Sunday, December 17, 2006

Spiritual gifts wrap up (my vacation)

After studying the gifts I have felt to end now and move on after my vacation. Which brings me to this scripture that was just e-mailed to me today:

"If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (1 corinthians 13:2)"

Which is a great scripture to wrap this up because it ties back into the theme of most of my blogs which is loving each other in spite of differences, disagreements, and politics. If you treat people with love you will open their hearts up to see the truth. That's the only way it can be done.

I am going on vacation today and will be back January 5th. If you are new to my blog, please review other blogs I have written, (I have lots!) and don't think it's too late to comment because I will get it. God Bless and celebrate Christ and all He's done and will do for us not just on Christmas but everyday!

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

The gift of healing and miraculous powers

What amazes me is not stories of people being healed and people being brought back to life, etc. it's that it doesn't happen as often as it did in the Bible and that some of those who do have the Holy Spirit using them to heal or place a miracle in someone's life are charging money for it. I do believe that some are called to be used by God through the Holy Spirit to heal and drastically change lives but it should not be exploited or abused. Jesus and the apostles healed because that was doing the work of God and did not ask for payment. Now, if you desire to donate or sow a seed for the good of the gospel or use your tithes in that manner, God promises to give back to you sevenfold. But true people given the gift are those who do not try to use it to gain financially in a world that is only temporary. Just the fact they they put collecting and storing riches over the work of the Lord shows that they miss the whole point of Jesus coming back and us living eternally with Him where material things aren't needed. And remember it is not them doing the healing but God doing the healing through them.

Also once you have Christ living inside of you, you have the ability to ask for healing and miracles for yourself in you life. The people who have the gift I believe are place to heal the lost(both physically and spiritually) and bring them to Christ but those who have Christ already have healing by faith.

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." 1peter 2:25

"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Acts 4:8-10


Wednesday, December 06, 2006

The gift of speaking and interpreting tongues

The gift of tongues is controversial and debated amongst different religions. As I am, non-denominational, I will base my views on the Word of God a.k.a the Bible.

Speaking in tongues is having the Holy Spirit speak from within you in a language most don't understand. Many churches believe that only those who has been given the gift of tongues can speak it, mostly because of the scriptures, 1 Corinthians 12:28-30,"And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts."

But is says in 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 " And now I will show you the most excellent way.Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues" Which means that anyone who is saved and believe in Christ will have the ability to speak in tongues.

It also says in Acts 2:4 "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."

So what is exactly the gift? I believe that the Holy Spirit can choose a believer to speak in tongues and intercede for them when they believe and become close to God but those who have the gift can speak it and teach with it at anytime as Paul spoke about in 1 Corinthians 14. The gift of interpretation,however, is different and given to someone who hears tongues spoken and hears the message in their spirit.

Saturday, December 02, 2006

The gift of Wisdom

When some think about the gift of wisdom they may be thinking, "I know who has that gift because so and so is so smart!" but as I studied on this blog in my wisdom series, the book of proverbs doesn't view wisdom as "book smarts" or "street smarts" but the ability to truly rely on God and His words, trusting Him and fearing Him. I believe in the passage about gifts when it says, "to one there is given through the spirit the message of wisdom" I believe that to be saying that there are people who has the ability to listen to God immediately and not second guess it, and to help others to do the same. but the most important part of this message is through the spirit we are not wise without the Holy spirit of God within us. That's why if I am ever complimented on things that I write in this blog I do not take the credit because after prayer and study I share what I feel in my heart I am told to share. Christians given any gift should always be humbled by it because without God they would have nothing.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines."