DISCOVERING YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS #2: THE SUPERNATURAL GIFTS
KEY TEXT:
“God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God’s generosity can flow through you.” (1 Peter 4:10)
• EVERY Christian receives at least ONE spiritual gift.
THE BIG IDEA: God has given everyone spiritual gifts. Our job is to discover and develop those gifts so that we can be a blessing to others.
DISCOVERING YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS – WHAT ARE THEY?
“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant…A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.” (1 Cor. 12:1,7)
• Spiritual gifts are a God-given ability to do a TASK.
• It allows you to do the work of the ministry effectively – to help and BLESS others.
GIFTS FROM GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT:
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all; for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills” (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).
I. GIFTS OF REVELATION: POWER TO KNOW: beyond human knowledge
1. WORD OF WISDOM – A spiritual utterance supernaturally disclosing the mind, PURPOSE and way of God as applied to a specific situation
2. WORD OF KNOWLEDGE – A supernatural revelation of information pertaining to a person or event, given for a specific purpose, usually dealing with an immediate NEED
3. DISCERNING OF SPIRITS – The ability to discern the spirit world – whether something is DIVINE (God/angels), human (natural origin) or demonic (Satan/demons)
II. GIFTS OF POWER: POWER TO DO: beyond human ability
4. FAITH – A unique form of faith (not the faith that saves you) that supernaturally trusts and does not doubt concerning specific matters – to believe God for the IMPOSSIBLE
5. GIFTS OF HEALINGS – Those healings that God performs supernaturally
- accelerated mending – something would have taken time to heal God does
INSTANTLY - i.e. a broken arm.
6. WORKING OF MIRACLES – Manifestation of power beyond the ordinary course of natural law – something that could NEVER have been done naturally - i.e. a limb growing back.
III. GIFTS OF SPEAKING: POWER TO SPEAK: beyond natural talent
7. PROPHECY – A divine revealing of the spirit to encourage, exhort or COMFORT
8. DIFFERENT KINDS OF TONGUES – The gift of speaking supernaturally in a LANGUAGE not known to the individual
9. INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES – Bringing to light what is otherwise hidden
TEXT: “And it shall come to pass in the last days that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.” (Joel 2:28).
• God is raising up the prophetic generation that Joel prophesied about. God’s desire is that the church would be a people who hear His voice, and proclaim His living word to others. When we do this, we will see people encouraged, comforted, and set free.
UNDERSTANDING PROPHECY:
1. PROPHECY REVEALS JESUS TO US – IT’S ABOUT KNOWING HIM MORE.
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” (Ephesians 1:17).
“Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10).
• Prophecy reveals our Heavenly Father’s heart to us.
2. THE MOTIVATION FOR PROPHECY MUST BE LOVE:
“And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” (1 Cor. 13:2).
3 PROPHECY IS TO ENCOURAGE AND COMFORT PEOPLE:
“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy…But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.” (1 Cor. 14:1,3).
• The purpose of prophecy: Edification, Exhortation and Comfort:
• Edification: building up, promoting another’s growth; Exhortation: encouragement
4. PROPHECY WILL DRAW UNBELIEVERS TO THE LORD: Prophetic Evangelism
“But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced (brought to light; exposed) by all, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.” (1 Cor. 14:24-25).
• Reveals the secrets of their heart; causes them to worship God and declare God is real.
5. ALL CAN PROPHESY SO WE CAN LEARN AND BE ENCOURAGED:
“For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.”
(1 Corinthians 14:31).
• Prophecy is a gift that all Christians can learn to operate in.
For more info on how to give & receive a prophetic word, listen to the message "The Extreme Prophetic" by Pastor Chris Jordan.
UNDERSTANDING TONGUES:
To correctly understand the gift of speaking in tongues, we must realize there are two different kinds of speaking in tongues mentioned in the Bible.
1. TONGUES AS A GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
“to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.” (1 Cor. 12:10b).
“I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.” (1 Cor. 14:5).
• The spiritual gift of tongues is GOD speaking to the church.
• This is initiated by the HOLY SPIRIT, as He wills it.
• Not all believers will operate in this spiritual gift.
“Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.” (1 Cor. 14:12-13).
• When you are exercising the spiritual gift of tongues in a public setting, pray for the interpretation so the church can be ENCOURAGED.
2. TONGUES AS A PERSONAL PRAYER LANGUAGE:
“For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries… He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.” (1 Cor. 14:2,4).
• Tongues as a personal prayer language is the believer speaking TO God.
• This gift of tongues speaks mysteries, and edifies your spirit.
• ALL believers can exercise this gift of the Holy Spirit (see Mark 16:17).
“If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.” (1 Cor. 14:27-28).
• If you don’t have the gift of tongues & interpretation, it is still okay to speak to yourself and God (tongues as a personal prayer language).
WHY SPEAK IN TONGUES? (Personal Prayer Language)
1. To EDIFY yourself – building up your spirit. (1 Cor. 14:4)
2. To BUILD UP your faith. (Jude 20)
3. To PRAY the perfect will of God. (Romans 8:26)
4. To PRAISE and magnify God. (Acts 2:11; 10:46)
Paul said, “I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all.” (1 Cor. 14:18).
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
