The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Part 10)

Message by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

Series: Christianity, Not As God Intended!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14

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The flow of the church service is a key factor in determining the release of a congregation’s life and ministry. Our gatherings can be fruitful or frustrating and the difference is found in how we understand and apply key the principles of corporate worship. The Corinthians were very zealous and exuberant when it came to the worship service, but they often expressed their worship carelessly and selfishly by misusing and abusing the spiritual gifts. They needed balance and wisdom and so Paul gives three principles that must be a part of every worship service.

Edification 1 Corinthians 14:1-5

• Why prophecy is the greater gift.
• Prophecy is greater than tongues in the corporate worship service because everyone is edified.

The problem in Corinth was not the gift of tongues, but the attitude of the worshipers who exalted their personal experience above the edification of others.

Understanding 1 Corinthians 14:6-25

Three examples:

1. Musical instruments,
2. The commands of a trumpet
3. Plain, understandable conversation

The speaker must strive to make his message understandable so believers can be instructed and worship together and non-believers can understand the message that God is speaking to them.

Order 1 Corinthians 14:26-40

Guidelines for tongues

1. Tongues must be interpreted
2. The message in tongues must be judged
3. They should speak one at a time not more than three

Guidelines for prophecy

1. Limit the number to three prophecies
2. Prophecy must be judged
3. Prophets must be gracious and submissive
4. Prophecy should be given in orderly fashion
5. The prophet must exercise self-control
6. The operation of the gifts should create an atmosphere of peace

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Part 9)

Message by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

Series: Christianity, Not As God Intended!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14

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Definition
The Bible defines speaking in tongues as the ability to praise and pray to God in a language unknown to the speaker.

Blessings that come through the gift of speaking in tongues:

1. Tongues glorifies God in personal devotion and prayer. (1 Corinthians 14:2)
2. Tongues edifies the believer. (1 Corinthians 14:4)
3. Tongues has both a public and private expression. (1 Corinthians 14:3-5)
4. Tongues is a sign to unbelievers. (1 Corinthians 14:22)

Definition
Prophecy in its simplest from is divinely inspired and anointed utterance.

There is a difference between the Old Testament office of the Prophet and the New Testament gift of prophecy. (1 Samuel 3:20; 1 Kings 18:36; 2 Kings 6:12; Haggai 1:1)

Old Testament Prophets heard, spoke and wrote divine revelation.

The Scripture warns against false prophets

• They claim to speak for God
• They often perform counterfeit signs
• They point to false gods.

Principles for the New Testament Gift of prophecy:

1. The New Testament does not elevate the “gift of prophecy” to the same level of authority as the Scripture.
2. The gift of prophecy is often the teaching and preaching ministry of the Scriptures in the Church. (1Corinthians 14:4-7)
3. Prophecy can be a revelation about a future event that God in tend to reveal to the entire church. (Acts 11:28-29)
4. Prophecy is sometimes a word from God given to an individual. (Acts 21: 10-11)
5. Prophecy should be tested and approved by church leaders. (1 Corinthians 14:29-30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22)

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Part 8)

Message by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

Series: Christianity, Not As God Intended!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13

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I Corinthians 13 is known by many people as the “Love Chapter.” However, it is also greatly misunderstood. Many people read it without considering the context. Chapter 13 is not a theological treatise on love. Nor is it just sentimental instruction on Christian charity. The context is spiritual gifts and Paul is telling us the true motive for doing spiritual gifts (ministry) must be love.

The evidence of spiritual maturity is not demonstrating the greatest gifts, but its loving Jesus and loving people.
1 Corinthians 13:1 – Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

Love is the standard for doing ministry together in the church!
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 – Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

Love must dictate the culture of the church
The dictionary defines culture as “the sum of attitudes, customs and beliefs that distinguish one group of people from another. Culture is the relational environment that we create as we do ministry together.

What makes up a church’s culture?

• Focusing on kingdom values (Matthew 13:46)
• A people who truly know God (Daniel 11:32; Acts 4:13)

Assessing the eternal value of love
1 Corinthians 13:8-9 – But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

• Maturity discerns between the eternal and temporal
• The Perfect is Jesus
• Continue in faith, hope and love

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Part 7)

Message by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:8-11

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The Gift of the word of knowledge / Definition
The gift of the Word of Knowledge is divine revelation of certain facts in the mind of God that He imparts to believers so that we can know what God knows and respond accordingly.

General make up of the gift
These people have a thirst for the knowledge of God’s truth and it motivates them to studying and prayer to understand the Scriptures. However, more than just wanting head knowledge they desire God’s revelational knowledge of certain divine facts that when shared, imparts a clear sense of God’s will in to the situation.

Examples from the Bible

• The prophet Elisha (2 Kings 6:12; 5:21)
• The ministry of Jesus (John 1:47-48)
• The apostle Peter (Acts 5; Acts 10)

Do you have the gift?

1. Do you have desire for the knowledge of God’s Word that motivates you to pray and study the Scriptures continually?
2. In studying God’s word have you found new insights and understanding, even when it comes to difficult subjects?
3. Do you have a strong prayer life and often sense God speaking to you during times of devotion and communion?
4. Do you desire to see people set free from sin and bondage and long for people to have a strong God-awareness in their life.

The Gift of discerning of spirits / Definition
The spiritual gift of discerning of spirits is the ability to perceive whether such things as people, events or beliefs are from God or Satan.

General make up of the gift
Those with the gift of discerning of spirits are acutely aware that there are two forces at work in the world today.. .the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. They understand that Satan and his demons love to disguise themselves as angels of light and often use copies and counterfeits of God’s work to deceive people.

Examples from the Bible

• Jesus (Matthew 4:1; Mark 1:5; 5:1-9)
• Peter (Acts 5:1-10; 10:19)

Do you have the gift?

1. Do you feel a special responsibility to protect the truth of God’s Word by exposing error?
2. Do you love righteousness and hate sin?
3. Do you have a strong sense that if you yield to temptation it could open the door to Satan’s influence?
4. Do you often make a careful evaluation of someone or something that was said, that others did not see, but yet proved to be correct?

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Part 6)

Message by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

Series: Christianity, Not As God Intended!

Scripture: I Corinthians 12:9-10 “…to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles..”

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The Gift of Faith / Definition

The gift of faith is the ability to envision what needs to be done and then to trust God to accomplish it even though it seems impossible to most people.

Different from…

Saving faith & the fruit of faith

Mark 11:22-23 – So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

General make up of people with the gift of faith

• They believe the impossible is possible
• They are convinced that God performs His Word
• Great encouragement to the Body of Christ
• People always borrow their faith

Examples from the Bible

• The life of Jesus (Luke 22:42; 23:46)
• The heroes of faith (Hebrews 11)
• The life of Paul (Acts 27)

The gift of faith is given…

• For the faithful not the faithless
• At the moment we need it
• In connection with God’s purpose
• For others to borrow

Do you have the gift of faith?

1. Do you view obstacles as opportunities and trust God for the impossible?
2. Do you love to boast about the power of God?
3. Are you motivated by new ministries?
4. Do you get frustrated with people who say something can’t be done?
5. Do other believers come to you to borrow your faith?
6. Do you have an effective prayer ministry?

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Part 5)

Message by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

Series: Christianity, Not As God Intended!

Scripture: I Corinthians 12:9-10 – “To another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles.”

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How are you applying this series?

• Are you filled with the Spirit?
• Are you using the gift(s) God has given you?
• Are you moving forward or looking backward?

Avoiding two extremes

God can’t! Or God must!

But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. (Psalm 115:3)

The Working of Miracles / Definition

The ability to call on God to do extraordinary, supernatural acts that reveal His power.

Examples from the Bible

• The Life of Jesus (John 20:30)
• The example of Stephen (Acts 6:8)

Errors concerning miracles

• Self promotion
• The assumption that anointing means approval
• The lust for power
• Demanding a sign

Do you have the gift of working of miracles?

The Gifts of Healings / Definition

The ability to call on God to heal the sick through supernatural means for the purpose of revealing God’s grace and power.

Examples from the Bible

• The Life of Jesus (Matthew 4:23, 24)
• The example of Peter (Acts 6:8)
• The example of Paul (Acts 19:11, 12)

Errors concerning healing…

• God doesn’t heal today…
• We shouldn’t use doctors or medicine
• Healing should only be done at church service
• If you love God and walk by faith you never get sick

Do you have the gift of healing?

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Part 4)

Message by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

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Series: Christianity, Not As God Intended!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:8-10

As we consider the gifts of the Holy Spirit, it is important to remember that Jesus is our best model for understanding spiritual gifts.

• Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35)
• Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:21-22)
• Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1)
• Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:14)
• All His ministry was Spirit empowered and directed (Luke 4:18)

Gifts are given…

• To promote the Lordship of Christ (verses 2-3)
• By the Trinity (verses 4-6)
• To benefit others (verse 7)
• By God’s appointment (verse 11)

I Corinthians 12:9 – to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles,

Avoiding the extremes
God can’t! and God must!

The Gifts of Healings / Definition
The ability to call on God to heal the sick through supernatural means for the purpose of revealing God’s grace and power.

The Working of Miracles / Definition
The ability to call on God to do extraordinary, supernatural acts that reveal His power.

The Gift of Faith / Definition
The ability to envision what needs to be done and then to trust God to accomplish it even though it seems impossible to most people.

General Makeup

• Trust God in impossible situations
• Believe God for big things
• Futuristic Change oriented
• Totally convinced of God’s Word

Illustrated
Jesus (Luke 1:37) Paul (Acts 27)

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Part 3)

Message by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

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Series: Christianity, Not As God Intended!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:7-10

For the past two weeks we have been considering important principles that Paul gives to help us understand the use of spiritual gifts. This week we actually begin studying the “gifts.” As we consider the gifts of the Holy Spirit, it is important to remember where it all began. Acts chapter two gives us the account of the Spirit of God being outpoured on the Day of Pentecost.

Fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy at Pentecost

And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. (Acts 2:17-18)

Marked the Spirit’s outpouring on all flesh

Announced the beginning of the “last days”

Established the norm for the Spirit’s gifting and activity in the church

Gifts of Revelation

• A Word of wisdom
• A Word of knowledge
• Discerning of spirits

Gifts of Power

• The gift of faith
• The working of miracles
• The gift of healing

Gifts of Inspiration

• Prophecy
• Different of tongues
• Interpretation of tongues

The Word of Wisdom

for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, (1 Corinthians 12:8)

Definition: The gift of the word of wisdom is God’s supernatural insight given to the believer about people and situations that is not obvious to the average person and it comes with the understanding of what to do and how to do it.

All Christians are called to search for and learn wisdom from God. (Ephesians 1:16-17, James 1:5)

Demonstrated in the life of Jesus (Luke 2:40-52)

Illustrated in Scripture: Joshua (Deuteronomy 34:9) Daniel (Daniel 2:17) Solomon (1 Kings 3:5)

Do you have the gift?

Do you find that when you counsel people,  God by His Spirit, gives you wisdom to share with them from Scripture, which they accept as God’s truth to them through you?

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Part 2)

Message by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

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Series: Christianity, Not As God Intended!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:1-26

In this section of Scripture we come to one of the most exciting portions of the New Testament. Paul addresses the subject of the Holy Spirit’s gifting in the church, empowering the believers to do the ministry Jesus had begun when He was on earth and now to be continued in the church. Jesus is our greatest example of what it means to be Spirit filled, Spirit led, Spirit empowered and Spirit gifted!

What do we need to understand about spiritual gifts?

• Spiritual gifts are different from natural talents
• There are several lists of spiritual gifts in the New Testament
• We are each given different gifts and different portions of gifts
• We must be open to serving outside our area of gifting
• God gives us passion and opportunities to assist our gifting
• Every gift must be cultivated to be effective in ministry

Spiritual gifts serve the Lordship of Jesus
Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:3)

Spiritual gifts are given and administered by the Trinity
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

Spiritual gifts each exist to benefit the whole church
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all. (1 Corinthians 12:7)

Four principles of corporate edification:

• Unity (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)
• Diversity (1 Corinthians 12:14-17)
• Interdependence(1 Corinthians 12:18-21)
• Value (1 Corinthians 12:22-26)

Spiritual gifts are appointed by God
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. (1 Corinthians 12:11)

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Message by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

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Series: Christianity, Not As God Intended!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all. (1 Corinthians 12:7)

In this section of Scripture we come to one of the most exciting portions of the New Testament. Paul addresses the subject of the Holy Spirit’s gifting in the church, empowering the believers to do the ministry Jesus had begun when He was on earth and now to be continued in the church. Jesus is our greatest example of what it means to be Spirit filled, Spirit led, Spirit empowered and Spirit gifted!

• Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35)
• Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:21-22)
• Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1)
• Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:14)
• All His ministry was Spirit empowered & directed (Luke 4:18)

Jesus sends the Holy Spirit upon the church so believers can continue the very same ministry He began.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” (John 14:12; Acts 1:8)

What we need to understand about spiritual gifts!
Spiritual gifts are different from natural talents
There are several lists of spiritual gifts in the New Testament
We are each given different gifts and different portions of gifts
We must be open to serving outside our area of gifting
God gives us passion and opportunities to assist our gifting
Every gift must be cultivated to be effective in ministry

Spiritual gifts serve the Lordship of Jesus (1 Corinthians 12:2-3)

Spiritual gifts are given and administered by the Trinity (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

Spiritual gifts each exist to benefit the whole church (1 Corinthians 12:7)

Spiritual gifts are appointed by God (1 Corinthians 12:11)