THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT
We are going to look at the nine gifts
of the Holy Spirit, which follow the nine fruits of the Spirit in the lives of
believers.
Bible
Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11.
1.
Now, dear brothers
and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit
gives us. I do not want you to misunderstand this (to be without
knowledge).
2.
You know that when
you were still pagans (without faith in Christ), you were led astray and swept
along in worshiping speechless idols.
3.
So, I want you to
know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can
say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.
4.
There are different
kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.
5.
There are different
kinds of service (ministries), but we serve the same Lord.
6.
God works in
different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.
7.
A spiritual gift is
given to each of us so we can help each other (for the profit of all).
8.
To one person the
Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice (wisdom); to
another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge (word of
knowledge).
9.
The same Spirit gives
great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gifts
of healing.
10.
He gives one person
the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy.
He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the
Spirit of God or from another spirit (discerning of spirits). Still
another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while
another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.
11.
It is the one and
only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each
person should have.
Within this bible study, we need to
give special attention to the fact, that each of the fruits and gifts of the
Holy Spirit, cannot come through human ability or talent. But, by the Holy
Spirit and our desire to be filled.
We will soon discover the added strength
and power received through the “baptism
in the Holy Spirit.” As we learn and understand the fruits and gifts of the
Holy Spirit, you will begin to find ourselves, able to be used by the Holy
Spirit of God (Who is God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit), in their effective
manifestation.
B.
The THREE gifts of Revelation: Wisdom,
Knowledge, and Discerning of Spirits.
5.
The Gift of Knowledge. “To another, the word of knowledge.”
Knowing.
Bible
Readings: John 4:17-19; Acts 8:23; 9:1-18; Acts 10:19.
“While
Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are
seeking you.”
The gift of knowledge can bring about a
great sense of reverence of God, and even (may I say) fear. Because God is our
Judge.
For the Lord is all-knowing, He knows
all things, both those things seen, and hidden, the past, present, and future.
We need great care in the use of this gift, to be aware of the Lord’s peace in
our hearts and lives, so not to have any selfish desires, relating to the
matter at hand.
For all gifts should be used in love,
and to edify the Church. For knowledge (not man’s mind), may show up false
followers or ideas. By example see Acts 5:1-10, Where Peter “KNEW” that
Ananias and Sapphira had lied to the Holy Spirit. Yet, many good things follow
when the gift of knowledge is used.
By example see Acts 9:1-18,
Ananias “KNEW” where Saul was, he “KNEW” Saul was praying, and he “KNEW” that
Saul had seen a vision.
Knowledge means “knowing.” So, the “word
of knowledge,” then, is an utterance or expression of knowledge. But of whose
knowledge? It is the knowledge of God. Because He is omniscient, meaning to be
all-knowing. The gift of the word of knowledge is to speak forth a bit of God’s
unlimited knowledge.
In other words, God causes the
believer to say things he or she has no knowledge of knowing, but through the
revelation of God. For the baptism in the Holy Spirit increases God’s power in
the believer’s life.
Through the book of Acts, we see many
manifestations of the “word of knowledge.” In every case the person spoke in
faith, knowing only by the revealed work of God’s knowledge.
1.
In Acts 5:1-10, Peter KNEW Ananias and Sapphira had lied to the Holy
Spirit. He also KNEW they had secretly agreed to lie.
2.
In Acts 8:23, Peter KNEW Simon had bitter envy and sin in his heart.
3.
In Acts 9:1-18, Ananias KNEW several things about Saul, by the Holy
Spirit.
a.
He KNEW where Saul was verse 11 “So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to
the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called
Saul of Tarsus.”
b.
He KNEW he was praying verse 11. “So, the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to
the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called
Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.”
c.
He KNEW Saul had seen a vision verse 12 “And in a vision he has seen a man
named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive
his sight.”
d.
He KNEW Saul was a chosen vessel verse 15 “But the Lord said to him, “Go,
for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and
the children of Israel.”
e.
He KNEW Saul would suffer for the Lord verse 16 “For I will show him how
many things he must suffer for My name's sake.”
4.
In Acts
5.
In Acts 27:13-44, Paul KNEW that the sailors in the storm-tossed ship
would be saved.
We must take care that we do not allow
the work of the evil one or the natural man to feed our minds, and to believe
that is the word of knowledge. How can we test the word of knowledge?
1.
Are my own selfish desires leading me to speak?
2.
Am I sure I have a word of knowledge from the Spirit?
3.
Do I sense God’s peace in my heart?
4.
Am I personally upset and unhappy with someone, or with some situation?
If you are troubled about the answer
to any one of these questions, it is better to seek the Lord before speaking
out. You should feel free to speak out only when you are happy about your
answer to all the above questions.
You should know also that the believer
who gives a true word of knowledge has a strong inward feeling about something
that should be spoken. But only experience will help you to recognise the
moving of the Holy Spirit.
What is the purpose of the “word of
knowledge”? The same as all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, to build up the
people of God.
So be FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Seek the Lord for the “gift of knowledge.”
