THERE IS POWER IN THE CHURCH -STILL

he greatest treasures of God’s Word are waiting to be discovered, again! Over the past two thousand years many of the truths in God’s Word, the Bible, have been lost do to human error, translational error and loss of understanding of the times in which the Bible was written. The result of this loss of information and understanding is the loss of power in manifestation in the Christian Church today.

THERE IS POWER IN THE CHURCH -STILL
The greatest treasures of God’s Word are waiting to be discovered, again! Over the past two thousand years many of the truths in God’s Word, the Bible, have been lost do to human error, translational error and loss of understanding of the times in which the Bible was written. The result of this loss of information and understanding is the loss of power in manifestation in the Christian Church today.
For example, there are nine operations of holy spirit given to every born again believer.
I Corinthians chapter 12 names these operations. They are: speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophesy, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits, faith, miracles and gifts of healing. To many Christians these operations have been something that has been out of reach or even worse they have been taught that they are no longer applicable. The reasons given by the Christian leadership for these theories are 1) that’s what they were taught 2) you have to be “extra good” for God to give you a gift 3) these went out with the apostles 4) they are no longer available because the church doesn’t need them any more.
To tackle all of these issues in one article would be very hard and very lengthy, indeed. So, I can only give a cursory look at a couple of points. The first two ideas are that these manifestations are “gifts” and that they are given to “special” or “extra good” people.
I Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 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:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
In I Corinthians 12:1 it says “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.” The word “gifts” is in italics in the King James version. When a word is in italics in the King James version of the Bible it means that the translators added the word in an attempt to give the sentence a clearer understanding. “Gifts” is not in any Greek text. This is one of those translational errors. The translators added this word to try and make a complete thought but only confused the issue. The word “spiritual” in vs. one is the Greek word “pneumatikos.” It is translated “spiritual” eighteen times, “he that is spiritual” once, “spiritual” once, “spiritual gifts” once, “spiritual things” three times, and “that which is spiritual” twice. There is no Biblical support for the word “gifts” to be in verse one. It would be much more accurate to translate “pneumatikos” either spiritual things or things of the spirit.
The next word “gifts” occurs in verse four “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.” The word “gifts” here is the Greek word “charisma.” This is always in reference to God’s free gifts. Those free gifts are the gift of holy spirit, which is given to everybody that confesses with his mouth the Lord Jesus and believes in his heart that God has raised him from the dead (Rom. 10:9&10).
Ephesians 2: 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
The other gifts are the gift ministries of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Preachers.
Ephesians 4: 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
The gifts of verse eight ARE the gift ministries. The ministry of a pastor IS a gift to the church. The ministry of an evangelist is a gift to the church, etc. Back to I Corinthians.
The first word in verse seven is the word “But.” “But” sets in contrast that which preceeded with that which follows. In other words the topic changes. It is under the main theme of spiritual things but moves away from “gifts” to the subject of “the manifestation of the Spirit.” A manifestation is an evidence of something greater. An apple is a manifestation of the apple tree. The light from a lamp is a manifestation of power plant producing electricity. The manifestations of the spirit are evidence of something greater ie. the spirit of God residing in the person and ultimately of God who energizes that spirit within. The question now is, does God dole out the manifestations one to this man and another to this guy down there etc. When you realize that they are not gifts it makes it easier to understand that no he doesn’t because they are manifestations of the spirit that each and every Christian has. Where people fall into a trap is by not understanding that the words “for to one” in verse eight is relating back not to word “man” but to the word “profit.” Just like the five gift ministries function differently in the body of believers so the manifestations have different functions. But, because all of these are available to be manifested or operated and can be operated by each born again believer then the church can be delivered from sickness and even death. They can have their needs met and they can be comforted. We can be “the more than conquerors” of Romans chapter eight. So, why don’t we see more signs, miracles and wonders in the church? The answer is in Ephesians 1:19.
Ephesians 1: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
We have to BELIEVE.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith (believing) is the substance (title deed) of things hoped (prayed) for, the evidence (that they are yours before you have them) of things not seen.
Romans 10: 17 So then faith (believing) cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
The last point I want to make on this subject is that in verse eleven of I Corinthians the unlearned leadership say that this proves that God gives one person one thing and another something different. This is not the case at all! What it says, using the laws of grammar both of English and Greek, is that God distibutes to the man as the man wills. This flows completely knowing that the man has to have an understanding of HOW to operate each manifestation and he must BELIEVE to operate the manifestation once he understands HOW. Just because a person has been born again of God’s spirit does not mean that he/she will operate the any of the nine manifestations. Much like me being given a car. Without me knowing that the car was mine or where the keys are I will never drive the car. If you don’t know what is available you will never use it.
A discussion and understanding of these nine manifestations or operations of the spirit has to be undertaken…… in other articles.