Spiritual gifts

[Botz]

Lk 16:10"He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.

I believe as we seek G-d for His gifting to further His Kingdom, He will undertake in various ways, the things that we ask...and if we recognise His gifting in any area in us, then as we exercise that gift in faith, we will be able to use it more regularly and beneficially to His glory, than if we are lazy, shy or indifferent to what He can do through us if only we are willing in the day of His power.

There are many aspects to living totally for G-d, and being a vessel fit for His use...one of the foremost is 'proven character' for which there are no short-cuts, or one off impartation's. Part of using the gifts that are available, is being mature enough and exercised enough in them, to know when to use them, and to use them wisely.

You don't send a man into battle who hasn't a clue how to use his weapons.

[CBE1]

The gifts are from the Spirit of God, and since the Lord has sent us the Spirit, all the gifts are available to those being lead by the Spirit!!

However not all have been given the grace by God to believe this. That is; not all have the faith porportioned to them by God to believe for certain gifts.

If someone writes: ' I do not believe that we can have all the gifts', then by their own confession, they don't have the faith porportioned to them by the grace of God to recieve all the gifts. Though they wouldn't be able to understand this or else they would have the faith to get the gifts.

We are men of little faith, as the Lord explained. If we had great faith we would operate in all the gifts of the Spirit simply because we have the Spirit that works all things out.

What is amazing, is that we will at one point state clearly that all things are possible with God, then in the next moment we will state that God will not give us all the gifts with so much convition, that clearly we have limited the Lord. It's incredible when you think about it logically. Why would the Lord have written to desires the gifts, and not be willing to give them to you? Note: It isn't written to desire some of the gifts but not all, instead it is written to desire the gifts, thus making it all inclusive. And to emphasize it more, it is mention to especially desire prophesy, which seems to be the greatest of the gifts.

Of course the Lord knows this and can increase your faith as He needs for the purposes He has. He can enable you to believe for all the gifts, and cause you to ask for them, then give them to you to meet His purposes. He is still the Lord and in control. The more you listen to Him the more you understand this. And since faith comes from hearing, the more you listen the more faith you will have. And since it is the Lord that gives understanding, and wisdom and knowledge come from His mouth [Prov 2:6] then listening to the Lord is them one thing truely necessary.

Yet what can someone say, if another hasn't yet been given the understand that truely all things are possible for the Lord. Including giving someone all the gifts. The Spirit of God within you has them. So you have them. Yet not all believe and ask for them. Not all can accept this.

Ok, I have testifed that this is true, because I have seen Him do it in my life. I testify to give glory to God. It was all Him. And except of asking for them according to what He had written in the Scriptures, I did nothing to deserve them that I know of. They are gifts, not a payment for anything I did. Still someone comes along and thinks that by testifing to God, I am braging and have vainity. Some will say that I don't have the gifts, though I have not only seen them, but had them explained to me, and have been brought up in them by the grace of God [ not that I still don't have a lot to learn]. So I say that all things are possible for God, because I have seen Him do such incredible things in my life. Yet I too am human and come to doubt Him at times dispite the fact that I have seen such incredible things.

So I can understand how our human side will at one moment say all things are possible with God, then the next moment we say that He wouldn't give us all the gifts even though we are told to ask for them. We are indeed men of little faith just like He said, and we don't even seem willing to believe Him on that sometimes. How ironic.

[Fez]

The gifts are from the Spirit of God, and since the Lord has sent us the Spirit, all the gifts are available to those being lead by the Spirit!!

So I can understand how our human side will at one moment say all things are possible with God, then the next moment we say that He wouldn't give us all the gifts even though we are told to ask for them. We are indeed men of little faith just like He said, and we don't even seem willing to believe Him on that sometimes. How ironic.

I deleted most of your post just for the sake of space. Can you show me a definite scripture where it is stated that the Holy Spirit has given us all the gifts without us praying and asking?

Here is one that rebuts your contention...

Rom 12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Rom 12:4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,

Rom 12:5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Rom 12:6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;

I also disagree that prophecy holds any more tenure than does, say service. In no place in the NT does it state that one gift is more, or less important than another, just as no believer is seen differently in God's eyes from another.

[Botz]

I also disagree that prophecy holds any more tenure than does, say service. In no place in the NT does it state that one gift is more, or less important than another, just as no believer is seen differently in God's eyes from another.

I think Paul makes a case for gifts that edify the Body being more beneficial than any that are for self-edification. 1Cor 14.

[Fez]

I also disagree that prophecy holds any more tenure than does, say service. In no place in the NT does it state that one gift is more, or less important than another, just as no believer is seen differently in God's eyes from another.

I think Paul makes a case for gifts that edify the Body being more beneficial than any that are for self-edification. 1Cor 14.

Paul starts off in 1Cor 14:1 by stating that we should pursue love above all other things. As does Jesus.

But I would agree that Paul was saying that he would rather people in the Corinthian church prophesy than speak in tongues, and he sets out his reasons for his statement, in that he was saying that prophesying would be better accepted by non believers than would be speaking in tongues (1 Cor 14:24), but he makes no comparison with prophesy and other gifts in order of "merit"?

[OneLight]

The gifts are from the Spirit of God, and since the Lord has sent us the Spirit, all the gifts are available to those being lead by the Spirit!!

snip

Ok, I have testifed that this is true, because I have seen Him do it in my life. I testify to give glory to God. It was all Him. And except of asking for them according to what He had written in the Scriptures, I did nothing to deserve them that I know of. They are gifts, not a payment for anything I did. Still someone comes along and thinks that by testifing to God, I am braging and have vainity. Some will say that I don't have the gifts, though I have not only seen them, but had them explained to me, and have been brought up in them by the grace of God [ not that I still don't have a lot to learn]. So I say that all things are possible for God, because I have seen Him do such incredible things in my life. Yet I too am human and come to doubt Him at times dispite the fact that I have seen such incredible things.

So I can understand how our human side will at one moment say all things are possible with God, then the next moment we say that He wouldn't give us all the gifts even though we are told to ask for them. We are indeed men of little faith just like He said, and we don't even seem willing to believe Him on that sometimes. How ironic.

Actually, there is nowhere in scripture that tells us that we can have all the gifts. In fact, as Paul was teaching the body about the gifts, he made this statement.

1 Corinthians 12:27-31

Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. Fez also provided other scripture to show you that this way of thinking is wrong,

You make it sound like we have control over what gift(s) we do or do not have. That sounds like name and claim it theology, which is proven false. Just because scripture tells us that God can do anything does not mean He will do everything we ask Him to do. To say that we have not because we do not have the faith, taking scripture and assigning it to where it does not belong, is twisting scripture.

Yes, I did tell you that believing that one can have all the gifts at the same time is vanity. I even asked you provide proof through testimony, and you could not. That, in itself, reinforced what I stated. God is not a form of Santa Claus waiting for us to provide him with a list of what we wold like to have. What you say about the measure of faith is true, as you see in the scripture below, but do not ignore the part that tells us not to think of ourselves more highly then we ought to think.

Romans 12:3

[ Serve God with Spiritual Gifts ] For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

[Gentlewind]

CBE~

I'm a little bit crazy right now from doing battle in a foreign land where they do not believe that our Lord Jesus Christ is God. They have bruised and injured me and I am so confused and weary. Today I tried to read my Bible and every word of it sounded like gibberish. Is the majority written in code? Do any of us really know anything? I am so . . . despondent.

What is this we do to one another? One claims God has given, another says no, He most assuredly hasn't. One says God is found in scripture, in the Word, and we learn from it. Another says, go directly to God and He, Himself will teach you. Another says listen to my Church, they hold the true teachings. Some say listen to me, for I've got it figured out. One says the Bible is literal, another says it is all in parables and must be raised up to be understood. One says use commentaries and lexicons, another says, no, you can't trust translators or interpreters.

All is confusion.

Perhaps this is where God wants me at this moment. To stand before everyone and say, "I know absolutely nothing."

Do we work together before God or do we work against one another?

I'm sorry for interupting. I know my emotions are getting the better of me right now. I should be in Prayer Requests. But I looked for CBE, because in Him I have a friend, and I just wanted to say, I love you, CBE, and I know how hard all of this is.

Are we being put to the fire, is that it?

I understand nothing. I am lost beyond measure, and only God will find me.

Words can not express how weary I am. Please, be gentle with one another. Do we ever grasp the power we have to harm one another?

~Gentlewind

[~Shalhevet~]

Huge gentlewind. Sometimes I feel the same way. Just pray and it will pass.

[OneLight]

Gentlewind, sounds like you have been talking on some of the same boards I have been on lately. We are told in the last days deceptive doctrine will abound, and by what I have seen myself, this is very true.

If you find yourself weary in battle, rest in Him to regain your strength. Stick to His words and you will continue to find His truth. Step outside of them and you will loose truth, but may gain more "friends", for there are a lot more who claim to know God, but deny the scripture He has given us to know Him

God Bless!

[~Shalhevet~]

I meant "hugs" gentlewind...not "huge". LOL