The Ministering Gifts of the Holy Spirit to the Church # 12

1 Cor 12:4 There are diversities of gifts, 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.

:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,

Gift of faith is not same as the measure of faith.

Rom 5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

You can't have faith without hope.

The measure of faith means everyone has this if they are born again.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Heb 4:2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

Rom 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Acts 17:11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

James 2:17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?

1 Thess 1:3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,

Rom 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.

The one thing stronger than your faith is God's will.

Eph 6:16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

Faith is totally believing and trusting in Him.

How many times did He say your faith has made you whole, how great a faith, etc.

He was encouraging people to have faith.

1 Tim 1:19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,

1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.

Heb 10:35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.

:36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

:37 “For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry.

:38 Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”

2 Pet 3:4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”

Jesus prayed for Peter's faith to fail not.

Your faith can fail if you doubt.

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

:7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

We need to confess the Word, but we must believe it.

You must speak what you believe.

2 Cor 4:13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “ I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,

When the gift of faith is given there is no room for doubt.

Joshua 10:12 Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel; “Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”

:13 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge upon their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of the heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.

:14 And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel.

2 Cor 1:10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,

Different types of faith include:

1. gift of saving faith
2. measure of faith
3. gift of faith
4. humanistic faith

Doubt is sin.

Rom 14:23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

You can't “develop” the gift of faith. It has to come from God.

The Ministering Gifts of the Holy Spirit to the Church # 10

1 Cor 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant.

:4 There are diversities of gifts, 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.

: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.

Gifts of power and demonstration:

1. Healing
   gifts of healing is a literal translation. You cannot preach the gospel and not preach healing.
   Lk 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.
   :2 Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
   :3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.
   :4 Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.
   :5 But whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house.'
   :6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you.
   :7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.
   :8 Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.
   :9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'

Healing is a sign of the kingdom of God.

Is 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the

chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

This prophesied the healing of the cross.

1 Pet 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed.

If healing isn't for today what about :

Jn 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

Mk 11:22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.

:23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

:24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Mk 16:18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.

Rom 14:10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Mal 3:6 For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.

Num 23:19 God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

1 Thess 5:24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

:25 Brethren, pray for us.

Mark 5:25 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years,

:26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.

:27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.

:28 For she said,” If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

:29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.

:30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”

This was supernatural healing.

Mt 14:36 and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.

Mark 6:12 So they went out and preached that people should repent.

:13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.

All can lay hands, all an pray, all can anoint. But not all have the gift of healing.

Some have a special anointing for healing.

When God gives the gift of healing it is to profit the one who needs the healing.

The Ministering Gifts of the Holy Spirit to the Church #9

1 Cor 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant.

:4 There are diversities of gifts, 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.

: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.

1. word of knowledge
2. word of wisdom
3. discerning of spirits

Not the gift of observation. Pray about what you see.

It can turn into criticism if you are not careful.

Mark 5:1 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.

Ghosts are really demonic spirits manifesting itself as someone you know.

Discerning is not only evil spirits, God may show you angels.

Heb 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.

You may end up entertaining angels.

1 Chronicles 12:32 of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command.

All christians need to be discerning of the times (not necessarily spirits).

Matt 7:15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

:16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?

By observation of their lives you can tell.

Heb 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

:13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

:14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reasons of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

1 Cor 12:3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

1 Jn 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.

Deut 13:1 “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder and the sign or wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying,” Let us go after other gods'- which you have not known- ' and let us serve them,'

God may be testing your discerning.

Acts 16:16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune telling.

:17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying,”These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”

:18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.

Paul had discerning of spirits.

2 Thess 2:9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,

:10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of truth, that they might be saved.

:11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,

:12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

1 Kings 22:8 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord; but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say such things!”

Basically he was saying, not him, he never tells me what I want to hear.

When you are ministering to someone and it becomes a debate, you are probably arguing in your own ability and with their religious spirits.

Seek the Lord for wisdom, guidance, discernment, for your authority, for faith, do it in the spirit.

The Ministering Gifts of the Holy Spirit to the Church # 8

1 Cor 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant.

:2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.

:3 Therefore I make know to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

:4 There are diversities of gifts, 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.

: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.

Your physical body is dead without the spirit. Also the church body without the Spirit is dead.

Word of knowledge is past and present. Word of wisdom is future.

1 Sam 9:15 Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear the day before Saul came, saying,

:16 “Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.”

:17 So when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, “There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people.”

That was word of wisdom.

1 Sam 9:20 But as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not be anxious about them, for they have been found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you and all your father's house?”

This was word of knowledge.

1 Sam 10:1 Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said:”Is it not because the Lord has anointed you commander over His inheritance?

:2 When you have departed from me today, you will find two men by Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you, 'The donkeys which you went to look for have been found. And now your father has ceased caring about the donkeys and is worrying about you, saying, “What shall I do about my son?”

This was both word of wisdom and word of knowledge working.

1 Sam 10:3 Then you shall go on forward from there and come to the terebinth tree of Tabor. There three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, which you shall receive from their hands.
:5 After that you shall come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is. And it will happen, when you have come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is. And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying.

:6 Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.

This is word of wisdom.

Word means revelation.

Word of wisdom is God's revelation of what is to come.

Word of wisdom is not natural wisdom.

Matt 2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem.

This is natural wisdom.

Matt 2:13 Now when they had departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”

This is word of wisdom.

Matt 22:15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk.

:16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.

:17 Tell us, therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

:18 But Jesus perceived in their wickedness, and said, “ Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?

This is word of knowledge.

Matt 22:21 They said to Him, “Caesar's.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's.

This is natural wisdom.

Rom 11:1 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

:2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying,

:3” Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”?

:4 But what does the divine response say to him? “ I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

:5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

This is word of knowledge.

Rom 11:25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

:26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;

:27 for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”

This is word of wisdom.

Lk 21:12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake.

:13 But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.

:14 Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer;

:15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict of resist.

This was word of wisdom. It not only said to say but when.

Acts 21:11 When he had come to us, he took Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'”

This is word of wisdom.

Word of wisdom always predicts what is coming.

Prophecy is not always predictive.

Gen 41:25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do:

:26 The seven good cows are seven years, ad the seven good heads are seven years; the dreams are one.

:27 And the seven thin and ugly cows which came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are seven years of famine.

:28 This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do..

:29 Indeed seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of Egypt;

:30 but after them seven years of famine will arise, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will deplete the land.

This is word of wisdom.

Gen 41:33 “Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.

:34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years.
:35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.

:36 Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine.”

This is natural wisdom.

Pharaoh did not have to do what Joseph said, he could either receive it or reject it.

Do you reject Godly word of wisdom?

Revelations 4 through 22 are all about word of wisdom.

Acts 26:15 So I said, 'Who are You Lord?' And He said, ' I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

This was word of knowledge and word of wisdom in reference to his ministry.

We have all been chosen/called by God. He had a purpose for calling each of us. He has a ministry of some kind for each of us.

The Ministering Gifts of the Holy Spirit to the Church #7

Who resist steadfast in the faith.

1 Cor 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant.

:2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to those dumb idols, however you were led.
:3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

:4 There are diversities of gifts, 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 in all.

: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.

The gifts of the Spirit are:

1. word of wisdom
2. word of knowledge
3. faith
4. healing
5. miracles
6. prophecy
7. discerning of spirits
8. tongues
9. interpretation of tongues

Just as when you eat, all parts of your physical body benefits from it, so it is with the spirit.

The more we eat of spiritual food, the better we grow in the spirit.

We must be careful that our spiritual food is not contaminated, just as we need to be careful our regular food is not contaminated.

We need to take care of what we hear, and how we hear.

God gave you all your physical body for a reason. He also placed you in a church body for a reason.

1 Cor 14:1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

2 Tim 1:6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

He is telling us to kindle afresh the gifts, keep them in full fire, keep ablaze, keep them burning. That is what the word stir there means.

How important are the gifts God has blessed you with? Are you using them?

The 9 gifts of the Spirit are:

1. gifts of revelation are knowledge, wisdom and discerning.
2. Gifts of communication are prophecy, tongues and interpretation of tongues.
3. Gifts of power are healing, miracles and faith.

He sent the Holy Spirit to guide us, instruct us, to give us revelation.

Jn 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, who the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

Jn 16:12 I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now,

:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

:14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

:15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

The Holy Spirit will teach us what God wants to show us.

One of the Holy Spirit's function is to endow us with gifts.

Word of knowledge. The Greek word for knowledge is Gnosis which means know. Agnosis means don't know. Word is logos which means revelation, discourse. Revelation of knowing.

God revealing to someone by the Holy Spirit what He wants them to know.

Usually used for providing healing, deliverance, etc. To set people free.

A word of knowledge always deals with known fact, known by God and by the person who it is for, usually deals with the past or present.

Word of wisdom deals with the future. (known by God)

Revelation 1 tells us He will show us things that were, are and are to come.

Chapters 1 -3 word of knowledge. 4 on word of wisdom.

1 Sam 9:15 Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear the day before Saul came, saying,

:16 “Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.”

:17 So when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, “There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people.”

:20 But as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not be anxious about them, for they have been found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you and on all your father's house?”

Those verses show word of wisdom and knowledge.

2 Kings 6:8 Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such and such a place.”

:9 And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying,”Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there. “

:10 Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice.

:11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?”

:12 And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”

God gave Elisha word of knowledge to deliver the Israelis.

Word of knowledge is almost always given to profit people.

God gave Peter word of knowledge with Ananias and Saphria. The church profited from that.

2 Kings 4:26 Please run now to meet her, and say to her, “is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child? And she answered, “it is well.”

:27 Now when she came to the man of God at the hill, she caught him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away. But the man of God said, “Let her alone; for her soul is in deep distress, and the Lord has hidden it from me, and has not told me.”

He he didn't get word of knowledge from God.

Maybe God was trying to see where the woman was spiritually.

Word of knowledge is something God reveals. It is not something you can learn. You can however learn to listen to God.

You need to be careful not to operate by the flesh.

Satan can reveal things also but it won't bring forth deliverance.

Ask: who gets the glory? To see if it is God.

Jesus operated in word of knowledge.

Jn 1 :48 Nathanael said to Him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

Because of word of knowledge he believed.

1 Jn 3:20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

Job 37:16 Do you know how the clouds are balanced, those wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge?

God will reveal sin to bring you to repentance so you can receive forgiveness. When you receive a word of knowledge you must respond in faith.

The Ministering Gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church # 6

1 Cor 12:28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, admistrations, varieties of tongues.

Gifts to support, aid, assist. Administrations to steer.

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

:5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;

:7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;

:8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Ministering means to tend to, wait upon, assist, meet one another's needs as they arise.

Our first responsibility is to God then to others.

We all have need of ministering.

God created the body so we can minister to one another.

We all have a ministry of sorts. That doesn't mean we are all ministers. There is a difference. In some way or another all of these things apply to every one. They are gifts. To prophesy you have to move out in faith.

In verse 7, He gave us ministry and teaching.

In verse 8 exhorting. We all have this, some more than others (comfort, encourage, lift up)

leaders are those in authority to do so with diligence always.

Mercy with cheerfulness, outward manifestation of pity reaching out to comfort someone in need.

Rom 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

Love should be real, not pretend, not hypocritical, not acting.

Mk 10:21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

Jesus told the man what he needed to hear, not what he wanted to hear. Sometimes that is hard to do. Especially if the other person wants to be right.

1 Pet 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

:11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Eph 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

God gave the five fold ministry so the body could be prepared to minister.

1 Cor 12:22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

The Ministering Gifts of the Holy Spirit to the Church # 5

Eph 4:8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”

:9 (Now this, “He ascended” - what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower pares of the earth?

:10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

:14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

:15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ-

The word says lost people are without excuse, what about the church?

Prophets of old didn't always know what all they were saying.

1 Pet 1:10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,

:11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.

:12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven – things which angels desire to look into.

:13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

:14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;

:15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

:16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

:17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;

Lk 16:19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.

:20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sore, who was laid at his gate,

:21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

:22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.

:23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

:24 “Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.'

:25 But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.

:26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'

:27”Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house,

:28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'
:29 Abraham said to him, ' They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'

:30 And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'

:31 But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.'”

We also still have Moses and the prophets, we also have the gospel and the epistles.

Evangelist is Greek for gospel. An evangelist teaches the gospel.

Gospel means good news, good message, good tidings of the Kingdom of God and salvation by Jesus Christ.

Expirortory means breath of life gone out (physical death)

You have to believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

God places a special anointing on those He calls to be an evangelist. You can be an evangelist by the way you live, not just by what you say.

First they need to be saved before they can learn to live the life God has called us to.

All evangelists need to be part of a local body. He needs to be encouraged, fed, strengthened.

Pastors mean shepherd, they have the same Greek word. They tend (feeding and guiding ) the flock.

Acts 20:17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.

Acts 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which he purchased with His own blood.

1 Pet 5:1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed;

:2 shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;

1 Tim 3:1 This is a faithful saying: if a man desires the position of bishop, he desires a good work.

Bishop must be blameless, have 1 wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, hospitable, apt to teach, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy, patient, not brawler, not covetous, ruler of his own house, children in subjection, not novice.

1 Sam 17:28 Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger was aroused against David, and he said, “why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.”

Jer 23:1 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” says the Lord.

:2 Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people:”You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings,” says the Lord.

Jer 3:13 Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against the Lord your God, and have scattered your charms to alien deities under every green tree and you have not obeyed My voice,'says the Lord.

:14 “Return, O backsliding children,” says the Lord; “for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.

:15 And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Heb 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

A teacher is one who gives instruction, declares, expounds on Jesus.

All pastors should be teachers, but not all teachers are pastors.

James 3:1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

Preach means to evangelize unsaved. Teachers teach the saved.

The Ministering Gifts of the Holy Spirit to the Church # 4

Eph 4:8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He let captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”

Eph 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

:14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

:15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ-

1 Cor 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:

:2 you know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.

:3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God call Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

:4 There are diversities of gifts, 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.

:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

A perfect spiritual man is one who is full grown, come to fulness of Christ. Won't happen till we are with Jesus. But each day we should be getting a little closer.

Prophets in Greek is one who speaks forth or openly, a proclaimer of a divine message, one to who a message is secretly given.

Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

:8 A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken who can but prophesy?

1 Sam 9:9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he spoke thus: “ Come, let us go to the seer”; for he who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer.)

Prophets are spokesmen of God.

Num 12:6 Then He said, “Hear now My words: if there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream.

:7 Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My house.

:8 I speak with him face to face, even plainly, and not in dark sayings; and he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?”

Amos 7:14 Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: “ I was no prophet, now was I a son of a prophet, but I was a sheepbreeder and a tender of sycamore fruit.

Elisha was plowing when he was called.

Moses was slow of tongue.

Major Prophets:

1. Isaiah
2. Jeremiah
3. Ezekiel
4. Daniel

Minor Prophets:

1. Obadiah
2. Joel
3. Jonah
4. Hosea
5. Amos
6. Micah
7. Nahum
8. Zephaniah
9. Haggai
10. Zechariah
11. Malachi
12. Zebadiah

Former Prophets:

1. Joshua
2. Judges
3. Samuel
4. Kings

Two thirds of the old testament books are by or about prophets.

In the old testament when someone had a question for God they searched for a prophet.

Some (like Jonah) ran the other way when God told them to do something.

Elijah ran from Jezebel.

Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet.

Jer 12:1 Righteous are You, O Lord, when I plead with You; yet let me talk with You about Your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?

:2 You have planted them, yes, they have taken root; they grow, yes, they bear fruit. You are near in their mouth but far from their mind.

:3 But You, O Lord, know me; You have seen me, and You have tested my heart toward You. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter. And prepare them for the day of slaughter.

:4 How long will the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither? The beasts and birds are consumed, for the wickedness of those who dwell there, because they said,” He will not see our final end.”

Here he is crying to God. In verse 5 God answers.

Jer 12:5 If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, in which you trusted, they wearied you, then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?

Most of the prophets were severely persecuted or killed.

Heb 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

Legend says Isaiah was sawn in two.

Ez 4:4 “Lie also on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it. According to the number of the days that you lie on it, you shall bear their iniquity.

:5 For I have laid on you the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days; so you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.

:6 And when you have completed them, lie again on your right side; then you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days. I have laid on you a day for each year.

How to tell a true prophet.

Deut 13:1 “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder,

:2 and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying,”Let us go after other gods' – which you have not known - ' and let us serve them,'

:3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

:4 You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.

:5 But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst.

Deut 18:20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.'

:21 And if you say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?'-

:22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.

Deut 18:9 “When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations.

:10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omen, or a sorcerer,

:11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.

:12 For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you.

:13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God.

:14 For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the Lord your God has not appointed such for you.

:15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear,

Duet 18:18 I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He will speak to them all that I command Him.

Micah 3:5 Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who make my people stray; who chant “Peace” while they chew with their teeth, but who prepare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths:

Micah 3:11 Her heads judge for a bribe, her priests teach for pay, and her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the Lord, and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No harm can come upon us.”

This was prophecy for hire.

Is 28:7 But they also have erred through wine, and through intoxicating drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through intoxicating drink, they are swallowed up by wine, they are out of the way through intoxicating drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

Jer 23:11 For both prophet and priest are profane; yes, in My house I have found their wickedness,” says the Lord.

Jer 23:14 Also I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they also strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns back from his wickedness. All of them are like Sodom to Me, and her inhabitants like Gomorrah.

:15 “Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets: 'behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall; for from the prophets of Jerusalem profaneness has gone out into all the land.”

False prophets will tell you what you want to hear, not what God says.

History and time will tell if they are true prophets.

Jer 28:2 “Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: 'I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.

:3 Within two full years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the Lord's house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon.

:4 And I will bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah who went to Babylon,' says the Lord, 'for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.'”

:5 Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and in the presence of all the people who stood in the house of the Lord,

:6 and the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! The Lord do so; the Lord perform your words which you have prophesied to bring back the vessels of the Lord's house and all who were carried away captive, from Babylon to this place.

:7 Nevertheless hear now this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people:

:8 the prophets who have been before me and before you of old prophesied against many countries and great kingdoms – of war and disaster and pestilence.

:9 As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known as one who the Lord has truly sent.”

:10 Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke off the prophet Jeremiah's neck and broke it.

:11 And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying,”Thus says the Lord: 'Even so I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years.'” And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.

:12 Now the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, after Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,

:13”Go and tell Hananiah, saying,'Thus says the Lord: “You have broken the yokes of wood, but you have made in their place yokes of iron.”

:14 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel:”I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him. I have given him the beasts of the field also.”

:15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Hear now, Hananiah, the Lord has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie.

:16 Therefore thus says the Lord: :'Behold, I will cast you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have taught rebellion against the Lord.'”

:17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.

Deut 18:15 The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear,

:16 according to all you desired of the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, ' Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.'

:17 “And the Lord said to me: ' What they have spoken is good.

:18 I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.

:19 And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him.

Ez 2:3 And He said to me: “Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day.

The message will always be in agreement.

Acts 21:10 And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

:11 When he had come to us, he took Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ' So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'”

:12 Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.

:13 Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Ex 15:20 Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

Judges 4:4 Now Deborah a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time.

2 Kings 22:14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke with her.

Lk 2:36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;

Rev 2:20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

There were women prophetess also. And false ones.

1 Sam 19:20 Then Saul sent messengers to take David. And when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as leader over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

2 Kings 2:3 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” Then Elijah said to him, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”

:4 Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Jericho.

:5 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”

The Ministering Gifts of the Holy Spirit to the Church # 3

1 Cor 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant;

:2 you know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols however you were led.

:3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

:4 There are diversities of gifts, 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.
:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

Lk 12:44 Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has.

:45 But if that servant says in his heart, “My master is delaying his coming,” “and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk,

:46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
:47 And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself of do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

:48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of strips, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is give, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

Ex 28:30 And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummin, and they shall be over Aaron's heart when he goes in before the Lord. So Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel over his heart before the Lord continually.

The Urim and the Thummin were 2 stones with matching markings on both stones. The priest would see the Lord and throw the stones for the yes or no answers. If one set of matching signs came up the answer was yes, if the other side of matching stones came up it was no. if the signs didn't match God hadn't answered.

1 Cor 12:28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

Not all have the same gifts.

Gifts of leadership include the five fold ministry.

Eph 4:7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.

:8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”

:9 (Now this, “He ascended” - what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?

:10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

:14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

:15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head- Christ

1. apostles
2. prophets
3. evangelists
4. pastors
5. teachers

It takes all five of these to produce 1 Christian.

Is 61:1”The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn,

:3 to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

One of my pastors told us about being called at 4 am and given these verses.

Lk 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed;

:19 to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

God had another minister give my pastor the above scripture as confirmation. The same pastor had the following vision and told him about it. My pastor was sweeping a sidewalk with Jesus walking behind him. When he got to some water, the pastor walked on it.

His first vision was a face rolling like a tv screen. The face was in pain and agony. It would get dark then bright. Beacon then bible with pages turning then bright light that stayed. The face was my pastor's. He told him there would be things he would have to go through to reach the total light.

My pastor is gone to be with Jesus now and all of the visions came about before he died.

Deut 13:1 “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you , saying, “Let us go after other gods' – which you have not known - ' and let us serve them,

:3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Watch the persons life – are they trying to lead you to a different God?

Apostles – one sent forth by God with a a special message and commission to fulfill.

2 Cor 11:12 But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast.

:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.

Heb 3:1 Therefore, holy brethren partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus.

Jesus was called Apostle. His commission was to die for us.

1 Cor 12:28 And God has appointed these in the church; first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

First apostles because they have a message and commission.

Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

:11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh – who are called uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands -

:12 that at that time you were without Christ, being, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ,

:14 for He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

:15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,
:16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

:17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.

:18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

:19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

:20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,

:21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,

Apostles are part of the foundation you are built upon. Jesus picked the first apostles one by one.

Lk 6:13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:

:14 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;

:15 Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot;

:16 Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

He chose them to train and become the apostles to build His church upon. The 12 began the church age.

1 Cor 9:1 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?

:2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

That was Paul speaking.

1 Cor 15:8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

:9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Paul was humble and knew that he was an apostle because of the grace of God.

Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),

:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace,

:16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,

:17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned to Damascus.

It was Jesus who called Paul.

Apostles established churches. They were also teachers. They were shown by God who to appoint as elders in churches they started. They would keep in touch with the churches to guide the pastors.

Apostles were leaders of leaders under the guidance of Jesus.

1 Cor 12:22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.