Focus: Charismatic Gifts (Pt.2)

Text: 1Cor.12:7

"Each person is given something to do that shows who God is."

The charismatic gifts are distributed to every believer in Christ by the Holy Spirit. Go through the list again in 1Corinthians 12 and see for yourself the uniqueness of the gifts.

*The revelatory gifts:

1. Word of wisdom

It is wise counsel prompted and provided by the Spirit.

2. Word of knowledge

It is Spirit-generated insight, knowing, or understanding concerning a particular situation.

3. Discerning of spirits

It is Spirit-imparted ability to identify which spirits are at work in a certain place and at a certain time. Remember that even Satan has camouflaged himself into an angel of light and it takes spiritual discernment to expose him and his cohorts.

*The power gifts

1. Faith

It moves mountains and works wonders. It is a Spirit-given faith to effect miracles.

2. Miracles

It is God's power in action to meet human needs miraculously.

3. Healings

It is divine cures effected by the Spirit to relieve the sufferer.

*The prophetic gifts

1. Prophecy

It is a gift that concerns forth-telling and foretelling, but at the base, Paul says, "But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort" (1Cor.14:3).

2. Tongues

It is Spirit-given capacity to speak in different unlearned or unknown tongues.

3. Interpretations of tongues

It is Spirit-bestowed power that enables one to interpret the tongues spoken by another in the gathering of God's people.

These gifts showcase the grace, goodness and greatness of God among us. By the use of these gifts we feel the presence and power of God among us. By the use of these gifts our yokes are broken and our needs are met supernaturally and miraculously. By the use of these gifts God's people are consoled, comforted, encouraged and edified. By the use of these gifts we experience God anew for as long as the church exists on earth, and by the exercise of these gifts the church encounters God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

God wants the church and all of God's people to be Spirit-filled and Spirit-empowered. He wants every Spirit-filled believer to have and exercise, at least, one of these spiritual gifts for the benefit of all. By these gifts we experience life from the Father, in the Son and through the Spirit.

There is something you need to know. In the Old Testament God instructed Moses to make bells which Aaron would wear around his waist when he went into the holiest place to minister before the Lord. As he went about doing his work in the most holy place, the bells would be ringing and the children of Israel would hear the sound of the bells ringing and know that he was still alive. In the same vein, Christ our high priest is now in the most holy place in heaven, interceding for us. I believe that the possession and manifestation of the charismatic gifts is like the bells around the waist of Aaron, announcing in our hearts that Christ is alive and working before His Father. The Spirit is connected with Christ; the bell of Christ is ringing in our hearts, announcing and assuring us that Christ is alive and well before the presence of the Father.

The Spirit has imparted us with charismatic gifts to enable us to reflect God to one another. God has given us gifts that show us who He is - gifts by which we deliver service to the body of Christ.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter