02/05/2024
First and foremost, I want to thank all those who attended the gifts of the Holy Spirit conference at Wyong recently. What a wonderful weekend with so much breakthrough and vision for us all to move forward in Christ. To everyone who shared and gave testimonies…. thank you, you were all so encouraging. There were many things shared last weekend and in keeping with the forward movement of our journey I would like to further encourage you by sharing five quintessential keys to keep in mind as you pursue the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I would encourage you to build your relationship with the Holy Spirit as He is the gift of the Father to us, made possible through the sacrifice of the Son.
5 Keys in Pursuing the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
1. LOVE
2. HUMILITY
3. FREEDOM
4. REVELATION
5. POWER
1st Key - LOVE
1. Pursue LOVE, and desire spiritual gifts - Spiritual gifts are the tools by which the love of God works.
2. The love of God cannot be separated from the Gifts of Holy Spirit. The Gifts of the Spirit are an expression of God’s love to us and through us, and when we use the gifts, they always Glorify God. “Pursue love and desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy (I Corinthians 14:1)
3. The motive with which all the gifts should be put into operation is in love and the desire to edify others - “the manifestation (Gifts) of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all” (1 Corinthians 12:7)
4. Paul called love “a more excellent way” … “But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way” (I Corinthians 12:31)
5. Love is not a gift it is a fruit of the Spirit “God is Love” …Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:7-8)
6. The primary purpose of Prophesy is born out of love. It is to edify (build up), exhort (encourage) and comfort (console and support)
7. In the gift of Prophesy, the Holy Spirit does not condemn… He encourages, stirs up, stimulates, counsels, reassures, relieves, supports, sympathises, consoles, helps. He is our advocate. Advocate comes from the Latin meaning “one called in”.
8. Every good and perfect gift comes from above and comes down from the Father of Lights, with whom there is no variation of turning (James 1:17)
9. “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13)
10. That He would grant you according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in LOVE, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the LOVE of Christ which passes all knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19)
2nd Key - HUMILITY
1. When seeking the Gifts approach the Holy Spirit with humility - “God resists the proud, but gives Grace (Charisma = Gifts) to the humble” (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5)
2. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:10)
3. Dictionary meaning of humble (MODESTY) - adjective = NOT PROUD - modest without excess of pride; tending to consider yourself as having no special importance that makes you better than anyone else; not thinking of yourself as better than others without lessening yourself; the practice of meekness, obedience to God or placing God first, respect of self and others, submissive; putting others needs before your own; sacrificing yourself out of love for others (as Jesus did for us at the cross)
4. Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:6-8)
5. Did you receive the Spirit by works of the Law or by the hearing of Faith, having begun in the Spirit are you being made perfect in the flesh (Galatians 3:2-5)
3rd Key - FREEDOM
1. “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (II Corinthians 3:17)
2. “For you did not receive the spirit of bo***ge again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)
3. He who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life (Galatians 6:8)
4. The Ministry of Righteousness or the ministry of the Holy Spirit… (Condemnation vs Holy Spirit) The Law of Moses was fulfilled by Jesus at the cross and replaced with the Law of Grace - and implemented by The Holy Spirit and the Gifts (II Corinthians 3:8)
5. Galatians 3:19 the law was our tutor / guardian until the promise had come. Jesus.
6. The Map (The Law) & The Guide (The Holy Spirit) (II Cor. 3:4-11) – Modern Proverb – The law is perfect just like a map is perfect and can give accurate directions but it doesn’t show pitfalls like landslides, floods, and any other path obstructing hinderances. The Guide on the other hand is able to give perfect directions and guide us through the pitfalls leading us into all truths, teaching, comforting, helping, exhorting, encouraging, edifying.
4th Key - REVELATION
1. Charisma is the Greek word for “Gifts or Gift”. “Charisma” is derived from the noun “Charis” meaning Grace
2. The Gifts of the Spirit are not confined to a few gifted individuals the word clearly confirms that every believer baptised in the Holy Spirit is able to exercise spiritual gifts.
3. “The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one [believer] for the profit of all.... But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills” (I Corinthians 12:7, 11)
4. Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptises with the Holy Spirit.’” (John 1:29, 31–33)
5. Jesus said “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (John 14:25-26)
6. “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come”. (John 16:13) (Genesis 24:1-2)
7. The Holy Spirit - Parakletos - (One who comes along side, The Comforter, Helper, Counsellor).
8. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:14)
9. Abraham (The Father) - Isaac (The Son) - The Unnamed Servant (The Holy Spirit) - Rebecca (The Church) - (Genesis 24:1-67)
5th Key - POWER
1. “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
2. “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”. (2 Timothy 1:7)
3. “God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will.” (Hebrews 2:4)
4. You do not lay hands on the mountain; you SPEAK to the mountain and if you believe the mountain will be cast into the sea. (Mark 11:22-24)
5. Greek - Workings of Miracles = Workings of Dunamis (Powers) The Workings of Powers (The Powers of the Spirit)
6. In Corinthians when speaking of the ministerial gifts it places the gifts of power or the ministry of miracles before the ministry of healings… “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that, miracles, then gifts of healings....” (1 Corinthians 12:28)
7. “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).
8. In the last days, I will pour out My Spirit on ALL flesh and your sons and your daughters, shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams. (Act 2:17)
Other points of interest and reading recommendations…
Howard Carter’s - Spiritual Gifts and their Operation
Derek Prince’s - Gifts of the Spirit
HOLY SPIRIT GROUPINGS
VOCAL GIFTS - No. 1 set of gifts used by the Church
1. Prophecy (Edifies, Exhorts & Comforts)
2. Diverse Tongues - (Prayer & Self Edification)
3. Interpretation of Tongues (Edifies the Church)
POWER GIFTS
1. Healings
2. Miracles
3. Faith
REVELATION GIFTS
1. Word of Wisdom
2. Word of Knowledge
3. Discerning of Spirits
FIVE MINISTRY GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT (5-FOLD MINISTRY)
1. Apostles
2. Prophets
3. Teachers
4. Pastors (Shepherds)
5. Evangelists
The office of the Prophet usually has… Prophesy and one or 2, possibly 3 of the revelation gifts. (Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge, Discerning of Spirts) but of course it is not limited to these as the Holy Spirit distributes to each one severally as He chooses.
FIVE QUALIFICATIONS for the GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. Consciousness - You have to know the gift you’ve been given
2. Faith - You have to believe the gift you have will work, or it won’t
3. Unction - They touched Him and virtue left him - the power of God.
4. Desire - seek, want, covet, aspire to, incline toward, crave, hunger, thirst, wish for the gifts but ultimately pursue love
5. Selflessness - It’s for the edification of the church your desire must be for the people to receive edification, exhortation and comfort.
DISCERNING OF SPIRITS
1. Testing Prophesy - Does it agree with scripture
2. Negative Prophesy - Agabus prophesied a great worldwide famine in the time of Claudius Caesar he also prophesied over Paul and bound his hands with Paul’s belts saying the man who owns this belt will be bound when he goes to Jerusalem.
3. Wisdom is directive, knowledge is informative - if the axe is dull, one must sharpen the edge or one must use more strength (Ecclesiastes 10:10)
4. “God is not the author of confusion but of peace”. (1 Corinthians 14:33)
5. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work”. (2 Timothy 3:14, 16–17)
6. “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17)
7. “Kinds of tongues: praise, intercession, rebuke, revelation, instruction, edification, and exhortation.”
8. True faith must NOT be based on the wisdom of men but on the Power of God (1 Corinthian 2:4-5)
