The Holy Spirit Video
Session 5
Welcome to number 5 of The Holy Spirit sessions
Last week, we had a closer look at the gifts of ‘knowing or revelation’, more of the gifts that the Holy Spirit brings with Him as He resides in us, in order that individuals become equipped to enter in and walk along the narrow road.
This is what we discussed:
- Word of Wisdom (How to act or speak) – receiving divine understanding and insight, which enables us to deal with a specific situation or circumstance, is a word of Wisdom.
- Word of Knowledge (Know about a situation) – God imparted information of facts and details which are humanly impossible to know in any circumstance we may face, is a word of Knowledge.
- Discerning of Spirits – Being able to perceive the spiritual source behind a spoken word, motive, attitude, mood or action of an individual or group, is the gift of discernment. Spiritual sources are either: Heavenly, Human or Demonic.
- Healings – The supernatural ability to minister physical healing to those who are sick, is a gift of healing.
- Working of Miracles – God working through individuals to perform the impossible or an act contrary to the physical laws of nature, is the working of miracles.
- Faith – The ability to believe God for the impossible in a situation beyond the normal, is a gift of Faith
This week we’ll look at the gifts that the Spirit gives to certain individuals for the purpose of building up, equipping, and serving the members of the local body (or His Church) – as confirmed in the scripture of Ephesians 4 .
Just a quick reminder here: Who are the true ‘Body of Christ’? Jesus tells us in John 3 who His body is… those who are born of water and of the spirit. We can refer back to the Gospel Explained sessions for a recap on being “born of water and of the Spirit”.
According to Gods plan, it is not sufficient for us to just enter in the narrow gate and walk along the narrow road. Rather through His unit, the Church or His body, we should be assisting directly or indirectly, in preparing others for what God wants of them.
The prayer of Jesus to the Father in John 17, was that His body would be one. In the prayer, Jesus asks God for His body to be perfected in unity so that the world would know He had been sent by God. Paul says in 1Cor that we were all baptized into one body. Therefore, we have a responsibility to others in the body, and cannot just center on ourselves. To pray for others, encourage others, help others materially, are just some of the things we need to be doing for one another.
The Spirit adequately prepares us for these functions, by giving us specific gifts that we use to minister to others. There are seven Gifts of Function that are used for the uplifting of the members of the body, in both the individual and corporate sense.
PROPHETICAL GIFT OF FUNCTION
This gift of prophecy is a gift that operates in different people from time to time …” just as God wills…” and this, as we see in 1Cor, is for the edification, exhorting, and comforting of the body. The gift operates differently to those who are appointed to the office of Prophet, in the Fivefold ministry. These operate in the gift of Prophecy all the time. We will look more deeply into this topic in the next session.
THE GIFT OF SERVICE
This gift involves serving the brethren in a very practical way. Such members of the body are reliable, willing helpers, that experience fulfillment in getting a job done. As confirmation of this, we can look at the book of Acts, to see how the early church dealt with this.
THE GIFT OF TEACHING
This gift involves the desire for truth and the willingness to share it with others. It also involves the ability to communicate the truths from the scriptures to the body. This person is usually found teaching in smaller home groups and to the children’s church. Depending on the degree of the gift, some of those with this gift may well find themselves appointed to the office of teacher, as in the Fivefold ministry which we will discuss next session.
THE GIFT OF EXHORTATION
To exhort is to appeal, encourage, console or comfort. Exhortation can even involve admonishing or urging someone to follow the right course of action. The scriptures command us to do this for one another. This gift enables a person to have a ‘spiritual eye’ for a need, and then respond with the proper advice, encouragement, warning, or counsel to others.
THE GIFT OF GIVING
This gift is the ability to generate money or acquire material goods and give generously for the work of God’s kingdom as we see in the book of Acts when Joseph (or Barnabas), sold his land and blessed the body of Christ. The gift is manifested by consistent giving and also God’s blessing on the one who does the giving.
THE GIFT OF LEADERSHIP
This gift provides the ability to lead others into accomplishing God’s purpose for their lives and the life of the body as a whole. We see this as Peter leads the disciples at an outreach situation.
Those with the gift of leadership, are visionaries in the making and are used to establish different ministry areas by the Lord. Those with this gift are being formed into the appointments of ‘administration’ or apostle as we see in the scripture of 1Cor. The gift is vital for the growth of the local church and is particularly important for pastoral work.
THE GIFT OF MERCY
This gift provides the ability to empathize with those who suffer misfortune or are experiencing some kind of hurt. The gift leads those who have it, to perform acts of kindness, help, and comfort towards those in need. We see in Psalms that God is the source of all mercy, and according to Luke, God requires His children to be merciful.
Just to help us get further understanding of what we’ve looked at this week, let’s have a look at this diagram:
– Once again we see the ‘fruit’ of the Spirit can be seen all together (as one unit) in the green section – showing that all parts of the fruit of the Spirit are within us at the same time.
– The Holy Spirit brings ‘gifts’ with Him.
– The 7 Gifts of Function we’ve just discussed can be seen – made up of Prophecy, Service, Teaching, Exhortation, Giving, Leadership and Mercy.
Right – Let’s recap then, on what gifts we’ve heard about this week:
- The gift of Prophecy – This prophetical gift of function, is a gift that operates in different people from time to time as God wills – to lift up and encourage His body. Normally it is witnessed at a group gathering.
- The Gift of Service – Serving the body of Christ in a very practical way, is a gift of service.
- The Gift of Teaching – Teaching others involves the desire for truth and the willingness to share it. It also involves the ability to communicate the truth of the scriptures, to the body.
- The Gift of Exhortation – Being able to appeal to, encourage, console or comfort others, is the gift of exhortation.
- The Gift of Giving – The ability to generate money or acquire material goods and give generously for the work of Gods kingdom, is the gift of giving.
- The Gift of Leadership – The ability to lead others into accomplishing Gods purpose for their lives, and the life of the body as a whole, is the gift of leadership.
- The Gift of Mercy – To be able to empathize with those who suffer misfortune or are experiencing some kind of hurt, is the gift of mercy.
LET’S PRACTICE….
To close this session, as in previous sessions, take a few minutes to go around your group, practicing the gifts that we’ve learned over the last three weeks. Be encouraged to leave your seat and lay hands on other members of the group whilst praying for them – as the Lord leads.
Remember as we mentioned before – The purpose of practicing the gifts is to help us overcome the ‘fear of man’ (or
shyness). PLEASE – IT IS NOT AN EXERCISE TO FORCE GOD TO ACT BY OUR OWN STRENGTH. Rather simply, the more we practice in front of others, the more confident we will become.
Once again – As you pray now – remember:
With the language gifts, we must Firstly, Believe and
Secondly, open our mouths and move our tongues – otherwise absolutely nothing is going to happen!
Thirdly, we must get rid of any unforgiveness or anger in us by praying quietly for the Lord’s help. (remember we said forgiveness is a decision not a feeling!).
Also, please be sensitive to those who are not comfortable praying out aloud. Don’t force them to pray, but rather allow them to be still and let the Spirit of the Lord, wash over them during this time.
The Lord be with you as you discover new things this coming week – In Him!
Thanks so much for spending this time with me – next week in the last session, we’ll look at some more gifts the Holy Spirit brings to us which are more permanent, abiding gifts. Until then, Bless you all.
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“…time with the Master…”
Ad Crucem Christi - The Cross of Christ 