Tuesday 20 September 2011

God's Revelation For Decision Making

GOD’S REVELATION FOR DECISION MAKING (YEAR 2011)
Pope Gregory prepared a calendar and as a result we are beginning this year . Some people live under the impression that this calendar was prepared by God and we need to follow it strictly.
The fact of the matter is that Christians as such don’t have a new year in this manner. This is the reality. But the motivation behind celebrating the New Year is many times that we compare ourselves with others. Hindus celebrate a New Year. Muslims celebrate a New Year. Parsis celebrate a New Year than why not us .Hence, it has hardly got anything to do with dates.
What I want to emphasize is that time begins with God / God is the origin of time. And the current time is a small piece of the overarching plan of God. And we hail this piece of time as 2011. God has told me that 2011 is to be an year of abundance. People take New Year resolutions like ‘I wont drink again.’ This is a good thing but we also need to go beyond towards better things.
Those that are born again and bear the revelation of the Kingdom do not have to consider Satan as a potent enemy that they have to fight every day. For them, it’s God on one end and them on the other hand. Their focus is narrowed down to what God is strategizing for His Kingdom upon this earth.
It’s not like how some people excuse themselves with, “Satan made me drink.” The Bible clearly states that Satan has been bound by Christ. Jesus himself stated that he entered the strong man’s home and he bound him. He then set the prisoners free forever. Jesus took over his home. Hence, Satan has been plundered therefore how come he opens a bar and forces people to drink. He is bound so he might struggle a little and try to make false attempts but nothing beyond that.
Terah – the man of vision and Abram – who walked in his father’s footsteps
We generally hear about Abraham but let us begin with Terah because we shouldn’t ignore this character.
Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there. Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Harran. Gen 11: 31-32
Terah and hence, Abraham is a descendant in the family line of Noah’s son, Shem. About 2600 years have passed after Noah’s time. A few generations have past. Terah has three children. One is dead. Lot is without a father.
Terah’s Background:
Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. Josh 24:2
We see here that many descendants of Noah have rejected God and gone astray.  Terah is mentioned as the father of Nahor and Abram [Haran isn’t mentioned because he was not alive then]. They worshipped other gods. They were idol worshippers. This is the context of Terah.
But something has happened. He is caught into something. He has caught a revelation. And he begins to implement it. It has not been referred to but we see it in his actions. When he was serving other gods, he saw something and there’s a dramatic change in his life. In his time, no one would leave his heritage and native place. But we see that suddenly, Terah, takes Abram, Haran’s son Lot and Abram’s wife, Sarai and leaves Ur, in the southern part of Iran to go to Palestine, to Canaan. Something extraordinary has happened. His life has made an acute turn and hence he doesn’t want to remain settled in his land. He begins to say, “This is not my place. This is not where I should be. God has destined another place for me.” And hence he takes a historic step. He leaves his heritage, his native place and goes towards a new place.While going towards it, he reached Haran. But he died there.
His destiny was Canaan. He wouldn’t compromise. He wouldn’t accept anything less than what God had ordained for him, destined for him. What we can learn is not to compromise with a little. Just because we get something, doesn’t mean we sit back and become content. We are made for larger things because we have a greater father. We think of greater areas. This is an important step, a historic step.
Terah received a dramatic revelation of the living God. He was moved away from his native land. The encounter with God shook him into action. Now, we see God’s purpose for Abram. They are in Haran. Terah is dead. God appears to Abram. Naturally, in these conditions, Abram might move back. His father’s vision was Canaan. For his father, the destiny was Canaan. God gives him a vision so that he doesn’t move out of his father’s journey. If God wouldn’t encounter Abram, his natural reaction would be to go back to Ur. He was in an unknown land and unknown people so He might not have continued his journey.
But God’s purpose was to instruct Abram to walk in his father’s footsteps. History in the Bible is filled with sons walking in their father’s footsteps. This important facet of Abram’s attitude is looked over many a times that he honoured his father and walked in his footsteps. His father had seen something and he began to walk into that. He got into it and he didn’t leave it. He wasn’t satisfied with little and incomplete obedience. He walked in his father’s footsteps. People of revelation are never satisfied with incompleteness. They are giants. They carry revelation. God wants his people to be a people of revelation. He doesn’t simply want a religious crowd that simply engages in rites and rituals. He wants a people who are always ready to hear and see what he wants to show them. They are committed to bringing it into manifestation.
And we see this quality in Abram. Terah died when he was 205 years old in Haran. Now, God spoke Abram. But how did he know it was God. When Moses encountered the burning bush, he asked, “Who is this?” He had been raised in a foreign religion so he didn’t know God. But here, we see Abram never questions God. When‘God speaks to Abram’, he doesn’t ask anything. This means he was familiar with him. When God met Terah, he was still an idol worshipper but now things are different. Abram knows God. Why? Because he had received something from his father, he had heard something from him. He had gained it in his company. His union with his father had made him familiar to God’s voice. And so he didn’t question him. He immediately recognized him as the God who revealed himself to his father.
The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
Just as God had showed his father, he was taking him ahead in that. He was not to turn back. God asked him to leave three areas :
  • Place
The first was his country. God wanted to ask him to leave his boundaries. The ‘country’ represents a boundary or a limit. God was asking him to leave his boundaries and limits. Many a times we limit ourselves. ‘I cant do this.’ ‘how can I?’ ‘I am not educated.’ Moses told God that his speech wasn’t favourable. But God didn’t consider that. Your limit is not a problem in the Kingdom of God. Our weakness or limit is not a problem for God. God asked Moses, “What is in your hand?’ And it immediately became a snake. It was something beyond his ability and capacity.
Therefore, the first thing God was impressing upon Abram was that he had to get out his own comfortable box. He had to begin to enter God’s arena. That’s God’s message for us that its time to enter God’s arena.
  • Relatives
The second point is ‘relations’. That is our company and union. Leave the people you are related with, those that you are joined to. Come out of it. When God wants us to walk with him, we have to leave those that we are joined with. We have to get beyond social commitments and entrapments. People glory in such relationships and are proud of it. But the Kingdom principle works differently. God asks us to leave all of them behind. Join where I show you. This is God’s nature. He is a covenant God and covenant is his nature. Relate yourself with me and the one I show you.
Manubhai left his relatives and joined the ministry of God 21 years ago and he’s been doing that till date. The Kingdom works differently. It leaves no choice.
  • Home
The third thing that he asked was to leave his father’s home. He was asking him to leave his safety zone. Jesus wouldn’t allow the man who wanted to go bury his father. We make our home our comfort and secure zone. God asked Abram to leave this safety and comfort zone. We need to leave this zone for the Kingdom. We have to follow God his way, not our way according to our conditions.
God puts these three things before Abram –
Leave your limitations
Leave alone your social bindings
Leave your comfort / security zone
And when, this was done, he said, go to the country I show you. This means God asked him to walk into the revelation God showed him. See what I show you and walk in it. And reach that place. And therefore, God is a God of revelation.
A man or woman of God is a person of revelation. They are not a religious but they have seen something so they want to reach it. They wants to see God’s revelation into manifestation. One who makes excuses is not a person of revelation. When we see something, we want to communicate it.
And then, he said something more. He said that he would create a new people out of Abram. This is not about Muslims. The key word here is ‘create’. I will bring a ‘people created’ through you, not made. They would be a people divinely created not manufactured. They would be created from above. I will create a new community through you. It will be a community of the Kingdom, a people of revelation. And it is said about these people,
“I will make you into a great nation,
   and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
   and you will be a blessing.
The people of revelation are a people of blessing. I will make you a blessing. Kingdom people are a people of blessing for a nation. They are not a group who simply sit in a hall and sing choruses. Kingdom people live in God’s boundary. Here, God gave Abram a position. Whenever God calls someone he gives him a new name and a new identity. God does something like this here. God tells him that he will be a blessing. People would be blessed if they go to Abram. Abram would be the key for blessings. He would be a blessing for many. The same is true for Kingdom people. Our advice, counsel or revelation changes the directions of peoples’ lives.
Abram’s new name was ‘blessed’. His identity was being blessed. God shows us something. He brings us into his new relations and bindings and he takes us into his arena and boundaries. He makes us enter into his strength and capacity instead of our own capacity.
So Abram went, as the LORD had told him;
He continued to follow the revelation. God showed him a city that he was building. Abram followed what revelation God showed him. He left all and followed that purpose.  He came to the east boundary. He built an altar exhibiting his security and commitment in God. When he went to the other end, he built another altar. He built two altars. He built the first altar – verse 7 in Shechem and when he reached the other end in v 8. He pitched a tent and made an altar there west of Bethel. He exhibited and declared his commitment to God’s vision. The altar was a symbol of commitment and dedication to His covenant and to the completion of his commitment.
He who has ears let him hear.
The year 2011 is going to be an year of abundance and new revelation and new boundaries and a new bright future.


Being ready to reach God's appointed position


Being ready to reach God’s appointed position – Joshua, the                   exemplary leader [Judges 1]
After the death of Moses, it is Joshua whom God chose to lead His People. He distributed the land of Canaan amongst the twelve tribes. He showed the tribes the revelation of their destination. This didn’t mean they settled in the land unchallenged. They had to take over their allotted land.
Similarly, God shows us a place but we have to reach there. The Israelites had to fight their own battle just as we have to fight our own battle. God wont manifest His Will until you act upon what he speaks to you.
After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the LORD, “Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Canaanites?” [Judges 1:1]
Joshua was dead but his success lay in the fact that he had established his vision into the hearts of the multitude. God fulfilled all of Joshua’s words. The major role that he fulfilled was to train the people in how to go after God and serve Him. Like a true leader, he equipped his people and trained them. Hence, they knew exactly what to do after he died.
            A real leader makes you fly; a fake one doesn’t even allow you to improve.
Joshua gave an exact direction as to what they had to do. And this is what the Church and Church leadership provides. It is a body that gives direction, guidance and training.
After Joshua’s death the question arises “Who will fight?”  But they are ready to take over. God also immediately responds to His people and Judah doesn’t flinch from doing God’s bidding.
The LORD answered, “Judah shall go up; I have given the land into their hands.” [Judges 1:2]
Canaan’s king, Adoni Bezek [v 5,6] was a mighty warrior. He had defeated many other kings. He was a man of power and courage. But God said that he had given the land into their hands and Judah heard God’s voice clearly. This resulted in clear victory. When we listen to God’s voice with clarity beyond doubt and confusion, we are able to witness clear results. Therefore, God’s people always know the result. We are a people of destiny.
The men of Judah then said to the Simeonites their fellow Israelites, “Come up with us into the territory allotted to us, to fight against the Canaanites. We in turn will go with you into yours.” So the Simeonites went with them.
                                                                                                                        [Judges 1:3]
Verse 3 informs us that Judah and Simeon went together. None of them were selfish or self contained. They partnered each other in achieving what God had already ordained to be theirs.
When Judah attacked, the LORD gave the Canaanites and Perizzites into their hands, and they struck down ten thousand men at Bezek. [Judges 1:4]
Judah won a great victory. They struck down ten thousand strong men. God’s people are always involved in a great victory march. Even today God wants to make us spiritual giants. We are people who will naturally do supernatural deeds. We are people whose minds and perspectives have changed. We do not think like down-trodden dust eating creatures but we think like eagles that always soar over heights.
God changes our thinking, our behavior and ultimately, he makes us who we are. He makes us sit beside him in the heavenly places. He wishes that His Church sheds away the old shackles of a slave mindset and become who she is, the Body of the Christ, the assembly made to win. We are the people meant to march the victory march with Christ.

ATTITUDE OF KINGDOM PEOPLE


                        Attitude of Kingdom people [2 Chron 26]
God exists as King. Therefore, we are not simply worshippers but we are the citizens of the Kingdom of God. Similarly, the Church is not just an assembly of worshippers , it is an assembly of active citizens who contribute to the Kingdom. Therefore, the Kingdom is very important for the Church. We do not simply get information and teaching but we see, enter, progress in and establish the Kingdom.
God wants to see what he has begun come to a culmination. He began His Kingdom; rule on earth with the words
Let there be light..
This was the sowing of the seeds of the Kingdom. He established His plan for the Kingdom at this very juncture. Hence, the Church being the agent of this Kingdom cannot be defined as simply a group of Sunday worshippers or singers or meeting-goers.
            We are a people engaged in the Kingdom, for the Kingdom.
How does a citizen play his role?
At the outset, it is important to keep in mind that the Kingdom is not a narrow dimensioned rule. It encompasses within itself the natural as well as the spiritual perspective. This is important for the Church because it functions in this kind of a Kingdom.
2 Chron 26 contains the account of King Uzziah who began his reign over Judah at the young age of sixteen and reigned 52 years over Judah. He did what was right in the sight of the Lord. Also, contained within this passage is a glimpse into a people who understood their role as citizens of the Kingdom of God.
Uzziah did not become King himself but he was ordained by wise people of the Kingdom. He followed the decision of the wise people. Such Kingdom people are a people of revelation and wisdom. Here, they saw and put God’s will into practice. In the Kingdom of God, His Will works.
He accepted  the decision of the people. When someone knows that his work is pre-ordained from above, the results are different. Therefore, a sixteen year old ends up reigning for 52 years. It is a combination of God’s wisdom, His anointing, His revelation as well as his skills that cause Uzziah to succeed beyond measure. He used all of it to the fullest measure, thus exhibiting his maturity.
It just goes to emphasize the fact that a Kingdom person is not just a happy-go-lucky person. He always walks with planning. He knows that the Kingdom does not come at random. Hence, Uzziah’s decision to trust the counsel of the Kingdom people was key to his success in fulfilling his role as King. And this is how the citizens of the Kingdom played an important role in bringing the Will of God into manifestation.
Uzziah, the King – His Characteristics
1.     He was the one who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his ancestors. [2 Chron 26:2]
Kingdom people believe in rebuilding. It is a symbol of God’s favour, grace and His lovingkindness. They do not accept the end as the end.
2.     He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done. He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.    [2 Chron 26: 4,5]
He established righteousness in the Kingdom. Kingdom people are never compromising. The Kingdom brings righteousness. If we want to see righteousness in the world systems and individuals, we need to allow the Kingdom to come and transform them. Kingdom people are strong people and hence, are capable of standing up for the Kingdom.
3.     The verses referred to in the second point also indicate that Uzziah worked under a prophetic spirit. Zechariah was his constant guide. Prophetic people are secure people. Prophets are not astrologers but they see what God is saying and take His people there. They are helping ministries not controlling ministries. They functions towards providing support, encouragement, inspiration and strength. They do not scare people but assist people in getting across a challenge. And that is exactly what the Bible works towards.
The Bible doesn’t tell when the storm is coming but that we have to overcome the storm.
Furthermore, prophetic ministries also bring a new direction and build up the Church. Just as the Church exists to save and build, prophets do the same.
4.     He also built towers in the wilderness and dug many cisterns, because he had much livestock in the foothills and in the plain. He had people working his fields and vineyards in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil. [2 Chron 26:10]
The Kingdom is holistic. Uzziah promoted agriculture/cattle rearing. Others kings hadn’t done this. This shows how the Kingdom involves actions not just proclamation.
He repaired, restored, and gave strength to weak corners. Hence, he brought security. We have to highlight this Kingdom to the world not by using force. God is love and it is this love that compels people to follow.
A Warning
Uzziah made a mistake. He tried to become someone he wasn’t. 2 Chron 26: 16- 19 informs that –
But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. [v.16] They confronted King Uzziah and said, “It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the LORD God.” [v.18]
 Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the LORD’s temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead. [v.19]
He wasn’t ordained to present the fire. In spite of warnings he didn’t pay heed to them. And this resulted in God’s wrath upon him in form of leprosy. It is important to remember that if we move away from where God want us, we will fail.
Conclusion
It is therefore, important to understand that as citizens of the Kingdom we need to keep our eyes focused upon the Kingdom that we are a part of. We need to discern and follow God’s will. We need to understand the prophetic Spirit as also the holistic nature of the Kingdom. Only if we do all this and not move away from the boundaries of the Will of God, will we see the fullness of God’s Kingdom manifest in this World and its system.

Anointing


                                       Anointing [1 Sam 16]
1 Samuel 16 is the account of the prophet Samuel going to anoint David in his father, Jesse’s house.
Saul has been rejected as God’s anointed and now, God asks Samuel to fill his horn of oil and go [v. 7]. He decided to take things in his own hands and walk according to his own wisdom in his attack against Amalek and hence, he had failed as God’s anointed. Therefore, Samuel’s eyes are seeking for the man who would now take up the cause for the Lord, God of Israel and lead his people. In fact, chapter 15 ends on a very tragic note,
            And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death; for Samuel
            grieved over Saul. And the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over           
            Israel. [I Sam 15:35]
It is at this time that Samuel, instead of becoming discouraged discerns the voice and Will of God for the current time. As a prophet, Samuel functions at bringing the right man at the right hour. God has selected a son of Jesse to become a king for Himself. Indeed, the fact that Samuel is able to take the next big step for Israel’s future, shows how much the Kingdom of God needs a prophet to appoint the right person. Appointment of an unfit person for any work, who has not been anointed by God, immediately affects the Church negatively and retards its progress and walk with God.
Simply put, anointing means entering God’s territory. We do not need an anointing until we are working in our area of expertise or our area of know-how. It’s when God’s territory begins when we need the Anointing.
This same thing happens when Samuel reaches Jesse’s house under the pretext of performing a sacrifice. As Samuel gazes upon Jesse’s son, Eliab, for a moment, he feels that surely the Lord’s anointed is before him [v. 6]. But, God reminds him that He does not look at the outward appearance but He looks at the heart. All seven of Jesse’s sons do not find favour in the eyes of God because He is looking for something beyond human skills or human strength. He is looking for heart.
For God, it is not our strengths or our talents that matter. God’s anointing, when it comes upon us makes us remarkable just as it made David remarkable. In spite of his ruddy appearance of just another young boy, God chose to anoint David. It was this anointing that caused David to go beyond his own talents of music to his ability to protect his flock from wild animals when he was young and from God’s enemies when he later becomes the shepherd of all Israel.
David’s anointing also exhibits how the majority’s will might not necessarily be God’s will. While all would have rested their choice on anyone but David, God chose him for this same reason. In Saul, the worthlessness of physical strength and prowess had been exhibited very clearly but now, God shows how it is His Anointing that gets the job done. It is not contained within natural talents.
This account just emphasizes the fact that everyone should be anointed. We are on a journey in the Kingdom of God and we need to reach where God wants us to be. But this is not going to become possible using our own talents.
It is not enough to simply bring people into the Kingdom of God and then, leave them unattended. We need to make sure that we keep account of where they have reached. And this is not possible without God’s Anointing. The Holy Spirit will take us beyond our territory, our talents and our strengths. He allows us to enter and operate in the dimension of God’s abilities and strengths.
David, as God’s Anointed, took Israel to heights that had never been reached in Israel’s history and no one in the kings that ruled over Israel has equaled him. This was not because of his musical genius or his military prowess. It was because God’s Anointing energized him to reach God’s appointed destination for him. It was not that he was in himself an extraordinary man but God’s anointing caused him to become extraordinary.
In the time of Church, we also need to rise up like David in God’s Anointing. We need to seek it and grow in it everyday. If we want a strong community of Kingdom people arise, we need to seek God’s Anointing to do the same because it is only this Anointing will ultimately, get the job done and will get it done right.

Prophets Today


The purpose of prophets in the church
·        To train people to hear the Lord for themselves.
·        To teach believers how to find and live in the will of God for themselves.
·        To instruct and train people in the gift of prophecy and to help churches establish the right frame work and protocol for the gift.
·        To bring the word of the Lord either in inspired preaching or supernatural prophetic utterance.
·        He is called to a working relationship with the apostolic ministry.
·        He acts as a catalyst within the church to make things happen.
·        God is always speaking, unfortunately the church is not always listening.
·        Prophet is also active in terms of preparation Isa.40:3, Lk.1:17.
·        The scribes and Pharisees failed to discern the greatest sign of all, the Messiah walking in their midst. It required John the Baptist to say – Jn.1:29-34.
·        Prophets are also preparing the bride of Christ, literally making ready a people for the Lord Eph.5:25-27.
·        Prophets are activists. They are part of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry that every church must have access to these days.
·        They play a great role in declaring the word of the Lord to exhort, edify and comfort the body of Christ.
·        Prophets role is in predictive prophecy called foretelling to shape the direction of the church, to cause a desire for godliness and to empower and release people.
·        He works closely with other of the five fold ministries. He travels and ministers with other prophets Acts.11:27.
·        He is always working to move forward in to new revelation and is looking for challenges , battles to fight and things to overcome.
·        Apostles and prophets are linked together to help achieve purposes of God Eph.2:20.

ELDERSHIP


ELDERSHIP
Government: Ruler ship (1 Pet. 2:13,14,17, Rom.13:1-2) comes from God.
Authority : Power/Right  ( represents God).
Eph. 4th= ministry gifts (trans local).
Elders: (Local representative of God)
-Appointed  by apostles  to take  spiritual care of the certain people.
- to pass on apostolic message and revelation.
 -to oversight the body of Christ (in a particular area)Acts 14:23, Tit 1:5.
1 Tim 5:17 - elders’ rule well ( increase rule of God in the lives of the church).
Acts 20:17 - elders’ pass on apostolic instructions.
Acts 21:18-19 - apostolic report presented through elders.
Acts 11:30 - finances were delivered to the elders by apostles.
1 Tim 3:5-7 - take care of God’s church (by establishing over all reputation).
Acts 20:35 - working hard, helping weak people.
1 Tim 3:2 – ability to teach and disciple.
James 5:14-15 – faith to bring healing .
Acts 20:28-31 – guard and watch over themselves and the flock as well.
Acts 20:28 , 1 Pet 5:2-3 – example of Christ likeness.
1 Tim 4:14 – anointed for spiritual impartation.
Titus 1:9 – bring encouragement with sound doctrine and trustworthy message.
Acts 15:1-31, 16:4 – Discerns truth of God in a situation and guide the flock.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS


Spiritual Gifts

“ Now about spiritual gifts , brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant “
(1 Cor.12:1)
·        Apostle Paul longed to see church in Rome that he might impart to them some spiritual gift (Romans 1:11-13).
·        God’s  intention is that His people should be enlightened concerning the miraculous gifts of the Spirit.
·        By the gifts of the Spirit church gets an experience , at the will of the Spirit, of God’s infinite knowledge, His infinite ability and even His infinite presence.
·        The fruits of the Spirit (Gal.5:22-23) are for character but the gifts are for power and miraculous.
·        In the gifts of the Spirit a person sees what God sees, does what God does, is where God is : “ As He will”.
Read- 1 Cor. 12:4-7
·        The gifts are diverse and the Giver is One. The streams are many, the Source is One. The River is One and full of water: the streams thereof are nine , they assuredly make glad the city of God !
·        The variety of the Spirit operations is the variety not of divisions but of unity.
·        The diversity is corporate not competitive.
·        The differences of administration are not for individual exaltation but for corporate power.
Read- 1 Cor.12:8-11
·        GIFTS  OF REVELATION:
-         A Word of Wisdom. Supernatural revelation of divine purpose.
-         A  Word of Knowledge. Supernatural revelation of facts in the divine mind.
-         Discerning of Spirits. Supernatural insight into the realm of spirits.

·        GIFTS OF POWER :
-         Faith . Supernatural trust (passive) in God for the miraculous.
-         The Working of Miracles. Supernatural intervention (active) in the ordinary course of nature.
-         Gifts of Healing . Supernatural power to heal diseases.
·        GIFTS OF INSPIRATION (Vocal gifts):
-         Prophecy. Supernatural utterance in a known tongue.
-         Divers kinds of Tongues. Supernatural utterance in an unknown tongue.
-         Interpretation of Tongues. Supernatural showing forth of the meaning of other tongues.
                      
                        THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE
“ …..to another the word of knowledge  (1 Cor.12:8).
·        Through the word of knowledge , the discouraged can be  comforted, the saints gladdened , lost property recovered, the enemy defeated and the Lord Jesus Christ glorified.
·        The word of knowledge is the supernatural revelation by the Holy Spirit of certain facts in the mind of God.
·        The word of knowledge is the revelation to a person by His Spirit of some detail of that All-Knowledge. The revelation , perhaps ,  of the existence, condition or whereabouts of some person or object or place , of the location or occasion of some event.
·        It is not the gift of knowledge – more exactly a word of knowledge.
·        It is not knowledge that may be acquired either by study or consecration : it is knowledge miraculously conveyed .
·        It is divinely granted flash of revelation concerning things which were hopelessly hidden from the senses , the mine or the faculties of men.
·        The word of knowledge is distinct from natural knowledge , however highly developed, for the following reasons:
-         It is an operation of the Spirit , as John received the revelation of the condition of the seven churches when he was in the Spirit on Patmos (Rev.1, 2, 3 ).
-         It is a miraculous revelation, as when Elisha knew the location of the Syrian camp (2 Kings 6:9).
-         It comes as a revelation without natural effort, as when Ananias received the revelation of Saul’s conversion, a revelation in detail of the street, the house, its occupier , the convert, his attitude, his thought , his need (Acts 9:11-12).
-         It depends on our fellowship with God, as when Peter received his dazzling revelation, “ You are The Christ, The Son of the living God “ (Matt.16:16).
·        The things that the word of knowledge reveals could not be known through the most diligent study of the word or theology (Acts 10:19).

THE DIVINE PUPOSE IN THE EMPLOYMENT OF THIS GIFT
-         To warn a king of an enemy’s  plan of destruction (2 Kings 6:9-12)
-         To enlighten and encourage a discouraged servant of the Lord
                                                                        (1 Kings 19: 14-18).
-         To expose a hypocrite ( 2 kings 5:20-27).
-         To convince a sinner of the need of a Saviour (Jn . 4:18-19,29).
-         To discover a man in hiding  (1 Sam.10:22).
-         To indicate a man in need (Acts 9:11).
-         To reveal corruption in the Church (Acts  5: 3).
-         To indicate a suitable place for a meeting of God’s people
(Mk 14:13-15).
-         To know men’s thoughts (Jn . 2:24, 1 Sam 9:19).


IN A SPECIAL CASE , WHAT IS THE USE OF THEM  ?
·        The word of Knowledge can mightily aid in effectual prayer either for God’s servants in distress or for those in need of spiritual help.
·        To recover lost person or property .
·        To reveal the cause of sickness or demon-possession.
·        To reveal facts in private lives for spiritual correction or profit.


                                                    THE WORD OF WISDOM
“ … to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom  (1 Cor. 12:8)”.
·        The word of wisdom is supernatural revelation by the Spirit of God concerning the divine purpose in the mind and will of God.
·        The word of wisdom is the first, the chief, no doubt of mighty miracle –administrations  of the Holy Spirit .
·        Super natural wisdom is not natural wisdom developed or intensified.
·        Through this gift God shows a man a glimpse of some event that has not yet  transpired , He has really given him a fragmentary revelation of His infinite purpose, He has virtually shown him what He is going to do between now and then and His reason for doing it, He has given him a word of His divine wisdom (1 Kings 21:18-19 & 22:34-38).
·        The word of wisdom is the supernatural revelation, by the Spirit , of divine purpose , the supernatural declaration of the mind and will of God, the supernatural unfolding of His plans and purposes concerning things, place, people, individuals, communities and nations.
·        By the word of knowledge John on Patmos knew the condition of the seven churches and by the word of wisdom he was able to give them the mind, will and commands of God .
·        Through this gift Jehoshaphat received future plans concerning the invasion of Moab as recorded in 2 Chron.20:16-17.
·        The gift is not for the unfolding of God’s revealed will in His word , but for the unfolding of His unrevealed will and the declaration of His hidden purposes apart from His Word.
SOME SCRIPTURE EXAMPLES OF THE USE OF THE WORD OF WISDOM
·        To warn and guide people concerning future judgment (Gen.6:13-22,19:12-13, Matthew 2:20).
·        To reveal God’s plan to those He is going to use ( Gen.41:16,28-41).
·        To assure a servant of God of His divine commission (Acts 26:16).
·        To reveal the acceptable order and manner of divine worship (Ex.25:9).
·        To unfold to a prejudiced sectarian God’s universal offers of Grace    (Acts 10:9-16).
·        To assure of coming deliverance in the midst of calamity (Acts 27:23-24).
·        To reveal the will of God in all His commands and ordinances.
·        To declare God’s future acts and providences and His eternal mysteries (Eph.3:2-3).
·        To give assurance of blessings to come (Gen.23:10-15).

USES OF THE GIFTS OF WORD OF WISDOM

·        The word of wisdom may be employed to warn an individual of approaching danger and to deliver from harm.
·        To make known or confirm a ministry call.
·        To apprise of blessing or judgment to come.
·        To reveal the future.
·        To give personal guidance in a particular direction in special circumstances- not to supplement human judgment in ordinary circumstances.
·        A word of wisdom may be expressed by illustrative action.
     
                               DISCERNING OF SPIRITS

“… to  another discerning of spirits  (1 Cor.12:10)”.
·        The discerning of spirits gives insight into the spirit world.
·        Discerning of spirits shows in a miracle, the source of a miracle and indicates inerrably its true character, whether heavenly or hellish.
·        It gives supernatural insight into the secret realm of spirits. It reveals the kind of spirit that is actuating a person who is manifesting supernatural knowledge or power at the time that miracle is actually taking place.
·        It is not a kind of spiritual thought – reading.
·        There are three kinds of spirit: the divine, the satanic and the human(1Thes.5:23). Only the first two of these three kinds of spirit (divine and the satanic) are supernatural.
·        There is only one operative good Spirit in the word, the Holy Spirit. Evil spirits are satanic origin.
·        Only three inspirational gifts intended for the edification of believers’ meetings, operate at the will of a person: that is tongues, interpretation of tongues and prophecy. The greater gifts of the Holy Spirit operate only at the will of the Spirit ( 1 Cor.12:6,11).
·        Discerning of spirits is not psychological insight.
·        Discerning of spirits is not keen mental penetration.
·        It is not the power to discover faults in others but discover spirits (Matthew 7:15-20).
THE USE OF THIS GIFT
·        To help in delivering the afflicted, oppressed , tormented               (Mk.5:5, Lk.9:39).
·        To discover a servant of devil (Acts 13:9-10).
·        To aid in checking the plans of the adversary (Acts 16:16).
·        To expose believable  error (1 Tim.4:1, 2 Pet.2:1).
·        To unmask demon miracle-workers (2 Thess.2:9).
·        Often the testimony of evil spirits is so much like that of the Spirit of God that the true can only be distinguished from the counterfeit by the use of this supernatural gift (Acts 16:17-18).



THE GIFTS OF HEALINGS
“ … to another the gifts of healings  ( 1 Cor. 12:9) “ .
·        First we must notice the important plurality in its title (1 Cor.12:9,28,30).
·        These gifts are for the supernatural healing of diseases and infirmities without natural means of any sort.
·        The Lord has compassion on the sick and He still has a way of deliverance from the power of the enemy.
THE WORKING AND PUPOSE OF THE GIFTS OF HEALING
·        They are to deliver the sick and destroy the works of the devil in the human body (Matthew 8:3,7 & Acts 10:38).
·        To establish Jesus’ astonishing claims (Jn. 10:36-38).
·        To authorize the gospel message as preached by God’s servants (Acts 4:29-30, 4:33, 5:12).
·        To establish the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts 3:15-16).
·        To draw people within the sound of the gospel (Jn. 6:2).
·        To turn people to God  (Acts 9:32-35).
·        To convince unbelievers of the truth of the gospel.
·        To bring glory to God (Mk.2:12, Lk. 13:17).
·        To inspire faith and courage in God’s people .

IMPORTANT OBSERVATIONS
·        In exceptional cases healings may result from the operations of the gifts without a word or a touch (Peter : Acts 5:15,Paul: Acts 19:12).
·        Healing by anointing with oil  in response to obedience (James 5:14).
·        Jesus’ disciples also healed through anointing with oil (Mk. 6:13).
·        The laying on of hands as in Mark 16:18 is an act of faith for any believer.
NECESSITY OF POSITIVE FAITH
·        Substitutionary faith where the sick one is to feeble to believe for himself(Mk.2:5)
·        The faith of the sufferer alone (Matt.9:25)
·        The faith of the minister alone in special circumstances such as coma or unconsciousness (Matt.9:25)
·        The combine faith of sufferer and minister (Matt.9:28-29).


                 THE WORKING OF MIRACLES
“ … to another the working of miracles   (1 Cor.12:10) “ .
·        This gift operates by the dynamic force of the Spirit in reversals or suspensions of natural laws.
·        This gift has no explanation other than the sovereign power of the Lord.
·        There is a distinction between “miracles” and gift of healings in 1Corinthians 12:28.
·        In the original miracles are called “powers” meaning explosions of almightiness and “ works” are called “signs” –the visible token of an invisible power.
·        God employs human agents for this works:
-         Babel’s confusion of tongues
-         Sodom’s  revenge of fire
-         The fiery cloudy pillar
-         The common bush ablaze with God
-         The star that traced a bright way to Bethlehem
-         The blinding light that illuminated Moses’ astonished face
·        God employs angels and cherubim as His agents for this works:
-         Siloam’s troubled pool
-         Zacharias dumbness
-         The slaying of Egyptian firstborn
SOME SCRIPTURE USES OF THIS GIFT
·        This gift was used for the miraculous deliverance of God’s people out of the hand of enemy (Ex. 14:16).
·        To provide for those in need  ( water from the RockEx.17:6, widow in Zarephath  1 Kings 17:14.
·        To carry out divine judgments and disciplines (Acts 5:4-9).
·        To confirm the preached Word (Acts 13:11-12).
·        To deliver in unavoidable situations of danger (Matt.8:23).
·        To raise the dead
·        To display God’s power and magnificence (Matt.11:5).

                                   THE GIFT OF FAITH
“… to another gift of faith  (1 Cor. 12:9) 
·        The person who possess the gift of faith believe God in such a way that God honors his  word as His own and He miraculously brings it to pass , Mark 11:23.
·        Saving faith goes before salvation , faith the fruit comes after salvation , faith the gift comes after baptism in the Holy Spirit.
·        Saving faith – Eph.2:8, Rom.10:17, General faith – Rom.12:3, Fruit  of faith- Gal.5:22-23, Gift of faith – 1 Cor.12:9.
·        The gift of faith is a gift of the Spirit to the believer that he might work miracle or rather receive them.
·        The gift of faith employs active faith that passively expects a miracle.

SCRIPTURE USES OF THIS GIFT
·        It was employed for direct supernatural blessings in fulfillment of human utterance ( Gen.27:28 – Heb.11:20).
·        For personal protection in dangerous circumstances  (Dan 6:17,23  & Heb.11:33).
·        For supernatural sustenance in famine or fasting (1 Kings 17:3,4,23 &     1 Kings 14:4-8).
·        For receiving the amazing promises of God (Gen.21:5, Rom.4:20).
·        For administering spiritual correction to gross offenders(2 Kings2:23-24).
·        For supernatural victory in the fight (Ex.17:11).
·        To assist in domestic and industrial problems ( 2 Kings 4:1-7).
·        To raise the dead ( Lazarus, Dorcas).
·        It is the gift employed in casting out evil spirits ( Acts 14:12)
·        For the fulfillment of the divine commission – Matthew 10:8
-         Heal the sick (gifts of healings)
-         Cleanse the lepers ( gifts of healings)
-         Cast out demons (discerning of spirits and faith)
-         Raise the dead (faith, working of miracles and gifts of healings)