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Understanding Spiritual Gifts

Understanding Spiritual Gifts

Their Origin and Purpose

Notes from Dr. Dale A. Robbins & Pastor Tony Catron

Quotations are directly from Dr. Robbins

 

“The ministry of Spiritual Gifts originates in the New Testament…the Holy Spirit [was sent] to equip His [Jesus] church with power and spiritual gifts (Greek— charismata)…” Ephesians 4:11 lists gifts of the 5 fold ministry, which every ministry should have to show the fruit of their calling the Jesus. Anyone can set up a ministry, or call themselves a Pastor or Bishop, yet what are their fruit presenting?

Ephesians 4:11 states the following: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Moving on to Romans 12:3-7 and 1 Corinthians 12:1-12;28, we find more gifts.

Romans 12:3-7

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 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; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

1 Corinthians 12:1-12; 28

12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.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.4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;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:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 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.

People rush out and try to operate in a gift that they don’t have. Jumping out ahead will cause you to have a shipwreck, bringing discouragement in ministry. People go out without no foundation and no support. Be careful. The gifts listed in Ephesians 4:11, Romans 12:3-7 and 1 Corinthians 12:1-12;28, are “generally assigned to one of three categories , as listed below”:

  • Ministry (office) gifts: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher.
  • Motivational (practical) gifts: Service, Exhortation, Giving, Leadership, Mercy, Helps and Administration.
  • Charismatic (spiritual) gifts: Wisdom, Knowledge, Discernment, Prophecy, Tongues, Interpretation, Faith, Healing and Miracles.
Are Charismatic Gifts for Today?

1 Corinthians 13:8-10 is as follows:

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

This passage is often cited to say that spiritual gifts are done away with. However, history says otherwise. “Church History clearly refutes any notion that charismatic gifts faded away after the apostolic era. Other than diminishing somewhat during the middle ages (probably due to the inaccessibility to scripture by the common people), it is obvious that spiritual gifts were never completely absent from the church. Scores of statements to this effect were recorded by church leaders such as Irenaeus, who wrote around A.D. 150 ‘…we hear many of the brethren in the church who have prophetic gifts, and who speak in tongues through the spirit, and who alos bring to light the secret things of men for the benefit…'”

1 Corinthians 13:8-10 does not describe gifts coming to an end, it means that prophecies can fail die to people not being moved by the Holy Ghost, and that tongues and knowledge will fail for the same reason.

Next week will will continue with the 9 Charismatic Gifts.

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Breaking Spiritual Strongholds Part 3

How To Break Strongholds and Keep Them Broken

Sometimes, we don’t know we have a spiritual stronghold. Here are 6 ways to combat these strongholds to press on.

1) Authority

Mark 3:27: No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
The Name of the Savior Jesus has authority. His very name will expel the Devil’s influence.
2) Intercession
Matthew 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
In this chapter of Matthew, the disciples could not cast out a demon that caused a certain man’s son to harm himself, by falling into fire, and falling into water. Jesus said that they were a “faithless and perverse generation…” (Matthew 17:17). Jesus then rebuked the devil and it left the child. The disciples asked why they could not cast the demon out, and Jesus said that prayer and fasting were required for such situations.
We too, need to be fasting and praying to intercede on behalf of others and to break down spiritual strongholds.
3) Displacement
2 Corinthians 6:14: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
Separate yourself from anything that is not like God. Establish the presence of God, where Satan has been commanded to leave. Anoint the doorpost of your home, sanctifying your space in the workplace. It is as though you are establishing a base or stronghold, to keep Satan away. If you resist the devil he will flee. Fill it up with Gods presence, singing songs in the Spirit, praying in the spirit, quoting scripture. Where the presence of the Lord is, the devil can’t stay. The presence of the Lord displaces the Devil.
4) Resistance
James 4:7: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Submit yourself and draw closer to God. If you resist the devil he will flee. He is repelled by the Word of the Father being spoken in the atmosphere. The devil runs from submitted, yielding Christians. Submit to God, and the devil will flee. The more your trials get heavy, the more you should draw toward the Father.
5) Occupation
Ephesians 4:27:Neither give place to the devil.
Give no place or vacancy to the devil. We have to give ourselves over to God, and allow not the devil to get into any aspect of our lives. How do we do that? “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection” (1 Corinthians 9:27). We may have old habits that we may not have put under subjection and it’s easy to fall back into the habits of the old man. This way Satan can not break through your spiritual armor.
6) Fortification
Galatians 5:19-21 describes the things that are places of refuge which Satan to lodge himself in our lives. There are degrees of intensities in all of these wicked things. So we should put on the whole armor of God. Take up our daily prayer or reading. Take upon ourselves the full array of spiritual gifts to be armed against spiritual wickedness. Ephesians 6:11-17

If we stay mindful of the Word of God we’ve been given, we will overcome Spiritual strongholds. Jesus has made you the head and not the tail. Satan does not care about your attitude, you emotional well being, or whether or not you love the father, he will still attack you. Be on guard, in Jesus name.

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Breaking Spiritual Strongholds Part 2

2 Corinthians 10:4
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Spiritual warfare is more apparent these days. The Father has equipped everyone with the ability to fight against evil. If we don’t know that we have the equipment, will we be able to fight against evil? No, not effectively.

Many of us don’t know the power we have against the roaring lion that seeks whom he may devour.

If you don’t know what spiritual warfare is, then it can easily overtake you.

What is a strong hold? It is a binding influence. If your constantly doing everything against what is right? What is that in your life? A stumbling block.

Luke 10:17-20
And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

The 70 disciples operated in Jesus name. That Name is the authority in breaking down strongholds, and expelling evil forces.

In addition, the very life you live can determine if you’ll be successful in dealing with spiritual warfare. If you are living the life of a  true Child of God, set a part from mingling with the world, being in it but not of it, knowing the power that you have within you through the Holy Ghost, your very presence will make demons cower. However, if you are lukewarm in your walk with Messiah, you will be weak in spiritual warfare.
Mark 16:17
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Next week, we will go into how to break strongholds and keep them broken, with several steps to help us succeed.

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Breaking Spiritual Strongholds

James 1:6-8
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

One day your a believer, the next day you need to be shown how to believe. They that waver in faith to God will not get what they ask for. You must believe what you ask Him for.

Faith is having complete trust that God will do what he said He would do.

1 Corinthians 12:6-9
And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

God gives you abilities according to the faith you have toward God.

1 Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

1 Peter 5:8

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

The fact that Satan is seeking means he can’t influence everyone, yet he preys on those who are weak. If you don’t have enough faith in God, Satan has unclean spirit hurling evil upon the body, looking for weak spots to breach your spiritual infrastructure.

The reason why we can’t be active in spiritual warfare is because we fear that it’s too strong. Then we need to ask God to give the faith and tools to go against the spiritual stronghold.

All believers are in a war against Satan.

Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Satan comes to steal your joy, kill your hope, and destroy your faith; these are the things he does.

If you don’t have the faith that equals the task you ask of God, spiritual strongholds won’t be broken in your life. Believers can’t be demon possessed, but harassed and oppressed.

We often times are fighting against the spiritual symptoms of evil, yet that won’t solve the problem. Just as a decongestant doesn’t heal the cold but only clears the nasal passages, so does trying to go against spiritual symptoms of evil instead of the root of the spiritual symptoms of evil.

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By the Leading of the Holy Ghost

The music of worship and praise played through the stereo as the congregation waited for Pastor Catron to arrive to give us a word from the Almighty God. He began to go right into teaching the word of God, speaking into the lives of everyone individually. By the time he knew it, much time had passed, and he suddenly exclaimed “I did not plan on talking about this, but the Holy Ghost has chosen to do this!” The Holy Ghost was using Pastor Catron to speak into our lives, giving us individual courage in the face of our individual needs and problems.

We were asked to turn in our Bibles to Matthew chapter 5: 1-10

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

In the face of serious problems we may be facing, because “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). 

This recently has become the motto of the congregation, as we put on “the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” Ephesians 6:11. Lately, the spiritual battle has been raging tough for we know that we “wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” Ephesians 6:12. Yet we are encouraged that the name of Jesus and the power of God through the Holy Ghost, can cast down demonic strongholds if we have faith in Jesus!

We were encouraged this morning in the face of adversity,confessing our “faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” James 5:16.