The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

                                                     -SERMON BY REV.DR.Y.JUDSON PAUL CHRISTOPHER

I.          Introductory Remarks.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are a very important part of our Christian walk.  They help to define who we are in Christ as well as helping to fulfill the ministry that God has ordained each one of us.  The gifts of the Holy Spirit will bring forth the fullness of His ministry in our lives. It is through the gifts of the Spirit that we are able to minister effectively one to another and to receive the help of the comforter in our lives.

John 14:12  "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

God's desire is to do His works through us that we might be effective in our ministry one to another.  Therefore we must be good stewards of all that God has given to us through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives so that those around us will be partakers of His complete ministry.

WE SHOULD BE VERY CAREFUL TO SEE THAT OUR HEADS ARE BOWED DOWN TO SHOW OUR HUMBLESNESS,

BE HUMBLE OR YOU WILL SURELY STUMBLE,

HUMBLE HEADS WILL BE LIFTED HEADS BEFORE MEN TO DO THE GREAT WORKS

DO YOU KNOW SATAN SIFTED MANY MEN OF GOD TO MAKE THEM DEVIATED FROM THE TRUTH, TO PUT THEM UNDER THE FIRE OF HELL THAN UNDER THE FIRE OF THE HOLY GHOST, JUST BECAUSE OF THAT HAUGHTINESS, YES THAT IS THE NATURE OF SATAN,

WE CAN DO GREAT WORKS ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD AS LONG AS WE REALISE HIS SUPREMACY IN OUR LIFE.

1 Peter 4:10  As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

II.  The Purpose of the Gifts of the Spirit.

·        The following scriptures show that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for the purpose of completing his ministry of comfort and strength in our lives.

1 Corinthians 14:3  But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

1 Corinthians 14:12  Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.

1 Corinthians 14:26  How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

·        The Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit are released through His gifts.

As we seek to be led by the Spirit and press into the Spiritual gifts that God has for us we will begin to see more of His power and presence manifested when we assemble together as His body.

1 Corinthians 12:6-7  And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. {7} But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.

There are two important words in these two verses that should help us to see God's intent and purpose for these gifts, and how He expects them to work in our lives.

It is the same God who works all in all:  The word “works” here means active operation, effectual, powerful to be active, efficient, fervent, be mighty in, show forth.

The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:  The word “manifestation” means to make visible, clear, manifest, known.  The true meaning is to uncover, lay bare, reveal (Vines).

With these two definitions in mind, we can see that it is God's desire to be fervent and mighty in showing forth and making visible His power through the gifts of the Spirit.  We as His people are to be fervent, active, effectual, efficient and powerful in manifesting His gifts in our lives for the edification of the Body of Christ, so that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is effectively released for all of us to profit from.

III.  The Nine Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are the nine gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 and they fall into three general classifications: gifts of revelation, gifts of power and gifts in inspiration or vocal gifts.

·        The Revelation Gifts.

The revelation gifts include the 1) word of wisdom, 2) word of knowledge, and 3) discerning of Spirits.  Collectively, these three gifts are supernatural manifestations of the Spirit of God.  Through them we may know anything which God chooses to reveal.  Each gift is a supernatural revelation given by God to an individual for a particular purpose, and at a particular time and in a particular place.

·        The Power Gifts.

The power gifts are the 4) gifts of faith, 5) working of miracles and, 6) gifts of healings.  Collectively these three gifts are supernatural manifestations given by God for a particular time in a particular place.  These three gifts will show forth God's glory, His power, His greatness, His majesty and His victory over sickness, diseases and over death in supplying the needs of His people.  The power gifts are for deliverance and overcoming nature itself.

·        The Vocal Gifts.

The vocal gifts or the gifts of divine revelation are the 7) gift of tongues, 8) interpretations of tongues, and 9) prophecy.  Collectively these three gifts are supernatural manifestations of the Spirit of God and, through them, God can speak through man anything which He chooses to tell.  Each gift is a supernatural manifestation given by God to an individual for a particular purpose, at a particular time and in a particular place.

From the beginning of mankind, God has always had the ability to speak to men, whom He created.  He spoke with Adam and Eve in the garden, He spoke with Noah concerning the building of the Ark.  He talked with Abraham concerning leaving His country.  He also spoke with Moses and the many other prophets down through history.

Hebrews 1:1-2  God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets. {2} has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

Throughout the New Testament, we also see God as a God who desires to speak to His children.  In the Gospels He spoke to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, but now that He has ascended unto the throne of God, He now speaks to us through the Holy Spirit.  Prophecy, tongues and interpretation of tongues are the vocal gifts of the Holy Spirit that God uses to speak to us as a people.

VI.  Concluding Remarks.

Let's remember that God's desire is to fill each one of us with the power of the Holy Spirit so that we too can go forth performing the works of God and be led by His Holy Spirit to do all that He has for us.  We must realize that we need His ministry in our lives, because, like Jesus, we too, can do nothing of ourselves.  Our sufficiency and strength is in Him. 

If we are to be kingdom builders in the same way that Jesus was and as were the early disciples in the Book of Acts, we too, must be dependent upon the enabling grace that comes from a relationship with the Holy Spirit.

THIS TEACHING WILL SURELY BLESS YOU TO ADMINISTER THE GIFTS OF GOD IN YOUR LOCAL CHURCH.

MIGHTLY REVIVAL OF GOD IS AT HAND, REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE A PART OF THAT GREAT REVIVAL OUTBREAKING NOW.