Practical Help in ministering in the Gifts of the Spirit. (continued);
45. (Ministry office Gifts)- Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher. (Eph 4:11) Motivational (practical Gifts ) -Service, Exhortation, Giving, Leadership, Mercy,
Helps, and Administration. (Government)- Rom 12:6-8, 12 offices altogether.
a. Pastors- Word of wisdom, Word of knowledge, Discerning of spirits, Tongues and interpretation, Prophecy, Exhortation, Leadership, Administration- Governments.
b. Teachers- Word of wisdom, Word of knowledge, Discerning of spirits, Tongues and interpretation, Prophecy, Exhortation.
c. Evangelist-Gift of faith, Working of miracles, Gifts of healings, Word of knowledge.
d. Apostle- Possibly all nine Gifts of the Spirit.
e. Prophet- Word of wisdom, Word of knowledge, Discerning of spirits, Administration, Tongues, and interpretation, Prophecy, Exhortation.
f. Congregation- Tongues and interpretation, Prophecy, Teaching, Psalms and Spiritual Songs, Revelation, Giving, Mercy, Helps.
g. Worship Leader- Psalms, Hymns, and spiritual songs- Song of the Lord, prophecy.
h. These are possible scenarios regarding Ministry Gifts and Gifts of the Spirit working together.
46. Jesus wants to confirm His word with signs and wonders following them that believe. Whether at a service or in the public square. Mark 16:20, Mark 16:17
47. They won’t function automatically apart from your will. You have to learn what they are, study, and earnestly covet them. It takes faith, confidence, and trust to move in the Gifts of the Spirit.
48. Be conscious (Not just a feeling but by faith) of the presence of God within you and the presence of God coming through you and upon a person. Connell, Mike
49. Praying with the person. Don’t withdraw because of feelings of inadequacy. Take hold of the person’s hand (Mark 1:31; Mark 8:23; Mark 9:27)- Relax – Don’t try to make something happen, Look them in the eye – connect with your heart. (Mark 1: 41). Fear and self-consciousness will close up your spirit. Be yourself and have the right attitude. Don’t try to perform or be overly spiritual-Connell, Mike
50. Gifts flow from your spirit, not your brain. It originates in your spirit from the Holy Spirit and is sent to your mind to communicate what the Holy Spirit is saying, and directing, etc.
51. When ministering in the Gifts, don’t get secondhand information about a situation, people, etc, it interferes with ministering by revelation. Let the Holy Spirit tell you.
52. If you can, have someone to witness with you when someone is giving you a personal prophecy.
53. Never should we desire spiritual gifts for the thrill of the experience but for the honor of serving God and blessing others. Vernam Linzey.
54. Prophecy can be coupled together with other Gifts of the Spirit such as a Word of knowledge or a Word of wisdom.
55. Personal prophecy must confirm what God has already been speaking to you. If it hasn’t confirmed something just put it on the back burner and pray over it and get God’s direction.
56. “Happy Hour” should be in the Church not just in the bars as we flow in the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18-21.
B. Gifts of the Spirit can become dormant for five reasons:
1. Fear/ Intimidation ( 2Tim 1:7)
2. Unbelief (Matt 17:19-20)
3. Controlling spirits ( Acts 4:15-18)
4. Passivity or apathy-(Matt 11:12)
5. Neglect (1Tim 4:14)
C. Impartation
1. In strict usage, the Gifts of the Spirit are not imparted, conferred, or bestowed. on or by another person but manifested. It does appear that ministry offices or motivational gifts can be imparted or recognized in a particular individual.
2. 1 Timothy 4:14 (AMP) -14 Do not neglect the gift which is in you, [that special inward endowment] which was directly imparted to you [by the Holy Spirit] by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you [at your ordination].
D. The Body of Christ working together. Bob Yandian
1. 1Cor 12: 12-27, he gives the gifts, and he works them in you.
2. Pulpit offices and congregation offices working together. Diversity in the body of Christ.
3. Colossians 2:19 (NKJV) -9 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
4. Ephesians 4:16 (NKJV) -16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
5. The Church needs the Ministry of Helps, etc. but we can’t say I have no need of Spiritual Gifts or the ministry of giving, etc. All are needed to fulfill God’s purpose. No division in the body! The same care for one another.
6. God composes the body! All are important! You are His Workmanship created in Christ Jesus. Eph 4:24, Eph 2:10
7. 2 Timothy 1:6 (NKJV) -6 Therefore I remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning)the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
E. Practical Keys to prepare yourself in order to move in the Gifts of the Spirit.
1. Pray in tongues to build up and energize your Spirit.
2. Pray strongly and fluently until you feel your spirit stirred.
3. As you pray in tongues the Spirit of God is moving through you ( Acts 2:4). The Holy Spirit who gave utterance to speak in tongues will also supply or manifest anyone of the Gifts of the Spirit as needed.
4. Faith –Expectation– Expect the Spirit of God to speak to you John 10:27 –“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”
5. Learn to relax, be calm, and quiet your soul to listen. Don’t try to perform under pressure. Focusing on the Lord, and as He speaks. It may be an inspired thought, a spontaneous thought, pictures, or impressions that come into your soul. It may be a certain scripture, Bible character, or Bible story. Mike Connell
6. Don’t let your mind be distracted or wander. Getting rid of the noise in your head. Noise comes from unresolved personal conflicts. Spiritual, and emotional conflicts. The noise comes from the voice of demonic spirits speaking into your mind, condemning, judging, accusing, belittling, pressuring, confusing.-Connell, Mike.
7. If you allow your mind to drift, and go on and think you’re having to get something, immediately you’ll disconnect from the Lord and shut down with anxiety and fear and tension. Connell, Mike.
8. Focus your attention on listening for the voice of God and not yourself. Don’t focus on what if I make a mistake or if I fail, etc. Focus on how much God loves you and loves this person you minister to.
9. If God, the Holy Spirit gives you a picture, idea, word or impression start first by praying a short prayer (incorporate that in your prayer), getting into the flow of the spirit, praying quietly in tongues-then more will come from the Holy Spirit. If you have the seed-you have the tree- Mike Connell.
10. Ask the Holy Spirit questions: What does this person need, etc? What do you want to say? Step out and act on what God has been showing you.
11. At some point you have to take the risk and act upon what you sense the Holy Spirit is showing you. Be bold and confident in faith.
12. Now remember that, for the anointing of the Spirit to flow, the anointing flows from within the person’s spirit, through their soul and body, out to touch a person. So if your soul is in turmoil, and blocks and argues, there’s no flow from your spirit.- Connell, Mike.
13. Personal hygiene, make sure to use deodorant and breath fresheners.
14. Ask permission to minister to people – don’t presume. Ask permission to lay hands upon them – don’t presume- Keep your hands in view and ensure touch is appropriate.
15. Where possible get feedback from the person you ministered to. Ask what they have experienced, or what they thought took place. Does it confirm anything to them?
16. A person might mention a particular need for prayer but be open to God in ministering something else that the Holy Spirit gives you.
17. Never instruct anyone to stop taking any prescribed medicine – the occurrence of a miracle should be verified by their doctor, who is responsible for determining whether medication should be stopped or not.
18. We also have this wrong idea that you have to get your life together and get your act together before God can use you. Mike Connell
Remember the Corinthian Church they weren’t perfect and you don’t have to be. Keep growing and loving God and others.
19. The main priority is to have the heart to love people, listen to God, and share what you sense God is giving you and showing you, then stop when you feel the flow or anointing stop.-Connell, Mike.
20. In the Gifts of the Spirit He has provided for the visible, audible, and tangible expression of that dynamic, in the utterance of things that transcend profound human thought, and in the doing of things that surpass the utmost human skill, “Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders.” Horton, Harold.
21. Zechariah 4:6 (KJV) –6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
This concludes our study on the Gifts of the Spirit. I hope it has blessed and helped you in growing in this vital area. I’m sure we didn’t cover everything. It is a great start and we are all learning. The operation of the Gifts is not an end all but is necessary for the life of a New Testament Church. Jesus is the head of the Church. We are not. We don’t get to pick and choose what we want to happen in our services. Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches. Life flows from Him through the branches. This includes the Gifts of the Spirit. We need the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. Let us make space for the Holy Spirit to move in our services as we minister to one another and those in our everyday lives.
In Christ love’s;
Brent and Linda Bushen
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