Category: Spiritual Gifts

Gifts of the Spirit – Grace Gifts (Charismata)

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“CHARIS” is a word in the original Greek language of the New Testament.  It is often translated as grace, kindness, favor, blessing, etc.

It means “unmerited favor.”  It means “goodwill that is not deserved.”

CHARIS only applies with the recipient is undeserving.  If it is deserved in any way, it is not CHARIS.  If there is anything that you can do earn it, it is not CHARIS.

CHARIS is a very general and broad term.  When it is used in a specific instance, the Greek word is “CHARISMA.”  This is often translated “gift.”

This is unmerited favor (grace) that is made specific in a specific instance.

It is an undeserved gift.  If there is any part of it that is deserved, then it is not a CHARISMA.  If you try to deserve it, then you make yourself ineligible.

Now if you want to make this word plural, you add “TA” to the end and you end up with “CHARISMATA.”

CHARISMATA means “free, undeserved gifts.”

That brings us to our passage in 1 Corinthians where the gifts of the Holy Spirit are listed

1 Corinthians 12:4-11
4 There are diversities of gifts (CHARISMATA), but the same Spirit.
5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
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.
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

These nine manifestations of the Holy Spirit are gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to people that don’t deserve them.  There is no requirement on anyone to receive them.  If there are requirements, then they are not CHARISMATA.  Another word would have to be used.  If you have to attain a certain level of maturity or holiness in order to receive them, then they would be called rewards instead of gifts.

But the word that is used here is CHARISMATA…free gifts that are not deserved in any way.

To bring this point out more clearly, consider the context of the passage that was quoted above.  It comes from a letter (1 Corinthians) that was written to a group of Christians in the city of Corinth. In this letter they are being corrected for things that would make many of today’s believers blush.  Here are a few examples:

  • They were getting drunk during communion (ch 11 v 21)
  • They were suing each other (ch 6 v 7)
  • One of them was sleeping with his father’s wife (stepmother), and the rest of the group thought this was something to be proud of (ch 5 v 1-2)
  • Some of them evidently didn’t know any better than to call Jesus “cursed” (ch 12 v 3)

To sum it all up, read the following passage from chapter 3:

1 Corinthians 3:1-3
1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly–mere infants in Christ.
2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.
3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?

These people are not mature. Rather, they are immature. Paul calls them spiritual babies. They are not ready for meat, they still need milk. The are carnal and worldly, they are not demonstrating holy living.

However, when you read chapters 12-14, you can see that this doesn’t stop the Holy Spirit from operating His supernatural gifts through them in miracles, healings, prophecy, and so on.  The gifts of the Spirit are operating mightily in this group of believers.  Paul even makes this statement in chapter 1:

1 Corinthians 1:7 – Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.

It seems to me that many Christians have a very different idea about this.  People seem to think that to operate in the gifts of the Spirit, you have to fast and pray, and live holy, and so on.  But if that were true, then they wouldn’t be called gifts (CHARISMATA).

Don’t get me wrong, sin is bad and can ruin your life.  And immaturity is nothing to be proud of.  However, sin and immaturity do not stop the Holy Spirit from using us in His supernatural gifts.  By definition, CHARISMATA gifts are only given to people that don’t deserve them.

Think about it like this:  What human could work hard enough to deserve the power of God?  Who could earn the right to demonstrate the power of God?  Nobody but Jesus.   You don’t earn this.  You can’t earn it.  You have to just receive and use/exercise the gifts by faith, and be thankful to God that He gives a bunch of misfits the opportunity to participate in whatever He is doing.

Never let anyone tell you that you need to reach a certain level of behavior or maturity in your walk before you can move in the wonderful, powerful, and supernatural gifts (CHARISMATA) of the Holy Spirit.  Don’t get tricked into disqualifying yourself.  The gifts are free to all that will receive them and use them.  They are given as the Holy Spirit wills (1 Corinthians 7:11), and they are given freely.  If you don’t deserve them, then you are a prime candidate to receive them.

Principles of the Spirit Realm (Audio)

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Title:  Principles of the Spirit Realm

Subject Matter:  In this class we discuss some of the different ways the Holy Spirit interacts with us, and some of the ways that we can choose to cooperate with Him.

Speaker:  Neal Leazer

Recorded April 23, 2014 at Spirit Filled Living – a local church in Apex, NC

You can download the audio by right-clicking on the following link:  Principles of the Spirit Realm

Gifts of the Spirit – Manifestation of the Spirit

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One of the most helpful keys in understanding the gifts of the Holy Spirit is found in the phrase “manifestation of the Spirit.”  Paul uses this phrase in 1 Corinthians 12:7.  Here is the quote, along with some surrounding verses to provide context:

 

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.

6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

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.

11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

 

The Greek word translated “manifestation” in v7 is the word phanerosis.  It means “expression” or “manifestation.”  It means that something invisible has become visible.  It means something undetectable to our senses has become detectable.  A manifestation of the Spirit is when the invisible Holy Spirit makes Himself detectible to our senses.  It is a way that He expresses Himself to you and through you.

The nine gifts of the Spirit listed in the passage above are nine different “expressions of the Holy Spirit.”  These are nine different ways that the Holy Spirit makes Himself detectible to our senses.  In v11, we see that these expressions take place at the time of the Spirit’s choosing.  In that same verse we also see that these expressions will take place in or through whichever person He chooses at the time.

Here is a way to describe this, using and example of one of the many ways this could happen.  Let’s say that there is a group of people praying together, and the Holy Spirit decides that He wants to do something in the group.  He chooses someone from the group and gives them the means to express what He wants to happen.  It may be a prophetic message of comfort, or a nugget of divine wisdom, or any number of other things.  The “expression” is presented to the person the Holy Spirit selected, and if they choose by faith to cooperate, then the gift is exercised and the people are blessed.

Another way to describe this is through an analogy.  Each gift of the Spirit is like a firecracker.  You are handed a firecracker, and you set it on the ground, light it, and then it explodes.  Then you no longer have it because you have already used it.  (However, there is an unlimited supply of firecrackers that will be handed to you when they are needed.)

Each “spiritual gift” takes place when the Holy Spirit desires to express Himself.   That means there is no pressure on you to make something happen.  It also means that you don’t need to take a test to see what your spiritual gifts are…at least the ones in the list above.  If you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you, then you have all nine of the “manifestation gifts” available to you at any time He wants to express Himself in one of these ways.  That is very exciting, to say the least.

So, what is my part?

God wants you to “pursue love and desire spiritual gifts…” (1 Cor 14:1).   In the same way that He wants us to pursue love, He also wants us to desire spiritual gifts.

It is important to have this perspective, and to remember that this whole thing was His idea.  It is not something you are trying to earn, and it is not something that you need to try to talk Him into doing.  He already wants to do this with you.  It seems like Holy Spirit enjoys expressing Himself to us and through us.  It also seems like He is willing to take action more than we realize.  He likes “handing us firecrackers.”

If you want to grow in the gifts of the Spirit, you should talk to Him about it.  You should get to know Him better and spend time in relationship with Him.   It has been my experience that the more I get to know Him, the more often I seem to recognize when He is about to do something.   As I learn to discern His voice better, I am able to participate in whatever He is doing more often.  That is not a prerequisite, but it is very helpful.

You can ask Him to train you to recognize His voice, and you can deepen your relationship with Him by intentionally including Him in your daily activities.  Talk to Him.  Tell Him what you are thinking about.  Ask Him for advice about whatever issues you are facing, or whatever decisions you are making.  Develop a habit of being mindful that He is always with you to help you.  One of His names is ‘The Helper.”

It also seems that there are certain situations where He becomes particularly passionate about making Himself tangible to us.  He will bring out the gifts when there is a need that can be met by Him.  For my wife and I, we operate in the gifts most often when we are ministering to someone that is is need of divine rescue, or when we are helping to equip other believers.

Start taking steps of faith, and go out to meet the needs of others.  This is pursuing love and desiring spiritual gifts.  This puts you in a position where you can join in with whatever Holy Spirit is doing.

“Thank you Holy Spirit that you want to express Yourself through me.  Teach me how to recognize Your voice and join in with whatever You are doing.  Amen!”

How Jesus Did Miracles

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I believe that the material you are about to read contains information about our Lord Jesus that will completely transform the way you look at our Creator.   These truths are among the most precious and sacred treasures I have ever come across.  I hope this blesses you.

Acts 10:38 – God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

This passage of Scripture is Peter’s summary of the life of Jesus.  He tells us what Jesus did, and how He did it.

It is just one sentence, but I believe it is one of the most important sentences that a human being can ever spend time thinking about.  I want to divide it into two parts, and examine each part individually.

 PART 1: “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power…”

Jesus is God.  He was God throughout eternity past, He is God right now, and He is God throughout eternity in the future.  Whatever it means to be God, that’s what Jesus is.

He is…

  • Omnipotent (all powerful, never gets tired, never gets hungry, etc)
  • Omnipresent (everywhere at once, doesn’t have to travel from place to place)
  • Omniscient (all wise and all knowing, never caught by surprise)

Those are three words we use to try describe some of God’s “attributes.”  They all apply to Jesus, because Jesus is God.

However, 2000 years ago Jesus “came to earth” on a mission.  Contrary to popular belief, it was not a finger-pointing mission, but rather a rescue mission (John 3:17).  Part of the rescue mission involves Him subjecting Himself to the limitations of a mere human being.  He became a man.  Or, another way of saying it…He came to earth as a man in a physical body with self-imposed limits on His abilities.   Here are some scriptures that bring out this point:

Philippians 2:5-8 – Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Hebrews 2:17-18 – Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Jesus chose to become a man, and to subject himself to the same limits you and I have.  For example, while He was on the earth in a human body…

  • He had to walk from place to place.  He wasn’t everywhere at the same time.  He was not exercising His omnipresence.
  • There were things He didn’t know (Mark 13:32). He was not exercising His omniscience.
  • He got tired and hungry (John 4:6). He was not exercising His omnipotence.

So, even though He is God, He put himself in our shoes and made Himself subject to our limitations.  He was born as a human infant with a human brain and body, and grew up having to learn how to talk and how to walk like any other human.

We don’t really know much of the first 30 years of His life, other than the fact that He worked as a carpenter, and He had a remarkable grasp of the Scriptures.  But that is about it.  He was not performing any miracles or healings or anything very far out of the ordinary.

Then, something happened.  He came to be baptized by John in the Jordan river.  When He came up out of the water, the Holy Spirit descended on Him (Luke 3:21-22).  At this point in His life, things changed dramatically.  He began to do things that ordinary people can’t do.

Before this day in His life, He had done zero miracles.  In the three years that followed this day, He did so many miracles that one eyewitness made this statement:

John 21:25 – And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen

Something changed when the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, and it was noticeable immediately to people around him.  Look at the way the people in His hometown reacted:

 Mark 6:1-3 – Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples.  When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.  “Where did this man get these things?” they asked.  “What’s this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn’t this the carpenter?  Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph,Judas and Simon?  Aren’t his sisters here with us?”  And they took offense at him.

Their reaction shows that something was VERY different now.  They were not used to Him teaching like this and doing miracles.

We are told in Luke 4:14 and Luke 4:18 that Jesus is now walking in the power of the Holy Spirit.  That is the reason for the sudden change.  When the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, Jesus went from living within the limits of a “regular person” (and I say that reverently) to living as a “regular person” who has the Spirit of God working through Him to demonstrate miraculous power.

The miracles and healings were a result of a human being (Jesus) cooperating with the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit provided the power and the ability for Jesus to do miracles, heal people, cast out demons, calm storms, raise the dead, multiply food, teach with authority, walk on water, know people’s thoughts, and so on.

This is exciting news for us, because the same Holy Spirit that enabled Jesus to do miracles is the same Holy Spirit that lives in every single believer.  Jesus explicitly tells us in John 14:12 that anyone that believes in Him will do the same things (and even greater things) that He was doing.  More on this later….

PART 2: “…who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil (and that’s what He wants us to do too).  Healing is good.  It is good to heal people.  Oppression and sickness are bad.  That should be obvious to anyone that has any kind of ability to read and comprehend simple statements.

Jesus didn’t go around telling the sick people that God made them sick to teach them patience or to deepen their piety.  That is not considered “doing good.”  He didn’t tell them that their diseases were part of some mysterious plan, and that they needed to remain sick because it wasn’t God’s will to heal them right now.  Jesus didn’t do that, and He doesn’t want us doing that either.  That is the opposite of “doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil.”

Jesus demonstrated the power of God with authority.  He commanded sickness to leave.  He commanded people’s bodies to be healed.  He commanded demons to go.  That is good.

Jesus healed sick people, and he cast demons out of people that were under demonic influence.  This is called “healing all who were oppressed by the devil.”  Again, that is called “doing good.”

Notice that sickness is not from God.  Sickness is oppression from the devil.  In the beginning, God made earth and mankind without sickness.  There was no disease in the Garden of Eden.  Sickness became a part of our life on earth when Adam sinned and gave his dominion away to the devil.  Sickness is not part of God’s plan for your life.  It is a part of the devil’s plan for your life.  God’s plan is that we imitate Jesus and do what He would do…drive out sickness by the power of the same Holy Spirit that worked in Him….the same Holy Spirit that lives in each of us who believe.

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, and He gave us the authority to do the same.  He said that we would do the same works that he did, and even greater works because He was returning to His Father (John 14:12). When Jesus returned to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father, He poured out the Holy Spirit on the church (Acts 2:33), and then they starting doing the same things Jesus had been doing.

The great commission includes instructions to heal the sick and cast out demons (Mark 16). It also includes instructions to make disciples and teach them to do what Jesus taught the original disciples to do: heal the sick, cast out demons, and preach the gospel.

Somewhere through history, it seems like a lot of the church has forgotten about this.  In the days of the early church, the news about Jesus spread because His followers were doing miracles, healing sick people, and and setting people free from demonic oppression.  They were not relying on clever marketing gimmicks, good music, or attempts to be culturally relevant.  They were demonstrating the Kingdom of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.  This is the same Holy Spirit that lives in every Christian, and He is no less powerful today than He was 2000 years ago.

Do you want to represent Jesus through miracles and healing the sick?  Study the life of Jesus, take a leap of faith, and begin to imitate Him.  Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you.  Do not be afraid to make mistakes.  Learn as you go.  Do not be afraid to look stupid or be embarrassed.  The Holy Spirit is not only your teacher, but He is also your comforter, your counselor, and your friend.  He will help you.

Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.  He did this through the power of the Holy Spirit.

That same Holy Spirit (and that same power) lives inside of every Christian.  And every Christian has been commissioned to do good and heal the sick.   We have been given the same mission that Jesus demonstrated, and we have been given the same supernatural equipment to accomplish the mission.

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