JAC Online

Spiritual Gifts
by Andrew Bale

"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 another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, he gives them to each one as he determines." (1 Corinthians 12:8-11)

 

Sometimes we get hung up on "gifts". People say; I have this gift, he has that gift, she has another gift. This kind of talk is nonsense. The first thing to remember about Spiritual gifts is that they are just that gifts! God loves to give us gifts just as we love to shower presents on our children. Some of these gifts are indulgent, they're just for our benefit, Most of them are, however, practical and they are given to us to make mission possible.

 

 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" Matthew 7:7 -11

 

These gifts are like tools (or in the case of the indulgent ones like medicine) - we are given them as and when we need them.

 

If I want to build a shed (God forbid that he would ever call me to do that - undoubtedly it would fall down!) But if I did want to build a shed I would got to my toolbox (or more than likely borrow someone else's) and select the tools I needed for the job. When I'd finished the job I would replace the tools. I wouldn't carry around with me a hammer, nails, screwdriver, saw etc. just in case I might be called upon to build a shed!

 

It's the same with spiritual gifts. We are given them when we need them. They are not exclusively ours, they are freely available to all God's children as when they need them and he decides to give them.

 

Now before anyone (quite rightly) shows up the shortcomings of my metaphor let me qualify it. Tools are inanimate objects, to use them you have to be skilled. Spiritual gifts on the other hand come with a mind and purpose of their own. If we yield to God he uses them through us.

 

I think that sometimes we are too quick to parcel out responsibility to certain individuals. If the disciples met a demon-oppressed man they didn't go away and come back with a person skilled in deliverance ministry, they just said (in the name of Jesus) "asta la vista" baby and carried on with their task of saving the world.

 

So when we consider the following gifts we must remember the following points.

1) God can do whatever he wants to do in and through us as long as we take him at his word.

2) Gifts are available to anyone who asks for them in faith.

3) Gifts are given to us as when we need them.

4) Gifts are for the furthering of mission and the improvement of the church.

 

I have tried to include some personal examples of these gifts have been used in my own ministry. I've also included at least one biblical example from either the Old or New Testament. If you would like to send me stories that further illustrate the practical nature and essential qualities of God's gifts then please mail me and I will include them.

 

This gift is incredibly useful and indispensable if we wish to carry out effective ministry. This gift has nothing to do with human understanding, logic or academic ability. This gift is about the Holy Spirit presenting us with solutions in apparently impossible circumstances.

 

I can remember being responsible for a Sunday School a couple of years ago. The other leaders had decided after much prayer that we needed to start a new programme for some of the older children. This new programme was going to address some of the deeper and more practical aspects of our Christian expression.

 

We had selected the children we wanted to attend; we had appointed leaders and secured a location. It was at this point that we hit a stalemate. In a church with an already overcrowded schedule when could we fit this new venture in? Every possible time suggested either clashed with something else or prohibited attendance by some of the suggested key players.

 

The meeting at this stage became a little heated as some people tried to suggest that we hijack what they considered to be less relevant programmes within the church. Cries of "this is important and that isn't" began to ring around the room.

 

At this point someone suggested that we pray and ask God for a word of wisdom. We did this and within about five minutes a time presented itself which was acceptable to all. Of course the time had always been there but in our blindness we couldn't see it. This is a simple example of how the gift of knowledge works. When we ask God for this gift and use it in faith it can streamline our decision-making process significantly and speed up the advancement of mission.

 

The best biblical example of the gift of wisdom that I can think of is the judgement of Solomon.

1 Kings 3:16-28

"Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. One of them said, "My lord, this woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was there with me. The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no-one in the house but the two of us. "During the night this woman's son died because she lay on him. So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. The next morning, I got up to nurse my son - and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn't the son I had borne." The other woman said, "No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours." But the first one insisted, "No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine." And so they argued before the king. The king said, "This one says, `My son is alive and your son is dead,' while that one says, `No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.' "Then the king said, "Bring me a sword." So they brought a sword for the king. He then gave an order: "Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other." The woman whose son was alive was filled with compassion for her son and said to the king, "Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don't kill him!" But the other said, "Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!" Then the king gave his ruling: "Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother." When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice. "

 

The gift of knowledge is another very useful gift. Although God will give this gift freely to those who ask him we should not ask for this gift lightly. The use of this gift requires a great deal of faith on the part of the practitioner! The gift of knowledge provides us with information about a person or their circumstances that is unknown to others and secret to them. This gift can be especially helpful in ministry - but one has to have an equal measure of bravery and sensitivity to use it! Let me give you an example.

 

Sitting in a Salvation meeting one night a young lady went to the Mercy Seat. As she went forward, God via the gift of knowledge began to speak to me. I asked my wife to go and counsel the young lady before anybody else got the chance. I told her to take her away from the Mercy Seat and take her somewhere else. I felt concerned that the issue she was dealing with would not be dealt with at the mercy seat and would then be lost in the handshakes and congratulations at the end of the meeting. I felt God saying that if we could get her into a more private location with some supporting intercessors then he would deal with the issues that were burdening her. My wife took her to another location.

 

We prayed for the lady, she confessed her sins. She forgave those who had hurt her and received ministry. Everything was dealt with apart from one issue. I addressed this fact and asked her to bring into the open - she was reluctant. I gave her a piece of paper and a pen and asked her to write it down on the basis that it was important that she acknowledged it - she hesitated. I took the piece of paper and wrote down two words. The first word was a name the second described the particular trauma that the owner of the name had subjected her to. She let out a scream, began to sob and said, "I've never told anyone, I never told anyone". The team comforted her and I assured her it was not her fault that God forgave her and was healing her. Within five minutes she had forgiven that individual and within half an hour was embracing him in our presence.

 

Those who fear the gifts of the spirit will say, but what if you were wrong? What if the events you imagined had never taken place? The gift of knowledge is a wonderful thing but has to be administered with extreme care, sensitivity and caution!

 

An Old Testament example of the gift of knowledge;

1 Samuel 10:20 - 24

"When Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri's clan was chosen. Finally Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found. So they enquired further of the LORD, "Has the man come here yet?" And the LORD said, "Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage." They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others. Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see the man the LORD has chosen? There is no-one like him among all the people." Then the people shouted, "Long live the king!" "

 

A New Testament example of the gift of knowledge (this example shows that spiritual gifts though generally bringing blessing also root out hypocrisy and corruption);

Acts 5:3 - 11

"Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price." Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. "

 

This is a wonderful gift! Have you ever been faced with a set of circumstances that you knew God could deal with - but your confidence was just sagging beneath the weight of apparent impossibility? In such circumstances we need to ask for the gift of faith! The gift of faith is a supernatural charge of divine confidence that in the words of the hymn writer shouts in the face of impossibilities - "It shall be done!"

 

Examples of the gift of faith being used are everywhere! Elijah's defeat of the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel, Peter's declaration to the lame man "get up and walk", Moses parting of the Red Sea Jesus' cursing of the fig tree, Peter's walking on the water and so one could go on. The gift of faith is a release of confidence in the promise or instruction of God.

 

Rather than give an example of the gift of faith from my own ministry I'd like to dig into the history of the Salvation Army for one. Herbert Booth (a phenomenal hymn writer and powerful Christian) needed to purchase a building for The Salvation Army. This building was essential to the training of new Officers .The sum of money involved was huge, Herbert had gone ahead with the purchase even though he knew he didn't have the capital to complete the deal. At the eleventh hour following a period of intense spiritual darkness and warfare the money arrived and the deal was closed. Herbert wrote the following words in celebration of the gift of faith;

 

"O for trust that brings the triumph, When defeat seems strangely near! O for faith that changes fighting into victory's ringing cheer; Faith triumphant, knowing not defeat or fear!"

 

I believe that one of the best examples of a group of believers asking for, receiving and using the gift of faith is found in;

Acts 4:23-31

"On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: "`Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.' Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. "

 

Some may argue that the disciples asked for boldness, but I think in the face of impossible persecution they asked that God would give them the power to believe that he would do what he had told them he would do!

 

Healing like the gift of knowledge though undeniably helpful must be used with sensitivity and care. The death of people like David Watson, Roy Castle (and my great friend Bill Shiels) together with the long term illnesses and disabilities of other saints proves beyond doubt that God does not and will not heal everyone. There are some within the church (particularly those within "the word of faith" movement) who believe that if a person is not healed it is due to a lack of faith and nothing more. This is nonsense - if this were so then eternity would start now and not when we die!

 

Humans are not immune to illness. Illness like everything else can be used to glorify God. The testimony of the terminally ill and handicapped has always been used to win people into the kingdom. I have been the recipient of healing but know of many people (some who are close friends) who seem to be stuck with their conditions. The story of Job makes it clear that there is a lot more to healing and illness than some are prepared to think.

 

The mysterious nature of God's sovereign will should not stop us looking to ask for and use the gift of healing in our ministry. As long as we are prepared to conclude all our prayers with the phrase "they will be done" then we are on safe ground and should exercise our faith boldly.

 

Biblical examples are two a penny, healing was common place in both the Old and New testaments. If we feel called to minister healing then we should learn from the examples of others. I would recommend the following books; "Come Holy Spirit" by David Pytches and "How to have a healing ministry without making your church sick!" by Peter Wagner.

 

This is where in response to our faith God intervenes and bypasses the laws of nature. Again examples are too commonplace in the bible to mention. Miraculous powers are usually accompanied by the gift of faith. This gift seems to thrive in areas where the church is persecuted. This gift basically says, "My God is so big, so strong and so mighty there's nothing that he cannot do". In many ways this gift embraces all of the others, as spiritual gifts are by their very nature supernatural!

 

I cannot think of a specific incident in my own ministry where I have used this gift. This says more about the nature of gifts than we might think. As I said at the beginning these gifts are tools and are given to us as and when we need them, To date I have not come across a situation where I needed this gift, to date the others have always been sufficient!

 

1 Corinthians 4:20 "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. "

 

Prophecy is not about predicting the future. Prophecy is the ability to receive a message from God and relay it to his people quickly, efficiently and with conviction. Of course this message may refer to the future but we must not limit the power of this amazing gift just to the act of foretelling. Occasionally prophecy will foretell but prophecy always tells forth! Prophecy is the most useful gift available to believers and we should seek for it and ask for it constantly;

 

1 Corinthians 14:1 - 5 "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no-one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues."

 

Prophecy encourages, prophecy builds up, and prophecy glorifies Christ. Prophecy corrects, prophecy directs. In terms of examples any time a Christian uses their mouth in tune with God's will the result is prophecy. Sometimes certain individuals are set forth as prophets because of their remarkable gifts of communication. If we ask in faith we can all be prophets.

 

The fact that God speaks to his people in dreams and visions is beyond debate. We're all familiar with the old adage that a picture can tell a story better than a multitude of words, as John Bunyan said "the citadel of man soul is easier stormed through eyegate than eargate". Sometimes when people are struggling with complex spiritual issues metaphor and simile are God's best servants.

 

Biblical examples abound, Joseph and his brothers, Daniel, the birth of Jesus. When Peter quotes Joel in Acts he specifically mentions dreams and visions as accompanying the delivery of the Holy Spirit.

 

In my own experience dreams are good motivators because they are intimate. If God can be bothered to infiltrate my unconscious mind - wow! He really must want me to do something. Of course not all our dreams come from God. I always ensure before I retire that I bind up in the name of Jesus any evil spirits or demons that might be waiting to influence or interfere with my dreams!

 

How do we know if a dream is from God? It will often recur. It will be easily remembered. It will be lucid and detailed. If we dream such a dream and we are unsure of its meaning then we should seek out someone with the gift of interpretation, When we arrive at a meaning for our dream we should test that interpretation among God's people. Dreams that seem to have an unhappy ending should not be seen as concrete predictions; they might just be warnings! Symbols can have a negative as a well as a positive meaning. A fire might symbolise Hell! Or it might indicate the descent of the Holy Spirit! We should interpret dreams cautiously and apply a great deal of prayer to this activity.

 

Visions are even more important than dreams. Visions are often the precursor to the gift of faith, which in itself is often the precursor to something miraculous. You may have a vision for your church or a derelict building in your community. In such cases we should pray through the vision, test it and when we are certain that the picture we see is from God we should pursue it with a passion.

 

An Old Testament example of a dream;

Genesis 28:11 - 21 "When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the LORD, and he said: "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." :When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it." He was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven." Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear :so that I return safely to my father's house, then the LORD will be my God"

 

A New Testament example of a vision;

Acts 10:9 - 21 "About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." "Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them." Peter went down and said to the men, "I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come?"

 

Under this heading we're going to look at both tongues and the gift of interpretation. There are two types of tongues. The practical ability to speak in the language of your listeners (even though you don't speak that language!). Then the more common gift, which is communication or praise via a language given by the Holy Spirit.

 

The first gift speaks for itself (pun unintended) and its pragmatic benefits are obvious. this gift is still given and we should ask for it and seek it when the right time arrives.

The second has always been the cause of controversy and division within the church. Paul lays down strict guidelines for the use of this gift within public worship;

 

1 Corinthians 14:1 - 33

"Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no-one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

 

I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified. Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.

 

Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church. For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

 

So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

 

Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. In the Law it is written: "Through men of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me," says the Lord. Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"

 

What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two - or at the most three - should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God. Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace"

 

The spirit has on rare occasions allowed me to use tongues in my private devotions. In those moments when love and praise or concern and frustration made it difficult for me to pray, the Holy Spirit has taken over and I have prayed in the spirit. Early in my Christian life (under pressure from well meaning friends) I also used this gift in ministry and in house group worship. My experience has taught me and the bible would appear to confirm that this gift is for private use and personal edification. In itself it is not proof of Holy Spirit baptism and the use of this gift is not essential to Salvation.

 

However, we should not ignore this gift. If we feel that we need it then we should ask for it in faith. If we have been given it we should use it within the parameters of scripture. If we do this then God will surely be glorified!

 

On occasion tongues may be used in public worship where one has the gift of interpretation. I have witnessed this work very well. However, this can be dangerous and is probably unnecessary. If God has a message for us then he can deliver it as easy in our mother tongue as in an ecstatic one. Why go through a tongue and then through an interpreter to get to a person. Within the context of scripture this is not the way we se God dealing with his people.

 

If you feel that you have the gift of interpretation then perhaps you should pray that God would help you to apply that gift to Dreams & Visions.

 

If anything is underestimated in terms of power and use within the Church today its praise! Praise is not only a gift from God but it embraces all of the others. Praise is the fertile soil in which ministry grows. Praise is a complete anathema to the Devil and his evil troops. Praise puts things into perspective. Praise can win victories where other methods fail. If you look at its Hebrew roots the word praise means to "humble oneself" and "to serve".

 

These two activities, humility and service are the hallmark of successful Christian living.

James 4:6-10 "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."

 

John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

 

An Old Testament example of praise being used as a weapon is found in Joshua chapter 6 where the walls of Jericho were breached.

 

We can all praise God - Hallelujah!

 

Discernment enables us to read people's motives. Discernment allows us to test the sincerity of a certain action or statement. Discernment can at times be an unpleasant gift. To sit in a congregation and to watch someone preach or testify with enthusiasm yet to feel in your heart the burden of their hypocrisy can be hard to bear. Like knowledge and healing discernment must be administered with great sensitivity. It is difficult to describe but discernment makes people transparent. When you look at them you see through whatever they're doing or saying into their hearts. Discernment is akin to spiritual intuition. There are many examples of discernment within scripture;

 

Acts 13:9-12 "Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, "You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun." Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord. "

 

Matthew 16:21-23 "From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

 

As with all the gifts discernment must be used in conjunction with faith and trust. Discernment can sometimes enable us to see things which are frightening - in such circumstances we must just stand our ground in the name of Jesus and gently (towards the person) deal with what we see.

 

God looks on the heart and not on the outside of a man, discernment allows us to the same.

 

One of the best gives to receive one of the best gifts to be called to use and certainly the best gift to be on the end of in ministry!

 

Tychicus a fellow worker of Paul had the gift of encouragement and Paul uses him repeatedly;

Ephesians 6:21 -22 "Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you. "

 

Colossians 4:7 "Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord.I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts."

 

Another encourager was Timothy;

1 Thessalonians 3:2 "We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow-worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,"

This gift can be used liberally without fear. We can all be encouragers. There is nothing mystical or dangerous about encouragement. All it takes is a word, or card or telephone call.

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

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