Read this if you want to understand:

What the gifts of the Holy Spirit are

How they work 

1. Gifts

If God came into the room and offered us a present - would we say:

‘No thanks - I don’t want that’ ?

But that’s the attitude of some churches & believers to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which God wants to give us.

I hope that this message makes us all want to:

• Welcome

• Receive

• Use

 ... the gifts that God has for us!

2. Baptism in the Holy Spirit

2.1   Believers have TWO distinct experiences with the Holy Spirit.

A. This is what Jesus told His disciples, BEFORE He ascended to heaven:

John 20:21-22

21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you. 

22And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.

--> The disciples received the Holy Spirit before Jesus ascended to heaven.

B. But Jesus also told them what would happen in the future,  on the Day of Pentecost - which would be AFTER He ascended to heaven:

Acts 1:4-5

4And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem,

but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of Me. 

5For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost (= the Holy Spirit) not many days hence (= in a few days).

So:

A. We RECEIVE the Holy Spirit when we accept Jesus as our Saviour.

(See the 'Separated & Marked' message on WholeCounselofGod.com)

B. LATER - we’re BAPTISED / FILLED with the Holy Spirit.

Illustration

It’s like someone offering us a two-course meal - why miss out on the second course?

Further reading

Luke 24:49

John 7:39

Acts 8:14-17; 9:5-6 then v.17; 19:1-6

2.2   Q - WHY does God baptise / fill us with the Holy Spirit?

Acts 1:8 ~ But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:

and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

A - To give us POWER to be witnesses for Jesus.

  Q - What were the disciples like, BEFORE being baptized in the Holy Spirit?

  A - A few scared people, meeting behind closed doors, until:

 Acts 2:1-3

 1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

  2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

  Q - What were the same disciples like, AFTER being baptized in the Holy Spirit?

  A - They preached openly & boldly in Jerusalem (Acts 2:14-47) and went on to change world history!

Further reading

Micah 3:8

Luke 4:1-2 & 14

1 Corinthians 4:20

2.3   Q - WHAT HAPPENS TO US after we’re baptized in the Holy Spirit?

A - We’re the same person ...

... but our lives take on a new dimension.

Illustration

It’s like the difference between a basic phone and a smartphone - the smartphone’s still a phone, but it can do a lot more!

Further reading

Joel 2:28-29

3. The gifts of the Holy Spirit have two main purposes

#1 To help BELIEVERS:

• Beyond what we can do with our natural abilities.

• Like a good employer gives us the tools we need - to do the job properly.

#2 To demonstrate to UNBELIEVERS that God exists.

For example - when they see someone healed.

4. There are NINE gifts of the Holy Spirit - 1 Corinthians 12

Verse 1

1Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

Illustration

Being ignorant about spiritual gifts is like not knowing about a useful function in our: phone / TV  / microwave etc. - so we never use it!

We can avoid missing out on this, by reading the instructions which come with the device.

We also need to READ the instructions God has given us - in the BIBLE.

Verses 8-10

8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 

9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10To 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:

--> So there are NINE gifts of the Holy Spirit:

A. Three SPEAKING gifts - to help God & believers COMMUNICATE with each other:

• Praying in tongues.

• Interpretation of tongues.

• Prophecy.

B. Three KNOWING gifts - where God shares some of His KNOWLEDGE with us:

• Word of knowledge.

• Word of wisdom.

• Discerning of spirits.

C. Three DOING gifts - where God shares some of His POWER with us:

• Working of miracles.

• Gift of faith.

• Healing.

Verse 11

11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will (= He gives to each person as He chooses).

--> GOD decides who receives which gift.

--> It’s not up to us!

A - SPEAKING GIFTS

A1 - Praying in tongues

‘Tongue’ = an old English word for ‘Language’.

When we pray (or sing) in tongues - we pray (or sing) fluently in a language which we’ve never learnt.

We may be speaking in:

• A human language (e.g. German, Mandarin-Chinese, Swahili etc.)

• An angelic language.

Linguistic experts have assessed these tongues as REAL LANGUAGES:

1. They recorded:

• Some Christians praying in tongues.

• Two fakes (people making up what they said).

2. The experts easily picked out the two fake languages - because of their lack of structure.

THREE BENEFITS of praying in tongues

FIRST benefit

Jude 20 ~ But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.

Praying in the Holy Ghost = praying in tongues - see 1 Corinthians 14:14

--> Praying in tongues builds up our faith.

--> Just like:

• Physical exercise builds up our muscles.

• We need to pump up our football & car tyres for them to work properly.

SECOND benefit

During a meeting of believers, praying in tongues is often followed by other gifts of the Holy Spirit.

It's like a snowplough breaking through a snowdrift - clearing the way for others.

THIRD benefit

Praying in tongues reminds us of the existence of our supernatural God.

Like looking at photos reminds us of family & friends.

Concerns?

When another believer first told me that they prayed in tongues, it sounded weird and I didn’t want anything to do with it - you may feel the same way:

• But I’ve never met anyone who prays in tongues, who wishes they did not have that gift.

• To fully understand the benefits of the gift - you need to experience it for yourself.

There are TWO TYPES of tongues:

1. Us praying to God ↑

• We can do this anytime we want - the timing is under our control.

• Helps / builds up us - even though we don’t understand the language we’re speaking.

2. God speaking to us  ↓

• Happens only when God wants to give us a message - the timing is not under our control.

• Helps / builds up others - via an interpretation into a language we do understand.

FIRST type of praying in tongues - us speaking to God ↑

1 Corinthians 14

Verse 14

14For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

• When we pray in an unknown tongue - our SPIRIT decides what to say.

• Unlike when we pray in a language which we understand - when our mind decides what to say.

Verse 15a

15What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also …

--> We should do both:

• Praying with our mind - this is important, but it’s limited by what we know.

• When we pray with our spirit we’re praying supernaturally - including for situations & solutions we don’t humanly know about.

Verse 15b

15 cont… I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

• Paul says we should sing with the spirit (= singing in tongues) as well as sing in our natural language.

• Singing in the spirit is a great way to feel the tangible presence of God.

Verse 18

18I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all.

--> Paul spoke in tongues more than anyone else in the Corinthian church:

Q - Did Paul have an effective ministry?

A - Yes.

--> So we should follow Paul's example and also speak in tongues!

Verse 19

19Yet 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.

--> In church - we should mainly speak in a language we all understand.

However it’s also FINE to pray & sing in tongues TOGETHER with other believers:

A. In Jerusalem

Acts 2:1-4

1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

--> God chose a time when believers were together, to give them the gift of speaking in tongues.

B. In Caesarea

Acts 10:44-46

44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

46For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. …

• If God intended praying in tongues to be only for individual use, He would have given the gift to these early believers individually - not when they were together.

• So let’s not be inhibited from praying & singing in tongues together in church - it’s very uplifting!

• We don’t understand the different languages, but God does.

Good practice

Pray in tongues for at least 15 mins / day.

We can combine this with: doing household jobs, driving, going for a walk etc.

HOW DO WE RECEIVE the gift of praying in tongues?

1a. Ask other believers to lay their hands on us, and pray that we would receive the gift.

and / or

1b. Ask God ourselves - sometimes He’ll give us the gift directly.

2. Speak the first couple of words God gives us, then ‘fan the flame’ - by talking more & more until we’re speaking fluently (it doesn’t take long).

3. Don’t give up!

• Praying in tongues is very effective.

• So it’s hotly disputed by the devil.

Further reading

Mark 16:17

SECOND type of speaking in tongues - God speaking to us ↓

1 Corinthians 14

Verse 26

26How is it then, brethren? When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine (= a teaching), hath a tongue,

hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

--> This is about believers meeting together i.e. in a church or a small-group meeting.

--> A tongue which is then interpreted EDIFIES - i.e. it BUILDS UP the church / believers spiritually.

Verse 27

27If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course (= in turn); and let one interpret.

God can speak to a church:

• In a language we understand = a prophecy.

• In a language we don’t understand = a tongue.

When God speaks to a church in a language that we DON'T understand:

• Someone needs to interpret the message (see Section A2).

• Otherwise we won’t know what God said!

A message in a language which we don't understand, followed by its interpretation - has the same purpose & effect as a prophecy in a language which we do understand.

Tongue + Interpretation = Prophecy

SPEAKING OUT a message in tongues from God      

Q - How do we know when God wants us to speak out a message in tongues?

A - In my experience, God confirms this in two ways:

#1  We feel the Holy Spirit descending on our head & shoulders PHYSICALLY. 

It's like when John the Baptist saw the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus, like a dove.

(Matthew 3:16 / Mark 1:10 / Luke 3:22 / John 1:32)

#2  Our heartbeat & breathing speed up.

• God’s giving us extra power to deliver His message - otherwise we’d be too nervous!

• We then use our normal voice organs: we’re not taken over by the Holy Spirit, nor do we become like a robot - but He inspires what we say.

• We can choose not to speak out (usually because we're too scared) - but we’ll then feel disappointed.

Because we’ve let God down, and it’s important that people hear what God wants to say to them.

Q - How do we know when to finish speaking?

A - We feel a ‘lightness’ come over us, because we’ve delivered / released the message that God has given us.

A2 - Interpreting a message in tongues

Shortly after someone gives a message in an unknown tongue:

• The same or another person gives the meaning of the message.

• In a language that people can understand.

An interpretation is not a word-for-word translation.

So the interpretation can be longer, or shorter, than the message in tongues.

God gives the understanding directly to the Interpreter.

Example

1. I was in a men's prayer meeting when a man spoke a message in tongues.

2. We waited for someone to give the interpretation - but no-one did.

3. A different man - who had popped outside and missed the message in tongues - then came back into the meeting and gave the interpretation.

--> The second man could do this because God had given the interpretation directly to him.

--> He did not need to hear the original message and then ‘translate’ it.

Learning how to give a message

If you think that God is giving you a message in tongues, or an interpretation - don’t be scared to speak out: there’s a first time for everyone!

The interpretation may come in the form of:

• A Bible verse.

• The first few words of a sentence.

• A picture.

Example

I was in a Bible seminar when someone spoke a message in tongues and God then gave me the interpretation:

• I saw a picture of well-prepared, good quality soil.

• The interpretation was that the seminar speaker had prepared the ‘seed’ for us, but that we also needed to prepare our hearts

- so that the spoken ‘seed’ would be planted into ‘good soil’ to produce ‘a good harvest’ in our lives.

There are two stages:

A.  Start speaking out in faith.

B.  God will then help us to deliver the rest of the message.

Q - Why does God sometimes give a message:

• Using a tongue + interpretation (two steps).

• Instead of via a prophecy in a language we immediately understand (one step)?

A - The Bible doesn’t tell us, but from observation / experience, I believe:

1. The initial message in tongues is like a wake-up call:

1. • To alert us that God is about to speak to us.

1. • Gives us time to get our notebooks out / record the message.

2. We sense the tangible presence of God when someone gives a message in tongues.

There’s a distinct change in the spiritual atmosphere, and we then pay attention to what will happen next: the interpretation. 

3. The initial message acts as a confirmation to the person receiving the interpretation - giving them confidence to go ahead and speak out.

1 Corinthians 14 describes BOTH types of tongues:

Verse 2

2For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him;

howbeit (= this is how it is) in the spirit he speaketh mysteries (= secret truths).

--> Paul describes praying in tongues to God. ↑

--> WE don’t understand what we say - but GOD does.

Verse 4

4He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

A. When we pray in tongues to God. ↑

... it helps us.

B. When God speaks to us (in a prophecy or via a tongue & interpretation). ↓

... it helps the church.

Verse 5

5I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied:

for greater (= more important / useful) is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

--> Paul wanted everyone to speak in tongues to God. ↑

--> But more than that - he wanted them to:

• Prophesy ↓

• Deliver a message from God in tongues & then interpret it ↓

So it’s NOT a case of: tongues ↑  OR  prophecy ↓

But of: tongues↑  AND  prophecy ↓

... with:

• Prophecy  ↓

• Speaking a message in tongues from God & interpretation  ↓

… being more important / useful than us praying in tongues to God.  ↑

Q - Why?

A - Because God's message helps other people, not just ourselves.

Verse 13

13Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

--> Paul describes God giving us a message in tongues. ↓

--> The message may then be interpreted by the same (or by another) person. 

Verse 21

21In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people …

--> This verse is about God giving us a message in tongues ↓ 

Verse 23

23If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues,

and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

• Paul is now talking about believers praying in tongues to God ↑ - which sounds odd / strange to unbelievers.

• As we saw earlier at Jerusalem & Caesarea, it’s good to pray & sing in tongues together in church.

• But if we know there are many unbelievers present - e.g. at an evangelistic event - it's best to only speak & pray in a language which they’ll understand.

Verse 39

39Wherefore, brethren, covet (= earnestly desire) to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

--> Paul said we should:

• Allow people to speak in tongues.

• Covet the gift of prophecy.

So we mustn’t quench the Holy Spirit!

1 Thessalonians 5:19-20

19Quench not the Spirit. 

20Despise not prophesyings.

God may also speak speak a message to others - via us, in THEIR natural language:

• Which they understand.

• But which we do not understand.

Acts 2:4-11

4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

5And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

6Now when this was noised abroad (= occurred), the multitude came together, and were confounded (= bewildered),

because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

7And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

9Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

10Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

11Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 

--> The disciples from Galilee would NOT HAVE HUMANLY KNOWN these foreign languages, which they found themselves speaking.

Example - this happened to someone I know:

• He was ministering in English to a line of Spanish-speaking people, but the ‘English into Spanish’  interpreter couldn’t keep up.

• So he went ahead - praying in tongues over people: but not understanding what he was saying.

• He was later told that he’d been speaking in perfect Spanish!

Further reading

Acts 10:44-47

A3 - Prophecy 

See the 'Prophecy' message on WholeCounselofGod.com

RECAP of Section A - SPEAKING gifts:

1. Speaking in tongues - two types:  ↑  and  ↓

2. Interpretation of tongues

3. Prophecy

B - KNOWING GIFTS

1. Word of knowledge = the facts about a situation.

2. Word of wisdom = what to do about a situation.

3. Discerning of spirits.

B1 - Word of knowledge = the facts about a situation

1 Kings 14:1-6

1At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick.

2And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam;

and get thee to Shiloh: behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, which told me that I should be king over this people. 

3And take with thee ten loaves, and cracknels (= cakes), and a cruse (= a jar) of honey, and go to him: he shall tell thee what shall become of the child.

4And Jeroboam's wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set (= were dim) by reason of his age.

5And the LORD said unto Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam cometh to ask a thing of thee for her son; for he is sick:

thus and thus shalt thou say unto her: for it shall be, when she cometh in, that she shall feign herself (= pretend) to be another woman. 

6And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam;

why feignest thou thyself to be another? For I am sent to thee with heavy tidings (= bad / harsh news).

--> King Jeroboam’s wife pretended to be someone else.

--> But God told Ahijah who she REALLY was - by giving him a word of knowledge.

A word of knowledge = God sharing some of His knowledge with us.

God's knowledge is infinite - He knows everything in the whole universe,  so He’s much more useful than searching for an answer on the internet!

Example - when God healed my knee:

(see the ‘Healing’ message on WholeCounselofGod.com)

• The man had never met me before.

• But God have him a word of knowledge - so he knew to pray for the part of my body which needed healing.

Q - How do we KNOW what God’s telling us?

• He’ll often show us a picture.

• Or He may put a strong thought / Bible verse into our mind.

• Or He may tell us about someone’s illness - by giving us a physical sensation in our body, like the person’s condition.

Two examples

A. While praying for someone, God gave me a picture of a ‘heart in a jar’ to show me:

• The person had bottled up many past hurts inside their heart.

• They needed to release those hurts and move on, for their own wellbeing.

B. My wife and I were visiting the huge former concentration camp at Auschwitz:

1. We wanted to learn as much as we could, but were each interested in different exhibits in the many buildings - so decided to look around separately.

2. Later on, I suddenly realised that we needed to leave in a few minutes or we’d miss the last public bus back to Krakow (where we were staying).

3.  But I had no idea which building my wife was then in (the site is very large and we had no mobile phones available).

4. A strong thought then came into my mind - ‘Third building on the right.’

5. So I went into that building - my wife was there and we caught the last bus!

Further reading

2 Kings 5:20-26

Job 32:8

John 4:17-19, 28-29 & 39

Acts 5:1-11

B2 - Word of wisdom = what to do about a situation

2 Kings 6:8-10

8Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.

9And the man of God (= Elisha) sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither (= there) the Syrians are come down.

10And the king of Israel sent to (= checked on) the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice (= time & again / repeatedly).

--> Elisha had no natural way of knowing where the Syrian army was.

--> But God gave him words of wisdom - which allowed the Israelites to avoid their enemies.

Two examples

... where God has helped me with a word of wisdom:

Example 1

We’d booked to attend a Christian camp / conference in the Netherlands.

We planned to have a few days holiday in Holland before the conference started - but all the campsites we phoned were full (it was peak summer holiday time).

We prayed and the word ‘Leiden’ came into my mind - even though I’d never previously heard of the city.

I phoned a campsite at Leiden and they had one place left - which we booked.

When we arrived, I was startled to hear someone proclaiming in English over the campsite’s loudspeakers: ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness’! (Matthew 3:3) 

The local Christians had been given permission to evangelise in that campsite - and were praising God, reading Bible verses & preaching!

They invited us to their church and to one of their homes for a meal - so we had good fellowship.

We also discovered the rich Christian history of Leiden.

Leiden is where some of the Pilgrim Fathers lived for many years, between leaving England and sailing to America (they only called into Plymouth because of a leak in one of their ships).

With our own wisdom, we could never have found such a blessed place to spend a few days in the Netherlands!

Example 2

We were planning a trip from the UK to speak in churches in Africa - but the fares on the KLM airline’s website were very expensive.

Then the phrase ‘black & red’ came into my mind.

I remembered that the colours for Kenyan Airlines are ‘black & red’.

So I checked the Kenyan Airlines website (they codeshare with KLM) - and their fares for exactly the same flights were much cheaper.

God shared His wisdom with us, to make the trip affordable!

Further reading

1 Kings 3:16-28

Hebrews 11:7

B3 - Discerning of spirits

= Knowing the difference between:

• The Holy Spirit.

• An evil spirit from the devil.

It’s like knowing the difference between:

• Good food.

• Food which has gone off.

Acts 16:16-18

16And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying (= fortune telling):

17The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. 

18And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

--> The evil spirit was telling the truth.

--> But it was trying to disrupt Paul’s ministry.

--> Paul discerned that the spirit was not of God, and cast it out.

Today, the devil still tries to hinder God’s Kingdom: in churches, during evangelism etc.

Satan inspires some people to use religious language, so initially they may sound credible - but the evil spirits in them are actually trying to disrupt God’s work.

So we should learn from Paul:

• Be alert.

• Discern the source of the problem - with help from the Holy Spirit.

• Deal with it.

1 John 4:1-4

1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try (= test / examine) the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 

3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:

and this is that spirit of antichrist (= opposing / in place of Christ), whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 

4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.

--> John said that some spirits are NOT of God.

For example: the antichrist spirit inspiring non-Christian religions denies that God came in the flesh as Jesus.  (Verses 2-3)

But we don’t need to fear such spirits - we have Almighty God inside us!  (Verse 4)

Further reading

Luke 13:10-16

That’s the end of Section B - KNOWING gifts:

1. Word of knowledge = the facts about a situation.

2. Word of wisdom = what to do about a situation.

3. Discerning of spirits = knowing the difference between the Holy Spirit and an evil spirit from the devil.

C - DOING GIFTS

1. Working of miracles.

2. Gift of faith.

3. Healing.

C1 - Working of miracles

Q - What is a miracle?

A - Doing something which is humanly impossible.

For example - when Jesus turned water into wine.  (John 2:1-11)

We need to know FOUR THINGS about miracles:

1. Miracles are a PARTNERSHIP between God & us.

Acts 19:11~ And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul.

--> God did the miracles.

--> But via Paul’s hands.

Like when we drive a car:

1.  We press the accelerator pedal.

2.  The engine / motor moves the car - we can't move the car on our own!

1.  WE press the faith pedal.

2.  GOD'S POWER does the miracles - we can't do miracles on our own.

It’s easy for God to do a miracle:

• The ‘laws of nature’ are the ‘laws of God’.

• So it’s easy for God to suspend them - e.g. when Daniel’s three friends were cast into the fiery furnace.  (Daniel 3:20-28)

Further reading

Psalm 66:6

Mark 16:20

Acts 14:3

Galatians 3:5

2. WE need to take the FIRST step.

2 Kings 2:19-22

19And the men of the city (= Jericho) said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught (= bad), and the ground barren.

20And he said, Bring me a new cruse (= jar), and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.

21And he (= Elisha) went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said,

Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land. 

22So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.

1. Elisha threw in the salt - he first pressed the ‘faith pedal’.

2. Then God’s ‘miracle engine’ did the work - God purified the water.

Further reading

Exodus 14:21

2 Kings 2:14, 4:42-44, 20:9-11

Matthew 16:19

3. Miracles can lead people to BELIEVE IN GOD.

John 2:23 ~ Now when He (= Jesus) was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast day, many believed in His name, when they saw the miracles which He did. 

Acts 8:5-6

5Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

6And the people with one accord gave heed unto (= paid attention to) those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

Q - Why did the people listen to Jesus & Philip?

A - Because they saw the miracles.

It’s the same today - a Nigerian believer who has evangelised in the Muslim-dominated north & centre of his country, told me it was the miracles which led many Muslims to become Christians.

Further reading

Daniel 6:20-27

Matthew 11:2-5

John 3:1-2, 6:1-2 & 14, 7:31, 10:37-38, 11:45

Acts 2:22

1 Corinthians 2:4-5

Hebrews 2:3-4

But so that we’re not discouraged by any lack of response - we need to remember that ...

... if people have completely hardened their hearts to God, even seeing miracles may not convince them:

John 12:37 ~ But though He (= Jesus) had done so many miracles before them (= in front of their eyes), yet they believed not on Him.

Further reading

Matthew 11:20-24 / Luke 10:13-15

4. Let’s finish looking at miracles by emphasising their IMPORTANCE.

Romans 15:19 ~ Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God;

so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

Paul said he had only FULLY preached the gospel if there were signs & wonders:

• Why be a half-gospel believer - and not believe in miracles?

• We should all be be full-gospel believers!

C2 - Gift of faith = not doubting that God will act when we need Him to

 We all need faith.

But some believers have the ‘gift of faith’ to a MUCH GREATER extent.

To learn more about the ‘gift of faith’ in action - read biographies of believers such as: Hudson Taylor, John G Lake & Rees Howell.

Example

In Bristol (UK) we can still see the huge orphanage buildings which George Muller built in the 19th century:

• Those buildings cost more than £100 million (in today’s money).

• George Muller had the ‘gift of faith’ that God would always supply the money & provisions needed.

Two extracts from George Muller’s diary:

‘No further donations have come in, but my hope in God is unshaken. He most assuredly will help.

I have purposely not printed any information in connection with this matter, in order that the hand of God may be clearly seen.’

‘The greater the difficulty to be overcome, the more it will be seen how much can be accomplished by prayer and faith.’

--> God can GIVE US the same ‘gift of faith’, which He gave to George Muller!

C3 - Gift of healing

See the 'Healing' message on WholeCounselofGod.com

5. RECAP of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit

A. Three SPEAKING gifts:

• Speaking in tongues - two types:  ↑  and  ↓

• Interpretation of tongues.

• Prophecy.

B. Three KNOWING gifts:

• Word of knowledge.

• Word of wisdom.

• Discerning of spirits.

C. Three DOING gifts:

• Working of miracles.

• Gift of faith.

• Healing.

6. We should neither be proud nor boast about the gifts of the Holy Spirit

Having one or more of the gifts of the Holy Spirit does not mean that we’re 'better Christians' than believers who don’t have them:

• The gifts are tools to extend the Kingdom of God - not merit badges.

• Saul prophesied even as he tried to kill David!  (1 Samuel 18:10-11, 19:20-24)

• So we don’t earn the gifts - God gives them to us.

Further reading

Daniel 2:30

7. Two common objections to the gifts of the Holy Spirit

A.  ‘The gifts were for the early church, but not for today.’

This objection is based on a faulty interpretation of 1 Corinthians 13:8-12

Verse 8

8Charity (= love) never faileth: but whether (= where) there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease;

whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

• Some believers use these verses to propose that tongues & prophecy finished after the early church was founded.

• But Paul then explained when tongues & prophecy would cease:

Verses 9-10 & 12

9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 

10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

...

12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

--> Paul said that tongues & prophecy would cease when perfection comes.

--> We don’t yet live in a perfect world - so this ‘ceasing’ hasn’t yet happened!

Paul was explaining that tongues & prophecy will cease WHEN WE GET TO HEAVEN - which IS perfect.

We won’t then need the gifts of the Holy Spirit - because we’ll see God ‘face to face’!  (verse 12)

B. ‘We believe in the fruit of the Spirit, rather than the gifts.’

But God does not say we can only have either the gifts or the fruit of the Spirit - He wants us to have BOTH!

Like we don’t need to choose between ‘fish or chips’ - we usually eat ‘fish and chips’: they go together perfectly!

Q - What are we saying if we FORBID the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

A - We’re telling God: 

‘We don’t need Your help - we can do it all ourselves, thanks very much.’

That’s like trying to fight the devil & his evil works with 'one hand tied behind our back'.

That doesn’t work - because it’s not God’s plan for His church!

So let’s:

• Welcome

• Receive

• Use

... the gifts that God wants to give us! 

Amen