Weapons of Our Warfare - Gifts of the Spirit

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; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
ROMANS 12:6-8

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 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. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:7-11


THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

Gifts of the Spirit – distinctive, divinely originated endowments to serve the Triune God for the common benefit of His people, the church. (Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary)

The Bible speaks of nine spiritual gifts in particular, though there are others mentioned in the Bible that can be considered as gifts of grace, whatever you choose to call them, they are used for the service of our God and the edification of the church. These nine gifts are: Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge, Healing, Miracles, Faith, Prophecy, Discernment, Diverse Tongues, and Interpretation of Tongues.

If you are wondering why I consider these gifts of the Spirit to be a weapon in our arsenal when they are specifically used to edify the church, well that is precisely the reason why. Let me clarify, the Bible is clear on letting us know that the gifts of the Spirit are to be used to build up our brother and sisters in Christ, therefore it is a weapon against the enemy because when we build up our brothers and sisters they can stand stronger in the battle and so can we. Example: Say for instance you are going through a particular trial and you are giving service to the Lord with your brethren in Christ and God uses someone in the gift of knowledge where that person knows details about what you are going through that only you and God know and is able through the Holy Spirit to give you words of encouragement. You have been strengthened by the Spirit of God to continue to press forward because this person, led by the Holy Spirit, reminded you that God is not unaware of your situation but He is moving in your favor.

On one such occasion I was feeling discouraged about writing these reflections or devotionals, not sure what to call them anymore as they seem to get more intense every day. I know that it is not me or my word, but God and His word and all the glory belongs to Him. Praise God! Anyhow, I was wondering if they were being read, if they were reaching others, if they were ministering to anyone, even though I know that the word of God does not return to Him void. It was a vulnerable moment because as humans we want to see the fruits of our labor and sometimes we don’t see it right away, as we would like. I went to church that night and at the end of the service I approached the sister that preached that night and as she hugged me she prayed for me and began to speak to me about the writing I had been doing and told me not to give up. She did not know that these thoughts had crossed my mind several times but God knew. This gave me strength to continue in my battle against the kingdom of darkness, to reaffirm my battle stance and to again take my place on the frontlines, thank you Jesus!

Another testimony I heard involves the gift of diverse tongues. My mom used to visit a Spanish church in the Bronx and they had a missionary visiting them for several weeks. God would used this woman of God in the gift of prophecy as well and she ministered in various churches while she was in the Bronx. Not too long before she arrived, there was a sister from India visiting her family in the Bronx and she was a Christian and the only church near her was this particular Spanish church. This woman did speak or understand the Spanish language yet she went to all the services she could and someone would translate for her in English. On the day that the missionary was to preach at this church, the Indian sister was there and the Lord used the missionary in the gift of Diverse Tongues to speak to this sister from India! Praise God!! The missionary began to speak in a language she had never spoken before but when she had finished the Indian sister was in tears saying that she had spoken her language and had given her a message from the Lord! God is awesome!!!! This is why the Bible says that we should not neglect the congregation of the saints because when we fellowship the Spirit moves as He wills and uses whom He wills to give us strength, encouragement, and fresh anointing.

Sometimes we receive our calling through the gifts of the Spirit, sometimes we receive healing, sometimes we receive miracles, sometimes we receive faith that believes all things in God, yet all are given from the same Spirit as He wills and our spirits are edified. Our minds are renewed and our faith is increased. Praise God for the gifts of the Spirit. Praise God for His Holy Spirit who leads us and guides us!

The Spirit gives these gifts as He wills and when the gifts of the Spirit are used for the sole purpose of edifying the church, the church is strengthened, the church refocuses on the vision, the church receives a fresh anointing that allows them to continue in the warfare against the enemy of our souls! Many Christians do not know to ask for the gifts of the Spirit but Paul encourages us to do so! We will not all have the same gift, we will not all have just one gift, we will have the gifts the Spirit desires to give us and when we seek God in earnest and ask for those gifts, He will give them to us according to how He desires to use us.

If the church is edified, encouraged, strengthened, with a clear vision and operating in the gifts of the Spirit, the enemy cannot prevail against it! Praise God! Let us desire to please God in all that we do, using our spiritual gifts to edify each other and to overcome the enemy. God bless you!