Transcription
Hello there. Last week we talked about the fruit of the spirit. Today, let's talk about the gift of the spirit. The Bible in 1 Corinthians 12:7 tells us and it says, "But the manifestation of the spirit is given to each one for the profit of all."
The question is, are the gifts of the spirit for some selected few? Just like every tribe and culture, there are certain things that are particular to them. For instance, if you see an E-man, you probably would say this person has business acumen. Or maybe a South African, you almost assume that the person should know how to dance. But do they all know how to dance? No.
This is the same thing others believe about the gift of the spirit. That even though Christians, or those who profess to believe, should have it, then it is not for everyone. But this is not the same, because the Bible tells us in Mark 16:17. He says, "And these signs will follow those who believe in my name: they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; if they lay hands on the sick, they will recover."
Unlike the fruit of the spirit, we all agree everyone should manifest all the fruit of the spirit. But maybe not the gift of the spirit. But, but the Bible begs to differ. You know, the Bible tells us in Ephesians 1:3. It says, "In whom you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also, after you believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise." Which means for everyone who believes, is sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. So if you believe in Christ Jesus as your Lord and personal savior, congratulations, then you have the Spirit.
This is why Paul could commend the church. You know, he didn't just tell them in Galatians chapter 5:22 for them to walk in the spirit. Like it didn't just tell them to have and possess and manifest the fruit of the spirit. In 1 Corinthians, he commended them for the gift of the spirit. And he said, "Every one of them walk in this gift. Every." And he said, "Every one of them possessed this gift."
Let's look at the scripture in 1 Corinthians chapter 1:4. Look at what Paul says. It says, "I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus; that in everything you were enriched by Him, in all utterance and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you; so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ." It says they came short in no gift. In all the gifts of the spirit, Paul attested that they walked in it. Just imagine, just imagine such a church.
Now the question is, is the Holy Spirit, is this gift of the Holy Spirit, is it for some certain individuals? Is it for all? Is it for everyone? Let's read further in the same 1 Corinthians 12:7. Apostle Paul writing to the same church and look at what it says. It says, "But the manifestation of the spirit is given to each one for the profit of all." For to one is given the word of wisdom through the spirit. Listen, I want you to pay attention to the repetition of the spirit mentioned there.
Let's go back again. It says, "But the manifestation of the spirit is given to each one for the profit of all. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the spirit." That same spirit I told you that you received when you got saved. You know, I read from Ephesians chapter 1:3 that "in whom you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also, after you believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise." So for, for everyone who believes the gospel, is sealed with the Holy Spirit. And Apostle Paul is writing here telling you that "for to one is given the word of wisdom through the spirit." You were sealed with, through the spirit. "To another the word of knowledge through the same spirit." Not another, same spirit. So the one that had the word of wisdom, the one that had the word of knowledge, it was done through the same spirit.
Let's read further. It says, "To another faith by the same spirit." Can you see this? "To another the gifts of healing by the same spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of tongues; to another interpretation of tongues." Listen, one of the things I want to pay attention to here is how repeated times without number, that they did all of these by the same spirit. In fact, if you are there listening to me, say "by the same spirit." By the same spirit. The spirit you received at salvation. The spirit you received when you believed. So it says all of these gifts were done by the same spirit.
So, in fact, let's read further. So verse four tells you. It says, "There are diversities." Now listen. "There are diversities of gifts, but the same spirit." Do you see this? "There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. There are diversities of activities, but the same God who works all in all." Apostle Paul kept on highlighting to you right here. There are different manifestations of the gift, and it is all by the same spirit.
Let me give you a good example. If you are in a gathering of maybe believers or whatever, and everyone there is healthy, they don't need healing. There is no point manifesting the gift of healing. Do you get it now? So it might be word of knowledge. So it's saying the spirit that you have will dispense what is needed at the time. So what you have is the Holy Ghost, and through the Holy Ghost, you operate in diversities of gifts. Did you get that now? Through the Holy Ghost, you operate in diversities of gifts.
So that takes me back to the memory verse I said you must not forget. 1 Corinthians 12:7. It says, "But the manifestation of the spirit is given to each one for the profit of all." So it's not for you to say, "Oh, I have seven gifts." You know, there are believers that account how many gifts they have. Some will say, "Oh, I'm operating in six. Now I'm just trusting God for three more. I'm operating in seven. I'm operating in two." No, you've got the Holy Ghost, and through the Holy Ghost, you operate in diversities of gifts through the same spirit.
Now the question is, how do you then function in the gift of the spirit? Listen, I'm going to give you five. Five points, and I want you to please never forget them. This will bless you. This will help you. Listen again. This will bless you. This will help you.
The first, the first way to function in the gift of the spirit is to acknowledge that you have them. To acknowledge that you have them. Don't forget what I read to you earlier in Ephesians chapter 1, verse 13. I said, "In whom you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also, after you believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise." So Apostle Paul went on further in verse 15 of Ephesians chapter 1. It says, "After I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and your love unto all the saints, I cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers." Now listen to the prayer in verse 18. It says, "That the eyes of your understanding be enlightened; because this is what you know, you need to be aware, you need to see that you have them." So it says, "That the eyes of your understanding be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power." Listen, say, "I have the Holy Ghost." Say, "I've got spiritual gifts." You need to recognize, and you need to learn how to meditate on these things. You need to recognize it. "I've got it." You must study the scripture. You must believe what the scripture says. You must act on it. And you must be aware of what you have in the Lord. So you're hearing me right now, say, "I've got the Holy Ghost. I walk in the gift of the spirit. Say, from the crown of my head to the tip of my toes, I'm full of the power of God." Amen.
So first, you have to be aware that you have it. The second is as important as the first. And the second is, you must desire it. You must desire it. You must desire it. You know, this just reminds me of, um, of a lot of stories which I don't even think there is enough time to share. But I want to share scripture with you. Look at what the Bible says in 1 Corinthians chapter 14:1. It says, "But earnestly desire the best gifts." Earnestly desire. Say, "Earnestly desire." Now, it says you should desire it. Have you, have you seen someone doing what you're born to do? Maybe you see them casting out devils, maybe you see someone praying in tongues, and you just wish, "I want to pray like this." You know, it's a grace. Bible tells us it says, "Desire it." If you see people functioning in what you are born to do, desire it. Don't just be complacent about it. Don't just say, "Oh, oh, these are the spiritual ones. Maybe it's not for everyone." Desire it. This is my life. This is my life. I must walk in this. Begin to see yourself as such. Buy books about it. Be curious about it. Ask questions. Are you with me? Ask questions. When you see someone praying in tongues, when you see someone prophesying, when you see someone working miracles, laying on the sick, ask about it. How can I desire these things? Get books. Apostle has books about this. Read all Apostle's books. Read all Apostle's books. Say, "This is my life. I see myself walking in it." Listen to, listen to tapes about it. Watch sermons about it. Say, "This is my life, and I walk in it." Amen. Desire spiritual gifts.
The third is the right environment. And before I read a scripture to you, or in fact, let's read the scripture and then I'm going to tell you a story. In 1 Samuel chapter 10:5, talking about the man Saul, it says, "After that you have come to the hill of God, this is Samuel speaking to, um, to Saul. It says, where the Philistine garrison is. It says, and it will happen when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a stringed instrument and tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them, they will be prophesying." Oh God. It says, "Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them, and you will be turned into another man." Listen, there is such a thing as being in the right environment. When you are in that environment long enough, you begin to see yourself working and becoming who you are born to be.
You know, I remember, I remember years ago, about 15 years ago, thereabout. I will visit Apostle, and, and, they were just, I mean, I see them praying, casting out devils, and I just really desired this thing. Apostle was much younger than me, and I'm just like, "How do people as young as myself, how do they get to do these things?" I mean, I get to watch them and I'm like, "Wow, wow, wow, wow. This could be me." I watched so much that I didn't know something was changing about me. I remember the first time I, I was in a room with a friend that I perceived as a demon, and I told my older friend, I said, "We are going to pray for this guy." So we locked the room, and I said, "I mean, this was our friend as well." And I said, "Let's pray." And for the first time, this guy changed. He said, "You want to pray? Pray. Let me see you." I knew something was up. The only scripture that was on my mind, this is funny to even say, the only scripture I remembered in that moment was, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?" And the demons came out of them and overpowered them, and the demon, the sons of Sceva, overpowered them and beat them to pieces. I mean, I remember that scripture, and I just carefully tried to unlock the door and, poof, I ran out. But I kept on coming around Apostle, and, um, all of a sudden, all of a sudden, something changed. Something changed. I realized I could do this too. I watched so much that I'm like, "This is my life." And the scripture, "These signs shall follow them that believe in my name: they will cast out devils." They will cast out devils. And since then, I can't even count. Devils have counted out. You know, there was one time I, I visited a hotel with some friends, and there was just this lady by the lobby that came out of the elevator, and she was just falling, and she was like, "Hey." And I decided she had a demon. And jokingly, I just said, "Can I pray with you?" And she was really excited. She was like, "Yeah, pray with me." Maybe she saw a fresh guy. As I laid an on her at the hotel, she just fell. People, the guys that were with me almost, I said, "Come back here." They were church guys. And we cast out the devil from the girl. That's how dramatic it has gotten. These signs shall follow them that believe. Just find yourself in the right environment. When you are in the right environment, your gifts will blossom. You will become who God has called you to be.
And the fourth is boldness. Listen, this is important. Boldness. When you see who you are born to be, become it. Work towards it. Just imagine, think about David. You might have all the gifts in the world. You might have killed the lion and the bear, but you must have this kind of desire where you begin to look at yourself as, "Nothing is impossible for me." Listen, victory is, is only for the bold. Victory is only for the bold. So run towards your fear. Hallelujah. Be bold enough to say, "I'm going to try this." You know, sometimes even laying hands on the sick might be boldness. Maybe the person in your room, maybe that relative is just waiting for you to be bold enough to say, "Can I pray for you?" And guess what? There is no harm in trying. Just try. First, lay hands, pray. Pray. Preach the gospel. When you have a conviction in your spirit, you know, it takes boldness to say. And some, you know, a lot of us will begin to walk in the gift of the spirit, maybe even in discernment. Begin to acknowledge these things. You know, maybe you are supposed to go out, and you just have a nudge, a strong nudge, to carry the umbrella. And as you carry the umbrella and you step out, it started raining. And you're like, "Something told me." It was not something. Acknowledge the working of the Holy Ghost in your life. The Holy Ghost told me. The Holy Ghost told me. The Holy Ghost is. Begin to acknowledge it with boldness. When you have a nudge about someone, tell them. Speak about it. Amen. Glory to God. When something is stirring in your spirit to pray for a friend, pray for them. Pray for them. If you have a nudge to give words of knowledge to someone, give the word of knowledge. Boldness. Boldness. Victory only belongs to the bold. Amen. Glory to Jesus.
And the last, which I don't want you to forget, it's practice. It's practice. You know that common statement, "Practice makes perfect." I tell you, practice does really make perfect. So practice and practice and practice. You know, you practice so much where a lot of people just see you naturally flying, becoming all God has called you to be. But it will only happen by consistently working it out. Consistently working it out. Amen. Don't forget the five points I gave you. The first on how to function in the gift of the spirit is, acknowledge that you have them. "I have the Holy Ghost. I've got the gift of the spirit. I have gifts. Out of my belly flows rivers of living water." So there is no drought here. There is no drought here. Say, "Out of my belly flows rivers." Say, "I supply. I supply." Amen. Say, "I supply." Glory to Jesus.
So the first is awareness. The second is desire. Desire it. When you see someone praying in tongues, when you see someone healing the sick, when you see someone speaking in divers tongues, interpretation of tongues, laying on the sick, when you see someone giving words of knowledge, words of wisdom, desire it. This is my life. I see that work in me. Desire. Ask questions. Get books about it. Watch messages about it. The third is, find yourself in the right environment. If Saul walks in the midst of the prophets, he will prophesy. If you walk in the midst of the prophets, you will prophesy. So find yourself in the right environment. The third is, be bold. Be bold. And the last point is, practice. Hallelujah.
Next week, we'll be taking the believer's responsibility. Don't miss it for anything. God bless you.