Understanding and Growing in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Sermon by Pastor Alex

We are building proper foundation for what is coming ahead. Understanding and growing in the gifts of the Holy Spirit is an important aspect of our preparation.

As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God.

1 Peter 4:10

Everything God gives has a purpose. He has called us to be stewards of the different gifts displaying His manifold grace.

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be unaware , 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

1 Corinthians 12:1,5,7

Concerning spiritual gifts

• We should not be unaware
• There are varieties of gifts, varieties of ministries,varieties of effects
• Given for the common good

For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

1 Corinthians 12:8-10

Types of gifts

• Word of wisdom 
• Word of knowledge
• Faith
• Healing
• Effecting of miracles
• Prophecy
• Distinguishing of spirits
• Various kinds of tongues
• Interpretation of tongues

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

1 Corinthians 12:11

Each one is given by Holy Spirit to strengthen the body of Christ. Differently gifted people act as different parts of the body functioning together for the common good of the Body of Christ. All gifts are equal and useful to serve one another.

When we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit we can begin to function in any of the 9 gifts. This happens according to the Holy Spirit’s direction based on a situation.

Then each of us receives one dominant gift we must function in consistently. This is our responsibility – to recognize and nurture it. This is our role. In everything God does there is a partnering between Him and us. There is our role and God’s role. Believers functioning in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit add the supernatural dimension to the Church.

And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and various kinds of tongues. 

1 Corinthians 12:28

Apart from the above mentioned gifts Paul further describes the ministry gifts – Apostles, Prophets and Teachers and Gifts of Service – helps and administration

The gifts can be segregated into 3 categories

• Revelation gifts – What you need to Know

Word of wisdom, Word of knowledge and Distinguishing of spirits

• Vocal gifts – What you need to Say

Various kinds of tongues, Interpretation of tongues, Prophecy

• Power gifts – What you need to Do

Faith, Healing, Effecting of miracles

Revelation Gifts – What you need to know

• Word of Wisdom
  • Word of wisdom brings answers to difficult situations
  • It’s always directive
  • It gives direction and clarity to a situation
  • It is not common sense or what you learnt from experience
  • It is a direct revelation from the Holy Spirit

In ministry, sometimes when we are counseling a family and trying to sort out a marital issue and both partners are stubborn, God begins to drop a Word of Wisdom that brings clarity and solution to the problem.

Example: In Acts 15 An argument was going on about bringing gentile believers into the church. Some of the Jewish believers wanted them to be circumcised. Peter said about the vision God gave. Paul and Barnabas shared what was happening in their ministries among gentiles. But there was no solution until James stood up and gave a Word of Wisdom from Scripture that he received from God to sort out the issue once and for all. That Word gave direction and clarity and the argument was settled there.

Acts 15: 5..31But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to keep the Law of Moses.” 6The apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter. 

7After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. ..10Since this is the case, why are you putting God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear? 

12All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles.

13After they stopped speaking, James responded, saying, “Brothers, listen to me. 14Simeon has described how God first concerned Himself about taking a people for His name from among the Gentiles. 15The words of the Prophets agree with this, just as it is written:

16‘AFTER THESE THINGS I will return,

AND I WILL REBUILD THE FALLEN TABERNACLE OF DAVID,

AND I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS,

AND I WILL RESTORE IT,

17SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD,

AND ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME,’

18SAYS THE LORD, WHO MAKES THESE THINGS known from long ago. 19Therefore, it is my judgment that we do not cause trouble for those from the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols, from acts of sexual immorality, from what has been strangled, and from blood. 21For from ancient generations Moses has those who preach him in every city, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

22Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, …

30So when they were sent away, they went down to Antioch; and after gathering the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 

• Word of Knowledge
  • It is a knowledge (about a fact or situation) imparted or revealed by the Holy Spirit
  • You have no previous information. No opinion. No idea about this person through gossip
  • It is suddenly imparted and revealed by the Holy Spirit

Sometimes when you are interceding or praying for someone God can give you a Word of Knowledge or Word of Wisdom on how to pray accurately for them.

Example: Lord Jesus had a Word of Knowledge about the woman of Samaria that she had 5 husbands and the same word brought the whole city to Him

John 4:16-19 – He *said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.” 17The woman answered and said to Him, “I have no husband.” Jesus *said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; 18for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this which you have said is true.” 19The woman *said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 

• Discernment of Spirits
  • It is a supernatural enablement to see into the Spirit World
  • Gift of discernment is not intuition or sixth sense. Generally women are more discerning than men because they have stronger intuition. Intuition is a response of the human spirit
  • Gift of discernment is an operation of the Holy Spirit. It has to do with the discerning of things in the spiritual realm
  • Discerning of Angelic beings, demonic spirits , spirit of man (the nature and heart’s content of the man), evil spirits working through men
  • Holy Spirit reveals to us by impressions(visions), inner witness or inner voice
  • You are able to see into the spirit of the man and the spirits working through the man
  • Normally people with a very sensitive spirit function in this gift

I have a friend who operates strong in this gift. When he is talking or ministering to a person suddenly as a flash he will see into their spirit. Sometimes he sees in the form of visions, sometimes in the form of a photo snapshot. He once went to a meeting of a well known preacher. He had watched him on TV before. As my friend saw the preacher praying and performing miracles he discerned that he was performing the miracles through the spirit of Witchcraft.

Example: Paul discerned and drove out the spirit of divination from a slave woman

Acts 16:16 It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave woman who had a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing great profit to her masters by fortune-telling. 17She followed Paul and us and cried out repeatedly, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you a way of salvation.” 18Now she continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and he turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment.

Attitudes to adopt in operating in Revelation Gifts

• The Holy Spirit determines when and how He wants to use a person
• But on our part we must have our spirit tuned to His voice while talking or chatting or emailing
• Pray – “Lord is there anything you want to reveal to this person?”
• We must be ready to receive what He wants to work through us
• This posture is important
• Remember we are here to benefit others
• Revelation gifts are dependent on whether you can see and hear what the Holy Spirit is showing and saying
• We are at great loss in the church because we are so dependent on what the ministers are saying and not being alert to receive from the Holy Spirit
• We are not developing these gifts

Process of growing in Revelation Gifts

• In everything God does there is a process
• He will start with small things and He will see how you function
• He will watch for your faithfulness, alertness and then increase your capacity to receive
• For those who have, more will be given

Example: in the case of Jeremiah God showed him a vision. Then tested his ability to see, hear. After that He began to increase what He revealed to Jeremiah

Jeremiah 1:11-13 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” 12Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it.”13And the word of the LORD came to me a second time, saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, facing away from the north.” 

Vocal gifts – What you need to Say

• Gift of tongues (languages)
  • “Tongues” is translated as “different languages” in old English
  • A language you have not learned or had any knowledge of before
  • It includes utterance by the Spirit

There have been cases of missionaries going to spread the gospel among tribal people. The moment they went to that place they supernaturally began to speak that language. I have a friend who went as a missionary amongst the ‘Jungle People’ in West Malaysia. For the first 7 days he was using a translator. But on the last day after his translator left, he had a meal with them and was about to leave the place. As he started praying in Tongues his language became different. He did not shift to pray in English as he had intended instead he continued on in Tongues. When he finished, the pastor informed him that he had just prayed in the local language.

Example: On the day of Pentecost the people gathered in the upper room were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim the mighty deeds of God

Acts 2: 4 & 6 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with different tongues, as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out. 6And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together and they were bewildered, because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. 

• Interpretation of tongues
  • Interpreting a message or prophecy in tongues into a local language.

This happens often in our church during worship. Someone may start prophesying strongly in Tongues and another person would immediately interpret that into English by this gift of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes the same person may interpret the prophetic message spoken in Tongues into a known language.

Example: Paul exhorts the use of this gift when someone starts speaking in tongues in a corporate setup. Purpose is to edify the church.

1 Corinthians 14:2, 27, 28For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. If anyone speaks in a tongue, it must be by two or at the most three, and each one in turn, and one is to interpret; 28but if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in church; and have him speak to himself and to God. 

• Prophecy

In this there are 4 dimensions.

• Spirit of Prophecy

In a church, during worship or prayer when the environment is charged up the Spirit of Prophecy can come upon anyone and they can speak a word of Prophecy.

Example: Saul was among the company of prophets and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he began to prophesy.

1 Sam 19:18-24 Then Saul sent messengers to take David, but when they saw the company of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing and presiding over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul; and they also prophesied. 21When Saul was informed of this, he sent other messengers, but they also prophesied. So Saul sent messengers again the third time, yet they prophesied. 22Then he went to Ramah himself and came as far as the large well that is in Secu; and he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” And someone said, “Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.” 23So he proceeded there to Naioth in Ramah; but the Spirit of God came upon him also, so that he went along prophesying continually until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24He also stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before Samuel and lay down naked all that day and all night. Therefore they say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

• Gift of Prophecy

When you pray or worship you will feel a strong flow in your inner man flowing to your lips. God may speak to you through one word or a character in the Bible or a picture or a scripture. If it is a scripture then you have to take it and start proclaiming. Then the Spirit of God will take over the words. You must not use your mind with what God is speaking. It is a spirit to Spirit connection. As you begin to speak the flow of the Spirit will take over.

1 Corinthians 14:3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification, exhortation, and consolation. 

• Every believer baptized in the Holy Spirit has access to this gift
  • It is a resident gift given to you
  • This gift operates to
    • Encourage
    • Edify
    • comfort
    • give direction (personal prophecy)
    • confirmation (God confirms what He has been speaking to you through another person operating in this gift)
  • If it is your dominant gift it would operate on a consistent basis
  • Else if you are alert God can use you in a particular situation to function in this gift
  • If it is your dominant gift then when you pray or worship you will feel a stirring in your spirit, you will feel a strong flow. At that time you need to be alert
  • If it is not your dominant gift simply ask God for a word for them as you pray and minister
  • If God wants to say something He will reveal it to you
  • If you receive nothing then continue to simply pray
  • This also takes practice and nurturing

• Office of prophet

Ephesians 4:11 And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers,

The prophet is called by God and it is a ministry calling. It is a function not a title. (Further explained under 5 fold ministry)

• Prophecy of Scripture

Jeremiah 29:10 For this is what the LORD says: ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place.

Jeremiah prophesies that they will be under captivity for 70 years in Babylon.

Daniel 9:1 – 3In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans— 2in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. 3So I gave my attention to the Lord God, to seek Him by prayer and pleading, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. 

Here Daniel takes what Jeremiah prophesied and begins to pray and proclaim and declare that scripture. This is the Prophecy of Scripture. It is the written will of God.

Ezra 1:1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying:

A strategic word came to Daniel as He was reading Jeremiah’s prophecy and his prayer created a people movement. The Prophecy of Scripture set things in motion.

Power Gifts – What you need to do

• Gift of Faith
  • It is a supernaturally imparted faith
  • Normally associated with miraculous healings, raising the dead and miraculous provision of needs
  • It is for a specific task and specific time

During a mission trip to Indonesia we were a group of young believers in our early 20s accompanied by a pastor in his 50s. He was a very mature believer. We were approached by a group of people who asked to pray for their relative who had just died. We youngsters started shaking in our pants but our leader said – “Let’s go and pray.” After a few hours of prayer the man came back to life. Later on we asked our leader where he got the courage to go and pray. He said, “I was also shaking in my pants. But God said ‘Go, I will heal’ and from somewhere I got a supernatural faith to go and pray.” I emphasize we prayed few hours because even though he received the word from God he could have given up after an hour of prayer. But he prayed until what God said came to pass. When we asked our leader if he would do it again, he folded his hands and said – “I don’t think I can do it again. This was a supernatural touch of God for this occasion.”

Example: In Paul’s journey in a ship an angel came and spoke to him that he had an appointment with the emperor. So he was confident that everybody would make it in spite of dire weather conditions. If you read the whole chapter the sailors would be about to jump from the ship and Paul would stop them. Then later even when the snake bites him he simply shakes it off and walks away unharmed. He had the word that he will meet the emperor. That faith sustained him.

Acts 27:23-25 For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong, whom I also serve, came to me, 24saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has graciously granted you all those who are sailing with you.’ 25Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told.

Acts 28: 3,5 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.

The gift of faith should not be confused with any of the following

• Faith for Salvation

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

• Fruit of Spirit – Sustaining faith

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

• Mustard Seed faith

Matthew 17:20 And He *said to them, “Because of your meager faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Here Jesus is talking about the progressive faith that grows from the mustard seed size to the size of largest plant in the garden. As God begins to stretch your faith it will progressively grow from faith for small things to bigger issues.

The Gift of Faith on the other hand is supernaturally imparted faith for a particular situation

1 Corinthians 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 

• This is the miraculous faith – an imparted faith
  • For instance, Smith Wigglesworth saw a man without a leg. He went and bought a pair of shoes for him and when he put the shoes under the man, the leg began to grow. Where did he get the faith to do that?

• Gifts of Healing and Miracles
  • Healing is associated with healing of body, emotions and mind
  • It moves to the level of a miracle when things happen like a whole body part grows
  • Miracles include signs and wonders in the physical environment
  • Deuteronomy 26:8 and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand, an outstretched arm, and with great terror, and with signs and wonders; 
  • Anyone of us can be used to perform healing as the Holy Spirit deems fit
  • If you have a ministry of evangelism this will be your dominant gifting
  • If your dominant gift is healing then 80 % to 90 % of the time you pray healing will take place
  • Sometimes God uses different methods to bring about healing. It may not just be prayer but He may give you hints

For example, when I was a young believer I used to feel pain in different parts of my body during prayer. Sometimes I would feel intense heat in my hands. I didn’t know what they were because as a new believer I was a bit “blur”. Then an experienced believer explained it this way – “When you experience a pain in any part of your body which you never had before just be courageous and ask if anybody has any problem in that part of their body. This is a way God shows you how to minister to people.” Then later I also learnt that when I felt heat in my hand it meant God wanted to perform healing. Sometimes God gives a Word of knowledge about a particular problem in a person. He may indicate just their name, other times just an alphabet and still other times just the dress color. We must be aware of various ways God can operate through so that we are a faithful vessel.

God is amazing. There are people who can pray for Migraine headaches alone. God creates even specialists in His healing ministry!

The main thing is to be alert and aware. You also need courage to just step out and pray. The first person I prayed for healing was an old lady in a hospital. She later died. Not exactly a confidence booster. But God gave me mature leaders who encouraged me, prodded me and nurtured my confidence in praying for healing in people. Now, whenever there is an opportunity I choose to become an instrument of God.

What God wants to do for that person is His job. Choosing to become a vessel for His use is my job. I choose to be the channel that connects God and His children.

So go out there and pray! If you only pray once in a while over others you will never find out if this is your dominant gift. Even if it’s not your dominant gift God may use you in that situation to heal that person. Even if nothing happens they are still blessed because prayer always blesses. It is a win-win situation anyway!

Service Gifts

Rom 12:7,8,13 if service, in the act of serving; or the one who teaches, in the act of teaching; 8or the one who exhorts, in the work of exhortation; the one who gives, with  generosity; the one who is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

1 Corinthians 12:28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and various kinds of tongues. 

• Gift of Hospitality – people who have the ability to show hospitality. It is a grace that someone carries. In some cultures this comes in naturally. The clear sign of those who carry this grace is – they love to serve people and they find fulfillment in that. It’s what makes them joyful and satisfied. Makes them feel they are doing something fulfilling. They are always looking for opportunity to bless people, feed people, to help people. Their heart is always on the people
• Gifts of Encouraging, Giving and Leadership are self explanatory
• Gift of Mercy or Helps – These are people who are compassionate for the poor or underprivileged. Their heart is always for those in society who have a need. If you want to start a social work program in your church you must look for these kind of people because they would carry the project through
• Gift of Administration – These are people who bring order and structure into things they do. In my local church there is a sister. Whatever ministry you put her in she will structure it very nicely, plan it into steps demarcating what she wants to achieve; what the ministry wants to achieve. Everything is clear cut in her work. They are very systematic in the way they work. So if we put her in Evangelism ministry she will plan what to do when a person comes in, how you share the gospel, how you bring him from one level to the next, what classes you need to bring him through, every step is planned clearly.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE AND DEVELOP YOUR DOMINANT GIFT

• It is the gift you flow in regularly, consistently
• It will normally be related to the ministry God leads you into
• Once you discover your dominant gift, use every opportunity to function in it, as you do you will become sharper and stronger in your gift
• Don’t shut yourself from operating in other gifts, keep yourself open and available. An important attitude of heart should be – whether dominant gift or not we must make ourselves available to the Holy Spirit for Him to move through us as He deems fit.Be sensitive to what the Holy Spirit wants to do

FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY

Somebody gave an example of how the five-fold ministries work together: We know about the wedding banquet mentioned by Jesus. The Evangelist goes out and invites people for the wedding. The Prophet is the one who plans the whole program. The Apostle is the one who organizes and brings that plan into reality. The Pastor is the guest relationship officer. He meets everyone and makes them feel at home. The Teacher is the one who teaches them how to behave in the wedding celebration and teaches them table manners. This is how the different functions work together.

Every church does not have the 5 fold inside them.

Titus 1: 5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, 

• The team of elders comprised of people operating in the five fold ministries
• Deacons will oversee house churches
• Elders will oversee all the deacons in the house churches
• Paul instructs Titus to set elders over the cities

OFFICE OF A PROPHET

• It is a ministry calling
• It is a function and not a title
• There is confusion in people that when they operate in the gift of prophecy they are a Prophet. This is not right.

Key difference between gift and office of prophet

• Anyone can move in Gift of Prophecy as Holy Spirit deems fit. Only those called by God to function in the Office of the prophet can move in that office
• Gift operates to encourage, edify , comfort, direction (personal prophecy), confirmation of what God has been speaking to you. When you operate in the gift you are limited to these 5 things – encourage, comfort, edify, personal prophesy and confirmation of God’s word for them
• Office of prophet includes all of the above but you move to the next level and give directions for the corporate body of Christ – national or international depending on the grace you carry as a prophet
• You are able to Impart, Correct & give Warning
• Prophet not only gives warning of the coming situation but also gives the blueprint on how to avoid or come out of that situation
• In the Book of Acts the prophet gave the warning that a famine is coming but also gave provisions on how to tackle it

Acts 11:27 – 30 Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28One of them, named Agabus, stood up and indicated by the Spirit that there would definitely be a severe famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius. 29And to the extent that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brothers and sisters living in Judea. 30And they did this, sending it with Barnabas and Saul to the elders.

OFFICE OF AN APOSTLE

• It is a function not a title
• Function of an Apostle is to build foundation in a ministry
• They have a personal encounter with the Lord. The original Apostles met God in person. Present day Apostles have a personal visitation from God or Jesus in their calling to this function
• Pioneering ministry – breaks into areas to start churches
• When they teach or speak there is an authority they carry that brings order and discipline in the church
• Always strengthens the Church
• When they go into the church they can recognize what needs to be built and they build the church in that area and strengthen it
• They operate in wisdom. Wisdom in building, communicating and everything
• They have a Fathering Heart. They are always looking for leaders to raise up and teach for Kingdom work
• They are sound in doctrine. Their doctrine is clear and accurate. Whatever topic or issue they will display a clarity and understanding of what God thinks of that subject. They have the full council of God
• They operate in signs & wonders 
• 2 Corinthians 12:12The distinguishing marks of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs, wonders, and miracles. 
• Paul’s own definition of an Apostolic ministry; operating in signs and wonders
• I have a friend in Jakarta who has planted 23 churches and he calls himself an apostle. So he only shows one sign of the ministry. And there are others who travel around the world, visit churches and teach people and they assume they are apostles. In some parts of the world, they have redefined every ministry because they are title conscious. They have redefined apostolic and prophetic ministry based on what they carry but they have not qualified with what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:12. Their ministry is not followed by signs and wonders

OFFICE OF TEACHER

• Teaching ministry is used by all the callings
• What makes a teacher different?
• Teaching ministry is characterized by Knowledge , Wisdom & Understanding
• Knowledge means knowing the full council of God
• Understanding means how they interpret the truth
• Wisdom means how they teach us to apply the truth
• Teacher focuses on life application not knowledge
• Knowledge of the Word does not change lives
• A person called to the Office of Teacher always plans to teach with the focus on how to break things down so people can apply it in their lives
• You can see the unction of the Holy Spirit evident in the presentation & illumination of Scripture
• Even if I have a PhD in Theology and study Greek and Hebrew it does not conclude that I am a teacher
• It is a calling of God and it has come with the unction of the Holy Spirit

God has given you a gift to strengthen your church you must utilize it. Be a faithful steward. Ask the Lord to help you understand what your dominant gift is. Ask God to help you be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

It is time now to move from ordinary to extraordinary; to move from the natural to the supernatural.