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THE HOLY SPIRIT Study No.10.
COMMANDS REGARDING THE GIFTS.
A. We must not be ignorant of them. l Cor. 12:1; 14:38.
B. We are urged to earnestly seek for them. I Cor. 13:31; 14:1.
Everyone should have at least one.
But, say some very dear and highly esteemed Christians, the
Gifts of the Spirit in any case are surely optional; you can
live without them Agreed. You can live without eyes and ears
and speech. Spiritual Gifts are as optional as eyesight; you
can walk without Gifts, but you cannot be mighty in God
without them. It is power, not holiness, that heals the sick
- the power the Gifts supply. And remember, that the highest
claim to holiness is weakened by an exhibition of undisguised
irritation or disobedience concerning any of the commands of
God. Does not holiness consist in obedience to every Holy
command of our most Holy God-even the command to "desire
spiritual gifts"?
C. We must learn to operate them correctly, in order that we may
excel to the edifying of the assembly.
I Cor. 14:12; 31:33.
WHAT THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT ACCOMPLISH?
a. Build up, edify - 1 Corinthians 14;3-5; "But he that
prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and
exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown
tongue edifieth himself; but" he that prophesieth edifieth
the Church.
1 Corinthians 14:12, 26, 33, 40, "Even so ye, forasmuch as ye
are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the
edifying of the church. How is it then, brethren? when ye
come together, everyone of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine,
hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation.
Let all things be done unto edifying. For God is not the
author of confusion but of peace, as in all churches of the
saints. Let all things be done decently and in order."
b. Establish - Romans 1:11, "For I long to see you, that I may
impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be
established."
c. Profit - l Corinthians 12:7. "But the manifestation of the
Spirit is given to every man to profit withal."
d. Our credentials - Mark 16:17-20, "And these signs shall
follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out
devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up
serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not
hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall
recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was
received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord
working with them, and confirming the word with signs
following. Amen."
PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS IN THE OPERATION OF THE GIFTS OF THE
SPIRIT.
The Scriptures confirm that, though the gifts are the
manifestation of the Holy Spirit, God operates through a
person as a cooperative act; man does not become a puppet,
or act unconsciously, or go into a trance. Rather, he must
cooperate with the Lord to express what God wants to say in
the way God wants it expressed.
A. The gifts of the Spirit are to be subject to the written Word
of God:
--l John 5:11 - "This is The record..."
--l Corinthians 14:37 -"If any man think himself to be a
prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things
that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord."
--Revelation 22:18,19 - " For I testify unto every man that
heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man
shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the
plagues that are written in this book, and if any man shall
take away from the words of this prophecy, God shall take
away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy
city, and from the things which are written in this book."
--Deuteronomy 4:2 - "Ye shall not add unto the word which I
command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye
may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I
command you."
--Proverbs 30: 5-6 -"Every word of God is pure; He is a
shield unto them that put their trust in Him., Ad thou not to
His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar,"
Though it is true the Spirit still speaks, He will never "add
to this Book, in the sense of contradicting or changing its
truth.
--Ephesians 2:20 -"And are built upon the foundation of the
Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief
cornerstone. "
No matter how sure of himself that he has a spiritual
revelation or a word from the Lord, if it contradicts the
clear teaching of the Scripture, it must not be accepted.
Our only safety from delusion is to stay within the
boundaries of revealed truth.
B. The gifts of the Spirit gre to be subject to the oversight
ministries of the Church:
The Scripture clearly teaches that God holds leaders
accountable for the spiritual health and well being of the
flock. Someone must stand accountable and responsible for
everything that is said or done in the Church. A failure to
observe this is one of the greatest errors of the many
gatherings of believers where gifts operate, but without
oversight present. This is, in fact, the means which the
Lord has provided to see to it that in accordance with the
Scripture.
--Ephesian 4:11-15 shows the ministry was given to bring the
saints to maturity so that they would not be like a little
Ship in the ocean, "Tossed to and fro, and carried about with
every gust of doctrine, but the slight of men and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive... but might
hold the truth."
-- Acts 20:28-30 - "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and
to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you
overseers, to feed the Church of God, which He hath purchased
with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departing
shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the
flock. Alas of your own selves shall men arise speaking
perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."
--Hebrews 13:17 - "Obey them that have the rule over you, and
submit yourselves: For they watch for your souls, as they
that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not
with grief: for that is unprofitable for you"
--James 3:1 - My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that
we shall receive the greater condemnation."
--Revised Version: - "Be not many teachers my brethren,
knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment."
Though God does not have one standard of life for the
ministry and another for the flock, the ministry is held
responsible not only for their own walk, but also the welfare
of others.
--Proverbs 27:33 - "Be thou diligent to know the state of thy
flocks, and look well to thy herds."
(Also see: 1 Peter 5:2; John 10:11-13; 2 Corinthians 7:12;
8:23; Ezekiel 33:6; Jeremiah 23:4)
--2 Corinthians 8:23 tells us that the ministering brethren
are the "ministers of the Churches, and the glory of Christ."
Even the prophets must be willing to he judged by others.
I Corinthians 14:29) How much more should we all be willing
to have our gifts evaluated and judged by spiritual
shepherds. This is God's means of checks and balances. If
one rejects this "safety", measure, it is because he is
wrongly motivated.
This is one of the first things a believers should take
advantage of: receiving counsel of and working with the
elders over him as those who are "accountable" for him and
"feed" him, whose occupation is to " perfect the saints that
they might minister.." (Ephesians 4: 11-12
C. The principle of " yielding-your members:(ROMANS 6:13.
In 1 Corinthians 14;15 Paul said," I will pray with the
understanding also". This throws much light on how the spirit
works through a believer. The believer is not to be passive,
but involved with his will and body; actively participating.
The participation does not take place when he is in a state
of unconsciousness or in some ecstatic, euphoric stupor.
Rather, the participation it intelligent and voluntary.
We must obey the prompting of the Spirit by faith and the act
of our will, putting ourselves into a position in which the
Holy Spirit can use us and manifest Himself through us. It
is important to realise that He possesses us in order to use
His tools through us. We do not use the Spirit,He uses us.
There are two extreme positions which should be mentioned at
this point and which must be avoided:
1. That gifts operate at the believers will, so that he is
free to exercise them anytime, anyplace.
Some Scriptures which are used to validate this position are;
--1 Corinthians 14-15- As far as tongues in prayer and
worship are concerned, this is a correct position
--1 Cor 14:32 " the spirit of the prophets are subject
to the prophets".
--l Timothy 4;14- "Neglect not the gift which was
given thee..."
--2 Timothy 1:6- "Stir up the gift of God.."
D. Gifts are to be governed by love:
This is the whole message of 1 Corinthians---13. It is no
accident that in the design of Scripture, God permeates the
subject of the gifts with the emphasis of love. The "love
chapter" is actually an integral part of the teaching on the
gifts.
Jesus taught, "Ye shall know them by their fruits", and the
fruit of the Spirit is always the real test. of Quality of
ministry.
(Galatians 5:22-26) If love is weak, the gifts will not
have their full effect.The fruit of the Spirit and the
quality of love is what gives gifts their full authority
and power to minister to others. Without these, the
gifts can become as "a sounding brass and a tinkling
cymbal".
--Galatians 5:16 tells us that even faith is to work "by
love" Many of the problems of the past, both in the flock
and among the leaders, have been based on a violation of
these principles of love.
E. The principle of "edification":
-- 1 Corinthians 14:12-- "Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are
zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the
edifying of the Church"
1 Corinthians 14:22 "Let all things be done unto
edifying"
I Corinthians 8:1 - "Knowledge puffeth up, but charity
edifieth."
According to the thought of this verse, if a person does
things that do not edify, then it is doubtful that he is
motivated by love.
--2 Corinthians 10:8 - "For though I should boast somewhat
more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for
edification...
--2 Corinthians 12:19 - ...but we do all things dearly
beloved, for your edifying."
--l Corinthians 14:33 shows us that God is not the source of
that which brings confusion and disturbance. God brings
peace.
--l Corinthians 14:40 shows that the pure operations of the
Spirit are decent and orderly ' It is not enough just to
prophesy of speak in tongues; it must be done in a proper and
orderly way.
This has several aspects. Some particular areas to which
this applies are:
1 The manner in which it is done. Scripturally, no one
can be abusive or an exhibitionist, or emotionally
extravagant, saying that he could not control himself, that
"it was the Holy Spirit." l Cor 14:32
Finally, the personality of the Holy Spirit must accompany
His operations. (Galatians 5:22-23). If one speaks so fast
that he becomes unintelligible, or is slow and repetitive, it
will tend to blur the message and confuse the people, Those
guilty of these faults simply need to be counselled to
improve in these areas so that they may communicate more
effectively. These excesses do not indicate that the gift is
not of the Holy Spirit, but, rather, that the person needs to
learn to yield to a purer expression of the gift. The
principle of "Spiritual manners and etiquette" applies
clearly to one's attitude and behaviour in the gifts.
2. Timing - Paul tells the Corinthians not only to do
things properly, but at the proper time,
In 1 Corinthians 14:27 he shows that tongues and
interpretations should flow together with correct timing kept
in mind.
In l Corinthians 14:29-33 he show that the prophets are to
flow together in their timing.
In 1 Corinthians 14:26 it is obvious that, in order to fulfil
these practices in an orderly manner, timing is involved.
--Romans-12:6-10 also involves order and timing.
One key that is given Romans 12:10 is that real love "prefers
one another" in other words, a person should not get
"hoggish" and dominate the meetings.
3. The principle of unity - It,is outstanding and beautiful
how the Lord builds a design in the services of the Church,
He usually follows a theme or a message, and everyone who is
walking in the Spirit will speak the same. Even though there
are "diversities" in administration and diversities" of
operations, it is the same Spirit that "worketh all in all."
(1 Corinthians 12:4-6 as it is the same Spirit working
through all, then there will be a unity of message and theme.
The gifts can be abused and misused is clearly demonstrated
in Scripture. (Ecclesiastes 2:9; Numbers 520:7-13 with
Deuteronomy 22:48-52; 1 Corinthians 13:1; 14:20,33)
This abuse and misuse has undoubtedly caused much reproach
and opposition to the gifts of the Spirit.
Let us take full advantage of God's safety measures that we
may edify in all things