Gifts of the spirit.

Considering the weighted controversy on gifts of the Holy Spirit, I'd say for myself that I'm very happy just with faith. But maybe the Spirit didn't really give me faith, and how would you know? I might just be playing up, and faith is harder to test than prophecy.

What do people think of all the "develop faith" guidebooks that sell in Christian Book stores? I mean if it's a gift of the Spirit, it might be something that you can't develop or acquire for yourself, any more than "vision" (any of you blokes ever gone on an "Iron John vision quest"? just asking.)

Does anyone have any thoughts on the connection between the passage on Spiritual gifts and the passage that immediately follows it about the members of the church body? The church all has to be together to function, what about the councils of elders with spiritual gifts? Do all the gifts have to be there for the Dreidel to roll, in a manner of speaking?

And how would you know? Because some bright sparks just seem to learn foreign languages easily, and I've had teachers of school subjects that weren't religious even in name who were diligent and even talented speakers.

Not really. Are you trying to HOLD ONTO your belief, or is your FAITH HOLDING ON to you???

Simple - if YOU are the one generating the "prophesy", or the "interpretation", or the "Tongue", with your own mind, then it's phony.

If God, through the Holy Spirit, is speaking THROUGH YOU, then you're operating in the gifts.

Faith begins with a choice on our part. It is what we give back to Him. Our faith pleases Him. It is desired, even required, of each of us.

Hebrews 11:6
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

lol

What a serious unbiblical opinion or thought written. it seems more like scoffing than " I'm just asking".


The gifts of the Holy Spirit Found in 1Corthinans chapters 12 through 14 are listed, and there is a gift of "Faith" found in chapter 12 did you read it? One who says they are ok with faith FYI The Holy Spirit had to give you faith which is from God.


Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;

Galatians 3:22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

If the Gift of the Holy Spirit were ok to reject, then why did Paul say in chapter 12 the following

12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:
3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus [c]accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

Paul goes on to say all Gifts come from the Holy Spirit and are to be desired, but you know better than the HS?

Ephesians 2:8
King James Version
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

The initial faith we receive for salvation is not ours, it’s God’s then once we are save we begin to built or faith.

You need to distinguish between three or four kinds of faith" (1) saving faith which is generated by hearing or reading the Word of God (the Gospel), (2) the spiritual gift of faith which is probably extraordinary faith (but not everyone receives every gift), (3)faith as a fruit of the spirit also called "a measure of faith", and (4) faith as little as a grain of mustard seed, yet very effective.
Those books can be misleading but there is nothing wrong with developing faith. The apostles said "Lord increase our faith" but the Lord said it can be as little as a mustard seed and still be very effective. So "developing" faith might mean persistence in prayer, when the answer does not come immediately.
Well it should be obvious that since all the children of God are "members" of the Body of Christ, (but not all will have all the gifts but at least one or two), that the gifts are given so that everyone benefits from everyone else for the "edification" or building up of the Church towards spiritual maturity.

It would seem that in any local assembly of born again believers, there should be many gifts in operation. But many Christians do not even know what their gift is, or what their gifts are. So it is up to the shepherds of that church to help others exercise their gifts (not generally in vogue).

Faith is given each of us by the Father, some more some less.................the term a measure of faith is just that, what the Father has deemed we each should have.

You're right. 99% of the guidebooks out there are useless garbage. Like workshops and schools to learn to be a prophet or healer.

when someone becomes a born again Christian, you certainly can ask the Lord what gifts He has given you. or you may just feel it. sort of like talents which God gave to everyone. a kid may start throwing a lot which means he may be a pro pitcher or drawing a lot where he'll be an artist. i think God can & will show you your gifts but each individual will feel something strong in the gift area. a person knows he has strong faith when the Holy Spirit tells you to punch your wife in the face as hard as you can & you do it!! of course, she won't feel any pain, it's a test from God. i don't read any books on faith except the Bible & a Kenneth Hagin Jr. booklet. believe me, if God gives you a gift, He's going to give you the provisions & tools to develop it.

You mean like "A Course in Miracles"? Those are really bad. The only really good thought I've seen in that area is a relatively small number of books on prayer. Jesus also prayed a model prayer, when His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray, but I run across too many books on alleged "spiritual science". There are all kinds of treatise about "getting something done" by praying, and metaphysical works about "how God does things" abound.

So, you think there are different levels and grades of ability in different spiritual abilities? How do you gauge that, I mean, I know people love to run around evangelizing, because prophecy and the end of time are so exciting and mysterious, but if your aim is to literally measure, how do you know whether you've evangelized? Evidence of conversion is changes in their life, in proportion to how many of your sermons and slide shows they've attended, in direct relation to what you said on stage.

outstanding response

Yeah, that's absolutely garbage; but I was thinking about all the books by so-called celebrity Christian authors. They don't sell anything of value; they only sell their names. If it's by a big name New York Times best-selling author people will line up to buy it. I agree with what you said about spiritual gifts. A person doesn't have to read any book, other than the Bible, to know how to use a spiritual gift God has blessed them with.

Pertaining to the bible; I think I read the terms weak faith and strong faith.

We all have been as its written the measure of faith. The gifts.. He gives to all and we can be used in all the gifts as the sweet holy Spirit wills. Take the solider that told Christ no you don't have to come to my house you just speak the word. Christ marveled at his great faith "When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say to you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel ".

So do we do this today? We have His word we have so many promises where "GOD SAID". Do we believe yet we cannot see it hear it feel it yet do we know that if God said it He will do it? Faith in that what ever you ask when you pray believe you receive it you shall have it. <--that's faith. You pray for some thing that goes in line with the word (His will) you then know that you that you know that you know He heard you and He already answered it. You receive.

I like to use driving to work where you need to park but you always park far away. So you pray and ask for a closer parking space. This prayer is not against Gods word nor does it deal with anyones will. So when it does not happen your faith is not crushed. But every day you pray knowing He heard you knowing He answered it. There will be days where you for some odd reason wait before you leave then when you get to work theres that spot.

A group of prayer warriors.. a place they came to pray. They needed glasses for some reason I forget so they all prayed all agreed together. If two shall agree.. anyway the next day there was a case of glasses at the door. Now one could say maybe one of them bought them but nope no one did. They only prayed. Like the man in Iran Prison prayed to the lord he needed a bible he never told anyone. A few days later this man walks by his cell says "here you asked for this". I could go on and on.

Faith is something that is not talked about. Its not just reading His word to get faith.. faith comes by hearing but its so much more. See when you pray think on He really hears me. He listens to ever word. I have in 62 years never had God ever say "I will not answer that I will not do that". Well one time young in the lord I said why dont you just save all the people no matter what. That that He came right back with "Don't ever say that again". yeah something about going against mans will He will not do. But yeah.. His promises are yes and amen. Its why you look in His word every time you have a need and you find what He said and you pray that stand on it no matter what you see hear or feel. Always talk to Him listen. But we must work our faith. So many when something bad happens GOD FOR BID they try to pray and believe yet they can't they doubt.. never worked exercised there faith. Start small.. don't believe me.. you pray you ask Him about this and He will show you in His word

I take it your talking about the first fruits of the holy spirit, which to me is separate to all the fruits of the spirit, all the fruits of the spirit you become blessed with at first and one particular fruit you would Xcel in.
Which would become more abundant as you grow, as would all the other fruits you where blessed with.

But as long as your growing it's a safe to say you've been blessed with the fruits of the spirit,

but me personally i would say it's probably faith is the first fruits most are blessed with, prophecy requires more faith and knowledge of the father I would imagine befor your blessed by Jesus.

But I would question if any weighted controversy about the fruits of the holy spirit, is spirit lead from the holy spirit.

Unless your witnessing something for real face to face.

But how could you test it is what I heard you say,
I don't think you can, the proof is in the pudding.

I think tribulations test your faith,
But I wouldn't like to say put your self in one,

The gift of prophecy, is a whole different kettle of fish, but would the gift of prophecy also apply to here and now way of thinking always thinking ahead, with resolve.

I would certainly hope your statement below was meant to show that the Holy Spirit would not compel a person to do such a thing. But nonetheless it is stupid to even suggest because some might actually take you seriously:
"a person knows he has strong faith when the Holy Spirit tells you to punch your wife in the face as hard as you can & you do it!! of course, she won't feel any pain, it's a test from God."

yes, i think so. imagine all the complexities in personality & attitude in approach, initiation, discipline, determination & finality that people implement in duty. how could it all come out the same? just as talents go, every one doesn't have the same level of
but it's possible, highly improbable!

The book of John shows how to know you have eternal life. Know you have faith . .. and that is by believing Jesus is God, that He lived sinless... that He died and rose again. That by entrusting eternal life Him you are saved.

So you won't know because you are good or do good works..but because you believed in Jesus.

Faith though is a gift of the Holy Spirit.. along with hope and love. Because for a saved person they are supernaturally empowered by Jesus in the believers walk with Him.

Faith, hope and love trump all other gifts of the Holy Spirit.

I believe the sign and ministry gifts were for the apostles who have passed..and we have the completed Word for our guide. The Holy Spirit prompting us thru our reliance on the Word. So no need for tongues .. gift of knowledge.. prophecy etc.

But if you are going to believe all the gifts are for today.. then they must work as the Bible has them.. by those standards. The Corinthians were abusing the gifts .. and shouldn't be an example to follow .