SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Bishop Albert Gran
12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
"Spiritual gifts" is such an issue needed to keep an eye and see what's truth behind the belief of some believers who until now are blundered and blinded due to TRADITION. Today, we need to see the truth it is something we must not be called IGNORANT as Paul called for our charge. This is an issue which is knowable based on the revelation declared by the apostle to the Gentiles.
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
Let's get background check who were these people addressed by Paul at Corinth. Their conditions in the past proved they themselves were swayed by falsehood of paganism who worshipped dumb idols. Corinth is such a city engrossed with idolatry and filled with idolatrous worshippers among those Paul in his missionary journey had encountered (see the account of Acts 18). Results proved many got converted in the grace of God, followed his preaching and reasoned about the grace of God in truth. "Gentiles" is in itself a term derived and associated with "idol worship", hence when Paul described our past identity we then are classified had lacked of understanding who the true God is, for Gentiles' mind were vain and had laden with vanity and or vain consciousness creating and magnifying dumb idols.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Paul wrote these things to address the issue what is this "spiritual gifts" all about. Paul addressed the fact that spiritual gifts is the work of Spirit or the Holy Spirit in the early period of the dispensation of grace. And, in the " Now" period of writing this epistle, Paul was emphatic that the Spirit's work was clearly associated in conformity of the work of Christ as the heart of Paul's message to declare the truth of the gospel of the grace of God. The phrase "that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed" "and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost" were such truth that the Spirit's operation was viewed in conjunction of Jesus Christ's deity.
CONDITIONS OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS DURING TRANSITION PERIOD
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
It's a clear view of fact how these diversities of gifts were manifested by and through same "Spirit" or "Holy Spirit" when Paul addressed this thing to the Corinthian church who were in past led by dumb idols and idol worship.
There is an established fact over the issue how come Gentiles received the gifts of the Spirit through which it was not sounded before in the economy of Law as the promise of Holy Spirits' gifts were set for the people of Israel (Joel 2: 28-30).
This condition brought forth attention there's dispensational setting had occurred in the early stage of the dispensation of grace and the operational manifestation of the Spirit has supernatural indications for the care of the church the body of Christ with Gentiles calling Jesus Lord during the apostolic journey of Paul.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
This is a relevant fact in the history of God's plan over the ages who Jesus Christ is as he is the same yesterday, today, and forever to mean he had not set differing administrations. Differences of administrations proved separate and distinct moral attributes of God conjectured by many and mean it also included his administrations.
Brethren, when you dig deeper into God's manifold ways, believed the truth God had set differences of administrations, but THE SAME LORD. His administration set for the law and the prophets in view of Israel's rise all the way down to the kingdom at hand commissioning 12 apostles were distinct administration over the time Paul was raised up as a brand new apostle with many Gentiles (supposed unfit for salvation as the conditions who they were in the past) got saved through the demonstration of the preaching of grace with a Spirit working in the early church the Body of Christ imbued with "SPIRITUAL GIFTS".
It's a fact that believers all through out ages BELIEVED THE SAME LORD and being IGNORANT to UNDERSTAND they all claim GOD HAD NOT SET DIFFERING ADMINISTRATIONS. Thus, the cause to rightly divide the word of truth cures all apprehensions when confusions occur in matters in unfolding the hidden mystery of Christ.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
Aside from differences of administrations, God's dealings to men and humanity vary in many operations. In fact God's operation to equip the church the Body of Christ in its early stage sees reality differed in the condition when the complete revelation was fully revealed. However, it's a fact THE SAME GOD WORKETH ALL IN ALL. Of course when God works all in all, he works according to THE SET OF OPERATIONS he willed and planned in TIME. In the conditions on the beginning part of the Church the Body of Christ, supernatural manifestations worked among the Gentiles as it is the operation God had set and work to equip the saints who were members of the church the body of Christ. But hey! these operations ceased and had come it's operational end and later it will be discussed how it worked AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE FULL REVELATION FOR THIS DISPENSATION OF GRACE (1 Cor. 13: 17-19).
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
Let's understand that the "manifestation of the Spirit" is the "spiritual gifts" the Spirit afforded to every man to profit. It is not the idea God gave all these gifts to one single man only.This is the fact the Spirit himself influenced believers so he could obtain the manifested gift which he received from Him. Our attention falls the fact the purpose behind all these manifestations is for PROFIT and that is FOR EQUIPPING THE SAINTS THE BODY OF CHRIST.
MANIFESTATION OF SPIRIT
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
In the early Church stage the following were God's gifts afforded severally to whom he wills to the believers. He gave the WORD OF WISDOM and WORD OF KNOWLEDGE by the same SPIRIT.
Today's preachers and teachers must not brag among themselves and puffed up they were those whom God had given word of wisdom and word of knowledge and had authority among the simple whom they thought had not been given wisdom and knowledge of God. Prior the completion of Scripture the Spirit gave WORD OF WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE to several men BUT NOT ALL MEN considering not all believers at Corinth walked in wisdom and knowledge in fact some believers walked disorderly especially those supposed following the command of LORD SUPPER which is not the basis when they gathered together IN THE CHURCH ( 1 Cor. 11:20). When they gather together to eat, that is not the FACT TO EAT THE LORD SUPPER since those were only instituted by God to the 12 apostles until he comes in the establishment of the earthly kingdom. The same revelation God delivered to Paul to remind them those whom God (kingdom disciples) were called to institute the Lord's table or Lord Supper (1 Cor. 11:23-29). This is part of the elementary doctrines the early believers learnt along with the doctrine of baptism Paul instituted to those whom he baptized prior the information he wasn't sent to baptize but to preach the gospel lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
The fact why Spirit afford wisdom and knowledge to whom He will in the early stage of the dispensation of grace because the affordable complete Scripture (as available today) was not yet completed to equally produce wisdom and knowledge equally be learned for profit among all saints by painstakingly putting an effort to give attendance in reading and exhortation based on right handling and study through RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH (2 Tim. 2:15). This is the reason why we need to rightly divide the word of truth today considering the fact of DIVERSITIES OF ADMINISTRATIONS AND DIVERSITIES OF OPERATIONS of course using the VERY SOURCE OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE " THE WORD OF TRUTH" (2 Tim. 3:16).
The fact why Spirit afford wisdom and knowledge to whom He will in the early stage of the dispensation of grace because the affordable complete Scripture (as available today) was not yet completed to equally produce wisdom and knowledge equally be learned for profit among all saints by painstakingly putting an effort to give attendance in reading and exhortation based on right handling and study through RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH (2 Tim. 2:15). This is the reason why we need to rightly divide the word of truth today considering the fact of DIVERSITIES OF ADMINISTRATIONS AND DIVERSITIES OF OPERATIONS of course using the VERY SOURCE OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE " THE WORD OF TRUTH" (2 Tim. 3:16).
Another important consideration in the manifestation of Spirit based on giving WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE is that it is purely "SUPERNATURAL". Supernatural cause divine influence without setting a process how man can do something about it. The is is purely God-given special miraculous manifestations.
Ask yourself today, Can you obtain this gift of wisdom and knowledge apart from GOD'S COMPLETE REVELATION solely to besought it SUPERNATURALLY APART FROM THE PROCESS OF studying the complete revelation? Yes or No. Many churches today prefer to just listen the words of their ministers even without bringing their 66 calibers to certify whether those things declared were so. That's purely walking without using God's wisdom and knowledge.
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
According to this verse in view of the early Church record, Faith in its miraculous sense is a gift of the Spirit. Today faith is something you have to hear from God's word ( Rom. 10:17).
In the early stage of Paul's journey "Supernatural Divine Intervention" is prevalent through which God could appear to him through vision, and commonly could set group of people to believe the gospel and could prevent Paul to not cause any harm from them at all ( Acts 18:9-10). This situation God could give whom he spared "faith" to believe the gospel. Could he give the same faith today through special miraculous and supernatural way? Yes or No?
If your answer today is Yes, then could you justify the reality to prove all unbelievers or lost received the same faith to believe the gospel so at all no one was left here on earth and everybody will joyfully glorify God in the heavens. If your answer is "No", could you justify the fact that not all respond the gospel of the grace of God in the process of hearing the gospel of salvation without suppressing individual's volition or free will and that because of this not all can go to heaven although and even if the GRACE OF GOD APPEARED TO ALL MEN (Tit. 2:11). God will that all men to be saved (1 Tim 2:4). And if your theology falls to what you considered fact God can afford FAITH to all men then why could you not justify in the miraculous and supernatural way ALL LOST PEOPLE WILL GO TO HEAVEN AND ETERNALLY FREE FROM PUNISHMENT and DAMNATION IN HELL?
I believed that today Faith is the gift when you mean faith is the doctrine of Christ's redemptive work to be preached and to be sounded in the regions beyond to be heard by men and out of FREE WILL could be believed as their salvation and ETERNAL SECURITY. However, "Faith as a gift" through the same operation in the early stage of the Spirit's manifestation is no longer in view and in effect. Today's believer must understand that THIS MANIFESTATION OF SPIRIT is no longer in VIEW TODAY AS RECENT IN OUR AGE but THROUGH THIS:
Ephesians 6:17
In the early stage of Paul's journey "Supernatural Divine Intervention" is prevalent through which God could appear to him through vision, and commonly could set group of people to believe the gospel and could prevent Paul to not cause any harm from them at all ( Acts 18:9-10). This situation God could give whom he spared "faith" to believe the gospel. Could he give the same faith today through special miraculous and supernatural way? Yes or No?
If your answer today is Yes, then could you justify the reality to prove all unbelievers or lost received the same faith to believe the gospel so at all no one was left here on earth and everybody will joyfully glorify God in the heavens. If your answer is "No", could you justify the fact that not all respond the gospel of the grace of God in the process of hearing the gospel of salvation without suppressing individual's volition or free will and that because of this not all can go to heaven although and even if the GRACE OF GOD APPEARED TO ALL MEN (Tit. 2:11). God will that all men to be saved (1 Tim 2:4). And if your theology falls to what you considered fact God can afford FAITH to all men then why could you not justify in the miraculous and supernatural way ALL LOST PEOPLE WILL GO TO HEAVEN AND ETERNALLY FREE FROM PUNISHMENT and DAMNATION IN HELL?
I believed that today Faith is the gift when you mean faith is the doctrine of Christ's redemptive work to be preached and to be sounded in the regions beyond to be heard by men and out of FREE WILL could be believed as their salvation and ETERNAL SECURITY. However, "Faith as a gift" through the same operation in the early stage of the Spirit's manifestation is no longer in view and in effect. Today's believer must understand that THIS MANIFESTATION OF SPIRIT is no longer in VIEW TODAY AS RECENT IN OUR AGE but THROUGH THIS:
Ephesians 6:17
And TAKE the helmet of salvation, and the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD:
All those manifestation of the Spirit was summed up as TAKE THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD.
All those manifestation of the Spirit was summed up as TAKE THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD.
God's influenced today to the believers through which we could achieved godly wisdom and knowledge is by means of taking His word. This is the recent OPERATION of the SPIRIT and where godliness will be in effect and be effective in the believer's lives.
God is really fair to reveal to us ALL THE COMPLETE SCRIPTURES from its beginning to END wherein we could use for edification and somehow we could all obtain THE SAME MIND IN CHRIST and WALK THE SAME RULE in this recent age of grace (Phil. 3:16).
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:
Paul made so clear that "to another" points the fact selective persons who received this gift OF MIRACLES, VARIOUS TONGUES AND ITS INTERPRETATIONS. However, common in all Pentecostal churches that everybody or every member speak in tongues to add our confidence their actions speaks those things were not FROM THE SPIRIT HIMSELF. Had they all understood what strange tongues they're uttering? Certainly, they're not understanding what they're saying. Interpreting tongue is at all times absence in their churches when all members speak together in their churches. Paul made lots of instructions regarding this operation in their church. These Spirit manifestations were those upheld and embraced by our Pentecostal brothers and sisters through which gimmickry results an outbreak of sound exodus from the mystery truth in view of progressive revelation taught by our apostle Paul recent in our time after the completion of the Word of truth.
Again, all these Spirit manifestations were all set with SUPERNATURAL AND DIVINE INFLUENCE marred with extra natural modes,manners, and manifestations which OPERATION APPLICABLE CORRESPONDING WHEN PAUL KNOW IN PART.
People today are blinded to run for as if they are needing and longing to these Spirit manifestations conditionally and severally afforded by God in the time of it's operation no longer RECENT AND CURRENT in the dispensation of grace. We are all the way to matured church but not the babe church which require candies to sweeten the conditions of believers' walk. We're now in the stature trough which Christ's image reflecting in us and our walk going through the way of slaughter for endurance of sufferings and persecutions for and by the sake of His grace for the lost.
Healing
This supernatural gift of healing passed through someone who had been given the gift. Healing in the time of Paul was designated to somebody and Paul had also this special work of miracle when he restored and revived into life a young man named Eutichus ( Acts 20:9) who fell from the window. Also Acts 19:2 indicates how his handkerchiefs are used to heal the sick.
However, healing in the time of Paul also underwent it's progression going to it's natural process when conditions require taking element. Paul had seeming experience when Christ told him His grace is sufficient after several requests (2 Cor. 12:9; 1 Tim. 5:23). Is there healing today? Yes, in the natural process with taking element. How about the process of supernatural healing such similar condition like using handkerchiefs or aprons? Such no longer in operation today when God himself changed the condition when believers attempt to besought God for miraculous and significant change. The cure over this doubts is having faith to the promise blessing of comfort by enduring the same sufferings with the process how you could be cured and healed today as God had intend to all believers. However, everybody were called to attain and helped those who were overtaken by weakness especially including those who were in physical weakness and remembered them through your prayers and in giving assistance.
People today are blinded to run for as if they are needing and longing to these Spirit manifestations conditionally and severally afforded by God in the time of it's operation no longer RECENT AND CURRENT in the dispensation of grace. We are all the way to matured church but not the babe church which require candies to sweeten the conditions of believers' walk. We're now in the stature trough which Christ's image reflecting in us and our walk going through the way of slaughter for endurance of sufferings and persecutions for and by the sake of His grace for the lost.
Healing
This supernatural gift of healing passed through someone who had been given the gift. Healing in the time of Paul was designated to somebody and Paul had also this special work of miracle when he restored and revived into life a young man named Eutichus ( Acts 20:9) who fell from the window. Also Acts 19:2 indicates how his handkerchiefs are used to heal the sick.
However, healing in the time of Paul also underwent it's progression going to it's natural process when conditions require taking element. Paul had seeming experience when Christ told him His grace is sufficient after several requests (2 Cor. 12:9; 1 Tim. 5:23). Is there healing today? Yes, in the natural process with taking element. How about the process of supernatural healing such similar condition like using handkerchiefs or aprons? Such no longer in operation today when God himself changed the condition when believers attempt to besought God for miraculous and significant change. The cure over this doubts is having faith to the promise blessing of comfort by enduring the same sufferings with the process how you could be cured and healed today as God had intend to all believers. However, everybody were called to attain and helped those who were overtaken by weakness especially including those who were in physical weakness and remembered them through your prayers and in giving assistance.
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Paul made clear all these Spirit manifestations already worked "worketh" and a condition of fact through which the Spirit afforded to several believers whom he will but this is the OPERATION EARLY BELIEVERS HAD PRIOR TO THE TIME PAUL SAID:
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and YET SHEW I UNTO YOU A MORE EXCELLENT WAY.
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and YET SHEW I UNTO YOU A MORE EXCELLENT WAY.
This is to clearly show there are far more to learn God's design for the stature and fullness of Christ through which Paul already revealed in all his epistles and be certain of God's divers OPERATIONS.
Grace and Peace.
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