The Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Written By: Samuel Mills

"The following Spiritual Gifts are often referred to as, "The Nine Gifts of the Holy Spirit." These are supernatural gifts and, according to scripture, are available to all Christians.

The Apostle Paul said: "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:

...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 Cor 12:1; 8-11)

The Nine Gifts of the Spirit Fall into three Divisions:  The Gifts of Revelation - The Gifts of Inspiration - The Gifts of Power.

Gifts of Revelation:

1-The Word of Wisdom: A supernatural revelation, or insight into the divine will and purpose, often given by the Spirit to solve perplexing problems and situations.

2-The Word of Knowledge: 

The Word of Knowledge is a supernatural revelation of Divine knowledge or insight in the Divine mind, will or plan, to know things that could not be known of oneself.

3-Discerning of Spirits:

This is a supernatural revelation or insight into the realm of spirits to detect them and their plans and to read the minds of men.

Gifts of Inspiration:

4-Prophecy:  Prophecy is the supernatural utterance in the native tongue. It is a miracle of divine utterance, not conceived by human thought or reasoning. It includes speaking unto men to edification, exhortation, and comfort.

5-Divers Kinds of Tongues: The supernatural utterance in other languages that are not known to the speaker.

6-The Interpretation of Tongues: The supernatural ability to interpret in the native tongue what is uttered in other languages not known by the one who interprets by the Spirit.

Gifts of Power:

7-Gift of Faith: This is a supernatural ability to believe God without human doubt, unbelief, and reasonings.

8-The Gift of Healing: The healing of all manner of sickness by supernatural power, without human aid or medicine.

9-The Working of Miracles: Is supernatural power to intervene in the ordinary course of nature and to counteract natural laws if necessary.

According to Scripture, the Gifts of the Spirit are to continue to work through the Followers of Christ until His return."

Source: (https://www.trusting-in-jesus.com/Nine-Gifts.html)

Keeping sane in an insane world.

In 1885 Alexander Graham Bell revolutionized the way and speed in which we communicated, then Motorola shocked the world and came out with the cell phone in 1973, and our devices have since then evolved to be telling us when, and how much we need to communicate. Yes, we set the limits, but then AI tells us humans we have reached our limit.

The mere need of a function allowing us to set time limits on our social media usage, etc. speaks to our innate God given desire for connection and also convenience.

Just spending three months living in rural Kenya revealed a lot about me as an American. I am currently back in America as we await to receive our Kenyan work Visa and the image above pretty much sums up how I felt coming back to America. Even where we lived in China had a Starbucks, and a Walmart so we had at least those "comforts" of something familiar. When I came back in from Africa I was literally overwhelmed not only by the level of convenience, but comfort of it all. I know, you have probably heard this story before, but because this was the first time culture-shock was truly palpable for me, it really made me think deeper about this. I mention cell-phones specifically because they can now do it all, you can order your groceries, call your friends (more like text or email these days), organise your budget, and do your taxes. All these things, cell phones, i-pads, computers, tv's, conveniences, comforts, stores loaded with everything to cook almost any ethnic food you want from all over the world, allllllll this can certainly be argued or viewed as a sign of lavishness, but can also be viewed as a tremendous blessing. I do believe all these things have a tendency at points to send our minds into a tailspin. (You receive one million cool Points for you if you thought of the amazing cartoon Tailspin)

What I think I am really getting at with all this, is that all these things must not to be taken for granted, yet first and foremost we must keep promoting the Gospel and using the resources God has given us to advance the Kingdom of God. So many people in America right now are forsaking the very principles and Godly foundation that has made America such a prosperous land, and by default I think many of us that do have strong Christian values may actually be letting this ungratefulness rub off on us, or may be taking it to the wrong extreme and promoting a prosperity-centric Gospel and not a Jesus-Centric gospel. I believe this is why Jesus told the parable of the talents so that we would learn not to take the blessings and provisions from God for granted, but use what we have for His glory.

Matthew 25:14-30 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Parable of the Talents

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants[a] and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents,[b] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.[c] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

YHWH

Taken From the YHWHproject.org

YHWH

I am the might before the sword The tremors in the spear shaft I craft my ways from blazes of firestorms Absorb the failings of deadened ends To render the floors I dance upon I am the spaces between applause The roars of hearts running through Heaven’s halls

I breathe the forms of light and silence Stall the course of cosmic riots I am the glory of the giants Manaslu / Sagarmatha Watchmen of the Asian plains They yield my name Made famous through the cries Of albatross flocks enflamed in Pacific fires

I am dressed in the spray of Nevada dunes Clothed in the shadows of Sahara caves I am the light of lunar flames fleshing the rains of Amazonia I paint the trains of Antarctic quests Release dominion to desert Panthera

I authorise the remains of Aztec and Inca That bloom through the visions of mountain tribes I ride the skylines breathe the signs Ignite the paths of astronomy’s eyes I am the unheard heard in the storms that burn on my words I am the yearned for I am the Word

I emerge deciduous from the wetlands of your cries Rise through the moments you wake I bring the dawns that shake the fevers from your remembrance I am here I am imminent

I am he who crosses the plains through which you strayed Discover the parts extinction seared I dust away the dried remains of tears I drain the lakes of your regrets I wet the wells till the soil Placate the toil quell the rages Sew the broken pages With my belief in you

I bring the you you have never quite met I am the desire that keeps your pillow wet I am the heartbeat you seek when you chase after dreams In the reachings and sighs you are looking for me

In the body touching body It is me you seek In the groans and the longings It is me you seek In the yearning dream In the need-to-be-seen In the love-me love-me It is me you seek In the breath-drop wonders In the gasping hunger In the touch of a stranger That makes you feel younger In the books and the fables In the this-is-me labels In the is-this-me? Is this me? In the hear-me hear-me Say-my-name In the touch-me need-me find-me need-me In the aching pain In the love In the music In the beats And the taste In the heat In the need And the need For embrace In the colour In the gaze In the meaning The desire In the flame Of the voice And the spirit Of the fire

When you cry for more my name you weep I am he who waits for you to reach I reach for you and wait When you lie half broken and awake I am the watchman of your sleep I wait and wait til the shakings cease

I am the Truth they call release When the darkness flares and starts to speak I sculpt the shades of daybreak It is me you seek