Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: (1 Corinthians 12:1 NKJV)
The Holy Spirit spoke through Apostle Paul saying that, “He did not want Christians to be ignorant of spiritual gifts.”
1.This ignorance often stems from the misinformation campaign run by the devil and his servants (sometimes also masquerading as fellow Christians).
2.At other times, Christians are ignorant simply because of the lack of proper information (knowledge)
Apostle Paul, in his letters, names three things he does not want Christians to be ignorant of:
1. Don't be ignorant of God's plan for Israel (Romans 11:25)
2. Don't be ignorant of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1)
3. Don't be ignorant about the Second Coming of Jesus and the eternal state (1 Thessalonians 4:13)
Sadly, so many Christians are ignorant on these exact points.
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)
Jesus made it plain, saying that when the Holy Spirit would come, He will testify of Me (John 15:26), and He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you (John 16:14). The ministry of the Holy Spirit is not to promote Himself or any man, but to glorify and represent Jesus. We can, therefore, trust that the true ministry of the Holy Spirit will be according to the nature of Jesus.
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:4)
In this verse, the Greek word for “gifts” is charisma, meaning “grace-gifts,” or “free gifts.”
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:7-10)
Paul called these nine manifestations “spiritual gifts.” The Greek word for “gifts” here is charismata, which refers to a special endowment freely given by the Holy Spirit. This Greek word for “gifts” is used five times in 1 Corinthians 12 (vv. 4, 9, 28, 30, 31), and each reference refers to the nine gifts mentioned in the same chapter.
The New Testament mentions many spiritual blessings and classifies them as gifts. These are available to all Christians those who will believe on the Lord and follow Him by faith:
- The gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:8)
- The gift of the grace of God (Ephesians 3:7)
- The gift of righteousness (Romans 5:17)
- The gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23)
- The gift called the unspeakable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15, KJV)
- The gift of giving finances (Philippians 4:17)
- The gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38)
- The spiritual gift (Romans 1:11)
- The gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7–10)
Take a look at this list and think about the questions it raises for you.
“How many of these gifts have ceased since the time of the New Testament?”
“Has the grace of God, His righteousness, eternal life, or salvation ceased?
“Do churches reject your tithe or offering because the gift of giving ceased after the death of Paul?
Then who gave men the authority to tell the body of Christ that the spiritual gifts or charismata have been removed from the church?
7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:7-8)
It’s worth noting that according to Apostle Paul, a spiritual gift will last until the day Lord Jesus Christ returns, and it is God's will for you to be spiritually stable until the end.
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