1. As we begin our discussion of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Lets first state the reasons that these gift are needed today. The central focus of God today is His Church. I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. The Church was not invented by man, but rather by God specifically to be the means He would use to perfect and preserve His people. Within a healthy church, the structure of its meetings will enable each Christian to be properly cared for. Acts 14:21-23They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.(NIV) Heb 10:23-25Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.(NAS) Acts 2:44-47 All the believers were together and had everything in common.Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.

2. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.(NIV) Ps 92:12-15 The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still yield fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap and very green, to declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.(NAS) As we are living in the last days, God has chosen His Church to reach out to a dead and dying world through the power of the Holy Spirit. This has been an eternal purpose of God. We can learn from the very creation of the world the pattern of how God would redeem mankind back to Himself. As God’s plan has unfolded He has used the natural to reveal the spiritual. God has chosen in the Last Days to use His church. Eph 3:8-11Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.(NIV)

3. Micah 4:1-2 In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.(NIV) (ISAIAH 2:2,3) Heb 1:1-2In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.(NIV)

4. God has provided everything that the church needs. In the next session we will discuss the gifts that need to function in His Church today. What five Gifts did Jesus give to the Church? Ephesians 4:7-12 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.(NIV) So lets examine these five gifts to the Churches:

5. Apostles : Special Messengers of Jesus Christ; a person to whom Jesus delegated unique authority for certain tasks. The word apostle is used of those twelve disciples whom Jesus sent out, two by two, during His ministry in Galilee to expand His own ministry of preaching and healing. As pioneers in the work of making converts and planting churches. This gift is needed in the Church today to bring us to maturity and to the unity in the faith. Acts 14:4,14, Barnabas and Paul Romans 16:7 Andronicus and Junias 2 Corinthians 8:23 two unnamed brethren are called `apostles of the churches' Phillipians. 2:25 Epaphroditus is referred to as `your apostle.' 1 Thessalonians 2:6 Paul, Silas and Timothy, to define their relation to Christ."

6. Prophets : One who speaks forth or openly, "a__prophetic message”. A person who spoke for God and who communicated God's message courageously to God's people. One trait characterized all true prophets: a faithful proclamation of God's word and to bear God's word for the purpose of teaching, reproving, correcting, and training in righteousness. Whether warning of impending danger or disclosing God's will to the people. Their prophecies includes the prediction of future events and the fulfillment was, in fact, the test of them being a true Prophet. Acts 13:1; 15:32; 21:10; 1 Corinthians 12:28,29; 14:29,32, 37; Ephesians 2:20; 3:5;

7. Evangelists :A person authorized to proclaim the gospel of Christ. The word means, "one who proclaims good tidings". The evangelist is a gift of God to the church. The persons should be attached to a local church for proper ministry covering. They can minister locally or travel over a wide geographical area, preaching to those to whom the Holy Spirit leads them to proclaim the gospel. They train Christians to be witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ, so that all people may hear the good news. Missionaries are "evangelists," as being essentially preachers of the gospel.

8. Pastors :The feeder, protector, and guide, or shepherd, of a flock of God's people. A Pastor is responsible for the nourishing of and caring for the Church. The Greek word translated pastors in Ephesians, is used elsewhere in the New Testament of sheepherders. Pastors are to preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-- with great patience and careful instruction. (2 Timothy 4:2) These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority.(Titus 2:5)

9. Teachers : The act of instructing students or imparting knowledge and information. As used in the New Testament, the concept of teaching usually means instruction in the faith. Teaching in the Christian faith was validated by Jesus, who was called "teacher" more than anything else. Since sound instruction in the faith is essential to the spiritual growth of Christians and to the development of the church. Sound teaching of God's commandments are essential for the Church today. Parents were also directed to teach their children about God and His statutes. Thus, teaching is to be distinguished from preaching, or the proclamation of the gospel to the non-Christian world. The Bible contains numerous passages which deal with teaching: Matthew 4:23 Luke 4:14 Acts 13:1-3 These five gifts are given by the Lord to establish His Church. One purpose of these ministries is to equip Christians to do the work of the ministry. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are also to given to believers to build up the Church.

10. What are the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit given to the Church? In 1 Corinthians 12:7-10, it lists the nine gifts: Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.(NIV)

11. 1.Word of Wisdom :Is the insight into the true nature of things, is the ability to discern modes of action with a view to their results. 2. Word of Knowledge: To be taking in knowledge, to come to know, recognize, understand," or "to understand completely,“ 3. Faith : The total assurance that God is able to act. The ability to believe God without reservation. It is a "firm persuasion," a conviction based upon hearing the Spirit and the Word of God. 4. Healing: The ability to trust God that He is able at this time to totally make whole a person or a group of people. 5.Miracleous Powers:Essentially the expressions of God's salvation and His glory. An ability to see the supernatural happen in the spiritual first then the miracle actually to take place.

12. 6. Prophecy : Predictions about the future and the end-time and special messages from God. 7. Discernment:A spiritual gift to judge from what spirits the utterances they heard proceeded, whether from the Holy Spirit, human, or demonic spirits, thus preserving the church from misleading influences. This gift is needed to ensure that no strange teaching our unbiblical concept is taught. This gift is usually exercised by the spiritual authority of the local church. 8. Tongues:The reference to this unknown tongue is given in a corporate gathering only if there is someone there to interpret and as a sign for the unbeliever. 1 Corinthians 14:22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.(NIV) 9, Interpetation of Tongues: The ability to interpret an unknown tongue into a known tongue.

13. The gifts of the Spirit are to be used to exhort, edify and comfort the Church. They are not in anyway to condemn people or contradict the Word of God. Their words and the fruit of the persons life must be known and are to be judged by the God given authority of the Church. The guidelines are found in 1 Corinthians 14:1-40. Everyone can and needs to be used as long as they are submitted under proper authority.