What is God like?

Sermons

What is God like? May 28 and 30 Jesus walked the earth for over 33 years, showing us God in the flesh especially the last 3 and ½ that we have most of the narrative. We see the way he raised up the value of all people especially those most negated …

Gifts on the go! (What we can do Part 3)

We have talked about tongues, Wisdom, Knowledge faith and healing. If you missed any of those, get our app Christian Center PA or go to our website www.christiancenter.usand catch up on the teachings

 

All of these gifts are available to us and are for the purpose of building up the Body and reaching the world.

 

As the Holy Spirit is in you, you can rely on Him to move through you as you get to know Him better through daily spending time with Him

 

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

 

There are diversities (distinctive) of gifts [special abilities given by the grace and extraordinary power of the Holy Spirit operating in believers], 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 [inspiring, energizing, and empowering them]. 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.

 

Working of Miracles–

 

The spiritual gift of miracles is described in Scripture much like the gift of healing.  It is found in 1 Corinthians 12:10and the Greek phrase

 

energemata dynameon –literally translates “workings of powers.”  The double plural most likely means that these gifts were diverse and were not permanently available at the will of the gifted believer, but instead were bestowed at various times and circumstances.  Thus, the gifts are subject to the divine will of God and His purposes and are not decided by the one who performs the miraculous works.

 

We know that Jesus performed many miracles in His earthly ministry, even more than those recorded in Scripture (John 20:30-31, Acts 2:22).

 

The Apostles regularly performed miracles of all kinds including casting out demons, healings, raising people from the dead, striking people dead, causing blindness, and much more (Acts 2:43; 3:1-10; 5:1-16; 9:36-43; 13:4-12; 19:11-12).

 

Other believers performed miracles as well, including Stephen (Acts 6:8) and Phillip (Acts 8:4-8).

 

Miracles were given by God to the church to reveal the presence and glory of God among all people and to create a sense of awe and wonder and Godly fear.  Though there were many enemies of the church, often the result of miracles being performed was more people coming to faith in Jesus and glorifying God, as well as greater faith and boldness within the church (Acts 4:29-31; 9:35, 42).

 

Those with the spiritual gift of miracles often

– have a heightened sensitivity to the presence and power of God through His Holy Spirit.

– have a special measure of faith and desire for God to reveal Himself and draw many to faith in His Son Jesus Christ.

– take care not to draw attention to themselves or have a following of people, but are constantly pointing others to Jesus.

 

Example: Demon possessed woman in Sudan “Jesus Christ is come in the flesh”

 

Those with this gift understand that God is Sovereign and He can work when and how He desires, but they make sure they are available and listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

 

This takes time of learning and waiting on God to have the confidence to know what He is doing in any time

 

This gift is often accompanied by prayer and strong petition by these individuals for God to reveal His glory to people.

 

They do not claim power themselves, but always give credit and glory to God for His mighty works.  Often God will deliberately humble them to keep them relying on His grace and pointing to His Son, rather than miracles.  See also 1 Corinthians 12:10, Acts 1:8;

 

When someone is presented as God’s man or woman as the man of power of the hour you need to ask yourself what spirit are they flowing in as this is all done by God’s power. We can not accept the credit nor the criticism

 

Galatians 3:5,6

 

“Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? — 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham”

 

Prophecy

 

-The spiritual gift of prophecy is an extraordinary and unique gift.  Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:1to “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.”

 

-This gift is a blessing to the church and can be to those in the Kingdom of darkness and should not be quenched or despised (1 Thessalonians 5:20).

 

-Those who have the gift of prophecy differ from the Old Testament Prophets who spoke the authoritative Word of God directly.  Their words were recorded as Scripture as they proclaimed, “Thus says The Lord,” whereas the messages from those with the spiritual gift of prophecy must be tested which means they can be wrong (1 Corinthians 14:29-33; 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21; 1 John 4:1-3).

 

The Greek word for the gift of prophecy is

 

Propheteia –which is the ability to receive a divinely inspired message and deliver it to others.

 

These messages can take the form of exhortation, correction in the life of the unbeliever (gently), prediction of future events, comfort, inspiration, or other revelations given to equip and edify the body of Christ

 

1 Corinthians 14:3-4, 24-25

 

But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church…..But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you

 

I saw this happen in Russia as they brought young man and women in from the streets and the Lord gave me words about them, not condemnation but things that only God knew so they would know He loved them…each one came to Christ because of this

 

Again, they do not constitute the authoritative Word of God, but are the human interpretation of the revelation that was received.  They are spoken in human words through a human mind, which is why they must be tested against the Scriptures.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:20-21

 

Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil

 

The Holy Spirit gives the gift of prophecy to some believers to make God’s heart known and to edify the church.

 

This gift

 

– is for the benefit of both believers and unbelievers and is a sign that God is truly among His church (1 Corinthians 14:22-25).

– those with this gift are sensitive to both the prompting of the Holy Spirit and the needs of the church body.

 

It has become an inaccurate tradition that a word comes unexpectedly and with great force, a prophetic word, insight understanding may be delivered to a person days, weeks, or months in advance to be delivered at God’s right timing

 

1 Corinthians 14:32,33 Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.

 

 

A prophetic person should be humble and continually study the Scriptures in order to test these revelations before speaking them.  When they do speak, they should allow and even expect others to weigh what is said against the Scriptures and interpret the message accordingly.  In this way the church may be continually built up together in unity 1 Corinthians 14:4, 26,1 Corinthians 12:10, 14:1-5,1 Peter 4:10-11.

 

A prophecy can be a direct word, a teaching, preaching, prayer, it can show up in many forms.  Any time a distinct word from the Lord is proclaimed, a prophecy is delivered

 

Discerning of spirits(1 Cor. 12:10; Luke 8:29)

 

The spiritual gift of discernment is also known as the gift of  “discernment of spirits” or “distinguishing between spirits.”

 

The Greek word for the gift of discernment is Diakrisis.  The word describes being able to distinguish, discern, judge or appraise a person, statement, situation, or environment.

 

In the New Testament it describes the ability to distinguish between spirits as in 1 Corinthians 12:10, and to discern good and evil as in Hebrews 5:14.

 

The Holy Spirit gives the gift of discernment to enable certain Christians to clearly recognize and distinguish between the influence of God, Satan, the world, and the flesh in a given situation. The church needs those with this gift to warn believers in times of danger or keep them from being led astray by false teaching.  See also I Corinthians 12:10, Acts 5:3-6; 16:16-18;1 John 4:1.

 

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world”

 

It is important that we understand especially in today’s culture where there are some who claim to be following Christ, even filled with the Spirit but are not, the fruit is not active in their lives and in its place is manipulation and false things….This gift enables us to know clearly what is God and what is not God, understanding the fruit of the Spirit and looking for the fruit enables this gift to function at a very high level. Is the ministry about building the person and their kingdom or the Kingdom of God?

 

Interpretation of tongues(1 Cor. 12:10; 14:13-33)

 

The spiritual gift of interpretation of tongues is found alongside the gift of speaking in tongues in1 Corinthians 12:10.

 

– The Greek word for interpretation is hermeneiaand simply means to interpret, explain, or expound some message that is not able to be understood in a natural way.

 

– this spiritual gift is the supernatural ability to understand and explain messages uttered in an unknown language.

 

– This is a revelatory gift, meaning that God “reveals” the meaning of the words or message being spoken and allows the interpreter to communicate its meaning to those who need to hear it.  When this happens in the church two things happen: the church is edified and God is glorified.It is especially effective when someone interprets other than the person who gave the tongue and in some cases I have seen it where a second person not in the room at the time of the first interpretation, interprets the same things as the first

 

The spiritual gift of interpretation is given by the Holy Spirit to certain individuals to reveal messages spoken in an unknown tongue to God for the building up of the church.  Like the gift of prophecy, tongues that are interpreted have the effect of encouraging and blessing the church to love and serve God more deeply and effectively.  See also 1 Corinthians 12:10, 30;14:28. This gift is only used within a ministry environment

 

Each of these gifts are available for anyone who is filled with the Spirit. Some may stay with a person for life some may come and go as the need demands but learning to use these gifts and understand them takes time, learning from people experienced in these areas. Personally I have used all of these gifts with the exception of a tongue in a public meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gifts on the go (what we can do Part 2)

Gifts on the go(what we can do Part 2)

 

Last week I began taking about the gifts of the Spirit and we talked about wisdom and knowledge something I think we could all use…this week let’s go a little further

 

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

 

There are diversities (distinctive) of gifts [special abilities given by the grace and extraordinary power of the Holy Spirit operating in believers], 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 [inspiring, energizing, and empowering them]. 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.

 

Faith –

 

The spiritual gift of faith is not to be confused with saving faith.  All Christians have been given saving faith Ephesians 2:8-9,

 

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast”

 

Not all receive a special gift of faith.  The word for faith in the New Testament is

 

“Pistis”–  It carries the notion of confidence, certainty, trust, and assurance in the object of faith.

 

The gift of faith is rooted in one’s saving faith in Christ and the trust that comes through a close relationship with the Savior.  Those with this gift have a trust and confidence in God that allows them to live boldly for Him and manifest that faith in mighty ways.

 

The gift of faith can be given one time, many times, or be with a person for ever…George Mueller from Bristol England denied he had it but everyday the children in his orphanage would gather around empty tables with empty plates and they would pray and within moments something would happen, a vehicle would breakdown loaded with food in front of the orphanage, a baker would bring fresh baked goods, someone else a large catch of fish, everyday they needed food and everyday God would supply, after they prayed

 

The Holy Spirit distributes this gift to some in the church to encourage and build up the church in her confidence in God.  Those with the gift of faith trust that God is sovereign and He is good.  They take Him at His Word and put the full weight of their lives in His hands.  They expect God to move and are not surprised when He answers a prayer or performs a miracle.

 

  • Supernaturally trusts and does not doubt what the Lord is saying or doing.
  • Goes beyond saving faith and natural faith
  • Ability to overcome great adversity with confidence
  • Benefit of a group of people generally not just an individual

 

 

Acts 4:19,20 “But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard”

Bob and Fran Hanus

Think about it, has there ever been a time when you needed to believe, you felt the full confidence to believe even though it didn’t make sense. You had an overwhelming sense of peace that despite what was going on around you, you knew God was handling the situation….That is the gift of faith in action and you can have it happen more often as you are in the word and prayer so you know the Holy Spirit in person

 

Healing –

 

I have several acquaintances who seem to have this gift and I have asked them, because I question myself, why they don’t simply go into children’s hospital and lay hands on every child and heal them….their answer….they are not the healer, God is! Every gift even if given freely is still dependent upon the Holy Spirit. As we learn to move in the gifts we are given, most of them are completely dependent of our responding appropriately to the Holy Spirit, tongues is often how we get there to understand the Father’s heart so we can flow in the gifts better.  Jesus didn’t heal all of the sick, crippled and broken in Israel but he did heal everyone he saw the Father healing

 

John 5:19

 

So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.

 

This spiritual gift is closely related to the gifts of faith and miracles.  All spiritual gifts are to be exercised in faith, but gifts of healings involve a special measure of it.  This gift is interesting in that there is no guarantee that a person will always be able to heal anyone he or she desires.  It is subject to the sovereign will of God, as all spiritual gifts are.

 

The Disciples were given authority to heal and cast out demons, but they were not always successful.  The Apostle Paul was not able to heal himself and was told that God’s grace was sufficient to carry him through his infirmity without removing it from him (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

 

This gift is given at various times and places to reveal the God of heaven to the sick and tormented.  If healing is not granted, then we can conclude that God has greater plans for letting the person go through the illness or infirmity.

 

 

We are all called to lay hands on the sick

 

Mark 16:17

 

And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (ESV)

 

The gift of healing gives you a confidence and insight that the Lord will heal….I have seen this in my own life but for me it has started as a leap of faith, just trusting the Lord and then watching him do the impossible and I expected it, to the point if someone did not get healed it was unusual. Mostly it was for the purposes of evangelism

 

But God does still heal today, sometimes it is gradual, sometimes it is instantaneous. Sometimes people are healed and they don’t even realize it until they look for it…sometimes people are healed in stages, sometimes it is through a doctor and sometimes just a miraculous touch…we are not the healer, God is.

 

My story with the accident skull and thumb but lots of dental work

 

Timothy had stomach ailments 1 Timothy 5:23

 

“No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.”

 

Paul left others ill 2 Timothy 4:20

 

‘Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus.’

 

Yet Acts 20:9-12

 

And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” 11 And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. 12 And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.

 

I say all of this to say that we need to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and allow the gifts to flow through us always and to realize that God will give us the Faith, Healing, wisdom and knowledge we need to accomplish everything we need and to give Him glory…next week I hope to finish the rest of the gifts

 

 

 

 

 

The Power

The power

 

We have talked about tearing down the walls, building a strong foundation, the need to move in power, making sure the anointing remains…today I need us to look at the power the Lord wants us to have that is missing in many

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit for all of us…why

– As one person flowing in the Holy Spirit we are limited by time, energy, and distance…we can only be so many places talk to so many people..but if every Christian can be filled the power the whole world can be reached

– Jesus said greater works will we do (John 14:12 as he talked about the Holy Spirit) is this just the Holy Spirit being with us as we are saved or is there something more?

 

Jesus said Acts 1:5

John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 2: 1-4

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

As far as I can tell from reading Acts and the Epistles every Christian in the first-century church was baptized in the Holy Spirit

Acts 8: 12-17

But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed. 14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. 15 As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. 16 The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 19:1-7

And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7 Now the men were about twelve in all.

 

These Christ-followers had a relationship with Jesus, they had been immersed in water as a sign of their commitment to following Christ.

 

They had received Christ as their Lord and Savior, The Father was their Father and the Holy Spirit was in them in that you can not have one member of the Trinity and not have all three, immersed, but the apostles knew there was something else that they needed.

 

They were not talking about a passive work but a purposeful work of God! A baptism not of water, but of the Holy Spirit.

 

Matthew 3:11 reflects this from John the Baptist words in

“I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

 

Let me ask you when you came to Christ did you feel like you were baptized in fire?

 

Most of us would say not. This is not a literal fire but a passion for the heart of God but the passion can be wasted if not empowered by God

 

2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

 

Jesus said in Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

What is this power he spoke of? The power Paul talked about? The power the early Christians had?

 

It was what is called the infilling or baptism of the Holy Spirit

 

John 14:16, 17

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

 

– Jesus said one would be coming that would be exactly like Him “another”

– He will be with you always

– he will lead you into all truth (also John 16:12,13)

– He lives with you when you come to Christ but fills you when you are baptized in the Holy Spirit

 

Earlier John14:12 Jesus said those who believe will do greater works and then he went on to talk about how…when the Holy Spirit comes on you the power comes

 

John 14:26 we are told

“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”

When you are filled with the Holy Spirit because he gave us the Bible as I shared last week he will cause us to remember all things

He will always remind us of our part and responsibility in the Kingdom

John 16: 8-15

And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. 10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. 11 Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged. 12 “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14 He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’

 

– Being filled with the Holy Spirit helps us to know our sin, not live there but to be drawn to freedom

– Being filled with the Spirit enables us to hear the truth, understand the truth, and walk in the truth

– Being filled with the Spirit means your life will glorify God as the Spirit through you will only glorify God

– Being filled with the Spirit opens our understanding to receive all he has for us!

 

BUT THERE IS MORE

 

The fruit of the Spirit and the gifts are alive in those who are filled with the Spirit or at least can be.

 

Galatians 5:22,23

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, meekness, kindness, faithfulness, 23 and self-control. There is no law against these things!

 

The gifts of the Spirit are mainly outlined in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 they are bookends to the love chapter I believe because apart from love these gifts are useless (1 Corinthians 13 tells us that by the Holy Spirit)

 

Word of wisdom – supernatural perspective on all things, right application of the truth…

 

Word of knowledge – insight and revelation of previously unknown things

 

Faith – not to be confused with saving faith – this gives peace in any storm a supernatural trust and confidence in God

 

Gifts of healing – healing physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually

 

Working of miracles – feeding people with little to nothing, casting out demons, raising the dead or making them dead

Prophecy – Divine revelation that always points people to Jesus a message or teaching to exhort, correct, equip, disclose sin, predict the future events

 

Discerning of spirits – both the insight into demonic, fleshly and Godly realm, you can tell very clearly if something is God or not…it is a testing of the spirits (1 John 4:1)

 

Tongues and praying in tongues some see these as separate regardless it is the ability to communicate to God and or for God in a known or unknown language that the speaker does not know. WE encourage everyone to have a prayer language as it edifies the person who prays

 

Interpretation of tongues – if tongues is to be used in public it should never be used without someone who can interpret

 

Helping – a supernatural desire to help in all or any way to accomplish the Kingdom purposes

 

Administration – to steer or guide a supernatural gift to order and design what needs to happen in a group with a plan or to accomplish a task

 

Hospitality – a gift to care for, serve, and minister to people through tenderness, compassion and food generally

 

Celibacy – a gift to desire only to give yourself to God for his purposes alone

 

 

This just skims the surface of all of this but all of this is available if you have committed to Christ and want to take the next step to receive the Baptism of or in the Holy Spirit

 

This is all part of the Spirit of power, love, and self-control that we can flow in as Christ-followers

 

Some of you may be saying…I am a spirit-filled believer this teaching is nice for others…the greatest church in the world at the time of Paul was in Ephesus they were flowing in the power of God but they had their struggles so Paul says this

 

Ephesians 5:18

“Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,”

 

If you are ready today to be filled (baptized with the Holy Spirit) for the first time or to be renewed in Him come.

 

You might be asking do I need this? My response to you would be are you seeing the power, confidence, and fruit in your life? If not, then you need this!

 

He is not about falling down, laughing, crying or such things although you may do any of that or nothing if you receive prayer it depends upon what you need instead it is about being renewed in power

 

You may be given a prayer language or not but today you will be filled with the Spirit if you have Jesus as your Lord and savior