Main Text: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Today, we are looking at the gifts and impact of the Holy Spirit on our Christian walk and we will begin by identifying the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer:
§ The Holy Spirit teaches us – John 14:26.
§ The Holy Spirit leads and guides us – Romans 8:14 | Galatians 5:16, 25.
§ The Holy Spirit empowers us for witness – Acts 1:8
§ The Holy Spirit gives gifts – Romans 12:4-6 I 1 Corinthians 12:4-7.
§ The Holy Spirit gives the fruit for successful Christian living – Galatians 5:16-23 | Romans 8:1-3.
§ The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus – John 16:14.
§ Access to the Father – Ephesians 2:18.
There are 9 gifts identified in the main passage that we read. These gifts can be classified into 3 categories:
· Revelation Gifts (Mind gifts) – For uncommon insight and understanding – Psalm 32:8 | John 14:26 | John 16:13 | Acts 11:28 | 1 Corinthians 2:11
Word of Wisdom | Word of Knowledge | Discerning of Spirits – 1 Corinthians 12:8, 10.
The revelation gifts are required to know the mind of God for the seasons of life and kick-start the divine purpose. These are gifts endowed on individuals as we read in the Bible – Solomon – 1 Kings 4:29, Daniel & his team – Daniel 1:17, Bezalel – Exodus 31, Joseph – Genesis 41:39-41, Sons of Issachar – 1 Chronicles 12:32 | Elisha – 2 Kings 6 | Stephen – Acts 6:3.
· Power Gifts (Miraculous Gifts) – Demonstrating the power of God – Daniel 11:32 | Acts 1:8 | Acts 4:33
Gift of Faith | Gifts of Healing | Working of Miracles – 1 Corinthians 12:9, 10.
The power gifts are endowment that stirs supernatural confidence and proclamations to bring about an unprecedented turnaround. Jesus Christ is our perfect example in all His miracles. In Acts 3, we read of the power gift when the lame man was healed by Apostle Peter. We have accounts of great patriarchs of faith in Hebrews 11. The power gifts are supernatural and manifest through believers by the divine intervention of the Holy Spirit in the affairs of men. The prerequisite for this manifestation is total consecration to God in fasting and prayer – Mark 9:29 | Acts 4:29-33 | Acts 5:15.
· Utterance Gifts (Vocal Gifts) – Communicating divine messages – 2 Chronicles 20:14-17 | Matthew 10:19-20 | Luke 12:12 | 1 Corinthians 14:1-19.
Prophecy | Different kinds of Tongues (Speaking in tongues) | Interpretation of Tongues – 1 Corinthians 12:10.
The Utterance gifts – prophecy, speaking and interpretation of tongues are manifestations of the Spirit of God in the life of a believer. These are gifts required to build the church – 1 Corinthians 14:2-3. The purpose of these gifts is to glorify God and give the believer the confidence to declare the mind of God even in the face of adversity – 1 John 5:14.
All these gifts show the power of God in the life of a believer. The Holy Spirit helps and empowers the believer to maximise the grace of God and to fulfil God-given mandates. These gifts stir up faith and divine revelation that emboldens the believer to operate at a higher realm of divine manifestation.
Discussion:
1. Why do we need the gifts of the Holy Spirit in our lives as Christians?
2. Is it possible for a believer to operate in all these gifts?
3. Discuss John 7:37-39.
Prayer
