Spiritual Gifts
1. Read following four lists of spiritual gifts which was provided by Paul
Rom. 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Rom. 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Rom. 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
1Cor. 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 1Cor. 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 1Cor. 12:10 To 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
1Cor. 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 1Cor. 12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 1Cor. 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
Eph. 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers
OBSERVATION: Spiritual gifts
Rom. 12:6-8 Prophecy, Ministry, Exhortation
1 Cor. 12:8-10 The word of wisdom, The word of knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miracles, Prophecy, Discerning of spirits, Divers of tongues, Interpretation of tongues
1 Cor. 12:28-30 Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Miracles, Healing, Helps, Governments, Diversities of tongues.
Eph. 4:11 Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, Pastors, Teachers
2. What is the purpose of spiritual gifts?
Eph. 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph. 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph. 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph. 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive
ANSWER
To make God’s people perfect
For the work of the ministry
For the edifying of the church
For the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God
For the perfection of the fullness of Christ in God’s people
To protect God’s people from cunning deceptions
Spiritual Gifts in the Church Today
1. What do the following texts say about the permanence of spiritual gifts?
1Cor. 1:6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 1Cor. 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1Cor. 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 1Cor. 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
Eph. 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; Eph. 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Eph. 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
ANSWER:
1Cor. 1:6 -7. Testimony of Christ is the Spirit of Prophecy( Rev. 19:20) or the gift of prophecy or prophet. This spiritual gift was confirmed among the Corinthian through Paul However this gift is needed especially those who are “waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” at the end time. Therefore this gift of prophecy should exist especially during “the time of end” which began from 1798.
1Cor. 13:9 -10. Every prophecy gives only a part of the actual event. The complete picture of the prediction is given only after the fulfillment. (I personally do not think this text says that the gift of prophecy exists until the end of time.)
Eph. 4:11 -13. The gift of prophet is needed in the church until the saints are perfected. We know for sure this has not happened yet. However according to the book of Revelation, there will be perfect saints in the last days, not that we cannot have perfect saints today. Therefore we need the gift of prophecy until the end of the time.
2. Read Rev. 12:17. What is the connection between the testimony of Jesus and the existence a prophet or prophets in the last day church?
Rev. 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Rev. 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Rev. 22:9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
ANSWER:
According to Rev. 12:17, the prophetic gift was to be manifested in the end-time remnant church.
Rev. 19:10 says that the “testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”
But wait. How do we go from here to prove that there will be a prophet or prophets in the last day church?
According to Rev. 19:10, who has the “testimony of Jesus”?
Answer: “Thy fellowservant and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus”
Who is or are fellowservant and brethren?
We know that if we read Rev. chapter 19, 18, 17 (if we go backward) then you will see that the one that was speaking to John in Rev. 19:10 is “one of the seven angels” So does this mean that the last day church will have an angel? If so then how will an angel speak to God’s church?
Now let’s compare above concept with Rev. 22:9.
So who are “fellowservant” and “brethren” according to Rev. 22:9?
Answer: “Prophets” and those that “keep the saying of this book” (the true followers of God).
Therefore an angel will speak to God’s church through a prophet or prophets.
Read Rev. 1:1. The revelation of Jesus Christ (or the testimony of Jesus Christ Rev. 1:2) was given unto Jesus and it was given to an angel and then it was given to “his servant” John (Prophet)
Therefore in order to “have the testimony of Jesus”, there has to be a manifestation of the prophetic gift (a prophet or prophets) in the church.
Counterfeit Gifts
1. What does the Bible say about the false prophets?
Matt. 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Matt. 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Matt. 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Luke 6:26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
2Pet. 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
1John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 1John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
Rev. 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. Rev. 16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
ANSWER:
Matt. 7:15 –They have a form of godliness
Matt. 24:11 –They shall deceive many
Matt. 24:24 –They “shall show great signs and wonders” and work together with the false Christs.
Luke 6:26 –Many people speak well of them.
2Pet. 2:1 –They teach heresies
1John 4:1-3 –They teach that Jesus did not come in the fallen human nature
Rev. 16:13-14 False prophet working together with the Beast and the Dragon
2. What would be the ultimate test to distinguish between true and false prophet?
Is. 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
ANSWER:
To the law and to the testimony
CONCLUSION:
False prophets can perform miracles, have the form of godliness, are loved by many, and are
The Gift of Prophecy
1. Observe a pattern in the following prophecies in the Bible.
120 years –Noah was the prophet in the beginning and at the end of 120 years prophecy (Gen. 6:3).
400 years –Abraham was the prophet in the beginning and Moses was the prophet at the end of 400 years prophecy (Gen. 15:13).
70 years –Jeremiah was the prophet in the beginning and Daniel was the prophet at the end of 70 years prophecy (Jer. 25:11).
490 years –Daniel was the prophet in the beginning and John the Baptist was the prophet at the end of 490 years prophecy (Dan. 9:24-25)
2300 years –Daniel was the prophet in the beginning of 2300 years prophecy.
OBSERVATION:
God provided a prophet in the beginning and at the end of every major prophecy that was dealing with His people.
Therefore we can conclude that God should provide a prophet at the end of the longest prophecy in the Bible, 2300 day/year prophecy.
Spiritual Gift: Tongue
1. When did God confuse the language?
Gen. 11:3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. Gen. 11:4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. Gen. 11:9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
ANSWER:
During the building of the tower of Babel.
By confounding the language, God destroyed the first plan of one world kingdom.
2. Observe what happened on the day of Pentecost.
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Acts 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
ANSWER:
God reversed what He did during the building of the tower of Babel.
By giving the gift of tongue, God established the first church for the Kingdom of God. God did not give one language but through one Spirit, He made it possible for all to understand the message of the Kingdom of God.
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