GIFTS OF GOD

I am going to try to explain to my Bible class why the Lord gave us these gifts.  Please comment and advise. 

Of course I will be explaining and answering questions as we go.

The Gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
Romans 11:29 (AMP)
“ For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.]”

God gave gifts to build His home.

Exodus 31:1-5  (read Exodus 35)
“And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: 
And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,  To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,  And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.”

Exodus 35:30-35
“And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the Lord hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;  
And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;   And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,   And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work. 
And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.”

The gift of the Spirit of God was given specifically for the building of His Tabernacle, His home.  We believers are His home today.  We are His Tabernacle.

Ephesians 4:11-15  (Christ gave)
“ And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”

(~ Apostles:  those who had been with Jesus and witnessed His resurrection (or received a special revelation of the risen Jesus)     (Acts 1:21, 22; 1 Cor. 15:1–9).    Delegates of particular churches (2 Cor. 8:23; Phil. 2:25)  (Today One Harbor : growing the body.)
~ Prophets:  The New Testament prophets conveyed special revelation to the early church. Their functions included prediction, exhortation, encouragement, warning, and explanation (Acts 15:32; 21:9–11; 1 Cor. 14:3). The teaching of the New Testament prophets and apostles laid the foundation of the church (2:20),     1 Corinthians 14:3
“ But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.”

Ed·i·fy\ˈe-də-ˌfī\
: to teach (someone) in a way that improves the mind or character
Ex·hort\ig-ˈzȯrt\
: to try to influence (someone) by words or advice : to strongly urge (someone) to do something
: to incite by argument or advice : urge strongly

Com·fort\ˈkəm(p)-fərt\
: to cause (someone) to feel less worried, upset, frightened, etc. : to give comfort to (someone)
1 : to give strength and hope to : cheer
2 : to ease the grief or trouble of : console
~ Evangelists:  People especially gifted to proclaim the gospel (Acts 21:8; 1 Cor. 1:17)
~ Pastors and Teachers:  The two words go together to refer to a single set of individuals who both shepherd and instruct God’s flock.  
1 Peter 5:2
“ Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;”)

“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

Why have we been given the 5 fold ministry?   List reasons:

Romans 12:1-9
“ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.   And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:   So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.   Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;   Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.  Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”

Again why was the chuch given these gifts?    List reasons:

1 Corinthians 12:1-12
“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;
~ Specific gifts for specific needs, now, today, to increase, build up the body of Christ. (For more, search for: Concerning spiritual gifts) on home page menu.
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.”

1 Corinthians 12:25-31
“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.”

Please read all of chapters 12-14……covet, desire the best gifts, those needed today….USE THEM IN LOVE.

1 Corinthians 14: assorted:
Prophesy:
“Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.”
“But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.”
“Rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth”
“He that prophesieth edifieth the church.
“Rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.”

Tongues:
“ For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.”
“He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; ”
~ Jude 20
“ But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,”
~ Use of prayer language in private….in public, need interpretation.
“I would that ye all spake with tongues (private prayer) but rather that ye prophesied:(public, unless interpret):   for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.   Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?”

“Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.  Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.  For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.  Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.   I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.   Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.”

~ Paul, wants you to have the prayer language, for private use.  To edify yourself, build up your faith, give thanks….ect.  
~ Tongues the first gift given in Acts 2.  Why?  Easiest to use, least amount of faith, privately acquired and used as prayer language.
If you want to build the Tabernacle, you need a willing heart, desire God’s gifts.

He gave them to build His Kingdom, I firmly believe, we will find that they are the Talents the Master left and expects us to increase His Kingdom with them.  (see Mt 25 post).

Please seek answers about the Spirit from Spirit filled, Full Gospel people, those who have not experienced the infilling, can not help you to it.  They are unbelieving, believers.

Thanks for visiting.  Come back soon.
Know you are loved.
theunfetteredpreacher.com