"Desiring the 'gifts' of The Spirit"

I believe it may be very important to have an accurate view of the 'gifts'.

The verses in these 3 Chapters [u]must[/u] each be read in context - as they were written. Just as each sentence begins with a conjunction for that purpose. To seperate these verses from the context - from the surrounding verses, is to mis-interpret the subject of the gifts.
These three Chpt.s cover 'His' Body which is ONE Body, of which He is The Head --- Main Point.
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- the 9 Manifestation gifts.

1Co 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

1Co 12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

1Co 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

1Co 12:7 [i]But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.[/i]

1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the [u]word of wisdom[/u]; to another the [u]word of knowledge[/u] by the same Spirit;

1Co 12:9 To another [u]faith [/u]by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of [u]healing[/u] by the same Spirit;

1Co 12:10 To another the working of [u]miracles[/u]; to another [u]prophecy[/u]; to another [u]discerning of spirits[/u]; to another [u]divers kinds of tongues[/u]; to another the [u]interpretation of tongues[/u]:

1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man [b][u][i]severally as he will.[/i] [/u]

1Co 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.

1Co 12:15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

1Co 12:16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

1Co 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

1Co 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, [u]as it hath pleased Him.[/u]

1Co 12:19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?

1Co 12:20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

1Co 12:21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

1Co 12:22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

1Co 12:23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

1Co 12:24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked:

1Co 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

1Co 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.

1Co 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.[/b]

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- the Motivational Gifts.

Rom 12:1 [b]I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

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

Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. [/b]

Rom 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether [u]prophecy[/u], let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

Rom 12:7 Or [u]ministry/serving[/u], let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on [u]teaching;[/u]

Rom 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on [u]exhortation[/u]: he that [u]giveth/giving[/u], let him do it with simplicity; he that [u]ruleth[/u], with diligence; he that showeth [u]mercy[/u], with cheerfulness.

Rom 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

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the 5 Ministerial Gifts.

Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

Eph 4:2 [b]With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Eph 4:3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.[/b]

Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Eph 4:11 And he gave some,[u] apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers[/u];

Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Eph 4:13 [b]Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. [/b]

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To say it directly - once our eyes are on "the gift", we'll go off.

Any Saint, that has gotten their eyes off of themselves - dying to self - can potentially be used in all of the above, as He Wills - because they will be on this earth, just as He was. He lowered Himself and took our form. Dependent on The Father to direct His every thought, word and action.

We won't be looking to see if we are being used in a gift - nor take notice when we are - we'll just "walk in Him" and the works that He did, any Saint may do also - to the degree that we decrease so that He will increase - seeking His Glory and His Will only and to live for others only, as He did.

To look at oneself for what gifts we are being used in is Not From Him.

To desire to be like Jesus. To be transformed into His Image. To have His Mind. To be full of Truth and nothing but His Truth - that is our goal - not "gifts" - but to [i]be like Him.[/i]

The "gifts" will manifest without self being involved, through any Saint that is dying to self. To the degree that they die to self - to that degree they will do what He did.

He had All the "[i]gifts[/i]" - we are to be as He was in the world.
He depended 100% on the Spirit. If we stop our autonomous way of thinking and living - as He walked totally dependent on the Father for every word, thought and deed - then it won't be "gifts" that we'll be looking for, but just to obey the Father in whatever He would have us to do, think or say and "gifts" are just part of Him living His life through us. They are not to be glorified - He is.

Luk 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Luk 10:20 [i]Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in Heaven. [/i]

God Bless.

Hia Brother.

There are "gifts" and then there are "Commandments".

Charity [i]is[/i] "Agape"/Love.

To Love and sacrifice oneself is a commandment.

Love is not listed as a "gift", wherein, some are 'gifted' with more love than others are.

Love is a "choice".

We don't "choose" our 'gifts' mentioned above.
We can desire - but God chooses.

Hi Suzy, I think you'll enjoy this as I do, by Paul then Leonard Ravenhill. :-)

[b]Php 3:7-14 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Quotes by Leonard Ravenhill

My goal is God Himself.
Not joy.
Not peace.
Not even blessing, but Himself, my God.
It is His to lead me there, not mine but His,
At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.
So faith bounds forward to its goal in God and love can trust our Lord to lead her there.
I pray by Him my soul will follow hard ’til God has at last fulfilled my deepest prayer
No matter if the way become sometimes dark.
No matter if the cost be often great.
He knoweth how I best should reach the mark.
The way that leads to Him must need be straight.
One thing I know, I cannot say to Him nay.
One thing I do, I press toward my God.
The secret of the life of the apostle was this - you want to know – it’s "this one thing I do" - he never got into sidetracks.
He never got into business like so many preachers do.
This one thing I do, it will be hell to get there.
I forget – one of the old puritan preachers said in the 1600s - you have to go through hell to get to heaven.
You have to lose everything in order to become the part of the Bride of Jesus Christ.
One thing I know, I cannot say to Him nay.
One thing I do, I press toward my Lord.
My God, my glory here from day to day.
And in the glory then, my great reward. [HIM]

Christianity hasn’t been tried and found wanting…
It’s been tried and found difficult and rejected.[/b]

Ah, one more by A.B. Simpson - 1904 ~

[b]Once it was the blessing,
Now it is the Lord;
Once it was the feeling,
Now it is His Word;
Once His gift I wanted,
Now, the Giver own;
Once I sought for healing,
Now Himself alone.

Refrain

All in all forever,
Jesus will I sing;
Everything in Jesus,
And Jesus everything.

Once ’twas painful trying,
Now ’tis perfect trust;
Once a half salvation,
Now the uttermost;
Once ’twas ceaseless holding,
Now He holds me fast;
Once ’twas constant drifting,
Now my anchor’s cast.

Refrain

Once ’twas busy planning,
Now ’tis trustful prayer;
Once ’twas anxious caring,
Now He has the care;
Once ’twas what I wanted,
Now what Jesus says;
Once ’twas constant asking,
Now ’tis ceaseless praise.

Refrain

Once it was my working,
His it hence shall be;
Once I tried to use Him,
Now He uses me;
Once the pow’r I wanted,
Now the Mighty One;
Once for self I labored,
Now for Him alone.

Refrain

Once I hoped in Jesus,
Now I know He’s mine;
Once my lamps were dying,
Now they brightly shine;
Once for death I waited,
Now His coming hail;
And my hopes are anchored
Safe within the veil.

Refrain[/b]

Bless GOD!

Hey Brother Clint. I'm glad you were 'pokey'. :-)

Look you posted Phil 3. By 2 or 3 is something established. (paraphrased)

This past summer, the Lord spoke to my spirit about "olives being squashed to the max, to get the olive oil out". Yes Sir - what you've said on "suffering, being crushed, being mutilated as far as this flesh is concerned" is right on target.

And as you wrote - "constantly and consistently seeking to Know the Lord Jesus Christ" - Amen.

No greater gift can we give Him than ourselves, as a living sacrifice, to do with us as He pleases. Even if it's just cleaning commodes at the Church. Amen!

Dying to self - as Suzy wrote.

"That I might Know Him" - the rest is just the by-products.

I do pray this year though - that "discernment" will increase through-out the Church, with that proper measure of [i]mercy[/i] combined.

All believers should learn/know HIS Voice, as well as their own - John 10.

And then John 16:13 will be the by-product of knowing His Voice well.

He promised to 'all' of His own, 'The Spirit of Truth' and the Overcomers, 'the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy'.
John 10 - John 16:13 and Rev 19:10 go hand in hand and are for all of His Elect - everyone of them.
Pray discernment between truth & error for The Saints, during this apostasy and until He Comes.

Bless God and [u]Thank you[/u] Brother.

"....for the sheer joy of pleasing Christ." :-)

Good Post Suzy. :-)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (self-control): against such there is no law.”

Till Christ be formed in you. "Fruit" - singular.

Reminded me of the love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance that we have before the world, as a last days witness and these verses...

1Pe 3:12-16 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

Very neat - Thank you!!

1Co 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
1Co 12:15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1Co 12:16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1Co 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
1Co 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
1Co 12:19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
1Co 12:20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
1Co 12:21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
1Co 12:22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
1Co 12:23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
1Co 12:24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked:
1Co 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
1Co 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.
1Co 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Bless The LORD!

Hia Brother - maybe if you take another look.
The first posts were saying that a person can be used in ALL the gifts - if they are where God wants them and the "fruit" is Singular - because that's what Gal 5:22 says.

If you "put on Christ"/"walk in the Spirit", you'll have His love, joy, peace, longsuffering, patience - Etc.
That's why "they" are called 'fruit-singular' - and not "fruits".

LORD Bless.

the "fruit" is Singular - because that's what Gal 5:22 says.

If you think about it, the fruit of the Spirit is borne through abiding in the Vine. This is different from the anointing of the Holy Spirit which brings the enabling of certain gifts to individual believers' lives, by which the body is edified - built up - to the increase of itself in love (Eph 4:16). Personally, I believe that evangelism is also about the edification of the body, because until all the members have been brought in, we are incomplete.

There was a discussion in another thread about this, and lovegrace pointed out there are people who appear to have power, but not character. I am not advocating this split, because I don't see it in Jesus. The spread of scripture which was offered by HE_Reigns, is a blessed reminder of Paul's exhortations to live [u]and walk[/u] in the Spirit, when these manifestations of the grace of God upon our lives, should be inevitable. Thank you, Annie.

Thank you Sis for drawing that picture clearer for us. We can use all the help that we can get. That's Good Body functioning. :-)

I'm asking here for prayer for Moe and pastorfrin.

Thank you!!!

Amen ~ Thank you Brother Philip!