You Have Spiritual Gifts: Discover And Use them

Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12, 14; Ephesians 4:7-14

October 8, 2023

Session 4

Review:

“Discerning of Spirits” (1 Corinthians 12:10): The special ability given by the Holy Spirit to see the agenda and operation of spiritual agents. (This gift’s operation should lead to God’s protection, healthy exposure of dark, inferior activity, and greater clarity of the voice of God. Its operation should lead to the believer taking spiritual authority over evil spirits and their agenda.

Can and should discern the activity of demonic spirits (1 John 4:1)

Should not judge the eternal destiny, value, inner motives of another. (refusing to condone or even affirming sinful activity is NOT judgmental)

Respect the only source of true judgement (1 Corinthians 4:4-5)

Some possible indicators of legitimate discerning.

Internal “repelling”, ongoing discomfort, “caution lights” in prayer

Counsel, warnings from others who are developed in discernment.

Remember, these gifts are given by the Holy Spirit to glorify the Lord and minister to His Body.

★ CAUTIONS: Making premature decisions about people’s motives; allowing personal likes, personality traits, identity issues, etc. creep into judgements.

★ Many can speak and act using the Lord’s name, but are not legitimate in their activities. (Jesus warned of those impostors who use His name for their own evil motives.)

Tongues: The God given ability to speak in a language given by the Holy Spirit and not understood by the speaker. This gift edifies the believer when spoken in private prayer and the Church when interpreted in public settings (the Church assembled)

Spiritual language; arises from the reborn spirit, not a product of the mind.

(1 Corinthians 14:14)

Not all have each gift (1 Corinthians 12:17-31)

The speaker speaks to God, not men (1 Corinthians 14:2)

The gift edifies the speaker (1 Corinthians 14:4)

The gift requires interpretation (not translation) to edify, minister to the Church (1 Corinthians 14:5) The main purpose of the gifts of the Spirit is the edification of the Church.

The speaker should pray for the interpretation (1 Corinthians 14:13)

Tongues are a sign to unbelievers (unsaved; uneducated re: gifts) 1 Corinthians 14:22)

In a public assembly of the Church, messages in tongues (spiritual language) must be interpreted and limited to no more than 2 or 3 in turn. (1 Corinthians 14: 27, 28)

The legitimate operation of the gift of tongues is to be allowed and done decently and in order. (1 Corinthians 14:40)

Recognize the operation of spiritual language is twofold. Manifestation in private and gift operation in the assembled Church. (1 Corinthians 14:18, 19)

The gift of tongues is NOT a “badge” for the spiritually elite, but a Spirit-given asset and tool for private edification and public ministry.