A preachers' beautiful feet

murjahel · Oct 29, 2011

2 Corinthians 11:13 (KJV)
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

The priesthood of believers is the cure for the Nicolaitan heresy.

Exodus 19:5-6 (KJV)
5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Isaiah 61:6 (KJV)
6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

We are not of the Levitical priesthood, we are now all priests if we are in Christ Jesus. All of us have a priestly ministry, a priestly right to come directly to God. We are benefited to come daily to the throne of grace, and to come boldly for our sins are all paid for, forgiven, washed away.

From the least to the greatest, we are the priests of God.

Hebrews 8:10-11 (KJV)
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

1 Peter 2:5 (KJV)
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:9 (KJV)
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Hebrews 4:16 (KJV)
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

We must abandon those that want to replace our Jesus, seeking to be our lords when they have no authority. Jesus said twice that He hates that teaching. Jesus rebuked the church that tolerated that doctrine.

True pastors, apostles, prophets, teachers, lead by example not by coercion or demand. We are not subject to those who claim great spirituality, or those who seem to guide without fail. No matter how spiritual or how infallible they have been, the
One we follow is far greater than that.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (KJV)
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

The nicolaitan heresy has been called the doctrine of submission, the covering, apostleship, or shepherding.

In many cases they want to be the one determining;
if you want to buy or sell your house,
if you want to buy or sell a car or TV,
if you want to change your job,
if you want to go on a trip,
how long you can stay, and when to be back.

They seek to exercise control over your life.

One is made to submit to these shepherds in all the areas of life that they deem important. To refuse to do so is to be a rebel.

The so called apostle wants to have complete authority over the congregation.

On many occasions these apostles have told others whom to marry, how much and when to give, what books to read.

In some areas, if one is led to the Lord, the one leading them claims to become their mentor, apostle, or shepherd.
Paul refused to take dominion over those to whom he was an apostle.

2 Corinthians 1:24 (KJV)
24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

We should submit ourselves to the authority of God's Word, and speak directly with the Lord Himself. All sermons, all advice, all counseling, all directives from any other source, needs tested by the Word of God and verified, confirmed by the Spirit to our hearts. Realize that you're responsible to Jesus.

Everyone of us must give an account of himself unto God.

Romans 14:12 (KJV)
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Go to the Word, and to Jesus Himself, for your needs, and guidance.

James 1:4-5 (KJV)
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not;
and it shall be given him.

murjahel · Oct 31, 2011

The Ministries of Today

The Holy Spirit is still working today, and He is still empowering some to work in the various offices of this age.

Some are called to pastor, some to evangelize, some to be a missionary (apostle), some to teach, and all are called in some way to preach the gospel.

All ministers of every category need to speak Gods message, and to encourage saints.

The Spirit does empower and give gifts, the same today, as He has since Pentecost.

We have the same Holy Spirit operating today, and we are all still members of the One body, able to be used by that Spirit of God.

I Corinthians 12:13,27
"...HAVE ALL BEEN MADE TO DRINK INTO ONE SPIRIT... NOW YE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST, AND MEMBERS IN PARTICULAR..."

The Spirit of God sends and operates through the saints by giving offices of work, a calling of purpose to saints.

I Corinthians 12:28
"GOD HATH SET SOME IN THE CHURCH, FIRST APOSTLES, SECONDARILY PROPHETS..."

That does not mean that 'apostles' are first above 'prophets', it means that the 'sent ones', the apostles, the missionaries to new areas, go first with the gospel, and the other ministries follow to that congregation to do their ministries.

Always, and forever, Jesus alone is Lord of each person. No ministry 'lords' over other ministries.

Ephesians 4:8, 11, 12
"WHEN HE ASCENDED UP ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE AND GAVE GIFTS UNTO MEN... FOR THE PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS, FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY, FOR THE EDIFYING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST, TILL WE ALL COME INTO THE UNITY OF THE FAITH..."

He gives gifts of miraculous power to help the saints do the work of the Lord.

I Cor. 12:4
"NOW THERE ARE VARIETIES OF GIFTS, BUT THE SAME SPIRIT..."

Graces, offices, and gifts

We need to understand the difference between the GRACES, the OFFICES, and the GIFTS of the Spirit. Too many confuse these three, and some neglect one or more of the three. A correct understanding of them is necessary.

GRACES are the fruit of the Spirit as listed in Galatians 5:22-23. These are given to all Christians at the moment of salvation. These are: "LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE..."

These are the evidence that the Lord has made the saint into a "new creation." We are to be recognized as a child of God by these signs. Like the fig tree that the Lord cursed after coming to it expecting to find figs, and found none; many today are supposed to have these fruit, and have ceased to bear the fruit that the Lord desires. ( Mark 11:12-14) As in the Old Testament, when Isaac returned to find the wells that Abraham had dug, he found they had been filled with stones.

The fresh water seemed to be gone. Yet when the stones were all removed, the fresh water still was there in the well.

In the same way, many Christians seem to have little of the fruit evident in their lives. If they remove the stones of unforgiveness, apathy, sin, doubt, etc, the wells are still able to produce a fresh flow of good water.

The OFFICES of the Spirit are the plan of the Lord for the administration of the local churches. The Spirit's plan for the rule, guiding, feeding, and guarding of the church include these offices.

Christ is the Head (Eph. 1:22, Col.1:18)

Elders (I Tim. 3:1-7)

Deacons (I Tim. 3:8-13)

Priests (I Pet.2:5,9)

"YE ALSO, AS LIVELY STONES, ARE BUILT UP A SPIRITUAL HOUSE, AN HOLY PRIESTHOOD."

Since we are all "priests" and there is only One Mediator between us and the Father, we do not answer spiritually to the elders and deacons. The other offices are not meant to be "heads" over the priests, but rather to be "examples."

I Peter 5:3
"NEITHER AS BEING LORDS OVER GOD'S HERITAGE, BUT BEING EXAMPLES TO THE FLOCK."

The GIFTS of the Spirit are divine endowments of special power for service in the body of Christ. These are God-given abilities, strengths, and divine endowments. They are not natural talents. Natural talents are given of God through genetics. Talents are received at birth. Talents should be dedicated to God for His use. However, the gifts of the Spirit are given of God, independent of the parents. They are received at conversion, or later. They are to be used as God directs. The gifts are not talents already present, that now must be increased. The gifts are not more of what was already present. The gifts of the Spirit are not enhancements.

The gifts are not received from schooling or training. The gifts are endowments of the supernatural. They are manifestations of the Spirit as He works through the saint as His vessel.

Four words are used in the Greek to refer to the gifts.

1. Charismata -
This refers to them being gifts of God's love and mercy.
( I Pet. 4:10, Rom. 12:6, I Cor. 12:4,9, 28,30,31)

2. Pneumatikos -
This emphasizes that they are gifts that proceed from the Holy Spirit.
(I Cor. 14:1)

3. Phanerosis -
This word emphasizes that they are a manifestation of the Spirit.
(I Cor. 12:9, II Cor. 4:2)

4. Domata -
This word stresses the reality of the gift, rather that the beneficial nature of the gift.
(Lk. 11:13, Eph. 4:8, Mt. 7:11)

These gifts cannot be earned, they are freely given of God to His children. These gifts are a manifestation, a showing forth, a making visible of the power and workings of God. The focus of the exercise of the gifts is not on the Holy Spirit, nor on the person the is operating the gift. The focus of the gifts are to be on the magnifying and glorifying of Jesus Christ.

There are several ways to classify the gifts of the Spirit.

Here we will divide them into five classifications.

1. Those that impart the power to know:

word of wisdom

word of knowledge

discernment of spirits

2. Those that impart the power to act supernaturally:

faith

miracles

healings

3. Those that impart the power to speak supernaturally:

prophecy

tongues

interpretation of tongues

4. Those that aid one's own ministry:

pastor-teacher

evangelism

apostleship

exhortation

teaching

5. Those that give help to the ministry of others:

shewing mercy

administration

giving

helps

intercession

These gifts are spoken of in many places within the Bible
(Romans 12:6-8, Ephesians 4:11, I Peter 4:11, I Corinthians 12:6-10, 28-30).

Every believer may have one or all, as he covets them and seeks God.
(I Cor. 12:8-31, 1:5-7, Romans. 1:11, 12:3-8, John 14:12, Mark. 16:15-20, 9:23)

These gifts are distributed to every individual believer.

God wants to call all of us into ministry. We all share the great commission to go into all the world and to preach the gospel to everyone. We need a calling as to what method, what role, what kind of work are we to be doing in this commission. We also need to have gifts to aid us in that calling. It is time we 'examine ourselves' and get into the ministry for which the Lord has left us (so far) upon this earth.

Ephesian 4:7

"BUT TO EACH ONE OF US GRACE WAS GIVEN ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF CHRIST'S GIFT."

I Cor. 12:7

"BUT TO EACH ONE OF US IS GIVEN THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT FOR THE COMMON GOOD."

I Cor. 12:11

"BUT ONE AND SAME SPIRIT WORKS ALL THESE THINGS, DISTRIBUTING TO EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY JUST AS HE WILLS."

I Peter 4:10

"AS EACH ONE HAS RECEIVED A SPECIAL GIFT, EMPLOY IT IN SERVING ONE ANOTHER, AS GOOD STEWARDS OF THE MANIFOLD GRACE OF GOD."

These gifts of the Spirit are dispensed on the basis of grace, unmerited favor. We do not deserve them. We cannot earn them. There is a danger amidst the saints to go to one of two extremes. We could have arrogant pride and feel that we earned, and deserve the gifts. We could brag on them. This is wrong. The other extreme is equally dangerous. We could feel it is presumptuous to think that God would give us a gift.

We could shy away from His gifts so much that He would be unable to manifest the gifts through us. We should simply accept the gifts as unmerited favor. We should acknowledge the reception of the gifts, and humbly use them for the glory of God, not ourselves.

　

Not one gift is higher that the others, for all are needed. The way in which God rewards us for the use of our gifts is how we use, or misuse it, the exercising of it willingly, or the neglecting or burying of it. The key is faithfulness with your use of the gift. The reward is not on the basis of what gifts you have, but on how you faithfully use the gifts you have been given.

The purpose of the gifts of the Spirit is to enable us to do the works of Christ. We need to carry on the work that He began. (Acts 1:1-2, 12-15, I Cor. 1:7, 12:4-31, 14:1-40, Rom. 12:3-8, Heb. 2:3-4) The ministry which we are commanded to do is to be confirmed by the signs and wonders which emanate through the exercise of the gifts. (Mark 16:15-20, Romans 15:18-19, 29)

The possession of gifts does not necessarily indicate that one is spiritual. Corinth displayed many gifts - but they were not very spiritual. (I Cor. 3:1-4) Corinth was torn by divisions, and lawsuits; they had drunkenness and gluttony. In Corinth, some denied Paul's apostolic ministry. Some denied the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul said you can have various gifts and not have love. He indicated that in these cases, the exercise of gifts will profit nothing. (I Cor. 13:1-2)

The fruit of the Spirit was given to us at salvation. We need to continue to develop and harvest these. However, the gifts of the Spirit need to be coveted, and sought.

Some get called to a prophetic ministry, but then do not seek the gifts that would empower them in that ministry. Paul admonished us to learn about the gifts.

I Cor. 12:1

"NOW CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTS, BRETHREN, I WOULD NOT HAVE YOU IGNORANT."

murjahel · Nov 2, 2011

THE CALLING

God has set some in the churches that have a calling of being a teacher.
The apostles are the missionary, church planters, that take the gospel to new unchurches communities.
The prophets are those who speak forth the rhema Word of God.
Then the churches so established need teachers to help the congregation to put down deep roots.

The word teacher is the Greek word didaskalos. Some identify this calling with pastor, but the pastor calling has teaching, preaching, and administrating a church.
　
1 Corinthians 12:28-31 (KJV)
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily , thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Paul, Barnabas and others were given a teaching calling from
God. This calling is a vitally important and powerful calling.

Acts 13:1-3 (KJV)
1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

God Himself is a teacher. It is His nature to teach. The opening chapters of the Bible show God as a Teacher. In the garden of Eden, He instructed man as to mans role, mans duties, mans privileges, and requirements He was putting upon mankind.

Isaiah 45:21 (KJV)
21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

Psalm 27:11 (KJV)
11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

Psalm 32:8 (KJV)
8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

OUR TEACHERS

God is our Supreme Teacher. He has been instructing for ages, and chooses agents of His children to teach His ways also. Many Old Testament believers obeyed Gods command to teach.

Moses was a teacher, and it was a command from God that he teach.

Deuteronomy 4:5 (KJV)
5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.

Samuel had a school of the prophets.
King Jehosophat sent 16 teachers to all the cities of Judah, to teach the law.
Ezra and Nehemiah opened a Bible school in Jerusalem following the captivity.
Isaiah said the young should be taught precept upon precept.

Isaiah 28:9-10 (KJV)
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

Jesus came as a Teacher.

Matthew 4:23 (KJV)
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Jesus is addressed 90 times in Scripture, and 60 of those times He is called a Rabbi, or Teacher. Nicodemus considered Him a Teacher.

John 3:2 (KJV)
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with Him.

The enemies of Jesus even called Him Teacher, though it may at times have been sarcasm.

Matthew 22:15-16 (KJV)
15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle Him in His talk.
16 And they sent out unto Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that Thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest Thou for any man: for Thou regardest not the person of men.
Jesus considered Himself to be a Teacher.

John 13:13 (KJV)
13 Ye call Me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

Jesus commanded His disciples to teach also.

Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV)
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The disciples, and many others since, have obeyed the command to teach.

Acts 5:42 (KJV)
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

The early church was a teaching church. The first persecution was promised by the teaching of Peter and by John. They commanded to teach in the name of Jesus.

Acts 4:18 (KJV)
18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

Later, the disciples were charged with:

Acts 5:28 (KJV)
28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.

Peter responded to their charges about his teaching:

Acts 5:29 (KJV)
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Paul was a teacher. He was appointed to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher:

2 Timothy 1:11 (KJV)
11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

Paul had been a scholar taught by Gamaliel, and well trained in the teaching of the synagogue. Early in the ministry, he taught with Barnabas at Antioch for a year. During Pauls ministry, upon entering a city, he would go to the synagogue and teach. Paul encouraged Timothy to teach and to train other teachers.

2 Timothy 2:2 (KJV)
2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

murjahel · Nov 3, 2011

'Gave gifts unto men'

The Holy Spirit is still working today. He has a plan to enable those in the various ministries with spiritual gifts. We all know in Corinthians and in
Romans there are some gifts listed, but those are not all the gifts. God has so many more powerful gifts, and the Bible is full of the mention of gifts.

The Lord has the Holy Spirit draw us to Him, and will speak 'gifts' to us, with which He wants to endow the ministries.

1 Corinthians 12:13 (KJV)
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:27 (KJV)
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Then the Holy Spirit sends and operates these many gifts through the saints.

Ephesians 4:8 (KJV)
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Ephesians 4:11-12 (KJV)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

In this way, no ministry is going to find themselves weak, unready, or unable to preach of the gospel.

1 Thessalonians 1:5-6 (KJV)
5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

Acts 10:44 (KJV)
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

Our prayers are aided, and God wants to show us what gifts are available, offered, and willingly given.

Romans 8:26-27 (KJV)
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Ephesians 6:18 (KJV)
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Jude 1:20-21 (KJV)
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

These miraculous gifts of power to help the saints to do the work of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 12:4 (KJV)
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

These GIFTS of the Spirit are divine endowments of special power for service in the body of Christ.

These are God-given abilities, strengths, and divine endowments. They are not natural talents. We find too many depending on 'natural talents' to do the ministries, but God wants us to have supernatural gifts to enable us to do mighty things. Natural talents are given of God through genetics.
Talents are received at birth. Talents should be dedicated to God for His use.

However, the gifts of the Spirit are given of God, independent of the parents. They are received at conversion, or later. They are to be used as God directs. The gifts are not talents already present, that now must be increased. The gifts are not more of what was already present. The gifts of the Spirit are not enhancements. The gifts are not received from schooling or training. The gifts are endowments of the supernatural. They are manifestations of the Spirit as He works through the saint as His vessel.

Four words are used in the Greek to refer to the gifts.

1. Charismata -
This refers to them being gifts of God's love and of His mercy.
(IPet.4:10, Rom.12:6, ICor.12:4,9,28,30,31)

2. Pneumatikos -
This emphasizes that they are gifts that proceed from the Holy Spirit.
(ICor.14:1)

3. Phanerosis -
This word emphasizes that they are a manifestation of the Spirit's power.
(ICor.12:9,IICor.4:2)

4. Domata -
This word stresses the reality of the gift, rather than the beneficial nature of the gift.
(Lk.11:13,Eph.4:8,Mt.7:11)

These gifts cannot be earned, they are freely given of God to His children. These gifts are a manifestation, a showing forth, a making visible of the power and workings of God. The focus of the exercise of the gifts is not on the Holy Spirit, nor on the person the is operating the gift. The focus of the gifts are to be on the magnifying and glorifying of Jesus Christ.

This list of gifts will surprise you, startle you, and make you want to verify what I am showing in the Word. Please do. These will later include the ones we are most familiar with, but there is a vastly longer list than many have ever noticed.

The first gift, one that we all need, and no one in ministry can do without, is... (stay tuned)

HIM_In_Me_In_HIM · Nov 3, 2011

In Christian theology, a charism (in Greek: χαρίσμα; plural: charismata) in general denotes any good gift that flows from God's love to man. The word can also mean any of the spiritual graces and qualifications granted to every Christian to perform his or her task in the Church. In the narrowest sense, it is a theological term for the extraordinary graces given to individual Christians for the good of others.[1]

The word is also used in secular circumstances within social psychology. In that context, charism is defined as personal influence on other people individually or as a group.
Religious orders (generally Catholic) use the word to describe their spiritual orientation and any special characteristics of their mission or values that might be exhibited as a result of the vows that they have taken and the orientation of the order to which they belong. An example might be the works of a teaching order as compared with that of a missionary order or one devoted to care of the poor or the sick.

In my life (church et al,) experience charismata (plural) is simply the ''life-force", aura, or H>S> dwelling-manifestation of energy or presence being perceived by others, be they believers or unbelievers alike. It can be their H>S> inspired word or words, or a simple movement, gesture, or action that is denotative &/or connotative in meaning(s), to all whom H>S> is seeking to "reach" or "speak to". The spiritually minded will give glory to God when they experience it (most often) and the secular minded just the opposite (most often).

It can be majorly seen & understood (selah?) as in "miraculous" or subtly seen as in anothers'(not seen?) private thoughts/spirit realm of meditation/contemplation.

It is the greek word in which we get charisma from. Good & evil persons alike can manifest charisma, as well as movements/causes/doctrines/ideals etc.

Question is, can u discern the difference(s)? For sometimes those
differences are very very subtle, that even the "elect" can be/shall be fooled.

Without our H>S> reliance & relationship, i sincerely doubt anybody consistently can, w/out being "snared" every so often (or too often).

shalom aleichem..... :pray:

HIM_In_Me_In_HIM · Nov 3, 2011

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Geneva]Strong's Number: 4152[/FONT]encodedOriginalWord[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Geneva]Original Word[/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Geneva]Word Origin[/FONT] πνευματικός [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Geneva]from (4151)[/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Geneva]Transliterated Word[/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Geneva]Phonetic Spelling[/FONT] [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Geneva]pneumatikos[/FONT] [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Geneva]pnyoo-mat-ik-os'[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Geneva]Parts of Speech[/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Geneva]TDNT[/FONT] [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Geneva]Adjective[/FONT] [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Geneva]6:332,876[/FONT] [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Geneva]Definition[/FONT] [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Geneva]

relating to the human spirit, or rational soul, as part of the man which is akin to God and serves as his instrument or organ
1. that which possesses the nature of the rational soul
belonging to a spirit, or a being higher than man but inferior to God
belonging to the Divine Spirit
1. of God the Holy Spirit
2. one who is filled with and governed by the Spirit of God
pertaining to the wind or breath; windy, exposed to the wind, blowing.
breath as "spirit" e.g., Ruach Elohim or Ruach Ha'Kodesh, as seen/understood in the Bible from Genesis through Revelation. The "Holy Spirit" in Judaism generally refers to the divine aspect of prophecy and wisdom. It also refers to the divine LIFE force, quality, and influence of the Most High God, over the universe or over his creatures, in given contexts.[1] (emphasis, HiMiH)

[/FONT]OR....

www.fivethingsyoushouldknow.com

OR.....

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva]Strong's Number: 4153[/FONT]pneumatikwÜv[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva]Original Word[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva]Word Origin[/FONT] pneumatikwÜv [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva]from (4152)[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva]Transliterated Word[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva]Phonetic Spelling[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva]Pneumatikos[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva]pnyoo-mat-ik-oce'[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva]Parts of Speech[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva]TDNT[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva]Adverb[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva]None[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva]Definition[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva]

spiritually: i.e. by the aid of the Holy Spirit

[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva]Translated Words[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva]KJV (2) - spiritual, 2; NAS (2) - mystically, 1; spiritually, 1;
[/FONT]

murjahel · Nov 3, 2011

The Cross

Yes, the cross is a gift.

This sounded so stupid to me, when the Lord first began talking to me about the cross as a gift. We think of bearing a cross as something we reluctantly do until we exchange it for a crown, but the cross, though a tough carry, is a gift, a wonderful gift for us to bear as we minister.

If we want to walk with Jesus in this journey, the only way to do so, is to bear the cross He gives to us. It is a gift that is absolutely necessary to be borne, absolutely vital to our joint journey with Him, that we must examine this gift first.

Matthew 16:24-26 (KJV)
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

If we want to come after or walk with our Lord, a cross must be taken up.

It will mean losing what we wish we could carry. We would like the Lord to give us wealth, health, stocks and bonds, on this journey. Like the rich young ruler though, we are told to lay all other things aside, give them up, and follow our Lord.

Luke also quotes the Lord on this. Matthew was one of the 12 disciples, Luke was one of the 70 disciples. So, to both groups, Jesus shared this condition of walking with Him.

Luke 9:22-26 (KJV)
22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

Mark was a young man, and likely learned most of what he wrote from Peter. He heard this condition referred to, it was a continuing message that to walk with Jesus, we need to bear a cross.

"Take up the cross, and follow Me." Mark 10:21

We need to know that self-will would like to be our lord and master; but our cross is prepared and appointed for us by our Lord and Savior. We need to cheerfully accept it. The cross is our chosen badge, burden, way of life. This Jesus that we serve bids us to submit our shoulders to His easy yoke. Some would like to trample on it in vain-glory, or to fall under it in despair, or to run away from it in terror.

If we want to be a true follower of Jesus, we must be a cross-bearer. This pathway leads sometimes to sorrows, our own, or others to whom we minister. We carry that burden and weep in sorrows for the souls to whom we minister. Jesus did not carry a cross due to His own sins, but for the sins of others. We do have sins, ones to whom we minister have sins, and the sorrows of cross bearing is the reminder of the burdens we bear in interceding for ourselves and those others.

Surely you could not desire a better Companion on this walk. If the only way to walk with Jesus as our Guide is to be bearing a cross, then give me my cross. Jesus carried a cross, what better Fellow Traveler is there to walk with us as we carry the cross burdens?

The path we walk with this cross is a way of safety. We need not fear to tread its rocky ways, its hidden and unseen dangers, its thorny paths, if Jesis our Companion.

The cross is not feathers, nor velvet, nor chocolate. The cross is heavy and painful to our shoulders. We know a man can carry it, for the Man of sorrows did. We, now, can take up our cross, and by the power of the Spirit of God, soon be in love with it. It is a gift that will be treasured, and the memory of this walk with Jesus will be one you would not exchange for all the treasures of this world.

Jesus will us bow our spirits in submission to the His will.

The path of carrying this cross led Jesus to a crucifixion. Our cross that He gives us as a gift, will also lead us to come calvaries.

Crucifixion was in used among the Egyptians, the Carthaginians, the Persians, the Assyrians, Scythains, Indians, Germans, the Greeks and the Romans. It was considered the most horrible form of death. Among the Romans the punishment was only used in the case of the vilest criminals, and threats to their society.

The mistreatment of Jesus was incredible, and hard to believe that they could enjoy doing these things to One Whom no one could find a charge that was true to incriminate Him as worthy of mistreatment. Here was One Who had healed the sick, raised the dead, taught love and mercy, and offered salvation to all who would accept, and they did these horrible things to Him.
Matthew 27:27-32
"...stripped Him, put on a scarlet robe... crown of thorns, reed in His right hand (mock sceptre), bowed the knee and mocked Him... spit on Him... took reed and smote Him on the head... mocked Him, took robe off Him and put on His own raiment... led Him away to crucify Him.. found a man of Cyrene... Simon.. compelled to bear His cross..."

This was sport to these soldiers... They enjoyed the mistreatment. People may watch gory movies on television, and yet, it is far beyond that to treat people as these men did Jesus.

The four soldiers, under the command of a centurion, were detailed to each cross in those days. The centurion led the way carrying a white wooden board on which was written the crime of the one to be crucified. It was this sign, that Pilate ordered to be put upon the top of the cross. It angered the Jews, for it had no crime written upon it. For Jesus, it read- "The King of the Jews..." This was the charge they brought to Pilate, and there was no wrong of Jesus to put upon the cross, so Pilate had them carry a sign bearing the one truth about Jesus that caused these Jews to want Jesus dead.

Usually the longest way to the place of crucifixion was taken, to attract public attention, some feel that it was different here because of the nearness of the Passover. Jesus was followed by two thieves who each had their own soldiers.

The one to be crucified was made naked. He was put upon the cross of torture. The arms of the criminal were stretched along the cross-beams, and at the lower wrist of the hands was nailed to those beams. The feet were often nailed together over one another to the upright beam. The body was then secured by those three nails, so that it could not fall to the ground, when the cross was upright. The victim was not far off the ground, so that everyone who wanted could choose to strike or spit upon the criminal.

A death by crucifixion included all the pain and agony that could be possibly given a person. There was dizziness, cramps, thirst, starvation, sleeplessness, fever, public shame, torment, all intensified just up to the point at which they can be endured, but all stopping just short of causing unconsciousness.

The unnatural position made movement painful. The wounds emptied the body of its blood, the body became swollen, then emptied of all life. This was the death our Lord and Savior

The fracture of the legs was adopted as a custom to hasten death. One could no longer push the body up so as to allow a breath to be taken, and the loss of oxygen into the lungs brought death quicker.
　
Matthew 27:33-44
"..come unto a place called Golgotha, i.e. to say, a place of a skull... gave Him vinegar... mingled with gall, when He had tasted thereof, He would not drink... crucified Him... parted His garments, casting lots... sitting down, watched Him there... set over His head the accusation, 'This is Jesus, the King of the Jews...' two thieves crucified with Him... they that passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads, ... If Thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross... chief priests, mocking Him, scribes and elders said, He saved others, Himself He cannot save... let Him come down from the cross and we will believe Him..."
　
　
Matthew 27:45-46
"...sixth hour (noon), darkness over all the earth till the ninth hour (3 p.m.)... 'Eli, Eli, lama, sabachthani...' = 'My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me (see Psalms 22)... cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost... veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, earth did quake... rocks rent... centurion and they with him said, Surely this was the Son of God... many women were beholding from afar off..."

This is the cross our Lord carried. He offers us a gift of a cross. It does not sound appetizing. We may be inclined in the natural to run from a life that has sorrows like Jesus bore on His cross. The life of a minister has many sorrows though. We bear on our lives, and in our spirits, burdens the world would never understand.

Paul suffered with his cross carrying. His willingness to suffer for his ministry, and still to continue.

II Corinthians 11:23-27
"labors... stripes above measure... in prisons... in deaths oft... five times I received 40 stripes save one... thrice was I beaten... once was I stoned... thrice I suffered shipwreck... a night and a day I have been in the deep... in journeyings often... in perils of waters... in perils by mine own countrymen... in perils of the heathen... in perils in the city... in perils in the wilderness... in perils in the sea... in perils among false brethren... in weariness and painfulness... in watchings often... in hunger and thirst... in fastings often... in cold and nakedness..."

Paul carried willingly the burdens of the churches to which he ministered.

II Corinthians 11:28-29
"Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?"

On this walk with Jesus, carrying his own cross, the gift of the Lord to him, Paul visions and revelations from the Lord.

II Corinthians 12:1
"It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory, I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell; God knoweth

such an one caught up to the third heaven..."

Along with the revelations, and messages from Jesus Himself, Paul also had the signs and wonders that proved he was walking with Jesus.

II Corinthians 12:12
"Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds..."

In order to have a walk with Jesus, and to have the signs and wonders kind of ministry, we need to take up our crosses.

HIM_In_Me_In_HIM · Nov 3, 2011

In order to have a walk with Jesus, and to have the signs and wonders kind of ministry, we need to take up our crosses.------mjhel

Correct. thats bible.

but refresh my memory did u say u did or didnt have the signs
manifested in yer life/way/being/experience?

murjahel · Nov 3, 2011

The beginning gift is the bearing
of the cross, so that we are on that
walk with Jesus...
then come many more gifts,
and blessings,
which are the signs and wonders...

walking with Jesus for many years,
yes, I have seen many signs and wonders
done by the Lord...

we will continue with some more
'gifts' that God offers...

signs and wonders say nothing great
about ourselves, they glorify the
One Who does them, i.e. Jesus...

like the story of the ant who came
to a bridge...
an elephant came to the same bridge,
and the ant asked if it could climb
upon the elephant and ride across ...
the elephant agreed...
after the crossing of the bridge,
the ant said...
'wow, did not we make that bridge shake'

in the same way,
the 'bridge shakes' when we walk with
Jesus, signs and wonders are there...
but it is all Him...
not us...

murjahel · Nov 4, 2011

TO CONTINUE IN GIFTS,
THERE IS ONE WE MUST REQUEST...

　The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Luke 11:9-13 (KJV)
9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

The baptism into the power of the Holy Spirit will bring many gifts, but the gift of the Holy Spirit is a gift we need to ask for, and have the assurance, that if we do, the Lord will begin to fill us with that gift.

There is a prophecy in Joel that is usually misunderstood.
Joel 2:28-29
"AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS AFTERWARD, THAT I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL FLESH; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS, YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS. AND ALSO UPON THE SERVANTS AND UPON THE HANDMAIDS IN THOSE DAYS WILL I POUR OUT MY SPIRIT."

This great prophecy was prophesied about 770 B.C. Part of this prophecy was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, as stated by Peter in Acts 2:16-18.

John the Baptist said:
Matthew 3:11
"I INDEED BAPTIZE YOU WITH WATER UNTO REPENTANCE; BUT HE THAT COMETH AFTER ME IS MIGHTIER THAT I, WHOSE SHOES I AM NOT WORTHY TO BEAR; HE SHALL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY GHOST, AND WITH FIRE:"

John the Baptist prophesied here that Jesus would "baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire." The word "baptidzo" of the Greek is used here. It means "to immerse, overwhelm, drown with..."

John the Baptist immersed in water as a symbol of repentance. Jesus would immerse in the Spirit to empower.

Jesus came and promised to do what Joel and John the Baptist had prophesied.

John 7:39
"THIS SPAKE HE OF THE SPIRIT WHICH THEY THAT BELIEVE ON HIM SHOULD RECEIVE: FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS NOT YET GIVEN, BECAUSE JESUS WAS NOT YET GLORIFIED."

Jesus needed to ascend to heaven, after His resurrection, to send back the Spirit to fulfill this gift. The very fact that the baptism of the Spirit has come testifies to the fact that Jesus has ascended to heaven and been glorified. We can rest assured that He did reach heaven by the fact that the Spirit did return. We need to take courage in the fact that the Spirit is being now poured out on all who wish to receive Him, because it is an experience that is intended to reassure us of the fact that Jesus is not dead, and buried-- but is at the right hand of the Father in heaven and interceding for us. The Holy Spirit glorifies this Jesus.

Many were invited to tarry in the upper room until the Holy Spirit came. At one time 500 saw Christ after His resurrection. Even if these 500 had been the only ones invited, 380 had either not gone to await the coming of the Spirit, or had left before the Spirit finally came. It is the same today. Many know about the infilling of the Holy Spirit and its availability. Few seek it.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit aids our flesh in its worship. No people can worship as well as Spirit-filled people. Before you receive the Spirit, you will come to the place of realization of your own utter helplessness. You will look up to the Spirit to fill you so you may be able to worship better.

This experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit is still for us today. All true believers are candidates. Peter said it was for "AS MANY AS THE LORD OUR GOD SHALL CALL..." (Acts 2:38-39).

Jesus put no moral level, or position for candidates to reach, other than the new birth. One can still be fighting bad habits. One can still have ups and downs. Perfection is not to be attained before the infilling of the Spirit. No, the Holy Spirit wants to fill us so we are empowered to fight the flesh, and the devil.

The Holy Spirit is present with the sinners to convict them. He is present with all believers to regenerate them. Yet, there is an experience available beyond these. It is called the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

BAPTIZER THE ONE BAPTIZED BAPTIZED INTO

SALVATION - Holy Spirit - sinner - Christ

BAPTISM OF - Christ - Christian - Holy Spirit
THE SPIRIT

Ephesians 5:18
"BE NOT DRUNK WITH WINE, WHEREIN IS EXCESS, BUT BE YE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT."

Ephesus, to whom the above verse was addressed, was a pagan city. They worshipped the goddess, Diana. Drunkenness was common. The wine brought exhilaration, insensibility to pains. It seemingly took the drinker to another world. They felt carefree and happy, strong and uninhibited. The baptism of the Spirit does this also, without the hangover, social, and mental damage. We are commanded not to be "drunk with wine." Many people try to follow that command. Yet we are also commanded to be "filled with the Spirit." Many forget to follow that command.

When you received the Lord as your Savior, your spirit became alive again. Your spirit within you began to assert itself over your soul and body. This spirit is the dwelling place of God within you. Your spirit united with God's Spirit at salvation.

Some say, "How can I receive the Spirit when He already dwells within me?" The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not the receiving of the Spirit into your life--all Christians have the Spirit working in their lives. At the baptism of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit completely fills your life. The word "baptize" in the classical Greek was used of a sunken, waterlogged ship. The Lord wants us to be more than:
born of the Spirit,
or used of the Spirit,
or regenerated of the Spirit
--He wants us to be waterlogged with the Spirit.

John 7:38
"HE THAT BELIEVETH ON ME...OUT OF HIS BELLY SHALL FLOW RIVERS OF LIVING WATER (the Holy Spirit)."

The baptism of the Spirit will aid in the production of the "image of Christ" in us.

We are not made perfect by the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Yet, when we are Spirit-filled, the Spirit will help us resist the lusts and temptations of the flesh. There will still be ups and downs. However, the Spirit is better able to direct, to aid, to uplift, and to convict. We can still refuse or ignore His help. The baptism of the Holy Spirit makes us more aware of sin, and gives us more desire to shun sin. With this new power we have received, we have power to resist sin, if we so choose.

Luke 11:13
"IF YE THEN, BEING EVIL, KNOW HOW TO GIVE GOOD GIFTS UNTO YOUR CHILDREN: HOW MUCH MORE SHALL YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THEM THAT ASK HIM ?"

Thus, the simple beginning of the receiving of the baptism of the Spirit, is to ASK.

James 4:2
"YOU HAVE NOT BECAUSE YOU ASK NOT."

Then, one must simply believe that what God has promised, He will fulfill. At the moment you ask, the Lord will begin to fill you. Enjoy the filling.

Don't demand tongues immediately. That is the sign that the filling is complete, not the filling itself. Enjoy what God is doing in and with you, as He gently fills you with His Spirit. Praise Him as He fills you. You may feel emotion, and again, you may not. The filling is proceeding as you worship and praise. When He is finished filling you, you will have a prayer language given to you. It is like eating at a buffet. The mealtime is the enjoyable. Enjoy every course and eat to the fill. The dessert is great, but it is just the final course. Enjoy the full meal, the dessert will come soon enough.

Be sure to pray aloud. The finishing part of this experience is the tongues, and one must be speaking aloud to find their language changed.

Psalms 81:10
"OPEN YOUR MOUTH WIDE, AND I WILL FILL IT."

The gift of the Spirits baptism is the key to many, many more gifts. We shall look at some of these, examine those, and then look at an endless list of more gifts that most do not consider, yet God is wanting to give.

If Christians, who have taken up that cross, and begun to walk with Jesus, will ask, the Lord Jesus will begin to fill them with the Spirit. It may not happen all at once, but the process begins with the asking, the filling process will be one you will never forget, and always treasure.

K2K · Nov 4, 2011

murjahel said:
2 Corinthians 11:13 (KJV)
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

The priesthood of believers is the cure for the Nicolaitan heresy.

Exodus 19:5-6 (KJV)
5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Isaiah 61:6 (KJV)
6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

The nicolaitan heresy has been called the doctrine of submission, the covering, apostleship, or shepherding.

In many cases they want to be the one determining;
if you want to buy or sell your house,
if you want to buy or sell a car or TV,
if you want to change your job,
if you want to go on a trip,
how long you can stay, and when to be back.

They seek to exercise control over your life.

We should submit ourselves to the authority of God's Word, and speak directly with the Lord Himself. All sermons, all advice, all counseling, all directives from any other source, needs tested by the Word of God and verified, confirmed by the Spirit to our hearts. Realize that you're responsible to Jesus.

Everyone of us must give an account of himself unto God.

Go to the Word, and to Jesus Himself, for your needs, and guidance.

The Scriptures are right, but they are not rightoues. A man leaning on his understanding of the Scriptures will surely get things mixed up. Even basic things.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

So Jesus Christ is the Word, so how does someone write: "Go to the Word, and to Jesus Himself".

This is not an agruement over words; the man must surely mean that we should go to the Scriptures and also to Jesus Christ who took on flesh, was in the beginning with God and is God.

Yet is it possible that someone could be thinking the Scriptures are God? Could he be putting the Scriptures before God?

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed...

Could it be that someone might think that because they read the Scriptures, they are actually hearing God?

Are the Scriptures the gospel, or is the good news the fact that we can now come to know the Lord.

Now I read where a man was saying, study your Bible like this and in this method, but I have a Lord that first told me to "Read Your Bible", and now tells me to go to this chapter or that verse. He tells me more than that, but it is because He gives me instructions that I call Him Lord.

Now I see a man write:
'In many cases they want to be the one determining;
if you want to buy or sell your house,
if you want to buy or sell a car or TV,
if you want to change your job,
if you want to go on a trip,
how long you can stay, and when to be back.'

And wasn't he the same man that was telling others how to study their Bible?

I have a Lord. There is One that told me to read my Bible, and tells me how to read my Bible to this day. I believe Him to be the Word of God. Now does He who told me to 'Read YOur Bible', now tell me the Bible is incorrect. No, how could He. Indeed, if I read something I don't understand, I take it to Him and ask Him to explain. He is the Word of God to me, and the Bible is the Holy Scriptures to me.

So I would not write, "Go to the Word, and to Jesus Himself". I might right, 'Go to the Word and to the Scriptures that He had written'.

It becomes clear to me that some men do not get the same meaning out of the Scriptures I do. When I read, "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed", I understand it to mean actually hearing the small voice of the One I call Lord. Of course He first told me to 'Read My Bible', so I do that but not that I ever would confuse reading my bible with listening to His voice. It is not the same thing.

The Bible does not save.

The Bible does not heal.

The Bible is not my friend.

And while I might understand why someone would call the Scriptures 'The word of God', because it's writing was inspired by God, the Word of God to me is the One who I hear from.

And isn't that what's written in the Scriptures?

He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called, THE WORD OF GOD. - Rev 19:13

So who is a false prophet? Would it be someone telling others to seek the Lord Jesus Christ as the Word of God, or the someone telling us the Bible saves?

murjahel · Nov 4, 2011

EVIDENCES OF THE GIFT
　
How can one know that they have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit ? There are many evidences of this experience.
1. There is an increased love and glory given to Christ.
2. One will experience a desire to evangelize.
3. One's ministry will exhibit more edification to the church.
4. There will be ministry gifts developing.
5. The initial physical evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the reception of a prayer language, generally referred to as "tongues."

These unknown tongues are not a language the speaker understands. They may be a language of this earth or a language of the angels in heaven. They may be a current language, or a old language of years ago. These tongues are a natural response of the completion of the work of the Spirit. When one met the conditions of ASKING, and DESIRING to receive the experience, God began to fill the person. When one is filled completely, the prayer language will begin.

Why tongues ?

James 3:8
"BUT THE TONGUE CAN NO MAN TAME; IT IS AN UNRULY EVIL, FULL OF DEADLY POISON."

All species of animals can be tamed by people. The tongue of a person is untamable. No amount of cunning, persuasion, or influence will ever tame the tongues of people. So when God fills one with the Holy Spirit, it is the tongue that is the last member of the body to be immersed in the Spirit's power. As a sign to us that He has completed His infilling, God has instituted the giving of a prayer language.

The disciples and the rest of the 120 that were in the upper room - "BEGAN TO SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES AS THE SPIRIT GAVE UTTERANCE." (Acts 2:4)

Cornelius and his household were saved and began to speak with tongues before Peter could finish the altar call. (Acts 10:44-48, 11:15-17, 15:7-8)

The Ephesian church received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and "THEY SPAKE WITH TONGUES." (Acts 19:1-7)

Paul spoke in tongues. (Acts 9:17, I Cor. 14:18)

The Samaritans spoke with tongues. (Acts 8:14-19)

Tongues were predicted for this age.
Mark 16:17
"AND THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE; IN MY NAME THEY SHALL CAST OUT DEVILS; THEY SHALL SPEAK WITH NEW TONGUES..."
I Cor. 14:21 (compare Isa. 28:11-12)
"IN THE LAW IT IS WRITTEN,'WITH MEN OF OTHER TONGUES AND OTHER LIPS WILL I SPEAK UNTO THIS PEOPLE; AND YET THEY WILL NOT HEAR ME,' SAITH THE LORD."
Joel 2:28-29
"AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS AFTERWARD, THAT I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL FLESH; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS, YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS: AND ALSO UPON YOUR HANDMAIDS IN THOSE DAYS WILL I POUR OUT MY SPIRIT."
Acts 2:38-39
"REPENT, AND BE BAPTIZED EVERY ONE OF YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS, AND YE SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST. FOR THE PROMISE IS UNTO YOU, AND TO YOUR CHILDREN, AND TO ALL THAT ARE AFAR OFF, EVEN AS MANY AS THE LORD OUR GOD SHALL CALL."

Some say that the gift of tongues has ceased. But in the Scripture (I Corinthians 13:8), it says:
"WHETHER THERE BE TONGUES, THEY WILL CEASE... WHEN THAT ONE WHO IS PERFECT IS COME..."

The "perfect" One has not yet returned. When He does, there will be no further need of the gift of tongues with which to speak to and hear from the Lord. We will forever be with the Lord and can hear direct from Him. So tongues will cease, but in this day, we still need tongues, as a prayer language.

There is great value in speaking in tongues. First, the prayer language causes us to be refreshed. We can pray for what we need, and don't know we need it--for the Spirit prays through us in this prayer language for those things. We can pray for the needs of others even though we don't know exactly what they need, for the Spirit knows what they need. We can edify the Lord with praise that our own language would have trouble expressing. All of these things cause us to feel refreshed and edified.

Isaiah 28:11-12
"FOR WITH STAMMERING LIPS AND ANOTHER TONGUE WILL I SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE. TO WHOM HE SAID, 'THIS IS THE REST WHEREWITH YE MAY CAUSE THE WEARY TO REST: AND THIS IS THE REFRESHING; YET THEY WOULD NOT HEAR."

Another value of the tongues is the fact that they are to be a sign to the unbeliever. Through this miraculous sign, people will see the manifestation of God's power.

I Corinthians 14:22
"WHEREFORE TONGUES ARE FOR A SIGN, NOT TO THEM THAT BELIEVE, BUT TO THEM THAT BELIEVE NOT..."

The prayer language allows one to praise God, and to speak the wonderful works of God. We may have forgotten with our conscious mind all the works that God has done for us--but the Spirit remembers and can praise God with your lips and voice in this unknown language for those works.

Acts 2:11
"CRETES AND ARABIANS, WE DO HEAR THEM SPEAK IN OUR TONGUES, THE WONDERFUL WORKS OF GOD."

God's gifts are not hard to receive. Salvation was simple--you just asked God to forgive you of your sins, believed on Jesus Christ to have paid the price for your sins, and received salvation. The same is true for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Ask, believe that Jesus wants to give you the Holy Spirit's infilling, and then thank God for the baptism--for it is surely being given.

Mark 11:24
"WHAT THINGS SO EVER YE DESIRE, WHEN YE PRAY, BELIEVE THAT YE RECEIVE (have received) THEM, AND YE SHALL HAVE THEM."

Do we have to "tarry ?" In Luke 24:49, they were told to "TARRY YE..." This word - "tarry" - means "to sit, to remain."

It referred to the fact that they were to remain in Jerusalem until the day when the Holy Spirit would arrive. The Holy Spirit was to arrive on the Day of Pentecost. He did arrive then, and now there is no need to remain, tarry, or sit waiting for Him to arrive. He is already on the earth--ready and willing to baptize you. Since that day, prolonged waiting is unnecessary. The only waiting is the waiting while God is filling us. He begins as soon as you ask, and if you allow Him to continue - the filling will be complete soon.

Sometimes God may have to cleanse certain areas of your life, and perhaps build your faith, and then the prayer language will arrive and thereby announce that God has finished filling you.

How do we receive the baptism ?

First, you must be saved. The Bible is clear that "THE WORLD CANNOT RECEIVE (John 14:16-17) the Holy Spirit.

Secondly, then, you must obey the Lord. The Lord gives the Holy Spirit to "THEM THAT OBEY HIM." What did He command us?
ASK
Luke 11:13
"FATHER GIVES THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THEM THAT ASK HIM..."
Matthew 7:7
"ASK AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN..."
BELIEVE
John 7:39
"THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHICH THEY THAT BELIEVE ON HIM SHOULD RECEIVE..."
THIRST (this means to desire, and push out other desires)
Matthew 5:6
"BLESSED ARE THEY THAT HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR THEY SHALL BE FILLED."
John 7:37-39
"IF ANY MAN THIRST, LET HIM COME UNTO ME AND DRINK...THIS SPAKE HE OF THE SPIRIT."
DRINK (receive the infilling, it will take time)
Job 29:23
"AND THEY WAITED FOR ME AS FOR RAIN AND THEY OPENED THEIR MOUTH WIDE AS FOR RAIN."
SPEAK

The Holy Spirit will not force you to speak in tongues, nor to praise God with your present language. When He does give you a word, speak it. Sometimes the words in English that you are trying to speak will come out garbled. Don't stop speaking at this time, for it is the Holy Spirit beginning to change your language. Allow Him to change it by continuing to speak, even if the words are sounding funny. When you receive it, the new language will by pass your mind, and it will be as though you are listening to another pray. Yet it will be your voice and your lips praising in a new prayer language.

Charles Finney said: "I received a mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost. I wept aloud with joy and love... I literally bellowed out the unutterable gushings of my heart." (Autobiography)

You won't understand these new words, but speak them anyway. The devil will try to convince you that it is not you. Don't believe him, he's a liar. Speak in this new prayer language and it will become more fluent as you continue.

Every day of your life, speak more in this language. You will feel edified more and more as you speak.

Stammering lips are often the first sign that the Lord is almost finished with your infilling. Begin to praise God more at this point for you are almost full of the Spirit and tongues, your prayer language is the part the Spirit is giving you at that point.

Don't demand fluency, babes learn simple syllables first.

Don't demand emotion, for some will have much emotion and others will have very little emotion.

Don't demand loudness, for there is no law on loudness.

Holiness is not the basis of receiving. If Satan reminds you of your faults while you are receiving, don't go on a guilt trip. Instead, use it as a reason to praise God. Thank God for the forgiveness that you have been given. Thank God that He is filling you with the Spirit even though you don't deserve it.

Acts 2:38
"...YE SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT (unmerited favor) OF THE HOLY SPIRIT."

murjahel · Nov 5, 2011

MANY GIFTS FLOW FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH US
　
The Holy Spirit is still working to bring us the benefits of His power. He is the gift of Jesus to us, to be our Comforter and Empowerer in this age.

The empowerments that He brings us are many.

The Spirit:

1. draws saints together.
I Cor. 12:13,27
"...HAVE ALL BEEN MADE TO DRINK INTO ONE SPIRIT...NOW YE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST, AND MEMBERS IN PARTICULAR..."

2. sends and operates the empowerments through the saints.
I Cor. 12:28
"GOD HATH SET SOME IN THE CHURCH, FIRST APOSTLES, SECONDARILY PROPHETS..."
Eph. 4:8, 11, 12
"WHEN HE ASCENDED UP ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE AND GAVE GIFTS UNTO MEN...FOR THE PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS, FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY, FOR THE EDIFYING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST, TILL WE ALL COME INTO THE UNITY OF THE FAITH..."

3. helps in the preaching of the gospel.
I Th. 1:5-6
"FOR OUR GOSPEL CAME NOT UNTO YOU IN WORD ONLY, BUT ALSO IN POWER, AND IN THE HOLY SPIRIT..."
Acts 10:44
"THE HOLY SPIRIT FELL ON THEM THAT HEARD THE WORD."

4. aids prayers.
Rom. 8:26-27
"LIKEWISE THE SPIRIT HELPS OUR INFIRMITIES, FOR WE KNOW NOT WHAT WE SHOULD PRAY..."
Ephesians 6:18
"PRAYING ALWAYS WITH ALL PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION IN THE SPIRIT..."
Jude 20
"BUT YE, BELOVED, BUILDING UP YOURSELVES ON YOUR MOST HOLY FAITH, PRAYING IN THE HOLY SPIRIT..."

5. gives gifts of miraculous power to help the saints do the work of the Lord.
I Cor. 12:4
"NOW THERE ARE VARIETIES OF GIFTS, BUT THE SAME SPIRIT..."

The Fruit of the Spirit are the graces listed in Galatians 5:22-23, that are given at the moment of salvation. These are:
"LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE..."

These graces are to be maintained, exercised on purpose, and are indicative of the Spirits continued work in us. We are to be recognized as a child of God by these signs. Like the fig tree that the Lord cursed after coming to it expecting to find figs, and found none; many today are supposed to have these fruit, and have ceased to bear the fruit that the Lord desires. ( Mark 11:12-14) As in the Old Testament, when Isaac returned to find the wells that Abraham had dug, he found they had been filled with stones. The fresh water seemed to be gone. Yet when the stones were all removed, the fresh water still was there in the well. In the same way, many Christians seem to have little of the fruit evident in their lives. If they remove the stones of unforgiveness, apathy, sin, doubt, etc, the wells are still able to produce a fresh flow of good water.

The Spirits divine endowments of special power for service in -the body of Christ are God-given abilities, strengths, and divine empowerments. They are not natural talents. Natural talents are given of God through genetics.

Talents are received at birth. Talents should be dedicated to God for His use. However, the empowerments of the Spirit are independent of the parents. They are endowments of the supernatural, not owned or controlled by the recipients, but are worked through the recipient to be for the purpose of the glory of God, not the uplifting of the recipients. They are manifestations of the Spirits power as He works through the saint as His vessel.
　
There are several ways to classify the empowerments of the Spirit.

1. Those that impart the power to know:
word of wisdom
word of knowledge
discernment of spirits

2. Those that impart the power to act supernaturally:
faith
miracles
healings

3. Those that impart the power to speak supernaturally:
prophecy
tongues
interpretation of tongues

These gifts are distributed to every individual believer.

I Corinthians 12:7
"BUT TO EACH ONE OF US IS GIVEN THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT FOR THE COMMON GOOD."

I Cor. 12:11
"BUT ONE AND SAME SPIRIT WORKS ALL THESE THINGS, DISTRIBUTING TO EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY JUST AS HE WILLS."

I Peter 4:10
"AS EACH ONE HAS RECEIVED A SPECIAL GIFT, EMPLOY IT IN SERVING ONE ANOTHER, AS GOOD STEWARDS OF THE MANIFOLD GRACE OF GOD."

These gifts of the Spirit are dispensed on the basis of grace, unmerited favor. We do not deserve them. We cannot earn them. We do not possess nor own them. They belong the possession of the Lord, and we are but vessels of His power through which these are gifts to the church and to the world through us. We have the Holy Spirit as our Gift, and the gifts that He operates though us are for the benefit of the whole world.

We should acknowledge the reception of the gifts from God, and let ourselves be used in their application onto the needs of the world. We thereby humbly use them for the glory of God, not for our own glory.

Not one divine empowerment from the Spirit is higher that the others, for all are needed. The way in which chooses to use them, is regarding the current need. God rewards us for how we are available for His use in bestowing the gifts. The key is faithfulness with your use of the gift. The reward is for how faithfully you allow the Spirit to use you with His bestowments.

The purpose of the bestowments of the Spirit is to enable us to do the works of Christ. We need to carry on the work that He began. (Acts 1:1-2, 12-15, I Cor. 1:7, 12:4-31, 14:1-40, Rom. 12:3-8, Heb. 2:3-4) We do not possess the power, we are channels through which the power of the Spirit flows. The ministry which we are commanded to do is to be confirmed by the signs and wonders which emanate through the exercise of the gifts that the Spirit possesses and owns. (Mark 16:15-20, Romans 15:18-19, 29)

Where are the gifts today? Some churches find the subject of gifts to be strange. Some saints have not discovered or allowed the use of the gifts.

Some do not even know that the Spirit would want to bestow such miraculous blessings. The church age is supposed to be the Age of the Spirit. We are to have the Holy Spirit working and manifesting power through us during this church age.

For many, the Holy Spirit is just the last part of the doxology. To know the Spirit in that way is like understanding the workings of all the parts of the car, except the starter and accelerator. The Holy Spirit and His bestowments have been neglected too much. We need to know Him as a Person, speak with Him regularly, and allow Him to work through us.

The fruit of the Spirit was given to us at salvation. We need to continue to develop and harvest these. However, to be used of Spirit is a blessing that needs to be coveted, and sought. The Spirit desires to use each of us. Don't feel, as many have, that "I'll take the fruit, others can have the gifts." If Jesus had felt that way, He would have had to tell the sick, blind, etc, - "I love you." Yet, He could do more than that - He could love them by exercising the power of the Spirit through His (then human) body.

Paul admonished us to learn about the gifts the Holy Spirit wants to exercise through us.

I Cor. 12:1
"NOW CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTS, BRETHREN, I WOULD NOT HAVE YOU IGNORANT."

If we do not learn how to receive and operate these, we will fail to do the ministry of the Lord as He has planned. We need the bestowments of the Spirit operating in the church. If we are ignorant of these, we will find that the devil will have a "hay day" with his workings.

murjahel · Nov 7, 2011

THE THREE EMPOWERMENTS TO SPEAK SUPERNATURAL REVELATIONS

There are some empowerments of the Spirit that are known as the "vocal gifts," as the "gifts of inspiration," and as the "utterance gifts." These are perhaps the most discussed of ways the Spirit empowers us to give gifts of revelation to a congregation. There is much confusion and disagreement concerning these. In Corinth, Paul found much abuse of these,l and still, we find abuse of these vocal revelations from the Spirit.

THREE EMPOWERMENTS
TO SPEAK GODS REVELATIONS

I Corinthians 12:10
"...TO ANOTHER PROPHECY...TO ANOTHER DIVERS KINDS OF TONGUES; TO ANOTHER THE INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES..."

1. PROPHETIC UTTERANCE

THE GIFT OF PROPHECY is a direct revelation from God that is given as one begins to speak. It does not necessarily pass through the thinking process first. Like the gift of tongues, it passes through the lips with direction from the mind of the Spirit.

The nature of the prophecy is described by Paul. He indicated that the gift should be validated by two or three prophets that confirm the same truth.

He also said the gift needed to be judged. When another begins to speak, the first prophet should be quiet and allow the next to proceed. The purpose seems to be spelled out as a method to "learn," and a method for God to give exhortation, edification, and comfort. The prophecy is subject to the prophet, meaning the prophet may speak it or not, he is not under some compelling force that makes him speak.

I Corinthians 14:29-32
"LET THE PROPHETS SPEAK BY TWO OR THREE, AND LET THE OTHER JUDGE. IF ANY THING BE REVEALED TO ANOTHER THAT SITTETH BY, LET THE FIRST HOLD HIS PEACE. FOR YE MAY ALL PROPHESY ONE BY ONE, THAT ALL MAY LEARN, AND ALL MAY BE COMFORTED. AND THE SPIRITS OF THE PROPHETS ARE SUBJECT TO THE PROPHETS."

Like the other gifts, this one also is bestowed by the laying on of hands.

I Timothy 4:14
"NEGLECT NOT THE GIFT THAT IS IN THEE, WHICH WAS GIVEN THEE BY PROPHECY, WITH THE LAYING ON OF HANDS."

This bestowments of the vocal revelations from God are not restricted to males. Philip had four daughters that were spoken though by the Spirit.

Acts 21:8-9
"ENTERED INTO THE HOUSE OF PHILIP THE EVANGELIST, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE SEVEN; AND ABODE WITH HIM. AND THE SAME MAN HAD FOUR DAUGHTERS, VIRGINS, WHICH DID PROPHESY."

Joel's prophecy said that "YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY." Many women are included in the list of church leaders given by Paul in Romans 16 (Phebe, Priscilla, Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Persis, Julia). The Holy Spirit distributes these vocal revelations "AS HE WILL", fortunately, for many would like to limit them to one sex, or to the clergy, etc.

This vocal revelation from God is a foundation gift for the church. It must not be confused with the word of wisdom, or the word of knowledge. Those are for revelation to the mind of facts or the purpose of God. They may or may not be spoken by the person receiving them. The gift of prophecy, however, is spoken as it is received. It is not for guidance, but for edification, exhortation, and comfort. (I Cor. 14:3)

The gift of prophecy is a supernatural utterance in the known tongue of the speaker. It is a miracle of divine utterance that has nothing to do with human thought. The acid test for validity of this gift is the Word of God. All prophetic messages should be tested by the Word.

One should never misuse or suppress these utterances. Yet, false utterances should never be tolerated. A prophecy that is determined as unscriptural should be pronounced worthless, and repudiated, without fear.

A false utterance is detected by:
the wrong spirit of the speaker,
a rebuke or an unseemly utterance,
a message that glorifies man, and not the Lord,
an unscriptural utterance,
a message that attempts to establish or begin a new doctrine,
a message that produces "fruit" in the hearers that is unseemly,
the anger of the prophet if his message is not obeyed.

The purposes of the gift of prophecy are these.
1. God wants to speak to mankind supernaturally.
2. God wants to edify believers.
3. God wants to exhort the church.
4. God wants to comfort the distressed, and weak.
5. God wants to convict the unbeliever by speaking directly to him, and manifesting the secrets of his heart. (I Cor. 14:24-25)

We are instructed to greatly desire this gift.

I Corinthians 14:1, 39
"FOLLOW AFTER CHARITY, AND DESIRE SPIRITUAL GIFTS, BUT RATHER THAT YE MAY PROPHESY...COVET TO PROPHESY..."

The word "covet" is from the Greek word -zeloo. It means "to strive for, to be eager for, enthusiastically zealous." It obviously sounds as though God wants us to really want this gift. It is essential to the proper functioning of the church.

It takes faith to exercise this gift. To begin to speak forth a prophecy, not knowing what may be spoken forth takes a great deal of faith.

Romans 12:6
"LET US PROPHESY ACCORDING TO THE PROPORTION OF FAITH..."

We must be careful to give the proper respect to prophetic messages that are valid. Some do not listen to them, some ignore, some show disrespect during the message. These messages are given by the Spirit as a message from Jesus, or God, the Father. To hold them in low esteem is to insult the Trinity. If the Spirit is inspiring these messages, the disregarding of them will greatly grieve Him.

murjahel · Nov 7, 2011

2. THE REVELATION FROM GOD VIA UNKNOWN TONGUES

THE GIFT OF TONGUES is the ability to give a message from God in an unknown language. It needs an interpreter to be understood. The purpose is to edify the church. This gift is different from the use of the prayer language that is received when one is filled with the Spirit initially. The prayer language is given for self-edification. It is given to be used for private prayer to God. The gift of tongues may be the same language, yet it is different gift to be used to edify a body of believers.

Since this is one of the most questioned of the gifts, it is the one we are most often compelled to discuss. It is a gift that is received by many people, and thus also is often discussed in Christian circles. It was the first gift questioned on the day of Pentecost - "WHAT MEANETH THIS ?" (Acts 2:12)

The languages of this gift are said to be the languages of men, or angels. The speaker does not understand the language, but the Holy Spirit uses the vocal cords, tongue, and lips of a Spirit-filled saint and speaks through that one a message from God or Christ. It does not come into the mind first, but flows though the mouth and the speaker listens to it as the others present do. It has nothing to do with linguistic ability, or with the mind, or with the intellect.

Some have incorrectly thought that the language is unknown to the devil. That is not true. In some foreign countries, where English is unknown, the recipients of this gift speak in tongues in perfect English. The devil does not forget a language due to locale. Some speak the language of the angels, and the devil knows that language as his original language. The tongues are not to be unknown to him, but to us, so that the interpretation thereby is confirming the message is from God. Sometimes as we pray in our prayer language, we dont know for what we pray, and are best not to know. This ignorance helps at times.

There are specific uses for the prayer language that all Spirit-filled believers receive. These are:

1.The tongues, or prayer language, is the initial physical evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. As on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4), and at Caesarea eight years later when the Gentiles received (Acts 10:46), and at Ephesus, 23 years later, (Acts 19:6), the reception of the Holy spirit was climaxed with the unknown tongues.

2. The prayer language is given to allow Spirit-filled people to speak supernaturally to God. (I Cor. 14:2) On the Day of Pentecost, the people heard the 120 magnifying God in these tongues. We also will glorify God with this prayer language.

3.A third reason for the prayer language is that we may be edified by the worship. Our own spirits pray and request things that our conscience minds are unaware we need.

I Cor. 14:4, 14
"HE THAT SPEAKS IN A TONGUE EDIFIES HIMSELF...I WILL PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT, AND I WILL PRAY WITH THE UNDERSTANDING ALSO."

Romans 8:26-27
"...THE SPIRIT ALSO HELPETH OUR INFIRMITIES; FOR WE KNOW NOT WHAT WE SHOULD PRAY FOR AS WE OUGHT; BUT THE SPIRIT HIMSELF MAKETH INTERCESSION FOR THE SAINTS ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD..."

The bestowment of a message from God via these tongues has a separate purpose. And it is given for that reason to specific ones who are Spirit-filled. A message from God or Jesus is conveyed by the Holy Spirit to a body of believers in an unknown tongue through some saint with this gift. Then a person with the gift of interpretation is given the meaning of the message in the language of the hearers and tells the people what the Spirit is conveying to them. (I Cor. 14:12-13,5,26) This method of God speaking to believers is meant to be a sign to unbelievers that are present.

Can speaking in tongues be counterfeited? All the gifts of the Spirit can be counterfeited. There are certainly strange utterances and sounds that are made by those who worship other gods. They are counterfeits of the true gift of the spirit. Anything that God does, the devil will try to counterfeit. God has promised that he will not allow a counterfeit to take a Christian. (Lk. 11:11-13)

Even though there are counterfeits out there, we are told to desire this gift. We are also commanded to not forbid the speaking in tongues. Many churches are guilty of breaking this command.

I Cor. 14:39
"COVET TO PROPHESY, FORBID NOT TO SPEAK WITH TONGUES."

The test for the use of the gift of tongues is EDIFICATION. Is the gift used at a time that edifies the service? Does the message edify the meeting of believers? Is it done decently and in order?

I Cor. 14:26,40
"LET ALL THINGS BE DONE TO EDIFYING...LET ALL THINGS BE DONE DECENTLY AND IN ORDER."

murjahel · Nov 7, 2011

3. THE REVELATION FROM GOD
INTERPRETING THE TONGUES

THE INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES is a supernaturally given interpretation (not translation) of the message from God that was given in the unknown language. This gift gives sense and meaning to the message given in tongues. Therefore it is closely related to, and dependent upon -the gift of tongues. This gift does not necessarily use the mind of the speaker. The one with the gift may be given a few words that begin the interpretation, or may be given a mental picture that God is about to describe to the hearers, but most often, begins to speak without knowing what is about to come through their lips. The one with the gift listens to the message as the other hearers listen.

There are some regulations for this gift that need explaining.

1. Do not despise one's message for being less eloquent than another's message. The Spirit uses the vocabulary of the person speaking. The person may put the interpretation in the "King James' English" with all the "thee's and thou's", or it may come in the coarse language of the common person, or anywhere in between the two extremes. The message is still from the Lord. Judge the message, not the vocabulary, accent, intonation, etc.

2.Those who speak the message in tongues are to pray for the gift of interpretation also.

I Cor. 14:13
"WHEREFORE, LET HIM THAT SPEAKETH IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE PRAY THAT HE MAY INTERPRET."

3. There is to be no more than one interpretation for each message in tongues.

I Cor. 14:27
"IF ANY MAN SPEAK IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE...LET ONE INTERPRET."

4. Don't expect monopolies. There should not be only one person who can interpret a message within the church. This gift should be had by a great many people within the local church. If the only interpreter were absent, could God not speak in this manner? If, there is no interpreter present, and the one about to give a message in tongues is sure they cannot interpret, then the utterance in the unknown tongues must be for personal edification, and not for the church. The person speaking in the unknown language should not interrupt the service by speaking aloud.

I Cor. 14:28
"...IF THERE BE NO INTERPRETER, LET HIM KEEP SILENCE IN THE CHURCH; AND LET HIM SPEAK TO HIMSELF, AND TO GOD."

5. A common regulation given for interpreting tongues is found in I Cor. 14:27:
"LET IT BE BY TWO, OR AT THE MOST THREE..."

This is commonly thought to mean that two or three messages and interpretations are allowed during any one service. Perhaps this is the correct understanding. Yet there is only one verse to back up this idea, and the understanding of its meaning has been questioned. Having been raised in a fellowship that taught this idea, I, for a time, found it almost impossible to interpret a fourth message. I felt hindered due to my upbringing.

Occasionally, I have heard a fourth interpreted, and felt nothing was wrong with the message and interpretation. If there were not to be four, then how do we know out of order" and not that the first, second, or third were "out of ordedr?" Then, also, what if a message in tongues and interpretation is given in a Sunday School class, does that limit the worship service to only two more? Do we start over with the worship service being a new beginning?

Finally, I found a more Biblical answer, that explains this passage. According to Rabbinic teachings in those days, when the Hebrew Scriptures were being read in the synagogues where people did not understand Hebrew very well, the targum (or paraphrase) of the Scripture could be also read. The rule that was to be observed in such cases was taught that the Hebrew was to be read two or three times, and then one could interpret in the paraphrase. This was done to keep the emphasis on the original Hebrew text, lest any should misunderstand the paraphrase.

Paul was instructing the Corinthian church, to help correct their misuse of tongues and interpretation, that two or three people could give the message in the various languages chosen by the Spirit, and then another could interpret the message of all three. This would allow more people to be involved in the process. The Corinthians had a zeal to all be used, and they all wanted to bring a message or interpret. To use as many as possible, and to encourage the congregation to realize the divine origin of the message, the use of three or four in the supernatural revelation from God would help.

Some people, including myself, think this is the teaching of that passage. This would be a local instruction, that does not need to be followed by every church, and in every situation. Paul was handling a local misuse problem. That may be why there are no further Scriptures on the subject.

Any important doctrine that is for all churches to observe always has at least two or three passages to confirm the teaching. Therefore, I am leaning more and more to this latter interpretation of I Corinthians 14:27.

6. The interpretation of tongues takes more faith than the giving of the message in the unknown tongues. The devil will try to tell you that you are making it up. Pray for more faith whenever you pray for this gift. Your ultimate goal should be to be given the gift of prophetic utterance. This gift is the ultimate of the speaking, vocal gifts. It requires the most faith, and is not dependent on another gift, as the gift of tongues and the gift of interpretation of tongues are.

I Cor. 14:1
"FOLLOW AFTER LOVE, AND DESIRE SPIRITUAL GIFTS, BUT RATHER THAT YE MAY PROPHESY."

I Cor. 14:39
"WHEREFORE, BRETHREN, COVET TO PROPHESY, AND FORBID NOT TO SPEAK WITH TONGUES."

7. These vocal gifts are to be commonly expected within a service. If they are not common, they are to be "STIRRED UP."(II Tim. 1:6) Yet they are to be controlled and "JUDGED."

I Cor. 14:29-40
"LET THE PROPHETS SPEAK TWO OR THREE, AND LET THE OTHER JUDGE...THE SPIRITS OF THE PROPHETS ARE SUBJECT TO THE PROPHETS... GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF CONFUSION... LET ALL THINGS BE DONE DECENTLY AND IN ORDER..."

The basis of judgment of the tongues, interpretation, or prophetic utterance is the Word of God.
(Deut. 18:10-12, 20-23, Isa. 8:19-20, Rev. 22:18-19, Ezek. 13:2-3, Jer. 23:25-29, 32, I Cor. 13:1-3, Deut. 13:1-9)

The speaker of Gods revelations is responsible for its use or misuse. Much prayer and Bible study is necessary. The making sure of our love for the Lord and the brethren is absolutely necessary. Don't take these gifts lightly. They are not "inferior" gifts in any way. That they be used properly and scripturally is vital to the proper functioning of the church.

I Thessalonians 5:20
"DESPISE NOT PROPHESYINGS."

murjahel · Nov 8, 2011

THE THREE POWER ENDOWMENTS
OF THE SPIRIT

　
　
I Corinthians 12:9-10
"TO ANOTHER FAITH BY THE SAME SPIRIT; TO ANOTHER THE GIFTS OF HEALING BY THE SAME SPIRIT; TO ANOTHER THE WORKING OF MIRACLES..."

I Corinthians 14:1, 12
"...DESIRE SPIRITUAL GIFTS...YE ARE ZEALOUS OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS..."

These endowments with power are given to be used, not neglected, not buried, and certainly not forgotten. We cannot afford to be ignorant of these gifts. They are vital to the functioning of the church. If we are to be the kind of church that Jesus wants, we must have this power from God to be in operation. Yet, we find that in many churches, they have considered these to be so unreachable that they have become apathetic to the very thought of them ever being in their church.

The church is told to seek the best gifts. The best gifts are the ones that are needed at that very moment. When a miracle is needed, the gifts of tongues is not the best gift. When you need an answer of direction in God's will, the gift of the word of wisdom is needed. It would at that time be the "best gift." The dividing of the gifts in the church is done by the Spirit so that we can all find dependence upon one another. As we find our gifts that the Spirit will use through us, we find where we fit into God's church.
　
1. THE ENDOWMENT OF DIVINE FAITH

THE GIFT OF FAITH is a special impartation of faith to believe in what God wants done.

Hebrews 11:1 "now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,the conviction of things not seen."
Faith is the mark of all Christians. We cannot please God if we do not have faith. (Hebrews 11:6)

Yet, the gift of faith is a supernatural impartation of this faith for special, unique situations. There must first be a trial. For without a trial, there is no faith needed. Therefore if Christians were not to go through any troubles, etc. then no faith would be needed. We need faith for the time when we are going through troubles. Until a miracle, healing, or deliverance from the trial arrives, we need a special impartation of faith.

God has told us that He will deliver us from all our troubles. He has promised to make all things to work together for our good. Yet, sometimes the trial seems to be so long, and the miraculous answer seems to take so long to come. During this waiting time, we need a special impartation of faith. It is the greatest of the gifts of power.

It is different from saving faith, for saving faith comes before salvation, and this gift of faith can only come after salvation. It is different from natural faith. Natural faith is like positive thinking.

Some nod their heads to belief in a report.This kind of faith is found in the world. The devil and his angels believe and tremble, yet they insult God and work evil. The gift of faith is to believe God's Word in such a way that honors God and helps one endure the trial until a miracle comes.

The gift of miracles, and the gifts of healings are active, the gift of faith is a passive power. If Daniel had slain the lions with a word, that would have been a miracle, yet he endured the night by a gift of faith. His passive power was an impartation of faith. If the disciples in the storm-tossed boat had received the gift of faith they could have endured a stormy crossing of the lake. Yet, their lack of faith required a miracle to be done by the Lord. The gift of faith does not provide deliverance from the trial, as does miracles or healing, but it provides the courage and endurance for the trial. The faith imparts a burst of belief, and enables one to continue, until the miracle comes.

The divine endowment of faith is equally miraculous to miracles and healings, but its duration is longer. God wants to meet every need in the body of believers. In everytrial, sickness, problem, He wants to give a miracle, healing, or the faith to endure until the answer comes.

Sometimes, God considers faith to be what is best. As in the case of Mary and Martha, Jesus sought to have them exercise the gift of faith for the four days of Lazarus' sickness and death, and then have the miracle. Too often the impatience of Christians demands the miracle now and doesn't want a gift of faith.

The prayer lines in churches often have the same people in them, service after service. The Lord obviously isn't giving the miracle or healing yet. He is trying to operate the gift of faith in their lives, for now. This gift can be a great witness too. The world can see us endure our "lion's den", and our bed of affliction, and still be rejoicing in Jesus.

When the world sees this type of faith, they marvel.

The lack of this faith is evident when Christians go about demanding that the walls of their Jericho's fall on the first day, not the seventh. Many want to strike the lion's dead, not spend the night with them to exercise the gift of faith. In Hebrews chapter 11, the great list of heros of faith are praised for enduring their trials, and awaiting the fulfillment of the promises God gave them, by the exercising the greatest of the power gifts--the gift of faith. Some of the heros of faith even died while exercising the gift of faith and never in this life saw the miracle or healing.

Hebrews 11:13
"THESE ALL DIED IN FAITH, NOT HAVING RECEIVED THE PROMISE, BUT HAVING SEEN THEM AFAR OFF, AND WERE PERSUADED OF THEM, AND EMBRACED THEM..."

This exercising of faith is not the popular Christianity. Most would rather see the miracle.

The desire for the miracle is not wrong. The willingness to patiently endure the trial, and await the miracle is what God wants to see in His saints.

The persuasion of the validity of God's promises even though we have not yet seen the fulfillment of the promises is greatly rewarded by God. To the great heros of faith, it is recorded in Hebrews 11:16 that -
"WHEREFORE GOD IS NOT ASHAMED TO BE CALLED THEIR GOD..."

God is probably ashamed to be called the God of those who complain, moan, and gripe about their trials, storms, lion's dens, that they are supposed to patiently endure. God will demand that we exercise the gift of faith, even if we try to make it clear that only the healing or miracle will satisfy us. God is greatly displeased when Christians refuse to pray for this gift of faith.

Hebrews 11:38
"NOW THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; BUT IF ANY MAN DRAW BACK, MY SOUL SHALL HAVE NO PLEASURE IN HIM."

We need the word of wisdom, and the word of knowledge to know which gift God wants to exercise upon us when we are in trials. If in healing lines, the word of knowledge is to be exercised so that the minister can know how to pray for those in trials. The ones who are to receive the gift of faith do not need to go home feeling that since they did not receive the gift of miracles, or the gift of healings, God must not want to give them anything. The greatest gift God can give at that time is the gift of faith. That, when properly received, will bring greater glory to God that the miracle or healing. It is still a sign and wonder. The world marvels at the faith of a Christian enduring the trial with the gift of faith.

There are uses of the gift of faith that need to be explained. Though the gift of faith is the greatest of the power gifts, it is the least understood, and the least desired. We are told to seek the best gifts, and this is the best gift of the power gifts. It is to be used:

1. for personal protection in perilous trials. (As Daniel during the night in the lion's den, and the long walk of the three Hebrew children to the fiery furnace, we are to seek to have an impartation of faith during our trials. Can you imagine the friends of Daniel saying, "If you had real faith you'd be able to speak a word and the lions would fall dead."? Too often the church of today has become like Job's comforters, and find fault with those who have to endure and have the gift of faith instead of a miracle or healing.)

2. for supernatural sustenance in famine or fasting.(In the life of Elijah, he did not have a miracle of great supply of food, but had to exercise a constant faith as God supplied his sustenance was given on a daily basis. Too many of today's "faith" people would berate such a man as Elijah for not being rich, and having to live one day at a time waiting for God to supply.)

3. for receiving the astonishing promises of God. (Abraham had to believe the promise of God that he would have a son, and seed as the sands of the sea, even though the promise seemed to never even have a beginning of fulfillment. In this day of "prosperity" religion, many would have criticized Abraham for believing a promise that never was fulfilled even at his time of death. But Elijah believed in faith, and though he was blessed with some material blessings, his search was for a "CITY WHOSE BUILDING AND MAKER IS GOD.")

4. for courage when the trial is long. (On the mountain top, Moses stood with his arms uplifted. As long as his arms were lifted up, Israel would be winning the battle. As he lowered his arms the battle would turn, and the enemy would begin to win. His long standing, and holding up of his arms was an exercise of the gift of faith. Exodus 17:11
Some would have told Moses, "Why not speak a word and have a miracle! Have the earth swallow them up! Today, many are not desirous of exercising the gift of faith, they want the miracle only. This is often not God's way.)

numbers 2 and 3 to come

murjahel · Nov 8, 2011

2. THE ENDOWMENTS OF HEALINGS

THE GIFTS OF HEALINGS is the special abilities to heal diseases. The plural form of the words "gifts" and "healings" indicate the varieties of ways in which God heals. These gifts are the impartation from God to heal, cure, repair, and make whole the physical body, and deliver it from demons or disease.

Three times in I Corinthians 12 (vss. 9, 28, 30), the gift is mentioned and each time it is "gifts of healings". Each of the other gifts is mentioned in the singular. This is because God has many methods of working healings. These include:

1. The pressing through of the individual for healing, as the woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garment...

2. The calling for others to pray the prayer of faith, as we are instructed to call for the "elders" to pray...

3. The rebuking of the devil or demons who are obsessing the individual...

4. The commanding of the sick to do certain deeds to obtain the healing, as Naaman had to dip seven times in the Jordan, and the lame man had to "take up" his bed...

5. The giving of a point of faith, as the shadow of Peter, or the prayer cloth, or the anointing oil...

6. The repetitive prayer, as Elijah's seven-time prayer for rain...

Another reason for the plural of these words may be that God provides some with the gift to heal certain diseases, and to another provides the power to heal other diseases. This teaches a congregation to depend upon each other, for all are needed to exercise their gift as needed.

There are many reasons God will choose to exercise the use of the gifts of healings. These include:

1. To deliver the sick and destroy the works of the devil in the human body.

Acts 10:38
"...WENT ABOUT DOING GOOD, AND HEALING ALL WHO WERE OPPRESSED OF THE DEVIL..."

2. To authorize the gospel that has been preached.

Acts 8:6-7
"AND THE PEOPLE WITH ONE ACCORD GAVE HEED UNTO THOSE THINGS WHICH PHILIP SPAKE, HEARING AND SEEING THE MIRACLES WHICH HE DID. FOR UNCLEAN SPIRITS, CRYING WITH A LOUD VOICE, CAME OUT OF MANY THAT WERE POSSESSED OF THEM; AND MANY TAKEN WITH PALSIES, AND THAT WERE LAME, WERE HEALED."

3. To draw people to Christ.

John 6:2
"AND A GREAT MULTITUDE FOLLOWED HIM, BECAUSE THEY SAW HIS MIRACLES WHICH HE DID ON THEM THAT WERE DISEASED."

4. To inspire faith and courage in God's people.

Luke 13:17
"ALL THE PEOPLE REJOICED FOR ALL THE GLORIOUS THINGS THAT WERE DONE BY HIM..."

murjahel · Nov 8, 2011

3. THE ENDOWMENTS OF MIRACLES

MIRACLES have to do - with more than recovery from illness - and could include restoration of limbs, raising the dead, etc. Moses exhibited it in Egypt and in the wilderness. Elijah exercised the gift of miracles on Mt. Carmel, and at the widow's home. Jesus exercised the gift of miracles when He fed the 5000.

The endowment of miracles is one of the gifts that those who have the ministry gift of apostleship are to have.

II Corinthians 12:12
"TRULY THE SIGNS OF AN APOSTLE WERE WROUGHT AMONG YOU IN ALL PATIENCE, IN SIGNS, AND WONDERS, AND MIGHT DEEDS."

The power to intervene in the course of nature, when the work of the Lord may be furthered thereby, is the gift of miracles. There is much confusion to the meaning of "miracle." A miracle is a supernatural act in the physical realm. A miracle is the temporary suspension of accustomed order. A miracle is a sovereign act of the Spirit, irrespective of laws or systems.

The Bible records many miracles. These include:
1. Elisha made an axe head to swim.
(II Ki. 6:1-7)
2. Aaron cast a rod before Pharaoh, and it became a serpent. (Ex. 7:10)
3. Jesus raised the dead to life.
(John 11:1-47)
4. Peter raised Dorcas to life.
(Acts 9:40)

5. Paul restored Eutychus to life.
(Acts 20:10)

Miracles are used of the Lord to:
1. Miraculously deliver God's people (as Moses leading the nation across the Red Sea on dry ground.)
2. Provide for those in need (as the widow's handful of meal, and the feeding of the thousands by Jesus with 5 loaves and 2 fishes.)
3. To carry out divine judgments (as the plagues on Egypt.)
4. To confirm the Word preached (Acts 13:11-12).
5. To deliver from danger (as the calming of the storm.)
6. To raise the dead (as Lazarus was raised by the Lord.)
7. To display God's power and magnificence (as the miracles of Jesus drew the attention of John the Baptist's disciples.)

Divine miracles are not pointless spectacles to grasp peoples's attention. The main emphasis is to show the grace and love of the Lord on a world of need.

Miracles can occur today. Miracles were not explosions of Almightiness for just the apostolic age. Modernists have mocked at the idea of miracles. Yet God is the same today as He has always been. If miracles were needed in Jesus' day, they are even more needed in our day of sin and rebellion to catch the attention of this world. God's plan is for many miracles to occur. The apostles saw many miracles done (Acts 2:43). In these last days, we too should have the endowments of miracles in operation.

murjahel · Nov 9, 2011

THE THREE REVELATION
GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

I Corinthians 12:8,10
"FOR TO ONE IS GIVEN BY THE SPIRIT THE WORD OF WISDOM; TO ANOTHER THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE BY THE SAME SPIRIT...TO ANOTHER DISCERNING OF SPIRITS..."

The Holy Spirit still wants to operate in the church. He wants to supply us with supernatural gifts - "AS HE WILLS." Divine energies are implanted in the Christians. These "gifts" are unmerited bestowments from the Lord. The gifts that are divine implantations of knowledge, understanding, and discernment from the mind of God, are some of the most neglected of the gifts.

Paul longed to impart to the Romans some spiritual gift.

Romans 1:19
"FOR I LONG TO SEE YOU, THAT I MAY IMPART UNTO YOU SOME SPIRITUAL GIFT, TO THE END THAT YE MAY BE ESTABLISHED."

The revelation gifts are vitally important to the church today, so that it may be established and stable. These gifts are often the "best gifts" since they are so often needed.

What are these gifts ?

1. WORD OF KNOWLEDGE is the supernatural revelation of facts in the Divine Mind. The Word of knowledge gives us a bit of knowledge that is needed either as a sign, or as guidance. This does not come by logic or analysis, it comes by divine bestowment. We must beware lest we mistake intuition for this gift. This gift is God's way to guide and teach in special circumstances.
2. WORD OF WISDOM is the supernatural revelation of the purpose of God. The Word of Wisdom is God's method of helping His church understand His purpose in events that are happening. We need to know why some things happen. The Word of Wisdom tells us what God has in mind. By this revelation, we can know what we can do to fit into God's plan.
3. DISCERNMENT OF SPIRITS is the supernatural insight into the realm of the spirits. Discernment of spirits is God's way to reveal whether the agent at work is the human spirit, a demonic spirit, or God's Spirit.
　
1. THE REVELATION OF WISDOM

THE GIFT OF WISDOM is the special, supernatural revelation, from God to the believer's mind, of the purpose and reason for the workings of God. Paul describes this gift in some detail in I Corinthians 2:6-12:
"HOWBEIT WE SPEAK WISDOM AMONG THEM THAT ARE PERFECT: YET NOT THE WISDOM OF THIS WORLD, NOR OF THE PRINCES OF THIS WORLD, THAT COME TO NOUGHT: BUT WE SPEAK THE WISDOM OF GOD IN A MYSTERY, EVEN THE HIDDEN WISDOM, WHICH GOD ORDAINED BEFORE THE WORLD UNTO OUR GLORY: WHICH NONE OF THE PRINCES OF THIS WORLD KNEW; FOR HAD THEY KNOWN IT, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE CRUCIFIED THE LORD OF GLORY. BUT AS IT IS WRITTEN, EYE HATH NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN, THE THINGS THAT GOD HATH PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM. BUT GOD HATH REVEALED THEM UNTO US BY HIS SPIRIT; FOR THE SPIRIT SEARCHETH ALL THINGS, YEA, THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD. FOR WHAT MAN KNOWETH THE THINGS OF MAN SAVE THE SPIRIT OF MAN WHICH IS IN HIM? EVEN SO THE THINGS OF GOD KNOWETH NO MAN, BUT THE SPIRIT OF GOD. NOW WE HAVE RECEIVED NOT THE SPIRIT OF THE WORLD, BUT THE SPIRIT WHICH IS OF GOD; THAT WE MIGHT KNOW THE THINGS THAT ARE FREELY GIVEN TO US OF GOD."

Since the Spirit knows all the things in the mind of God, and He dwells in us, we can freely be given fragments of that wisdom to use. We are not tapping into a great computer, but into the very mind of God who knows - not only all the facts, but also all the wherefore's and reasons behind all the facts. This gift is the receiving, knowing, and presenting of the wisdom of God, and the purpose of God behind His doings. It is the insight into the divine acts as to how and why God is working. It is the unfolding of the purpose of His dealings.

It is the greatest of the revelation gifts. Wisdom presupposes knowledge. To just know what God is doing, or what the facts or events are, is not enough. We must also know why, and the purpose of God in these facts. The gift of discernment tells us "WHO" is at work, whether it is God, or not: the gift of the word of knowledge tells us "WHAT" God is doing: but the gift of wisdom is ultimately needed then to tell us "WHY" God is doing these things.

In I Kings 21:18, Elijah is told a word of knowledge- i.e. - to meet Ahab in the vineyard. Then, he is given a word of wisdom:
"WHERE HE IS GONE TO POSSESS IT..."

This wisdom told Elijah the purpose of Ahab. Then God instructed Elijah with more knowledge and wisdom as to God's purpose in sending Elijah there. The revelation gifts are needed to be received as a package. To have all of them is ideal.

There are occasions in the church, where one is given the discernment to know that God is at work in a certain situation. As that discernment is given, another may be given the facts from their gift of knowledge of what is about to transpire. Then God may use a third to reveal the word of wisdom, and tell why God is doing these things. God can use the different revelation gifts in this way to teach us to depend on each other, as a body of believers. It also helps us to realize the source of the information is God, not some super-gifted person. Yet at many times, because we have not allowed God to use us with these gifts as He would like, God must use one person with all three of these gifts at once. So it is wise to seek all three as a package, so you may be available to use all three at once, or if God can find two more with these gifts, to be used in conjunction with them with one of the three gifts.

The gift of wisdom is often confused with deep spiritual insight. It is sometimes confused with administrative wisdom. Others may confuse it with prudence or discretion. Yet, it is none of these. It is a revelation from God's mind to us about His purpose to help us understand why He is working out certain events.

How do we recognize the true word of wisdom? One sure test is "THE FEAR OF THE LORD." Wisdom and knowledge are given to those who have a "FEAR" of God.

Proverbs 1:7
"THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE..."

Proverbs 9:10
"THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM..."

Thus, to have the proper respect, and awe for the greatness of the Person of God, is necessary before the Spirit will begin to reveal the thoughts, purposes and facts from the mind of God to us.

There are many reasons for the word of wisdom. These include:

1. A word of wisdom is given to warn and guide people concerning future judgment. Noah was told a word of knowledge about the flood, but then was given a word of wisdom concerning what God intended to do in saving his family, and in judging the rest of the world. Abraham was told a word about the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. The wise men were warned about the intent of Herod, so they departed and did not return and inform Herod of the Messiah child's whereabouts.

2. A word of wisdom is given to reveal God's plans to those He is going to use. Joseph was told the meaning of Pharaoh's dream. Daniel was told the meaning of Nebuchadnezzar's dreams.

3. A word of wisdom is given to assure a servant of God that he has a divine commission. God spoke to Moses from the burning bush and told him of his calling to lead Israel out of Egypt.

4. A word of wisdom is given to reveal the acceptable order and manner of divine worship. God revealed to Moses, upon Mt. Sinai, the way they were to worship God.

5. A word of wisdom is given to explain to a prejudiced person that God's love is not restricted to a select few. Peter was told of the foods once considered unclean were allowed to be eaten. Then God revealed to Peter that the Gentiles were included in the gospel message.

6. A word of wisdom is given to assure of coming deliverance in the midst of calamity. Paul told the people of the ship that the ship was to be destroyed, yet God would save every life aboard the ship.

7. A word of wisdom is given so God may declare His future plans. Paul was told of God's plan to include the Gentiles into the church.

8. A word of wisdom is given to assure a future blessing. Abraham was told that he would be the father of many nations.

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