“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1 Corinthians 1:10)
Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Part #1)
Sunday, 15 June 2008
Gifts of The Holy Spirit
I believe it is absolutely necessary that we understand what the Holy Spirit is doing, as the church enters the third millennium from the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I believe it is the day that God is going to do great things in the earth and He is going to do these things through His people. Jesus Christ is the Head and we, His people are the body of Christ. If God wants to do anything in the earth, He needs a body to do it in and He is going to do it in and through His many-membered Son, the church.
1Cor 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
The church is not a building or an organization. It isn’t where we go to worship the Lord. Many people ask, "What church do you go to?" You don’t go to church; you are the church if you are a born again believer in Christ. The church is a living, breathing organism made up of born-again, Spirit filled believers.
John 3:3-7 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joel 2:28-32 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
God said He is going to pour out of His Spirit upon all flesh. No class or age of person is going to be exempt, overlooked or by-passed. His Spirit is going to be poured out on the young and the old, children, sons and daughters, servants and handmaids, and on male and female. He is going to cause them to have dreams and visions and to speak prophetically. It is going to be a time of great and miraculous occurrences in the earth and in the heavens as Jesus takes up residence in His church and begins to do His mighty works in Her. He is going to use people, events, circumstances and His Spiritual gifts to bring a great harvest of souls into the kingdom of God. This is not the time to be afraid or timid of the supernatural nor is it a time to be ignorant of the gifts of the Spirit. If you are, you have disqualified yourself from this great move of God, because the gifts of the Spirit are going to be the tools used to strengthened the body of Christ and to reap the harvest in these last days.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Mark 16:15-20 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 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 every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
There is going to be a remnant of believers that God is going to use mightily to bring about the deliverance that is required in these days. To me these days are upon us. I don’t believe any one could disagree with the fact that the world is becoming more morally and spiritually bankrupt every day. As individuals we need to make a decision that we are going to be a member of this remnant that God is going to use in these last days. We need to ask ourselves if we are willing to pay the price that is going to be required to do the works of God in the days ahead.
The spirit of darkness is so heavy in these last days that only the Spirit of God is going to be able to overcome it. Satan himself will appear as an angel of light.
2 Cor 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
I am not saying these things because I wish to glorify the devil. I am saying them because we need to be aware of the day in which we are living and we need to be equipping ourselves with the tools necessary to do the work of the ministry.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
These are the days to draw near, hold fast, consider, resist the spirit that tries to keep us apart and to exhort one another.
In spite of all the negative and ungodly things we see around us every day, God is going to have a people who know Him and who have made themselves ready to do battle and to reap the harvest. They have prepared themselves by equipping themselves with the gifts of the Spirit.
Isaiah 60:1-5 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
Only the Spirit of God working in and through His holy remnant is going to be able to set the captives free.
Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
It was the Spirit of the Lord upon Jesus that gave Him the power to over come the power of the devil. It was the anointing of the Holy Ghost that broke the yokes of bondage upon the people to set the captives free.
Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
The enemy we are fighting is a spiritual enemy and man’s ways and man’s methods are no match for the god of this world.
2Cor 4:3-7 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
We have the greater one on the inside of us.
1John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
This is the day that God’s people must be empowered and equipped withthe gifts of the Spirit. The apostle Paul writing to the church at Corinth said in
1Cor 12:1-31 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 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. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 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: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. 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. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 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. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way
Paul tells us that he does not want us to be ignorant when it comes to spiritual gifts. The Greek word for "ignorant" is "agnoeo" meaning "having a lack of knowledge or intelligence of, by implication to ignore, not knowing or not understanding"
Spiritual gifts are divine or supernatural gifts and the apostle Paul tells us not to ignore them. He doesn’t want us to lack knowledge when it comes to their existence or operation. Isn’t that what most of God’s people have done in these days. Most of God’s people have ignored the gifts of the Spirit or they have been duped into believing that they are not for today. Many of them do not want them to be in operation when the church meets together because they don’t understand them or they are afraid someone else might not understand them. To the natural mind the gifts of the Spirit are foolishness.
1Cor 2:4-16 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, eventhe hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this worldknew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
On the day of Pentecost when the disciples were filled with the Spirit of God they appeared as foolish drunk men.
Acts 2:12-18 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
That is why many Christians do not see any value in the gifts of the Spirit. The flesh always mocks the Spirit and there is always a war between the two. The carnal mind is at enmity with the mind of God. The carnal mind is always trying to figure God out through the process of reason and God cannot be known through reason because God doesn’t make sense. None of Jesus miracles make sense because Jesus was doing what He saw Father God doing.
Most Christians cannot even name the nine spiritual gifts let alone be proficient in their operation. They are not coveting them. We need to realize these spiritual gifts are not talents. We might have a talent for drawing, playing a musical instrument, or playing a sport, but these gifts are not physical gifts. They are spiritual gifts that are to be used for the edification of the body of Christ and for the advancement of the kingdom of God in the earth. They are to be used to overcome the works of the enemy and expose his presence and his tactics. They are to be used to set the captives free and to bring healing and wholeness to those the devil has taken captive at his will.
2 Timothy 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
---God’s Word tells us that we should earnestly desire these gifts.
1 Cor 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
Covet is quite a strong word. It means to be jealous for or to long for. This needs to be our attitude when it comes to desiring the spiritual gifts.
---They are given to us as a sovereign act of God
1Cor 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
1Cor 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
----They are to be used for the edification of the body of Christ and for those outside of the body of Christ
1Cor 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
1Co 12:25-27 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
---The Bible tells us there are different spiritual gifts, different ways they are administered and different ways they are operated.
1 Cor 12:4-6 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
----Paul tells us that it is important for all nine Spiritual gifts to be operating in the body of Christ and we cannot say that one gift is more important than another gift. They are all needed to make the body of Christ effective.
1 Cor 12:13-27 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. 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. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 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. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
----The Gifts of the Spirit are given to temper the body and to keep it from having any schism. "Temper" means "to commingle, assimilate, mix together" and "schism" means "to tear apart, split, division, gap." No wonder Satan wants to keep us ignorant concerning Spiritual gifts and of their administration and operation in the body of Christ.
----There are nine gifts of the Spirit
1 Cor 12:8-10 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 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:
----They can be divided into
Three Spiritual gifts that "say" something
--Diverse kinds of Tongues
--Interpretation of Tongues
--Prophecy
Three Spiritual gifts that "know" something
--Word of Knowledge
--Word of Wisdom
--Discerning of Spirits
Three Spiritual gifts that "do" something
--Gift of faith
--Working of miracles
--Gifts of healing
---The nine spiritual gifts can be used in combinations with one another. For example we can have a word of prophecy used with a word of wisdom or word of knowledge. We can have the gift of faith used in combination with the working of miracles and there are other combinations that can be used.
It is my conviction that we need to receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost before we receive the gifts of the Spirit. At least that would appear to be the divine order as outlined in scripture.
Jesus told His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they received the promise of the Father.
Act 1:4-8 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the HolyGhost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Act 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
It appears this experience of having been baptized in the Holy Ghost catapulted the disciples into a whole new dimension of power to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom and to do miraculous things. People were saved, healed and delivered of long standing illnesses and conditions. On the day of Pentecost the apostle Peter preached his first message as a spirit filled believer and 3000 souls were saved
Act 2:38-43 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
The Baptism of the Holy Ghost is an experience subsequent to salvation. The apostle Phillip went down into Samaria and preached the gospel and many people were saved but none of them received the Holy Ghost.
Act 8:5-13 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city. But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done
When Peter and John heard of the mighty work that Phillip was doing in Samaria, they went down to Samaria and laid hands on Phillips converts and they received the Holy Ghost.
Acts 5:14-18 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money
The same type of thing happened with the Apostle Paul in
Act 19:1-7 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve.
These men the apostle Paul met were John the Baptist’ converts. They had been baptized for the remission of sins. They had never heard anything about the Holy Ghost. Paul preached Jesus Christ to them. They believed and were baptized again in the name of Jesus Christ and then Paul laid hands on them and they were baptized in the Holy Ghost and spoke in other tongues and prophesied.
In John 3:16 we understand that Jesus Christ is God’s gift to the world
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
In John chapter 14 we see Jesus promise the gift of the Holy Ghost to His disciples.
John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
The Holy Ghost is God’s gift to the church. In John 14, Jesus says the world cannot receive the Holy Ghost because they cannot see Him. In other words they have no faith and that’s how we as believers receive the Holy Ghost. We receive Him by faith, the same way we received Jesus Christ to be Lord of our lives. Jesus makes reference to the Holy Ghost again in
Luke 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Jesus encourages believers to ask, seek and knock when it comes to receiving the Holy Spirit. He tells us not to be afraid because Father God strongly desires to give us the gift of the Holy Spirit. God is not the father of sinners. He is the Father of born again believers and they are the ones He is encouraging to seek and receive the Holy Ghost.
Jesus encourages all men to come and drink of His Spirit.
John 4:13-14 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
John 7:37 -39 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Jesus beckons us to come and drink and get full. How do we know when we are full?
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Speaking in other tongues is the evidence of being filled with the Spirit and the initial evidence of having been baptism of the Holy Ghost. At least it was to Peter and those who traveled with him to Cornelius’ house in
Act 10:44-48 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Peter and the Jews that had traveled to Cornelius house would never have received Cornelius and his household as genuine recipients of God’s salvation through Jesus Christ had they not received the same experience that the disciples received on the Day of Pentecost
"Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?"
Speaking in other tongues was the witness that Cornelius and those in his house were disciples of Jesus Christ and that they had been filled with the Spirit of God. When the Jewish brethern at Jerusalem heard that Peter had carried the Gospel to the Gentiles, they criticized him.
Act 11:1-4 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them
Peter told them of the evidence that the Gentiles had become genuine believers.
Act 11:15-18 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
The evidence was the Gentiles speaking in other tongues as they had done on the day of Pentecost.
Speaking in other tongues is more than just speaking an unknown language. It is the evidence of having received the promise of the Father and of being baptised in the Holy Ghost and of having received spiritual power in your life.
Act 1:4-8 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
It is the evidence of the indwelling presence of God in your life and it is your entrance into the reality of the Spirit realm. It is also your initial entrance into becoming a recipient of the Gifts of the Spirit. God’s Word tells us to be desirous of spiritual gifts and to covet the best gifts but we need to understand that this commandment was given to Christians that had already been baptized in the Holy Ghost and who were already speaking in other tongues. The Corinthians had a super abundance of talking in tongues. It seemed all they wanted to do when they got together was talk in tongues. This is why the apostle Paul had to give them instruction in the proper use of tongues as well as the use of the other gifts of the Spirit.
Some people have tried to suggest that the Apostle Paul was belittling speaking in other tongues or saying that it was not needed, but on the contrary he said in
1Cor 14:18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
The problem with many Christians is they don’t understand the Spirit realm or they are afraid that some one might get offended, when the gifts of the Spirit are in operation in your life or in the church during corporate worship. Rather than teach God’s people on the proper use of Spiritual gifts, some churches have totally abandoned seeking or manifesting the gifts of the Spirit. This is robbing the church of the spiritual power and authority that God ordained for us to have. It quenches the Spirit.
1Thess 5:19-21 Quench (extinguish) not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Rather than despising prophesying, God’s Word tells us to judge it.
1Cor 14:29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
"Judge" is the Greek word "diakrino" meaning "to separate thoroughly, discern, discriminate, decide, contend, question"
Every time we hear the word judge mentioned in the Bible there are people who say, "judge not lest ye be judged" but this is a misapplication of scripture. It is a religious response to spiritual responsibility. It is an immature statement made with regards to a situation that requires a mature application. They are quoting the words of Jesus in
Mat 7:1-5 Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Jesus is not saying, do not judge. He is saying judge righteously and in order to do that one must see clearly. We have the obligation to judge the words of the prophet. If the prophet gets offended, he is in the wrong not you. He is the one who is going to quench the Spirit, not you. Our judgement should enhance the Spirit of God rather than quench it.
Spiritually immature Christians would have us believe that we do have the right to judge anything, but nothing is further from the truth. We do have the right and the responsibility to judge, but it needs to be a judgement based upon the Spirit rather than the flesh. It needs to be based upon the hidden man of the heart rather than the man of the flesh.
The word for "judge" in Matt chapter 7 is the Greek word "krino". It means "to condemn, damn, punish, avenge of act judiciously". Jesus is dealing with the heart of the person or the attitude we possess when we are making judgements. If Jesus Christ did not come into the world to "krino" (condemn, damn) people, why should we.
John 3:16-21 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
"Condemn" is the same word as "judge". It is "krino" meaning to condemn or damn based upon outside appearance. It is judgement based upon the letter of the Law rather than the Spirit of the Law. It is a merciless judgement; one void of compassion that genders to death rather than life.
John 8:3-18 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true. Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
These Pharisees brought a woman taken in the very act of adultery. They told Jesus the judgement of Moses Law, that she should be put to death. Moses Law was based upon outward appearance. It did not require any degree of Spiritual discernment or maturity. As children of the Spirit, we are forbidden to judge using this type of judgement. Our judgement must be made within the confines of love.
John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
Righteous judgement is the judgement of Father God, which is always redemptive in nature. It is a judgement that is made to bring us into right relationship with God, producing life rather than death.
2Co 10:7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.
Understanding that the person we are judging belongs to Christ should temper our judgement. It should make us less critical.
Romans 14:1-19 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Now the Pharisees asked Jesus to judge her, not because they were concerned about her well being, rather that they might trick Him and have Him put to death too. The word "condemn" is "krino" in this circumstance also, but it was a judgement based upon the Spirit of the Law; rather than upon the Letter of the Law.
Jesus said I judge "krino" no man after the flesh yet if I judge, I judge with the Father’s judgement, which is according to the Spirit. He said His judgement was not His. It was the Father’s judgement and Jesus said woman where are your accusers, neither do I condemn (katakrino)—judge against, sentence thee, go and sin no more.
This is the type of judgement we are created to have and exercise as children of the Living God; a judgement that produces life and hope not condemnation, despair and shame. We need to make I Cor 4:5 a key motto of our lives.
1Cor 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
Act 5:33-42 When they (the Parisees) heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them (the disciples of Jesus). Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Sometimes the best judgement to be made regarding a situation, is to step back and wait to see what God’s judgement will be.
One of the reasons I have spent so much time on the subject of judging is because of the judgement that has been made against Christians that have had the courage to launch out in the operation of the gifts of the Spirit. Jesus certainly was judged when the gifts of the Spirit were manifest in His life and ministry.
Mat 12:9-14 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other. Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
Mat 12:22-28 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
John 9:13-34 They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: But by what means he nowseeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
We need to realize, when the gifts of the Spirit are in operation, it is going to cause a controversy between those who don’t believe and those who do and you are going to be right in the midst of it. The same thing happened with the disciples in the book of Acts. On the day of Pentecost the disciples were judged as being drunk.
Act 2:7-21 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The apostle Paul was judged
Act 23:1-15 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest? Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people. But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God. And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle. And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.
We need the gifts of the Spirit operational in our lives to overcome the critical, judgemental spirit that Satan will use to try and defeat us. The gifts of the Spirit are the power gifts. Jesus told His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until the received the promise of the Father and He said when you do receive the promise you will receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you. With that power they went out into the streets, healing the sick, casting out demons and setting the captives free.
Mark 16:15-20 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 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 every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
These power gifts were a sign that Jesus had risen from the dead and was now resident in His disciples, the believers of His resurrection. "Power" is the Greek word "dunamus". "It’s miraculous, wonder working power". It’s the word we get dynamite from and they turned the world upside down.
Act 17:6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
