IF YOU ARE A NEW CONVERT TO THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION, YOU MAY NOT BE ACQUAINTED WITH THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT. WHEN A PERSON RECEIVES THE WASHING OF REGENERATION, AND THE RENEWING OF THE HOLY GHOST, THE INWARD MAN, THE SOUL, COMES TO LIFE. AND, THE HOLY GHOST BRINGS A GIFT OR GIFTS. LISTEN AS I READ THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT.

l CORINTHIANS l2:7 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.l0.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.

BELOVED OF GOD, THESE GIFTS ARE TO BE APART OF EVERY CHURCH SERVICE. THERE IS A WELL ESTABLISHED ORDER OF CHURCH SERVICE RECORDED IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. LET ME READ IT TO YOU FROM THE BOOK OF,

l CORINTHIANS 14:26 HOW IS IT THEN BRETHREN? WHEN YE COME TOGETHER, EVERY ONE OF YOU HATH A PSALM, HATH A DOCTRINE, HATH A TONGUE, HATH A REVELATION, HATH AN INTERPRETATION, LET ALL THINGS BE DONE UNTO EDIFYING. 27. IF ANY MAN SPEAK IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE, LET IT BE BY TWO, OR AT THE MOST BY THREE, AND THAT BY COURSE; AND LET ONE INTERPRET. 28. BUT IF THERE BE NO INTERPRETER, LET HIM KEEP SILENCE IN THE CHURCH; AND LET HIM SPEAK TO HIMSELF, AND TO GOD. 29. LET THE PROPHETS SPEAK TWO OR THREE, AND LET THE OTHER JUDGE. 30. IF ANY THING BE REVEALED TO ANOTHER THAT SITTETH BY, LET THE FIRST HOLD HIS PEACE.31. FOR YE MAY ALL PROPHESY ONE BY ONE, THAT ALL MAY LEARN, AND ALL MAY BE COMFORTED. 32. AND THE SPIRITS OF THE PROPHETS ARE SUBJECT TO THE PROPHETS. 33. FOR GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF CONFUSION, BUT OF PEACE, AS IN ALL CHURCHES OF THE SAINTS. 34. LET YOUR WOMEN KEEP SILENCE IN THE CHURCHES; FOR IT IS NOT PERMITTED UNTO THEM TO SPEAK; BUT THEY ARE COMMANDED TO BE UNDER OBEDIENCE, AS ALSO SAITH THE LAW. 35. AND IF THEY WILL LEARN ANY THING LET THEM ASK THEIR HUSBANDS AT HOME: FOR IT IS A SHAME FOR WOMEN TO SPEAK IN THE CHURCH. 36. WHAT? CAME THE WORD OF GOD OUT FROM YOU ? OR CAME IT UNTO YOU ONLY? 37. IF ANY MAN THINK HIMSELF TO BE A PROPHET, OR SPIRITUAL, LET HIM ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE THINGS THAT I WRITE UNTO YOU ARE THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD. 38. BUT IF ANY MAN BE IGNORANT, LET HIM BE IGNORANT. 39. WHEREFORE, BRETHREN, COVET TO PROPHESY, AND FORBID NOT TO SPEAK WITH TONGUES. 40. LET ALL THINGS BE DONE DECENTLY AND IN ORDER.

SAINTS OF GOD, LET'S EXAMINE THESE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT INDIVIDUALLY. FOR EXAMPLE THE GIFT OF WISDOM. THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM IS TO FEAR THE LORD. WHY SHOULD A PERSON FEAR THE LORD? BECAUSE HE HAS THE POWER, NOT ONLY TO KILL THE BODY, BUT TO CAST THE SOUL INTO HELL. JESUS SAID THESE WORDS

ST. MATTHEW 10:27 WHAT I TELL YOU IN DARKNESS THAT SPEAK YE IN LIGHT, AND WHAT YE HEAR IN THE EAR, THAT PREACH YE UPON THE HOUSE TOPS. 28. AND FEAR NOT THEM WHICH KILL THE BODY, BUT RATHER FEAR HIM WHICH IS ABLE TO DESTROY BOTH SOUL AND BODY IN HELL.

WISDOM IS A WONDERFUL GIFT, WHEN MEN DESCRIBE WISDOM THEY USE SUCH WORDS AS SOUND JUDGMENT, CLEAR THINKING, COMMON SENSE, INTELLIGENCE, BRILLIANCE. WISDOM IS TO BE DESIRED ABOVE SILVER, AND GOLD. IF A MAN LOVES WISDOM, HE LOVES LIFE. IF A MAN HATES WISDOM, HE LOVES DEATH. SOLOMON, A MAN FILLED WITH WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING, WAS INSPIRED OF GOD TO RECORD THESE WORDS.

PROVERBS 8:10 RECEIVE MY INSTRUCTION AND NOT SLIVER, AND KNOWLEDGE RATHER THAN CHOICE GOLD. 11. FOR WISDOM IS BETTER THAN RUBIES; AND ALL THE THINGS THAT MAY BE DESIRED ARE NOT TO BE COMPARED TO IT. VERSE 34.BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT HEARETH ME, WATCHING DAILY AT MY GATES, WAITING AT THE POST OF MY DOORS. 35. FOR WHOSO FINDETH ME FINDETH LIFE, AND SHALL OBTAIN FAVOUR OF THE LORD. 36. BUT HE THAT SINNETH AGAINST ME WRONGETH HIS OWN SOUL: ALL THEY THAT HATE ME LOVE DEATH.

BELOVED, THE NEXT GIFT MENTIONED IS KNOWLEDGE. I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE THREE WAYS THAT KNOWLEDGE COMES INTO THE BRAIN. KNOWLEDGE COMES INTO THE BRAIN THROUGH EXPERIENCE, THE THINGS YOU DO, AND THE THINGS THAT YOU SEE DONE. KNOWLEDGE ALSO COMES INTO THE BRAIN THROUGH PERCEPTION, THE THINGS YOU SEE, TASTE, SMELL, TOUCH, HEAR, THROUGH THE SENSES. BUT I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU LEARN ANY THING ABOUT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. IT SHALL BE THROUGH REVELATION. MANY PREACHERS PREACH ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT, BECAUSE THEY CAN PREACH FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT WITHOUT KNOWING ANY THING ABOUT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, WITHOUT KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT BAPTISM, AND THE LORD'S SUPPER, WITHOUT KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT. FOR THESE THINGS ARE NOT MENTIONED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. THE NEXT GIFT OF THE SPIRIT MENTIONED IS,

FAITH UNSHAKEABLE FAITH IS A WONDERFUL GIFT, AND GIVES THE CHILD OF GOD POWER. FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE SAVED BY FAITH. HOW ARE WE SAVED BY FAITH. WE AS CHILDREN OF GOD, HAVE THE POWER TO BELIEVE WITHOUT SEEING. WE CANNOT SEE THE HOLY GHOST, BUT WHEN MEN OF GOD LAY THEIR HANDS ON THE CHILDREN OF GOD, THAT THEY MIGHT RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST, THE CHILDREN OF GOD RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST BY FAITH. THE CHILD OF SATAN, CANNOT RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST BECAUSE THE CANNOT SEE HIM. IN THESE VERSES OF SCRIPTURE JESUS IS SPEAKING TO SIMON PETER, AND HE SAYS,

ST. JOHN 14:15 IF YE LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS. 16. AND I WILL PRAY THE FATHER, AND HE SHALL GIVE YOU ANOTHER COMFORTER, THAT HE MAY ABIDE WITH YOU FOR EVER. 17. EVEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH; WHOM THE WORLD CANNOT RECEIVE, BECAUSE IT SEETH HIM NOT, NEITHER KNOWETH HIM; BUT YE KNOW HIM; FOR HE DWELLETH WITH YOU, AND SHALL BE IN YOU.

HOLY CHILDREN THE NEXT GIFT OF THE SPIRIT IS THE GIFT OF HEALING. WHAT A PRECIOUS GIFT IS THE GIFT OF HEALING. DOCTORS GO TO SCHOOL FOR YEARS. SURGEONS LEARN TO CUT, AND TO SEW, PHYSICIANS LEARN TO PRESCRIBE MEDICINE, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO HEALING, GOD HAS RESERVED THAT FOR HIMSELF. BUT THE POWER OF HEALING IS TRANSFERABLE. GOD CAN GIVE THIS POWER TO WHOM HE WISHES. FOR EXAMPLE JESUS CHRIST GAVE HIS APOSTLES THE POWER, TO CAST OUT UNCLEAN SPIRITS, AND THE POWER TO HEAL ALL MANNER OF DISEASE.

ST. MATTHEW 10:1 AND WHEN HE HAD CALLED UNTO HIM HIS TWELVE DISCIPLES, HE GAVE THEM POWER AGAINST UNCLEAN SPIRITS, TO CAST THEM OUT, AND TO HEAL ALL MANNER OF SICKNESS AND ALL MANNER OF DISEASES.

CHILDREN OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH, GOD BY THE MOUTH OF THE APOSTLE JAMES, HAS GIVE TO US A MOST PRECIOUS PROMISE. AND, THAT IS, IF THERE IS ANY SICK AMONG US, IF WE WILL CALL FOR THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH, AND HAVE THEM PRAY OVER THE SICK ANOINTING THEM IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, THAT THE LORD WOULD RAISE THE SICK UP.

JAMES 5:14 IS ANY SICK AMONG YOU? LET HIM CALL FOR THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH; AND LET THEM PRAY OVER HIM, ANOINTING HIM WITH OIL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; 15. AND THE PRAYER OF FAITH SHALL SAVE THE SICK, AND THE LORD SHALL RAISE HIM UP: AND IF HE HAVE COMMITTED SINS, THEY SHALL BE FORGIVEN HIM. 16. CONFESS YOUR FAULTS ONE TO ANOTHER, AND PRAY ONE FOR ANOTHER, THAT YE MAY BE HEALED. THE EFFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN AVAILETH MUCH.

BROTHERS, AND SISTERS IN CHRIST, THE NEXT GIFT OF THE SPIRIT MENTIONED IS THE GIFT OF MIRACLES. WEBSTER DEFINES A MIRACLE AS AN ACTION, OR EVENT, THAT APPARENTLY CONTRADICTS KNOWN SCIENTIFIC LAWS. CHRIST JESUS PERFORMED MANY MIRACLES. FOR EXAMPLE HE TURNED WATER INTO WINE, RAISED THE DEAD, MADE BLIND EYES TO SEE. THERE WAS AN INCREDIBLE MIRACLE DONE IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, BY THE APOSTLES PETER, AND JOHN.

ACTS 3:1 NOW PETER AND JOHN WENT UP TOGETHER INTO THE TEMPLE AT THE HOUR OF PRAYER, BEING THE NINTH HOUR. 2. AND A CERTAIN MAN LAME FROM HIS MOTHER'S WOMB WAS CARRIED WHOM THEY LAID DAILY AT THE GATE OF THE TEMPLE WHICH IS CALLED BEAUTIFUL, TO ASK ALMS OF THEM THAT ENTERED INTO THE TEMPLE; 3. WHO SEEING PETER AND JOHN ABOUT TO GO INTO THE TEMPLE ASKED AN ALMS. 4. AND PETER, FASTENING HIS EYES UPON HIM WITH JOHN, SAID, LOOK ON US. 5. AND HE GAVE HEED UNTO THEM, EXPECTING TO RECEIVE SOMETHING OF THEM. 6. THEN PETER SAID, SILVER AND GOLD HAVE I NONE; BUT SUCH AS I HAVE GIVE I THEE; IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH RISE UP AND WALK. 7. AND HE TOOK HIM BY THE RIGHT HAND, AND LIFTED HIM UP: AND IMMEDIATELY HIS FEET AND ANKLE BONES RECEIVED STRENGTH. 8. AND HE LEAPING UP STOOD, AND WALKED, AND ENTERED WITH THEM INTO THE TEMPLE, WALKING, AND LEAPING, AND PRAISING GOD.

BELOVED OF GOD, THERE WAS A PREACHER FRIEND OF MINE THAT WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE PART OF HIS STOMACH REMOVED BECAUSE OF ULCERS. SERVERAL OF US CHRISTIANS GATHERED AROUND HIM, AND LAID HANDS UPON HIM, AND PRAYED FOR HIM. HE GOT HIS SUIT CASE CONTAINING THE THINGS HE NEEDED TO SPEND TIME IN THE HOSPITAL, AND WE TOOK TO THE HOSPITAL. BEFORE THEY OPERATED ON HIM THEY TOOK ONE FINAL X RAY. AND COULD FIND NOTHING, FOR GOD HAD HEALED HIM. AND HE RETURNED TO HIS HOME IN GOOD HEALTH. THE NEXT GIFT OF THE SPIRIT MENTIONED IS, THE GIFT OF PROPHECY. PROPHECY ALLOWS US AS CHRISTIANS TO KNOW FUTURE EVENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, CHRISTIANS KNOW THAT ONE DAY BEFORE TO LONG GOD SHALL CALL ALL THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD TO FIGHT AGAINST JERUSALEM, AND THE CITY SHALL BE TAKEN, AND THE HOUSES RIFLED, AND THE WOMEN RAVISHED. AND THEN THE LORD SHALL GO FORTH, AND FIGHT AGAINST THOSE MEN THAT HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST JERUSALEM, AND THIS IS THE PLAGUE THAT HE SHALL PLACE UPON THOSE MEN, THEIR EYE SHALL BE CONSUMED IN THEIR HOLES, THEIR TONGUE SHALL BE CONSUMED IN THEIR MOUTH.

ZECHARIAH 14:1bEHOLD THE DAY OF THE LORD COMETH, AND THY SPOIL SHALL BE DIVIDED IN THE MIDST OF THEE. 2. FOR I WILL GATHER ALL NATIONS AGAINST JERUSALEM TO BATTLE; AND THE CITY SHALL BE TAKEN, AND THE HOUSES RIFLED, AND THE WOMEN RAVISHED; AND HALF OF THE CITY SHALL GO FORTH INTO CAPTIVITY, AND THE RESIDUE OF THE PEOPLE SHALL NOT BE CUT OFF FROM THE CITY. 3. THEN SHALL THE LORD GO FORTH, AND FIGHT AGAINST THOSE NATIONS, AS W3HEN HE FOUGHT IN THE DAY OF BATTLE. 4. AND HIS FEET SHALL STAND IN THAT DAY UPON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, WHICH IS BEFORE JERUSALEM ON THE EAST, AND THE MOUNT OF OLIVES SHALL CLEAVE IN THE MIDST THEREOF TOWARD THE EAST AND TOWARD THE WEST, AND THERE SHALL BE A VERY GREAT VALLEY; AND HALF OF THE MOUNTAIN SHALL REMOVE TOWARD THE NORTH, AND HALF OF IT TOWARD THE SOUTH. 5. AND YE SHALL FLEE TO THE VALLEY O THE MOUNTAINS; FOR THE VALLEY OF THE MOUNTAINS SHALL REACH UNTO AZAL; YEA, YE SHALL FLEE, LIKE AS YE FLED FROM BEFORE THE EARTHQUAKE IN THE DAYS OF UZZIAH KING OF JUDAH; AND THE LORD MY GOD SHALL COME, AND ALL THE SAINTS WITH THEE. VERSE 12. AND THIS SHALL BE THE PLAGUE WHEREWITH THE LORD WILL SMITE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST JERUSALEM; THEIR FLESH SHALL CONSUME AWAY WHILE THEY STAND UPON THEIR FEET, AND THEIR EYES SHALL CONSUME AWAY IN THEIR HOLES, AND THEIR TONGUE SHALL CONSUME AWAY IN THEIR MOUTH.

THESE WONDERFUL GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT, CHILDREN OF GOD, ARE THERE FOR YOU TO PROFIT WITH. THEREFORE, THE QUESTION MUST ARISE, HOW DO THE CHILDREN OF GOD RECEIVE THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT. I BELIEVE THAT SOME, IF NOT ALL, COME WHEN THE RITUAL OF THE LAYING ON OF HANDS IS PERFORMED. THE APOSTLE PAUL WROTE THESE WORDS TO TIMOTHY, HIS CHILD IN CHRIST.

1 TIMOTHY 4:14 NEGLECT NOT THE GIFT THAT IS IN THEE, WHICH WAS GIVEN THEE BY PROPHECY, WITH THE LAYING ON OF THE HANDS OF THE PRESBYTERY.

LET ME ASK YOU A SERIOUS QUESTION, CHILD OF GOD, HAVE YOU RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST SINCE YOU BELIEVED. IF NOT REPENT, AND BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, FOR THE REMISSION OF SIN, AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST. LET ME CONCLUDE WITH THESE QUESTIONS. IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST, WHAT GIFT HAVE YOU RECEIVED. IS IT THE GIFT OF WISDOM, OR THE GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE, OR THE GIFT OF DIVERS KINDS OF TONGUES, OR THE GIFT OF FAITH. WHAT EVER IS YOUR GIFT, NEGLECT NOT TO USE IT.