Gifts of the Holy Spirit

...all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will. - 1 Corinthians 12:8-11

The talents that Christ entrusts to His church represent especially the gifts and blessings imparted by the Holy Spirit. "To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will." 1 Cor. 12:8-11. All men do not receive the same gifts, but to every servant of the Master some gift of the Spirit is promised.

Before He left His disciples, Christ "breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost." John 20:22. Again He said, "Behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you." Luke 24:49. But not until after the ascension was the gift received in its fullness. Not until through faith and prayer the disciples had surrendered themselves fully for His working was the outpouring of the Spirit received. Then in a special sense the goods of heaven were committed to the followers of Christ. "When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." Eph. 4:8. "Unto every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ," the Spirit "dividing to every man severally as He will." Eph. 4:7; 1 Cor. 12:11. The gifts are already ours in Christ, but their actual possession depends upon our reception of the Spirit of God.

The promise of the Spirit is not appreciated as it should be. Its fulfillment is not realized as it might be. It is the absence of the Spirit that makes the gospel ministry so powerless. Learning, talents, eloquence, every natural or acquired endowment, may be possessed; but without the presence of the Spirit of God, no heart will be touched, no sinner be won to Christ. On the other hand, if they are connected with Christ, if the gifts of the Spirit are theirs, the poorest and most ignorant of His disciples will have a power that will tell upon hearts. God makes them the channel for the outworking of the highest influence in the universe.

A Great Persecution

Prophecy: "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world." Matthew 24:21. "...they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake... And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death." Luke 21:12,16

This prophecy points primarily to the long period of tribulation that took place during the Dark Ages and was instigated by the apostate church. It lasted more than 1,000 years, multitudes were tortured, burned at the stake, or both. Over 50 million Christians were slain for their faith in this terrible tribulation period.

One writer says the apostate church "has shed more innocent blood than any other institution that has ever existed among mankind." W.E.H. Lecky, History of the Rise and Influence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe, (Reprint; New York: Braziller, 1955) Vol. 2, pp. 40-45.

"From the birth of popery to the present time, it is estimated by careful and credible historians, that more than fifty millions of the human family, have been slaughtered for the crime of heresy by popish persecutors..." John Dowling, The History of Romanism, pp. 541-542

The Destruction of Jerusalem

Prophecy: "There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." "Let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains." Matthew 24:2, 16.

It is a matter of historical fact that Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70 by the Roman warrior Titus.

Christ saw in Jerusalem a symbol of the world hardened in unbelief and rebellion, and hastening on to meet the retributive judgments of God. The woes of a fallen race, pressing upon His soul, forced from His lips that exceeding bitter cry. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" Matthew 24:37

He saw the record of sin traced in human misery, tears, and blood; His heart was moved with infinite pity for the afflicted and suffering ones of earth; He yearned to relieve them all. But even His hand might not turn back the tide of human woe; few would seek their only Source of help. He was willing to pour out His soul unto death, to bring salvation within their reach; but few would come to Him that they might have life.

Who God REALLY Is

Scripture: "I had only heard about You before, but now I have seen You with my own eyes." Job 42:5

The Wrong Impression

Have you ever had the totally wrong idea about someone? Maybe you heard a rumor or had a weird first impression. Or worse, have you ever felt completely misunderstood? It’s awful to be on the receiving end. I think that God feels that way more than anybody. People think He is mean, absent, cold-hearted, and generally out to get them. But nothing could be further from the truth!

Knowing God

Here is a little test: Do you think that God is far away and only concerned with your “good deeds?” Do you think He loves people who grew up in a Christian home more than people who didn’t? Do you think that you have done things SO bad that He can’t possibly truly forgive you? Then you are the person God wants to speak to. He wants you to know who He really is, so that you will trust Him and experience eternal life--both now and forever! Jesus said, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" John 17:3. 

God's Personality

One day, Moses asked God to show him His real personality. He said, “Please show me Your glory” Exodus 33:18. Glory means "weight" or what something is when everything else is boiled down. Now, God could have caused the sky to flash or said something really intimidating, but instead, He said this:

"The LORD! The LORD! A God who is compassionate and merciful, very patient,
full of great loyalty and faithfulness, showing great loyalty to a thousand generations, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion, yet by no means clearing the guilty, punishing for their parents’ sins their children and their grandchildren, as well as the third and the fourth generation" Exodus 34:6-7

Compassionate. Merciful. Patient. Loyal. Faithful. Forgiving. Just. This is the God who is asking you to trust Him. You may have grown up thinking He is someone totally different, but now is the time God wants that to change. We are going to look at the way God described Himself to Moses over the next few weeks. My prayer is that we all (me included!) would get a new, clear understanding of who God really is.

The Glorious Hope

"I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself." John 14:1-3

One of the most solemn and yet most glorious truths revealed in the Bible is that of Christ's second coming, to complete the great work of redemption. To God's pilgrim people, so long left to sojourn in the "region and shadow of death," a precious, joy-inspiring hope is given in the promise of His appearing, who is "the resurrection and the life," to "bring home again his banished."

When the Saviour was about to be separated from his disciples, he comforted them in their sorrow with the assurance that he would come again: "Let not your heart be troubled." "In my Father's house are many mansions." "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself." John 14:1-3. "The Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him. Then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory, and before him shall be gathered all nations." Matt. 25:31, 32.

The coming of the Lord has been in all ages the hope of his true followers. The Saviour's parting promise upon Olivet, that he would come again, lighted up the future for his disciples, filling their hearts with joy and hope, that sorrow could not quench, nor trials dim. Amid suffering and persecution, "the appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" was the "blessed hope." When the Thessalonian Christians were filled with grief as they buried their loved ones, who had hoped to live to witness the coming of the Lord, Paul, their teacher, pointed them to the resurrection, to take place at the Saviour's advent. Then the dead in Christ should rise, and together with the living be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. "And so," he said, "shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thess. 4:16-18.

On rocky Patmos the beloved disciple hears the promise, "Surely, I come quickly," and his longing response voices the prayer of the church in all her pilgrimage, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Rev. 22:20.

Prophecy not only foretells the manner and object of Christ's coming, but presents tokens by which men are to know when it is near "even at the door".

Turn your Guilt into Gold

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You. Then I will teach Your ways to rebels, and they will return to You” (Psalm 51:12,13)

I apologize in advance for the example I’m about to give, but I couldn’t think of a better way to explain! I want you to truly believe that your greatest regrets and struggles can actually bring incredible life to you and those around you!

So I want you to think about manure. Manure can do one of two things: it can just smell awful, or it can fertilize. The difference lies in the ground it’s on. If it just sits on a rock, it’s only going to rot. But if it’s placed in soft ground, it will enrich the soil and cause amazing growth.

Your sin is the same! Left in a hard heart, it will just sit there and smell up your life. But worked into a soft, repentant heart, it can bring great life to you and others when you tell about God’s goodness! Take King David: God called him “a man after My own heart,” even though he slept with another man’s wife, got her pregnant, and then had him killed to cover up the scandal. That’s a lot of manure. But when God confronted him, his heart became soft ground, and he wrote this prayer:

Have mercy on me, God, according to Your faithful love! Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You. Then I will teach Your ways to rebels, and they will return to You. Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of Your forgiveness. Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise You (Psalm 51:1,12-15).

From Guilt…to Gold Your unique struggles and the healing God has given you can become a beacon of light to others sinking in similar despair. Take the blind man Jesus healed: He said, “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (John 9:25) Can you imagine how encouraging that testimony would be if you were a blind person? In the same way, whatever you have struggled with (depression, addiction, loneliness, pride, etc.) can be the ray of light to others— if you will allow God’s healing to go deep into your softened heart and then not be ashamed to share it with others!

Do you want your struggles to become a beacon of light for others? Ask God for His promise here: “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart” (Ezekiel 36:26). God’s forgiveness will not only heal you, it will free others too!

How high could gas prices rise?

Nations can and do use oil as a weapon.

The head of Iran's state oil company said Sunday that the price of crude will reach $120 to $150 per barrel, as officials in Tehran prepare to discuss a ban on crude sales to European Union countries in retaliation for an EU embargo . . . [Iran] says the embargo will hurt the West more than Iran, in part by causing a spike in prices" ("Iran Oil Official Says Crude Could Reach $120 to $150 Per Barrel, Downplays EU Embargo," The Washington Post, Jan. 29, 2012).

Currently, the lowest price of gas in the United States is around $3.00 per gallon, far lower than in most of the rest of the world. Could $4.00 a gallon—or even higher—become the new U.S. norm?

Nations can and do use oil as a weapon. If oil sold for $150 a barrel, the price of gas would jump to about $4.30 per gallon. How many can afford to fill their tanks at that price? And how would this affect the price of everything else—including essential foods and basic needs—that must be transported by vehicles also burning higher-priced fuel?

Much of the world is already skirting the edge of the abyss financially. More economic disruption could lead to increasing international conflicts and the rise of dictatorships not unlike what preceded World War II.

Could Greece wreck Europe and America?

The Associated Press reports that "a disorderly and potentially devastating Greek debt default is looking much less likely.

Greece and investors who own its bonds have reached a tentative deal to significantly reduce the country's debt and pave the way for it to receive a much-needed...130 billion [euro] bailout.

"Negotiators for the investors...said it [the deal] could become final next week. If the agreement works as planned, it will help Greece remain solvent and help Europe avoid a blow to its already weak financial system, even though banks and other bond investors will have to accept multibillion-dollar losses...

"If no debt-exchange deal is reached with private creditors and Greece is forced to default, it would very likely spook Europe's—and possibly the world's—financial markets" (Demetris Nellas, "Private Investors Near Deal on Greek Debt," Jan. 28, 2012).

The bigger picture here involves two things—how this might affect the emergence of a biblically foretold European-centered superpower and how what's happening in Europe will contribute to America's diminishing power in the world.

If Greece is successfully propped up by other governments and investors, then America and Europe could retain the power they presently enjoy for a while longer. But it's all tenuous, and in one wrong slip it could all come falling down like dominoes. The results of this scenario are in the hands of the one true God who sets up and takes down nations (Daniel 4:25

; 5:21).

Will Britain defend the Falklands yet again?

What goes around comes around. Scottish independence returns to the front burner of politics in Britain. And so do Argentine intentions to possess the Falkland Islands (they call them Las Malvinas).

Recall that Britain under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher successfully defended the Falklands from an attempted Argentine invasion and attempted takeover in 1982.

The Sunday Times titled its full-page article: "Can We Still Defend the Falklands?" (Jan. 22, 2012). Certainly defending these islands remains current Prime Minister David Cameron's stated intention, saying that Britain will support the island's population, still very loyal to the United Kingdom. Recently he has restated his support more than once. What this dilemma has done is to focus attention on Britain's ability to protect its distant territories.

Some 3,500 years ago God promised the descendants of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph that they would possess the "gates" of their enemies (Genesis 22:17

; 24:60)—the critical chokepoints controlling commercial and military routes. Certainly the Falkland Islands are but one of those gates, many of which have already been lost because of national and individual disobedience to God's spiritual laws. Hong Kong has already passed on to China, and Spain still covets Gibraltar. Even Jamaica has decided to remove Britain's monarch from being its head of state.

Should Argentina invade the Falklands, the task to protect them may be even more difficult than in 1982. At that time Thatcher had two aircraft carriers that Cameron doesn't have. Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay have already decided to ban any Falklands-flagged vessels from their respective ports—in effect threatening to intimidate and isolate the island population. Still, the British have a history of great courage in battle even when the odds are heavily stacked against them.

Argentina is very aware that Prince William is slated to be posted to the Falklands this year. He has already been warned that he will be flying into a potential war zone, but he remains more than willing. He's a helicopter pilot as was his uncle Prince Andrew, who participated in the 1982 conflict.

Valuable natural resources around the Falklands add to the tensions. It is likely that the surrounding seas are "home to some the world's last great undiscovered oil reserves" ("Drilling for Oil off Falklands Digs Up Dark Memories," Financial Times, Dec. 23, 2011). Argentina already has its own economic problems, making the Falkland Islands an even greater prize.

The Benefits of Living Guilt-Free

“Because of Christ and our faith in Him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God's presence” (Ephesians 3:12).

Imagine that someone paid for you to join a very expensive club: free food, health club, entertainment, time with friends, and personal help for your life. Wow! You can go anytime you want, and it never expires.

But instead, you sit at home. I’m not good enough; my sponsor doesn’t really want me there. I have felt that way with my relationship with Jesus and membership in God’s family…have you?

But Jesus wouldn’t have endured a terrible death if He didn’t want you to fully enjoy being close to God! “Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but He died for sinners to bring you safely home to God” (I Peter 3:18).

So here are just some BENEFITS Jesus wants you to enjoy:

Freedom to talk to God anytime about anything: “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (Hebrews 4:16). God wants you to come Him with whatever’s on your mind, just like a loving father wants to hear from his child. Talk to Him anytime, anywhere, about anything, and know that He loves you and wants to help!

Freedom to pursue your calling: “For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10). Don’t let guilt and shame keep you from the amazing things God has created you to do! Ask Him what He made you for and go pursue it with His help! He picked them out for you specifically!

Freedom to say “NO!” to sin and guilt: “Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace” (Romans 6:14). You don’t have to be a slave to sin any longer; Jesus has set you free! And if you do sin, you can just ask for God’s forgiveness and help not to keep doing it—and you can say “NO!” to any guilt about it.

Freedom to not earn God’s love: “So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it” (Romans 9:16). You don’t have to earn God’s love! HE JUST LOVES YOU. Just like a child can’t do anything to make his dad love him more or less, so God’s love for you in immeasurable and unchanging.

Enjoy God’s freedom! He loves you so much and paid for you to be completely His, totally free from guilt and experiencing the great, fun things He has for you to do.

Did Adam and Eve Really Exist?

Many modern theologians and nominal Christians seriously question whether our first parents, Adam and Eve, really lived.

Certainly atheists and agnostics do. Many respected intellectuals and opinion makers in the media find themselves in the grip of evolutionary belief. They think they know better than God.

For instance, a recent headline in one of Britain's Sunday papers, The Observer, reads: "Dawkins and Attenborough Hail Victory Over Creationists." The drophead states, "Funding to be removed from free schools that teach 'intelligent design.'" The first paragraph of the text says, "Leading scientists and naturalists, including Professor Richard Dawkins and Sir David Attenborough, are claiming victory over the creationist movement after the [British] government last week ratified measures that will bar anti-evolution groups from teaching creationism in science classes" (Jan. 15, 2012).

But the Bible clearly teaches the existence of Adam and Eve—and not just in Genesis. The genealogy of Jesus Christ in Luke 3:23-38 goes all the way back to Adam. Adam's parent is designated as God in verse 38 since He was the one who created this first man.

Indeed the apostle Paul says that human beings are the offspring of God (Acts 17:28). He specifically names Adam as the first man (1 Corinthians 15:45, 47). Paul declared to Timothy that "Adam was formed first, then Eve" (1 Timothy 2:13). Earlier he had mentioned that "the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness" (2 Corinthians 11:3). Jude tells us that Enoch was the seventh patriarch from Adam (Jude 14), as the genealogical account in Genesis 5 clearly shows.

Describing horrendous conditions during the time of the end, Jesus Christ plainly stated: "For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation, which God created until this time, nor ever shall be" (Mark 13:19). Earlier, while upholding the marriage institution, Christ said, "From the beginning of the creation [of human beings], God 'made them male and female'" (Mark 10:6).

Christ based His teaching on marriage on the creation of Adam and Eve. Having made the first two human beings male and female, He continued: "For this reason a man shall leave His father and mother and be joined to his wife, 'and the two shall become one flesh' [quoting from Genesis]; so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate" (Mark 10:7-9).

The apostle Paul referred to Adam in stating that it was "through one man [that] sin entered the world [human society], and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned" (Romans 5:12). Yet Paul further explained that Adam was, in respects, a forerunner or type of Jesus Christ (verse 14). Summing up the rescue of the human race through this second Adam, Paul continued: "For if by one man's [Adam's] offense death reigned through the one, much more those who received abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ" (verse 17).

Paul restates his teaching on the atonement in different ways. For instance, "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's [Christ's] obedience many will be made righteous" (verse 19).

It should be clear from all these scriptures that we cannot rationally separate the account in Genesis of Adam and Eve's creation by God from basic New Testament doctrine. The latter is deeply dependent on the former.

Both depend on our willingness to first prove and then accept the authenticity and authority of the Holy Scriptures—both the Old and New Testaments.

How to Get Guilt-Free for Good

"’Come now, let's settle this,’ says the LORD. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool’” (Isaiah 1:18)

No Clean Clothes Imagine that all your clothes are completely dirty. Not only that, but you have no way to wash them. That is how you might feel about your sins and regrets. I know what it feels like to feel I’d messed up everything good in my life—ashamed to face people and powerless to clean myself up.

A Miraculous Exchange But then imagine there’s a knock at the door, and you see a man with a huge bag. “I’m here to exchange your clothes!” he says. “You have dirty clothes, and I have clean ones for you. Let’s go gather your old ones, and I’ll give you all these—for free. And I’ve picked them out especially for you.”

That is a small picture of what Jesus wants to do with you. He wants to take all your regrets, sins, and guilt and exchange them with His love, joy, and peace. Doubtful? See what He did with Joshua:

"Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?” Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you.” Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by." Zechariah 3:1-5

Jesus, Your Lawyer You may feel accused like Joshua did, with dirty clothes and great guilt. But instead of accusing you, God wants to free you. It’s like Jesus is your lawyer, and you’re standing trial for your guilt. Instead of being led off to prison, Jesus says, “I forgive that person. I paid for their sin Myself and want them to go free. Here’s My blood to prove it.” That’s why the Bible describes Jesus as your Advocate, or lawyer: “But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous” (1 John 2:1).

The Great Exchange Jesus wants to give you His clean clothes, but you have to give Him your old clothes in exchange. That’s what it means when it says, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19). Repenting means letting go of all of your sins—past and present—and saying to God, “I don’t want to live this way any longer. Please forgive me and help me do what You want.”

Do you want to let go of your guilt? Pray this prayer: "Lord, I give you all my regrets, sins, and guilt. Take them completely away from me and give me Your righteousness in exchange. I want to do what You want.” You can know for sure that God forgives you based on this promise: “But if we confess our sins to him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (I John 1:9). You are forgiven by Jesus’ blood! If this message has helped you, share it with someone by forwarding this to them.