Lesson 3 for the 17 th of January, 2009

Paul wrote four lists of spiritual gifts: Romans, 12: 6-81 Corinthians, 12: Corinthians, 12: Ephesians, 4: Prophecy Serving Teaching Exhortation Giving Leadership Mercy Wisdom Knowledge Faith Healing Miracles Prophecy Discerning of spirits Tongues Interpretation of tongues Apostles Prophecy Teaching Miracles Healing Helping Administration Tongues Apostles Prophecy Evangelists Pastors Teaching There are more gifts than these 20 which Paul mentions. You can discover them in yourself or in your church.

The Holy Spirit distributes gifts according to His wish, with two main purposes: Instructing and building the Church. Proclaiming the Gospel all over the world.

“God has set in the church different gifts. These are precious in their proper places, and all may act a part in the work of preparing a people for Christ's soon coming… Men have varied gifts, and some are better adapted to one branch of the work than another. What one man would fail to do, his brother minister may be strong to accomplish. The work of each in his position is important”. “God has set in the church different gifts. These are precious in their proper places, and all may act a part in the work of preparing a people for Christ's soon coming… Men have varied gifts, and some are better adapted to one branch of the work than another. What one man would fail to do, his brother minister may be strong to accomplish. The work of each in his position is important”. E.G.W. (Gospel Workers, chapter 11, “Varied gifts”)

Spiritual gifts were showed especially in the New Testament, but God had already given them in the past. “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship” (Exodus, 31: 2-3) “And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him” (Deuteronomy, 34: 9) “And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments” (Exodus, 28: 3)

“So that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians, 1: 7) There will be spiritual gifts in the Church until Jesus’ Second Coming.

Satan and his angels can counterfeit spiritual gifts, but God imposes restrictions. In the End Time, Satan will work hard to “deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Mark, 13: 22)

Miracles performed by Satan’s agents: Pharaoh’s magicians imitated Moses’ miracles until the third plague. “Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith” (2 Timothy, 3: 8) Miracles performed by Satan’s agents: Pharaoh’s magicians imitated Moses’ miracles until the third plague. “Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith” (2 Timothy, 3: 8)

Miracles performed in Jesus’ name: They are performed by people who are not inspired by the Holy Spirit. “Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew, 7: 22-23) Miracles performed in Jesus’ name: They are performed by people who are not inspired by the Holy Spirit. “Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew, 7: 22-23)

Miracles performed in the End Time: The Antichrist will come in the form of Christ “with all power, signs, and lying wonders” (2 Thessalonians, 2: 9). The evil powers will form an alliance against the holies, performing miracles. “And I saw three foul spirits like frogs coming from the mouth of the dragon, from the mouth of the beast, and from the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (Revelation, 16: 13-14)

Is a false prophet able to announce a future event and to get it right? or to reveal an intimate secret of a person? “If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, "Let us follow other gods" (gods you have not known) "and let us worship them, you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy, 13: 1-3 NVI)

“Some of these persons have exercises which they call gifts and say that the Lord has placed them in the church. They have an unmeaning gibberish which they call the unknown tongue, which is unknown not only by man but by the Lord and all heaven. Such gifts are manufactured by men and women, aided by the great deceiver. Fanaticism, false excitement, false talking in tongues, and noisy exercises have been considered gifts which God has placed in the church. Some have been deceived here” E.G.W. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, page 412) In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul wrote that the gift of tongues was given in order to edify each individual believer. In addition, Paul teaches us the right way to use this gift in public: When someone receives the gift of tongues, he may speak only if there is an interpreter; otherwise, he must shut up and talk to himself. Although there is an interpreter, only two or three people may use this gift, and taking turns.

The only safe rule to identify spiritual gifts is to collate them with God’s Word, THE BIBLE. “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah, 8: 20)

“The Bible is the standard by which to test the claims of all who profess sanctification… All whom God is leading will manifest a high regard for the Scriptures in which His voice is heard”. E.G.W. (Faith and Works, chapter 6, page 52)