Praise God for a Variety of Spiritual Gifts

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Chaplain Dan

God gives us different spiritual gifts, so that we have a deeper appreciation for what He is doing.

The following article uses a common story to help us understand how the gift of Discerning Spirits fits in with the other spiritual gifts.  God gives us different spiritual gifts so that we focus on different things and praise God for different aspects of the same event.

Six wise men were blindfolded and told to investigate an animal.  Each man was taken to a different part of an elephant and told to describe it.

The first one said, “It is like a giant spear.  It is hard and sharp (The tusk).

The second one said, “No, it is like a giant leather wing with no bones (The ear).

The third said, “No, it is like a tree trunk, round and unmovable (The leg).

The fourth said, “No, it is like a whip, with a tassel at the end (The tail).

The fifth said, “No, it is round, flexible and long like a large snake (The trunk).

The last said, “No, it is a giant, flat wall (The side).

All six men were right about what they felt, but they were short-sighted to not show appreciation for what the others discovered.  Because of their blindfolds and not feeling the whole elephant, their observation skills were limited.  They assumed the others were wrong, because they did not focus on the same part of the elephant.

In contrast, we should use our spiritual gifts to increase our appreciation for what God is doing and appreciation for each other.

Consider the following event …

A man is abusive to his family, he robs a store and is thrown in jail.  In jail, he hears the gospel and repents.  He decides to follow Jesus and God changes his life and his family.

The Prophet says, “Praise God, justice was served.  He was brought to justice and repented.”

The Teacher says, “Praise God, he heard the faithful teaching of God’s truth at the worship services and it changed his life.”

The Exhorter says, “Praise God the Hero.  God rescued the man from the path to destruction and turned him into a man of God.  Now his whole family is being witnessed to.”

The Servant says, “Praise God, he was demanding and selfish and now he is serving his family and meeting their needs.”

The Giver says, “Praise God, I gave the money as a strategic gift to buy the Bible that he read to learn about God.”

The Ruler says, “Praise God, he was lazy, on welfare and a thief, but now, he is productive and providing for his family.”

The Mercy says, “Praise the Lord,  the man was abused as a child and decided that would never happen to him again, so he became a bully.  Now he is able to forgive, and his family is being healed emotionally.”

The Discerner of Spirits says, “Praise God, the man was under Satan’s deception, full of addiction and serving Satan.  Now he is free from addiction, the lies have been pushed back, and he is no longer Satan’s servant.”

God wants to be praised for the many aspects of what He is doing to save and change lives.  Each gift initially praises God for a different part of what God did.  When we appreciate the different perspectives that come with the different gifts, we have a deeper thanksgiving and praise for what God is doing.

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Thy Kingdom Come

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Chaplain Dan

The easiest way to understand the Kingdom of God is to focus on the King.  Jesus Christ is the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords.  God reigns supreme over any being in heaven or on earth.  Is there anywhere in God’s universe that is not part of God’s Kingdom?  No.  Is there anywhere in the middle of God’s universe where there are outposts of rebellion? Yes.  There are demonic realms, communities and nations where they are in rebellion against God.  There are people on this earth who reject God’s authority and refuse to live in obedience to the King.

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught us to pray that the citizens of His Kingdom would obey Him, the same way that the angels in heaven obey Him.  When we obey Jesus Christ, we testify that Jesus’ way is the right way (Righteousness).  We testify that what God says is true.  When we live according to God’s teachings, we show that we are citizens of God’s Kingdom.

Jesus Christ was specific in teaching us how to conducting our personal, family and governmental activities according to His Word.  When a group of Christians live according to God’s Word and influence the community or nation to live according to God’s Word, they bring that community or nation into a right relationship with God’s Kingdom.

The rebellion of darkness is at war with God’s Kingdom of righteousness.  Those who reject God’s righteousness live according to worldly pleasures, the teachings of demons, and their own desires.  They are part of the rebellion of darkness.

The Lord’s Prayer

9 In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:9-10)

 

We are to focus more God’s Kingdom and God’s right way of living than on what we wear and what we eat.

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.  (Matthew 6:33-34)

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List of Spiritual Gifts

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Chaplain Dan

SPIRITUAL GIFT DEFINITIONS AND SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

The following contains suggested definitions of the spiritual gifts as defined by the Bible in no particular order. These definitions and supporting Scriptures do correspond to the characteristics of the gifts as expressed in most evangelical and reformed thinking.

1. HELPS: The ability to invest the talents one has in the life and ministry of other members of the body, thus enabling those others to increase the effectiveness of their own spiritual gifts. Mark 15:4041 Acts 9:36 Romans 16:1-2 I Corinthians 12:28

2. LEADERSHIP: The ability to set goals in accordance with God’s purpose for the future and to communicate those goals to others in such a way that they voluntarily and harmoniously work together to accomplish those goals for the glory of God. Acts 15:7-11 Romans 12:8 I Timothy 5:17 Hebrews 13:17

3. HOSPITALITY: The ability to provide an open house and a warm welcome to those in need of food and lodging. Acts 16:14-15 Romans 12:9-13 Romans 16:23 Hebrews 13:1-2 I Peter 4:9

4. SERVICE: The ability to identify the unmet needs involved in a task related to God’s work, and to make use of available resources to meet those needs and help accomplish the desired results. Acts 6:1-7 Romans 12:7 Galatians 6:2 II Timothy 1:16-18 Titus 3:14

5. ADMINISTRATION: The ability to understand clearly the immediate and long-range goals of a particular unit of the body of Christ and to devise and execute effective plans for the accomplishment of those goals. Luke 14:28-30 Acts 6:1-7 I Corinthians 12:28

6. DISCERNMENT: The ability to know with assurance whether certain behavior purported to be of God is in reality divine, human or satanic. The purpose of this gift is to prevent confusion and false teaching from infiltrating the church. Matthew 16:21-23 Acts 5:1-11 Acts 16:16-18 I Corinthians 12:10 I John 4:1-6

7. FAITH: The ability to discern with extraordinary confidence the will and purpose of God, and to propel the body of believers into actively claiming the promises of God. Acts 11:22-24 Romans 4: 18-21 I Corinthians 12:9 Hebrews 11

8. MUSIC: The ability to use one’s voice in the singing of praises to the Lord for the benefit of others, or to play a musical instrument to praise the Lord and for the benefit of others. Remember God is always the audience in worship! Deuteronomy 3 1:22 I Samuel 16:16 I Chronicles 16:4142 II Chronicles 5: 12-13 II Chronicles 34:12 Psalm 150

9. LANGUAGES/TONGUES: The ability to speak a divinely anointed message in a language one has never learned, but one that is known to the hearers. Its purpose is an evangelistic tool for spreading the gospel. Mark 16:17 Acts 2:1-13 Acts 10:44-46 Acts 19:1-7 (Make sure you follow the precepts of I Cor.14!)

10. MIRACLES – The ability to serve as a human intermediary through whom it pleases God to perform powerful acts that are perceived by observers to have altered the ordinary course of nature. Acts 9:36-42 Acts 19:11-20 Acts 20:7-12 Romans 15:18-19 I Corinthians 12:10, 28

11. CRAFTSMANSHIP: The ability to use one’s hands, thoughts and mind to further the kingdom of God through artistic, creative means. People with this gift may also serve to lead others in forming their abilities in this area. The gift may also be used in the areas of maintenance, care and upkeep for the benefit and beautification of God’s kingdom here on earth. Exodus 30:22-25 Exodus 31:3-11 II Chronicles 34:9-13 Acts 18:2-3

12. HEALING: The ability to serve as a human intermediary through whom God’s healing power is applied to another person’s physical or emotional need. Acts 3:1-10 Acts 5:12-16 Acts 9:32-35 Acts 28:7-10 I Corinthians 12:9, 28

13. GIVING: The ability to contribute material resources to the work of the Lord with liberality and cheerfulness. Mark 12:41-44 Romans 12:8 II Corinthians 8:1-7 II Corinthians 9:2-8

14. MERCY: The ability to feel genuine empathy and compassion for individuals who suffer distressing physical, mental or emotional problems, and to translate that compassion into cheerfully-done deeds which reflect Christ’s love and alleviate the sufferings as well as motivate others to help. Matthew 9:35,36 Mark 9:41 I Thess. 5:14

15. WISDOM: The ability to apply spiritual truth to a specific issue in a specifically relevant fashion, and to make proper choices in difficult situations, based on sufficient information. Acts 6:3,10 I Corinthians 2:1-13 I Corinthians 12:8 James 1:5 II Peter 3:15

16. KNOWLEDGE: The ability to discover, accumulate, analyze and clarify information which is pertinent to the growth and well-being of the body. Acts 5:1-11 I Corinthians 12:8 II Corinthians 11:6 Colossians 2:2-3

17. EXORTATION: The ability to minister words of encouragement, consolation, comfort and motivation from God’s Word to help others complete their tasks and be all that God want them to be. Acts 4:32-37 Acts 14:22 Romans 12:8 I Timothy 4:13 Hebrews 10:24.25

18. TEACHINIG: The ability to employ a logical, systematic approach to Biblical study and to communicate information relevant to the health and ministry of the body and its members in such a way that others will learn. Acts 18:24.28 Acts 20:20-21 I Corinthians 12:28 Ephesians 4:11-14

19. PASTOR/SHEPHERD: The ability to assume a long-term personal responsibil­ity for the spiritual welfare of a group of believers. John 10:1-18 Ephesians 4:11-14 I Timothy 3:1-7 I Peter 5:1-3

20. APOSTLESHIP: The ability to assume and exercise general leadership over a number of churches, with an extraordinary authority in spiritual matters, which is spontaneously recognized and appreciated by those churches. Such as a bishop. This is not the same as the original 12 Apostles or Paul!  Acts 15:1-2 I Corinthians 12:28 II Corinthians 12:12 Galatians 2:7-10 Ephesians 3:1-9 Ephesians 4:11-14

21. MISSIONARY: The ability to minister with whatever other spiritual gifts one has in another land or culture. Acts 8:4 Acts 13:2-3 Acts 22:21 Romans 10:15 I Corinthians 9:19-23

22. PROPHECY: The ability to proclaim the Word of God with divine anointing, which brings conviction to the hearers so they recognize that it is truly the Word of God and they must do something about it. A prophet is also someone who keeps the church on God’s path and truth and makes sure we do not slip into false teaching. This is not the same as an OT prophet, which existed before the Word was completed! Acts 2:37-40; Mat ‘7:54 Acts 26:24-29 I Corinthians 14:1,3 I Thessalonians 1:5

23. EVANGELISM: The ability to share the gospel with unbelievers in such a way that men and women become Jesus’ disciples and responsible members of the body of Christ. Acts 8:5-6 Acts 8:26-40 Acts 14:21 Acts 21:8 Ephesians 4:11-14 II Timothy 4:5

24. PRAYER/INTERCESSION: The ability to pray for extended periods of time on a regular basis and see frequent and specific answers to prayer, to a degree much greater than that, which is experienced by most Christians. All Christians are to exercise this, but the gifted person will go beyond. Luke 22:41-u Acts 12:12 Colossians 1:9-12 Colossians 4:12-13 I Timothy 2:1-2 James 5:14-16

R.J. Krejcir Ph.D. Into Thy Word Ministries www.intothyword.com

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I’m Not Sad Anymore

Posted on July 24, 2011 by Chaplain Dan

Praise Report from Los Angeles County Jail

Two weeks ago Gomez (Name changed for security purposes) came up after the worship service.  “I get it,  I understand!  I’ve been thinking about it, and now I know why Jesus died on the cross.  I get it.  Today I get it.”  He was full of joy.  Later, he asked me to pray that God would help Him be right with his wife.  I could sense his intensity while we prayed, and we both cried.

This Sunday, I was talking about how God changes our hearts and emotions.  He frees us from anger and bitterness.  He teaches us to bless instead of curse.  We need a Savior to fix our messed up lives … and God gets the glory for doing it (Jesus’ name means “Savior” in Hebrew).

Gomez interrupted, and asked if he could share something.

He started slowly, “I’m a three striker.  I’m looking at 57 years (in prison).  When I first came to (dorm number), I was trying to think of how to hang myself.  I was so sad.  I kept trying to think of how to hang myself.  I was trying to hang myself (he put his hand to his throat), and  Sheriff kicked down the door and arrested me … violence and domestic violence.  I was so depressed.  I looked at the window and … I was so sad.”

He started talking excitedly, “God changed me! I told my public defender, I’m praying for you!  She said, What are you praying for me for?  I said, That God would bless you!  She said, What  @#&* happened  to you?!?!???”

He was almost giddy with praise, “I know that I have to follow God and do it His way, if I am ever going to be good with my wife.   I don’t expect her ever talk to me because I (beat her), but if I ever get to be with her again, I know I have to do it God’s way.  If I ever going to be good with my kids, I have to do it God’s way.  Now, when I look at the window, I thank God for another day!  I’m not sad anymore. “

“God even changed the judge!”, he said with a stunned look on his face. “ The judge started talking rehab instead.  I can’t believe it! “

He finished with, “I thank God for (an inmate in his dorm). He is telling me (about God)!”

… I was done, I didn’t want to say another word …

At least six guys in his dorm have completed the Fundamentals of the Faith workbook to earn a study Bible.  After the service, I had the privilege of delivering another study Bible to a new believer in his dorm, who finished Fundamentals of the Faith.  God is doing amazing things in a dorm full of violent gang members.

Ask God to help you recognize something fresh to praise Him for.  God is awesome!  Unfortunately, too often, I am looking the other way and miss it.

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