The Gifts of the Spirit
By Joyce Webb 2024
I Corinthians
(Gifts of the Spirit—the ability to do or know things that normally a person could not do. But the Holy Spirit gives them the ability to do it.)
Chapter 12 Vs. 1-11
Vs. 1 Paul tells the believers —- that he wants to explain to them about spiritual gifts.
Vs. 2 Paul tells them —-that before they believed in Jesus—–they worshipped idols. So they did not understand—-how the Sprit of God worked in believers.
Vs. 3 Paul says—-No person—–who is a true believer in Jesus Christ—- is going to curse Jesus or God. And—–no one—-can truly say—-that—-“Jesus is Lord” — except by the Sprit of God.
A person who is a true believer in Christ Jesus—-believes that Jesus is God. If they say Jesus is not God —- but something less than God —they are not a true believer in Jesus.
There are religious groups—who believe that Jesus may be God’s Son,—but he is not equal to God. They believe Jesus was created—–like the angels. They believe that Jesus died for our sins,—–but he is less than God.
There are other places on my website that I explain that Jesus is God—-God and Jesus are one. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are one.
Vs. 4 There are many gifts. They all come by the same spirit—-the Holy Spirit
Vs. 5 These gifts have different ways they show themselves in how they serve people for the Lord’s work.
Vs. 6 They have different uses—-but they are all— from God the Holy Spirit.
Vs. 7 Each gift—works to help believers—–to grow in the Lord.
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Here is the list that Paul tells: There are 9.
Word of wisdom
Word of knowledge
Faith
Gifts of healing
Working of Miracles
Prophecy
Discerning Spirits
Different kinds of “tongues:–languages
Interpretation of “tongues”
Vs. 8 The Holy Spirit may give to one person —–the gift of “a word of wisdom”.
The “word of wisdom” could be for the person themselves, or it could be to tell another person something.
Example: A group of people are discussing something or are planning something—-God gives one person a strong thought–or an idea—-to guide the group so they make a wise decision.
The “word of wisdom”——- a word —-or sentence—– or thought——that comes to a person’s mind—–about a situation—-to guide us or to warn us.
Sometimes —-we—- or others—-have a problem—-and we are not sure what to do about it. The Holy Spirit can “whisper” into our spirit and mind—– “wisdom” of what we should do.
This is not just our own reason. It is something we feel—-or sense strongly in our spirit and mind —- that seems to—- “come to us”—–as a thought —- in our spirit —and we know it is the right thing to do.
Example:
I heard a missionary tell this. He was in a foreign country exchanging his money for their money. As he was at the table of the man who was taking care of the money, the Holy Spirit whispered into the missionary mind —to test the coins —-by tapping —-the edge of the coin on the table.
And that he should accept only coins—-that made a certain sound.
The missionary began to tap the coins on their edge against the table.
The man exchanging the money became angry. He did not like it that the missionary was checking each coin and taking only certain ones.
The missionary —- learned later why. The coins that had a certain sound were pure silver and the other coins were made of another metal but with a thin coat of silver.
God was watching out for the missionary and wanted him to get the full value for his money.
At the time–the missionary did not know why—-he just felt in his spirit that he should do it. Only later did he have the “knowledge” of why.
To another—-the “word of knowledge”
The “word of wisdom” may be for our own use—-or—-we may also speak it to others.
The “word of knowledge” most often is for us —– to speak to others.
**This is something—that they would have no way of knowing—unless God had told them.
This “knowledge” is to be a warning, —-or of a help to the other person.
Sometimes, we do not speak it to others—but it is for us to know.
Two personal examples:
The “word of knowledge” My sister told me this. She had been working at a place for a time, —-and another job opened up. But my sister was not sure she should take the new job. She began praying that the Lord would show her.
A lady she knew—-but had not seen in some time——came to her at church —-and said that the Lord spoke a word to her—-and she felt she was to tell my sister.
The lady said “I have just one word. It came to me in prayer–very strong —I felt it.
This word does not make any sense to me—-but I feel I am to tell this word to you.
She said the word, “Washington”.
The lady said , I’m sorry it seems so strange. It does not make any sense to me.
My sister thanked her—and said —- “It does make sense to me.” You see—-the job where my sister was working was on Washington street.
My sister felt that the Lord was telling her to stay on Washington street. Which she did for several more years.
Another example: A couple I knew had been married a long time and had not had children. They had prayed for years to have a baby.
One day, the thought came into my mind—very strong—this woman would get pregnant and have a child. I did not say anything to her. I did pray for her regularly that all would go well for her and she would successfully have a healthy baby.
Not long after, I heard she was pregnant.
Everyone was so surprised and happy for her.
I felt glad that what the Lord had spoken to me—-came true.
She did have a girl. It was the only child they had.
Nevertheless, they were so happy and thankful.
Vs. 9 To another—-the “word of faith”,
The “word of faith” is a “feeling”—or an “understanding” — a “knowing” — that God is going to do something—-for us—–or for others.
It may be a situation—-that has many problems and does not look like it could possibly work out,—-but in our heart/spirit —-we have a special “knowing”— that God is going to make it happen.
This “word of faith”—is much stronger—-than just our usual faith—-of walking with the Lord and trusting him. It is as if the Lord has put—-extra faith into us—when it is a “word of faith”.
God may whisper to us to trust him for something that is big and hard—-yet we know God is wanting us to have faith and trust that he will do it.
That person seems to have an extra strong faith that it will happen.
George Muller was a man who had great faith. He started an orphanage for children.
He got so many children who needed a home that he did not always have enough food for them.
He would pray that the Lord would send the food or money to buy it. Over and over —-the food would come or the money would come in.
There is a book about his life.
It tells of so many of the answers to his prayers.
—–to another—–the gift of “healing”
Through the years —-there have been many men and some women—-whom God has given the gift to pray for people and the are healed.
Many miracles of healing have happened through these people praying for others to be healed.
To another the working of “miracles”,
(Miracles are something that happens that is beyond what is normal. Or what is scientifically impossible.
Meaning—- God has made something happen—-or has stopped something from happening—-that is beyond normal possibility.
This is usually something different than healing.
Maybe someone is saved from being killed or hurt. Like a bullet just missed them.
Or a car just missed hitting them.
Or God stopped a storm.
Something happens that would not normally be possible. You know that God had a hand in making it happen.
The gift of prophecy
There are people to whom God gives——messages of prophecy.
(Being able to tell what will happen in the future.
This is not a “fortune teller” who does it by a crystal ball, or cards, or reading the palm of your hand, or reading the stars —or contacting evil spirits.
The Bible speaks against those kinds of people.
There are men and some women—-to whom God has given dreams and visions of things to come.
The Bible says that we will know a true prophet—- if what he says—– happens.
This is my warning——–be careful about believing everyone who has a prophecy message.
The Bible has many messages of prophecy. There are still some prophecies that are yet to happen.
In today’s world, there are many—who say they have a “message” of prophecy. They tell something—but it does not come true. If it does not come true, then it was not God who told them.
We have many people giving messages about the end of times. The question is —how many of them—-are truly speaking from the Spirit of God?
When you hear a message of prophecy——check the Bible to see if it agrees with what the Bible says —-check that person’s life to see if they are walking a life of obeying God —–and —-wait and see if it comes true.
If they—–tell you to do something —-to get ready for this thing that is to happen —- then— you pray about it—-and maybe make some plans —-but be careful—- be wise—-use good reason and sense—–and pray for God to guide you—– about what you should do.
One preacher on radio gave prophecies about the rapture. He told when it would happen. Many people followed his teachings. Some of them quit their jobs. Some sold their homes.
The preacher’s prophecy never happen. Those people lost their jobs, and their homes.
First, Jesus said, ‘No man knows the day or hour, only my Father in heaven knows.” Matthew 24:36
This is why I keep saying—know the Bible !
Gift of Discerning of Spirits
Discern—means to see the difference between two things —-to see a false thing—-to feel and sense a wrong thing—to feel a “check” in your spirit that something is not right.
I gave a warning about prophecy——but there are many things we need discernment about:
We need to see the true nature, and beliefs, if they are speaking the truth—-
Of —–
Government leaders
Religious leaders
Business people we deal with
Many other situations
Satan tries to copy everything God has made.
Satan has copied “prophecy by means of fortune tellers and the occult.
He has copied speaking in “tongues” and interpretation.
He has copied “healings:.
He has copied “word of knowledge”
He has copied the “working of miracles” —in fact. God warns us in Revelation that the one world leader the anti-Christ’s prophet will be able to do “miracles” Rev.13:14
Warning:
When you see a “gift of the Spirit” happening—–first, check to see if the person doing it is a godly, Christian. Are they truly acting under the influence of the Holy Spirit?
Does what they say, or do, match what the Bible says is right?
If you see a person doing things that look like miracles—-and you look at their life—and you see that they do not worship Jesus, or they also are doing witchcraft or the occult, or idol worship—-then their miracles are not of God.
Satan was Lucifer—one of the highest angels in heaven.
Angels know and understand science things about the universe and the earth and people and bodies that humans do not yet know.
They can make things happen because of their understanding of these things.
They are limited, but far smarter than humans. Not as smart as God.
And God watches them and can limit them when He wants to.
The Bible warns us about false miracles. Especially, as we get closer to the end of time for this earth.
Sometimes we hear —- preachers—–or teachers—-who sound very spiritual —-but something in our spirits is —-giving us a warning.
The spirit warning means—-not all is as it looks. There is something wrong here.
Look deeper,—-ask questions,——watch and see what happens.
Look into that person’s life and see if they are really living the life of a believer in Jesus. Look to see if they are really obeying Christ’s teachings.
God still does miracles and uses people with gifts of the spirit—-but do not be ignorant to think that every time you see something—it is of God.
Check it out. Pray about it. Let the Holy Spirit in you— speak to you about it.
In these last days, Satan will do things to try to confuse Christians and lead them to leave God’s truth.
This is why we all need the gift of discernment—to know what spirit is behind what we see and hear.
Gift of speaking in “tongues” and interpretation of “tongues”.
These 2 gifts usually work together. They are usually used when with a group of believers. Not always, but usually.
A believer may feel that he is to say something aloud to the others in the group—— and it comes out in a different language than the one he speaks.
He does not understand what he said, and neither do the others in the group.
Then a person feels they have the interpretation —–and by the spirit they begin to speak and they speak in the language of the group—so now they all can understand what was said.
Usually, this kind of message is one of encouragement for the believers.
Sometimes it is a warning.
I have heard testimony from people that when the person spoke in ”tongues” —there was a person in the group who spoke that language and understood it.
They often would be surprised to hear that person speak their language—and to hear it spoken perfectly with no accent. They would wonder how that person knew their language.
The person did not know their language. The Holy Spirit was controlling their tongue and spoke perfectly through them.
Often times this has happen on the mission field to missionaries.
Then there is the teaching of the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” where a person speaks in tongues. This teaching is from the book of Acts —-where it is spoken of in various places in Acts.
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Vs. 11 All of these “gifts” are given by the same Holy Spirit——and are for the purpose—-reason —— to help the believers grow in faith—-to warn—-or to guide.