1 Peter 4:10-11 (KJV)
10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 

Today we will be studying the importance and the need for the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit to be present and in full operation within the church as it was with the early Church. In saying this, there are many denominations out there that have completely done away with many of these gifts simply because they don't believe they exist for today. Their position on this is that these certain gifts were evident only at the time of the apostles to confirm their calling, and once they established the early church and its doctrines those gifts were expired. Therefore, we will explore this teaching on spiritual gifts in hopes that we may stir up the body of Christ into action as we discover our various gifts as the Holy Spirit wills and learn that none of these spiritual gifts have ended.
 
There are at least four prerequisites that we will list to characterize your life concerning the discovery of your spiritual gifts. (1). It is imperative that you be born again in Jesus Christ and a follower of His teachings. (2). you must believe in the gifts and that they are still in operation for today. (3). you must be willing to work and step out in faith regarding the gifts. (4). you also must have a prayer life that essentially connects you to what the Holy Spirit is imparting regarding spiritual gifts. If we fail to get acquainted with the workings of the Holy Spirit then we will be uncertain of what is available to us. There are some (19) gifts mentioned in the Bible including the more notable (9) gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12; and each person who is born again has at least one of those gifts. However, it is more likely that you have more than just one of these gifts. Are you ready to explore the spirituals?
 
As always when I teach on spiritual gifts I intentionally point to the overriding need of maturity and development of character before anything. This is because of the many years of being in ministry that I have witnessed the often quick rise of individuals due to their charisma nature and the operation in one or more of the power gifts or revelation gifts; and because of this lack of depth in their character they end up shipwrecked along with the many folks that were influenced under their particular gift or gifts. Instead of the flamboyant and charismatic grandstand abilities that appear to be more of a Hollywood side show, we need the steady workings of the Holy Spirit through disciplined individuals that demonstrate integrity and maturity within their character as they function in their particular gifting.

 

We have too often substituted genuine gifts of the Holy Spirit within the body that were not flamboyant in their demonstration, and exchanged them for the more flashier types who used their natural talents and spiritual gifts combined for their own benefit; thereby manipulating their subjects that they ought to have been serving with their gift. Loud and boisterous exhibitions do not necessarily mean that they are genuine either. We are told in Scripture to test the spirits to see if they originate from God or some defiling spirit that is counterfeiting in order to deceive. Look at the kind of ripples that God makes as He moves in our lives according to His Word.
 
1 Kings 19:11-13 (AMP)
11 And He said, Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake;
12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire [a sound of gentle stillness and] a still, small voice.
13 When Elijah heard the voice, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, what are you doing here, Elijah?

 

Scriptures teach us clearly that the true sons of God are led by the Spirit; not simply based on outward demonstrations of loud screaming, shouting, banging, leaping, jumping and the many other physical expressions that are often used to draw attention as if that proved that God was in it. Spirit-filled people often make the mistake of expressing their gifts in this manner so as to work themselves up into some kind of wild frenzy to insinuate that they are being spiritual. We see this kind of activity in the story of Elijah when he challenged the prophets of Baal to call upon their god and he would call upon his to see who would consume the offering by fire from heaven. The prophets of Baal got all worked up trying to rally their god to burn up the sacrifice for a show of power over Elijah's God, but afterwards it proved that it was just foolish and wasted physical energy that proved their god was a false god.

 

Therefore, understand that it is the still small voice of the Holy Spirit within, which directs the person in what they should do or say that will have a definite manifestation. Whenever a gift is administered by someone obeying that still small voice there will be power released to accomplish the prompting of the Holy Ghost concerning that activity that He is commanding. There will be a manifestation without fail. Generally, all of the loud noise of celebration usually follows after the subtle administration has been initiated by the Spirit within a willing co-worker who acted in obedience to His unction; and not by those who attempt to work it up by a show of outward expressions of the flesh.
 
There are many leaders that are afraid to allow the gifts of the Holy Spirit to operate within their churches due to the possible abuses that may arise or have in the past. Yet, strong leadership need not fear this for that is why they are there in the first place. Leadership is there to teach, admonish, nurture and direct things through the Holy Spirit's gifting in their life for the edification of the whole church body so that the church comes into the unity of faith and fullness of Christ. Every true gift from the Holy Ghost must be identified through these inward observations of ones self: (1). we are to serve one another through our gift or gifts; not ourselves. (2). we are stewards only of these gifts and we must manage them so that they will yield a return to God to whom they belong. (3). these gifts function through the strength and ability of God in us. (4). our gift or gifts should give glory to God and not us.
 
1 Corinthians 12:1-11 (KJV)
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

The apostle Paul taught on the gifts which he called, "spiritual." The word "gifts" in this first verse is not in the original writing; therefore, that is why it is in italics, it was a later addition for clarification purposes within the translation processes to make it easier to understand. Paul made it clear that we were not to be ignorant of these spirituals to the church and to be used for the church's edification. Make no mistake as to assuming that spiritual gifts are the same as physical talents. In example: You can have a natural talent to teach, but after the anointing comes upon that same individual it transforms it into a spiritual gift to teach beyond human education.

 

In the natural sense that talent is developed over time from an academic skill that is taught or learned in a school; whereas, when that same talent is anointed by the Holy Spirit it becomes a spiritual gift to teach through revelation which no man has anything to do with. Something else I might mention at this juncture of time is that a spiritual gift does not have anything to do with spirituality either. In other words, just because you may have some incredible spiritual gifting, it does not automatically make you a spiritual elite. This character is developed over time through obedience to the Holy Spirit and through abiding in the Word.
 
I have repeatedly over the years witnessed those who have been physically healed through my personal ministry; however, it does not necessarily mean that I have the gift of healings as one of my spiritual gifts. If it were a gift, then it would function consistently at all times; except of course where doubt and unbelief is present on the part of the recipients as Jesus faced in one instance recorded in Scriptures (Matt. 13:58). Jesus contained every spiritual gift in the Holy Spirit and I believe this is because He is the "Head" or originator and we are the body. Therefore, where Jesus said we would do the same works that He did and even greater works does not constitute that we also will be endowed in the same manner as He was with all the spiritual gifts.

 

I do understand that we receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit when in fact we have been baptized in Him; but He will operate from us as He wills according to His divine purposes. I believe this is why there is such confusion in the body of Christ regarding spiritual gifts. Many believers get frustrated when they see God do something one time through them, and then it seems far and few to see it happen again. When this happens we immediately either start thinking that we have done something wrong and God is displeased with us, or we quit believing that it was there to start with. Listen, as I mentioned already there have been some incredible healings that God has used me to administer at certain times throughout my ministry; and then again there have been many that I prayed over and nothing happened at all. Therefore, this proves what the Scriptures teach:
 
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (KJV)
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

 

Notice that it says, every man has received the manifestation of the Spirit to profit all. Then Paul goes on to generalize how this works as the Spirit disburses throughout the body of Christ as He purposes. No one person will receive all of the spiritual gifts as a permanent endowment from the Holy Spirit. However, that same person can flow in any one of these spiritual gifts as the Holy Spirit purposes to manifest them in any given situation that they may be needed. Things are often decided based on the availability of an obedient servant at the time a need arises.

 

Remember, Jesus said pray unto the Father that there may be workers added due to the abundant harvest that was ripe and ready to reap? So, because of the many in the body of Christ sitting on their gifts God uses others in their place to get His purposes accomplished, so they end up flowing in a gift temporarily due to someones disobedience. I personally have cast out demon spirits several times; I have also operated in discernment of spirits. I recall many times of interpreting a message that someone gave in tongues and I have also given messages in tongues. I have seen cancer and other infirmities leave bodies when I prayed for them. I have had spiritual visions and spiritual dreams that unfolded just as I saw them.
 
However, these operations have been sporadic over time and not consistent to be qualified as a spiritual gift that I have been endowed with. I have the gifts of prophecy, word of knowledge, and word of wisdom, and these I can minister at will because they are spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit predominately uses me in. These therefore, would qualify as spiritual gifts that I have been endowed with by the Holy Spirit. These spiritual gifts and callings are without repentance and will not be taken away from me, because they have been given to me to serve the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit Himself. I hope you are starting to see what I am trying to convey here. In 1 Corinthians chapter twelve verse one it gives us every indication that ignorance to spiritual gifts is unacceptable according to Paul's teaching; this means whether we are talking about the abuse or the neglect of them, which constitutes being ignorant of spiritual gifts and their purposes.
 
To reinforce this idea that I have been teaching on we can look at the listing used of the many body parts being described by the apostle Paul which make up one body, Jesus being the head of course who is the command center. Then Paul continues to make his argument concrete as he states how one member of the body such as a foot could not say, because I am not a hand I am not part of the body. I believe these Scriptures paint us a pretty sound picture of how that the design of God was that you and I would need each other in order to be a complete body. Therefore, no one person is less gifted simply just because their gifting may not be one of the more honorable parts located in the body. What would the honorable gifts do if there were not the less honorable parts? What would the less honorable gifts do without the assistance of the honorable parts?
 
1 Corinthians 12:21-26 (KJV)
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

 

Can you now see the equality and necessity of every part being present in order that we may be whole? There are those that sit week after week in church services that have miracles, gifts of healings, the gift of faith and the others like these that are not being exercised. Every believer needs to step out in faith and begin to explore the spiritual gifts that they have lying dormant in their life that others are waiting to show up in order that we as the body may all be whole and complete. Another point in which I wish to draw out of this today is the assignment of ministerial offices in the church that are used to equip the other parts of the body.

 

Please understand that a ministry office deemed as one of the five-fold ministries is not a spiritual gift. It is a designated position or platform where God uses certain individuals that He equips with special spiritual gifts fitting for those offices to build the entire body. If these five-fold offices are considered by man as being the chief of positions; then God identifies it as an office in its truest sense, as a position of humility that will serve all the body, and not use it in order that it may serve itself. Unfortunately, we have all witnessed when someone held one of these five-fold offices and had no business being there.
 
I along with my wife have started two churches and as of to date at this writing, six Bible Schools around the world. These activities that we have reached out with are apostolic in their nature or operation and we are advancing to establish even more works as we share these words. Therefore, Kim and I are operating in an apostolic office to a certain degree. We are not in need of tagging ourselves with the title of an apostle, as our anointing and callings are recognized by the work we enter upon and those change from time to time. We are currently pastoring and over-seeing a local church, obviously we are serving through the office of a pastor and that can change anytime as the Spirit deems appropriate as well.

 

This is why these offices are not gifts because we flow in and out of these as the Spirit sees fit to do so. Whereas, a spiritual gift remains indefinitely and goes where we go. My point in touching on this is to help shed some light on what has become a very abusive and self-promoting agenda within the church as people jockey for positions to which they think are all about them. This is a sad situation that has developed rather deeply among the church and has produced much displacement of the members of Jesus Christ through the many abuses all in the name of power over others. However, I am with great excitement that things will not continue as they have been as we draw closer to the Lord's second coming.
 
I will close with these final words on such a vast subject that at this writing has not been able to even scratch the surface to understand the depth of its full revelation. We are instructed to covet earnestly the best gifts: yet, don't forget that these spiritual gifts evolve out of a more excellent way and that is through love. Again, it states in Scripture that we are to follow after love consistently and desire spiritual gifts, however, in all your desiring, pursue that you may prophecy; because as it says in the Word, how can they know Him unless someone goes and speaks the message to them. The message is supreme which declares the truth that sets men free. Where that Word is preached: signs and wonders shall follow.
 
1 Corinthians 14:38-40 (KJV)
38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.