Christian Living

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It Is Written, God Give Gifts
Spirits, Gifts, and Miracles

Jesus the King, Christ the Redeemer brought gifts to men of all nations and religious orders.

God is saying to move; why are we still in the fleshly state when Jesus brought Christ to us? Jesus became the King of the Jews on the earth but when He took on that glorious body He was the Christ. What is all the fuss about? It is written. We have an identity in Christ Jesus so why do we identify ourselves with the religious world? We cut God short when we fuss about denominations set in the earth. Does not all say they serve God? The level of understanding God may be different but it is written that there are differences of gifts, talents, and abilities that associated with the five gifts of the Ministry and nine gifts of the Spirit. The many uses of the gifts are evidenced in the Word. There is no competition concerning the gifts. Paul said in I Corinthians 13:2 and though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. To every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Jesus said when He ascended up on high that He led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variableness neither shadow of turning.

I Corinthians 12:4-11
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.

The Nine Gifts of the Spirit
1. Word of Wisdom
2. Word of Knowledge
3. Faith
4. Healings
5. Miracles
6. Prophecy
7. Discerning of spirits
8. Divers kinds of tongues
9. Interpretation of tongues

The Gifts of God to Mankind
The first gift is of Christ, the Savior of the world that would bring judgment to the Gentiles as well as the Jews. Isaiah 42:6-9 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am the Lord that is my name and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare before they spring forth I tell you of them. Jesus would come and prepare the way for us to come before God again and He would make straight the path of the righteous. Isaiah 55:4-5 behold I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. Behold thou shalt call a nation that thou knows not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. The Jews rejected the gift sent to them although they had been looking for the Christ to come as promised to them time and time again. It’s time we too get busy for the work of Christ that has redeemed us from the curse of death. He said we would do greater works than He did because He goes to the Father on our behalf. He is the God of the whole earth.

After Christ the greatest gift we have received is the gift of the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit; our Comforter. This self-same Spirit was in the beginning. The Holy Spirit is called by man names but operates in its position; with God and not against what God says in His Word. When God speaks He moves upon what is spoken to get the job done without question. He, the Holy Spirit is the continuator of the redemptive process in the world. His work goes on perpetually accomplishing and fulfilling the Will of God. This He does through the use of the Truth, the Word of God revealed and recorded by Him, whether in the processes of conversion or of spiritual development. God’s Spirit originally was to abide with man forever in that Spiritual state we were created in but sin causes Him to not dwell with us always. When we believe, accept Christ as Lord and walk in righteousness we receive the Spirit that will convict us of sin when we do wrong. Not only that but He convicts us in righteousness and judgment. God promised this gift to all when we repent of our sins and are baptized. He helps us bring our work in Christ into fruition. The Holy Spirit enables the Word that we preach to be confirmed with signs and wonders. He is our Comforter, He hears and speaks. He Wills, has knowledge, teaches, makes intercessions for us and He chooses. He leads and guides us in all truth. He brings order out of chaos.

Because of the love God has for His Creation He showers us with grace. We don’t have to be a friend of the world; James 4:6 but He gives more grace, wherefore He said, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. The friendship of the world is enmity with God. Because of grace (God’s unmerited favor) we have salvation. Paul said in Ephesians 2:8 that by grace are ye saved through faith. Salvation is nothing we did it is the gift of God. This character of grace is a gift from God and is of the highest importance in determining the cause of men’s salvation. The sinner effects his salvation in the Christian Church by his own efforts at goodness is Pelagianism (the teaching of Pelagian that one agrees with denying original sin and consequently in holding that mankind has perfect freedom to do either right or wrong). The sinner begins, and God completes the sinner’s salvation is Semipelagianism (meaning that both are responsible; God never tells us to do wrong) or God begins and the sinner completes their salvation is synergism (interaction of discrete agencies, agents, or conditions such that the total effect is greater than the sum of the individual effects). Then the last view is that God alone effect the sinner’s salvation which is called Monergism which is in accordance with God’s Holy Word. We are dead in trespasses and sin because of God’s doing only because it is He that keeps what we entrust to His care. We are children of wrath by nature and unable to help ourselves come from under the misery of sin. We must trust God to let his affection that springs forth from his mercy, love and kindness to rise in us that the horror of sin departs out of our lives. God

The gift of wisdom is given by God and out of God’s mouth comes to the believer knowledge and understanding. It is God’s wisdom that we have been given that we understand His righteousness and judgments and equity. God’s wisdom is sound and it resides in the heart of man that we have some discretion that will preserve us and keep us. The gift of wisdom is of a wise counsel and will keep us reminded that we have a latter end. Wisdom is of God and will help us to always consider that end. God puts His wisdom in the heart of man. The gift of wisdom helps us to fear God and keep His Word. Wisdom helps increase us in knowledge. It helps us to attain wise counsel. If we incline our ears to hear wisdom and apply our heart to understanding we will be a happy people. We are never to decline in wisdom that we do other than what our mouth speaks. If we never forsake wisdom we will be preserved and kept by wisdom. If we know the truth, it will make us free. The truth teaches us not to glory in wisdom. The people that followed Jesus could not resist the wisdom and the spirit by which He spoke.
Then there is the gift of repentance; most probably think that they do their own repenting but it is the Spirit of God that causes one to yearn towards repentance. Acts 11:18 when they heard these things they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. It’s not our salvation, for salvation belongs to God. Peter had been accused by the Jews that the Gentiles had also received the Word of God. The Jews thought that the Gentiles was not worthy of receiving anything from God. How self-righteous! They needed to repent. To repent is to change our attitudes and the test of repentance is the altered conduct. Godly sorrow leads to repentance, rather than flows from it. Repentance is the first condition of forgiveness but it is not possible to bring this change upon one’s own self and the act is repeatedly said to be stimulated by the initiative of God Himself. To turn from sin to righteousness is repentance. If people of all nations would humble themselves and pray, turn from their wicked ways, seek God’s face God will hear from heaven, forgive our sins and heal the land. Repentance helps us to forsake our ways, all unrighteous thoughts and then we take on the ways of God as it was from the beginning. Repentance draws us nigh to God. It cleanses our hands and we are no longer sinners but Christians because we become Christ-like. Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations. Repent and be converted that our sins be blotted out and we be refreshed to come into the presence of God.

Now we are ready to walk in the gift of faith. Ephesian 2:8 for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. We have been given the gift of faith in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. Faith keeps us focused on the Lord Jesus Christ because of the confidence we have in Him. He abides in us by faith for we have not seen Him at any time but we believe that He is. Our joy is fulfilled by the faith we possess of Him. We believe although we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen. Why would we hope for what we see? We are to have the mind of Christ by faith. Faith is the belief, confidence, or trust we have in some person or thing. Jesus wants us to be not faithless but believing. Faith is based upon a testimony or evidence; no evidence no faith. God requires us to accept Jesus as the Christ; not however, without ample evidence. He has preserved for and presented to the world through His Word sufficient evidence to convince the world that Jesus is the Christ. If we believe we have life eternal it’s through Jesus name. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. In the final analysis, salvation is dependent not upon faith; but upon the faith. We are exhorted to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.

God has provided for man food and raiment or clothes. Many would not look at this as a gift but then we never would think that we would be without either too. Jesus said in Matthew 6:25 therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life what ye shall eat, or what ye should drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? In early days the food of the Hebrews consisted largely of bread, milk, curds, and sometimes meat and wild honey. As they became more permanently settled in Palestine they began using garden and vineyard products. They also ate fish, fowls, eggs, and locusts. They drink milk, oil, vinegar, and wine, ate butter and cheese, herbs, fresh fruit and dried fruit, and parched corn. We eat these things today also but our problem would be that we aren’t gratified in our consumption of food. If you’ve never been hungry its most likely we take for granted that we have food to eat. God gives us gifts of food to all flesh for his mercy endures forever. Who have we fed lately that was hungry?

In ancient times, as throughout many countries today, one’s social rank could be determined by their dress. Clothing originated from the shame following upon man’s sin. Clothing was miraculously preserved in the wilderness. Clothing was a symbol of power; the good wife in Proverbs 31:18-22 perceived that her merchandise was good and she worked until the night came. She laid her hands to the spindle, and her hands held the distaff. She stretched out her hand to the poor; ye she reached forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. God knows how to meet our need. He gives us gifts of clothing. Who have we provided clothes for that was naked?

God gives us rain and fruitful seasons. He has gifted us with peace, love and joy to be used and enjoyed. The rest of believers is attained by faith. Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us the gospel was preached as well as to others but it did not prosper them because it was not mixed with faith in them that heard it. God has gifted us and gave us a call; to call men to repentance. We are not to be unskilled in the Word of righteousness. It’s no time to be dull of hearing the Word. Whom God calls he justify them and who He justify, them he also glorify. He calls us to sanctify ourselves in Christ Jesus. We have to clean up our acts that God’s Word not be of none effect. We have been called in the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Paul speaks of the preaching of the Cross in I Corinthians 1:24 but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Our gifts and callings began in the womb and are without repentance. But when we come to Christ He will perfect that in us that He planted in the beginning of our lives. It is written that we must make the choice to run toward God and He will come to us.

Finally we have Gifts in the body of Christ. Ephesian 4:11 and he gave some Apostles, and some Prophets; and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers. Why did God give us these gifts? He gave us these gifts for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Until 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 the fullness of Christ. The Spirit, Gifts, and Miracles of God are for those that grieve not the Holy Spirit. We are to be sealed unto the day of redemption. All corrupt communication out of our mouths must stop for it edifies not God. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put away from us with all malice. We are to be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven us. Let him that stole; steal no more but rather him labor working with his hands the things which is good, that he may have to give to him that needed. We must know and remember that Jesus Christ is our mediator; our labor is not in vain.

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