and to another the DISTINGUISHING OF SPIRITS, to another VARIOUS KINDS OF TONGUES, and to another the INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.” (NAS)
“And God has appointed in the church, FIRST APOSTLES, SECOND PROPHETS, THIRD TEACHERS, then MIRACLES, then GIFTS OF HEALINGS, HELPS, ADMINISTRATIONS,various kinds of tongues.All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? BUT EARNESTLY DESIRE THE GREATER GIFTS. And I show you a still more excellent way.” (NAS)
“LOVE is patient, LOVE is kind, and is not jealous; LOVE does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. LOVE never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.” (NAS)
“PURSUE LOVE, YET DESIRE EARNESTLY SPIRITUAL GIFTS, BUT ESPECIALLY THAT YOU MAY PROPHESY. For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. But one who PROPHESIES speaks to men for EDIFICATION AND EXHORTATION AND CONSOLATION. One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church. Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.” (NAS)
“So then TONGUES are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to unbelievers; but PROPHECY is for a sign not to unbelievers, but to those who believe. If therefore the whole church should assemble together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, HE IS CONVICTED BY ALL, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you. What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. LET ALL THINGS BE DONE FOR EDIFICATION.”
Be still and know that he is God.
You cry out in your despair, "I do not hear You Lord!"
Yet you are not obedient to His words.
He desires a relationship with you, but once
He blesses you, you turn away until you need Him again.
Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you.
1 Cor 14:37-40
“If anyone thinks he is a PROPHET or SPIRITUAL, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment. But if anyone does not recognize this he is not recognized. Therefore, my brethren, DESIRE EARNESTLY TO PROPHESY, and DO NOT FORBID TO SPEAK IN TONGUES. But let all things be done properly and in an orderly manner.” (NAS)
Let us step out boldly and use the measure of faith we are given so that we can ask for more. No one would pour more water into a full jar.
Rom 12:3-16
“For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as GOD HAS ALLOTTED TO EACH A MEASURE OF FAITH. For just as we have many members in one body and ALL THE MEMBERS DO NOT HAVE THE SAME FUNCTION, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. And since WE HAVE GIFTS THAT DIFFER ACCORDING TO THE GRACE GIVEN TO US, let each exercise them accordingly IF PROPHECY, ACCORDING TO THE PROPORTION OF HIS FAITH; if SERVICE, in his serving; or he who TEACHES, in his teaching; or he who EXHORTS, in his exhortation; he WHO GIVES, with liberality; he WHO LEADS, with diligence; he WHO SHOWS MERCY, with cheerfulness. “
The gifts listed above are: PROPHECY, the gift of SERVICE, the gift of TEACHING, the gift of EXHORTATION, the gift of GIVING, the gift of HELPS, the gift of LEADERSHIP, the gift of MERCY. How I pray for the gift of mercy.
The rest of the verses in Romans I wonder;; is this what we are to do in order to grow in our gifts?
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing HOSPITALITY. Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. DO NOT BE WISE IN YOUR OWN ESTIMATION.” (NAS)
Oh Lord protect us from ourselves. So now you can see that what you thought about not having any gifts was wrong. The Lord gives to all of us His children, good gifts. We can praise His Name for all He has given to us.
Heavenly Father, what a wonder You are. You bless us so and sometimes we forget to thank You. Lord thank You for all of Your gifts that You have bestowed on us. Open our eyes to the opportunities that You will give to us to use these gifts. We praise You and we Bless You Lord for You are an awesome God and King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In Jesus name we pray ..... amen...
by Linda Marie
© 1999
Song
"Holyground"