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Gifts of the Holy Spirit

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  8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gift of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kind of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues .              1 Corinthians 12:8-10 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that, miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues .                  1 Corinthians 12:28 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who lead
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No Private Interpretation

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But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own [private] interpretation [ epilúseos   - indicates that no prophecy comes from any private source, referring to the exposition of the will and purposes of God by the prophets themselves].        2 Peter 1:20 “Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from                it.          Deuteronomy 12:32   “You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you .      Deuteronomy 4:2 Do not add to His words, or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.     Proverbs 30:6 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of l
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Approaching God: Duty or Identity

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  According to the American Heritage Dictionary, “duty” can be defined as “ An act or a course of action that is required of one by position, social custom, law, or religion,” while “identity” means: 1. The set of characteristics by which a person or thing is definitively recognizable or known, and 2. The awareness that an individual or group has of being a distinct, persisting entity. Judaism and Christianity are identifiable by the inward as well as outward characteristics of their followers. The transformation of both the true Jew and the Christ-follower takes place in the heart. Duty can take the believer only so far; identity represents the transformation of the entire man. “Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require [ saal – ask, beg, inquire] from you, but to fear [ yare - not simple fear, but reverence, whereby one recognizes the power and position of the individual revered and renders him proper respect] the Lord your God, to walk [ halak – basic idea of movement
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The Holy Spirit and the Common Good

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Now, concerning spiritual gifts [ pneumatikos - pertaining to the Holy Spirit, spiritual endowments], brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however, you were led. Therefore, I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is accursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. Now, there are varieties of gifts [ charisma – gifts imparted to Christians by the Holy Spirit], but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries and the same Lord. There are varieties [divisions, distributions]   of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation [ phanerosis – make visible or observable] of the Spirit for the common good [ sumphero – profit every man]. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit
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