All The Gifts Of The Holy Spirit Are Important

That we should no 

longer be children,

tossed to and fro

and carried about 

with every wind 

of doctrine, 

by the trickery

of men, in cunning

craftiness of

deceitful plotting

Ephesians 4:14

     We are to grow up, change from the need of milk to an appetite for meat, solid food, but there are those who have a design that has developed a doctrine(s) that can only be admitted to be a deceitful plotting and a continual craftiness, attempting if possible, at least for a moment to mislead the elect as well as pagans. These doctrines that have plagued the Church, divided the Church, caused men and women to be engaged in hostilities at times are the muses of Satan. The focus has been upon gifts that are exciting, titilating the senses leaving in the closet, dusty and seldom used other gifts of the Spirit they have come to place in their thinking and believe that they are no greater nor no less needed in the Church. All gifts have their purpose and that is to equip the Church, that is the people who are Christian, and to not use those gifts properly is a shame upon Christianity, that is a blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and defaming our Savior Jesus Christ. 

     One such gift that is so important is that of the gift of helps. Jesus surrounded Himself with men and women, not just the twelve apostles, but those whom He sent out to proclaim the good news, speaking that the Messiah had come (Matthew 10; Luke 10). In the book of Acts chapter six men are appointed to aid in the ministry; Mark was a helper for Paul and Barnabas, Philemon records of Epaphroditus who minister (Philemon 2:25), and we appoint deacons in the Church, helpers to assist and benefit the Church and promulgation of the Gospel. Paul in first Corinthians 12:28 mentions helps and the Greek word used here is: ἀντίλημψις, and properly defined it signifies "a Laying hold of, an exchange." This gift is one of ministrations in the Church to render assistance using this gift is special ways at times for the weak and the sick. The root word from which this word used by Paul is translated carries the meaning: "to take hold of in turn, to participate; to support. Yes, there are those who have this special gift of the Holy Spirit and use it in ways that most find that they cannot do so unless it be so very necessary and that is good, but it is not good to not help even if you do not have this special gift of the Holy Spirit. The Church needs cleaning, the Church yard need manicuring, small things need fixing, and to sit back and not help is not showing brotherly love; don't wait until you have this special gift, you are to help! We all are to be involved in our Church, we are to be a clean, shining place in the  community, a place where strangers can come and worship God in a clean, neat, and orderly house of worship. We are to show our faith to the world and in helps we do so to our brothers and sisters, and to all who would look upon our Church.

     A gift of the Holy Spirit spoke little of is that of governments, or administrations. The Greek word used by Paul in First Corinthians 12:28 is: κυβέρνησις; meaning governing, or governments and all Churches are in need for administration. The Scriptures teach that all Churches are to have government, leadership. Jesus Christ spent His time here on earth developing twelve men to do just that; lead the Church. Wherever Apostles went they appointed leaders, men such as Titus being appointed and sent by Paul to the island of Crete (Titus 1:5); furthermore we are told to obey our leaders: "Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account, Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you" (Hebrews 13:17). Notice this: it would be unprofitable for a believer not to obey the leader of the Church. Does this mean that we are acquiesce to every whim and notion of a leader? No
! But, we are to be careful and choose a leader according tot the principles laid out by Paul: "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with reverence" (1Timothy 3:2-4). Every true leader must be a helper, as demonstrated by Jesus washing the feet of the disciples; this applies also to all believers: "For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another" (Galatians 5:13).
     God has not ordained the Church to drift aimlessly without direction and purpose and for the Church to represent Jesus Christ there must be the use of those God given by the Holy Spirit gifts. Some gifts are for all time as the Church exists in all time. We should come to a place where we can by means of Scripture note those who have been given these gifts by the Holy Spirit, appoint leaders according to the Holy Spirit and remove leaders who do not uphold Scriptural admonition and requirements. We all should desire gifts, not to seek them, to go to schools to somehow learn about and attain those gifts for they are given solely by the Holy Spirit at His discretion, yet we are to pray, meditate, and when led by the Holy Spirit that we have been given a gift(s), to not only recognize this gift(s) but are to mature those gifts, and this by the use of those gifts, and remaining Scriptural. We all should desire the greater gift (1Corinthians 12:31), that is the gift of love. One day we will be present before the Lord and will give an account of ourselves, that includes how we used our gifts, our talents, and what has been required of us; therefore, prepare yourself for we should want to hear from our Lord Jesus Christ: "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord" (Matthew 25:21).
     The next blogs will address the sign gifts, those are the gifts that have divided the Church and we must conclude from Scripture what are the sign gifts and are they necessary for the Church today? Be open minded, that is, prepare to learn, read the Scriptures presented, so that there will not be any confusion over this gifts that some Churches practice and others do not; we need the truth and this is what will be presented by the Scriptures.

For My name's sake
     I will defer My anger,
and for My praise I will
     retrain it from you,
so that I do not cut you off.
                      Isaiah 48:9


Place Your Trust In God


Richard L. Crumb