Gifts_3

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (NKJV)

 

 

More about the good gifts from our heavenly Father has to include this gift: ". . . When the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me,"  ". . . If I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you" (John 15:26, ch. 16:7b, NKJV). Jesus defined the role of the Spirit this way:

1. He will convict the world of sin ". . . because they do not believe in Me" (John 16:9). There are many in this world who feel no need of a Savior.  Without a conviction of personal sin there is no possibility of being saved from the judgemant coming on this world when Jesus returns.
2. He convicts the world of righteousness ". . . because I go to My Father and you see Me no more" (Vs. 10).  The sinless life of Jesus brought conviction of a need of righteousness to all within His circle of influence.  After His ascension, only the Holy Spirit could bring that about.  The Spirit reminds us that it only the righteousness of Jesus Christ that makes us fit for the kingdom of God.
3. He convicts the world of judgement ". . .  because the ruler of this world is judged"  (vs.11).  This points to the eventual executive judgement on Satan and his evil angels, but includes all who have hearts unsurrendered to God when Jesus comes again.  God has never, in all of human history, brought judgement without warning.  Bible statements about judgement are meant to remind us of who and where we are.  The world as we know it is rapidly moving toward the end of its existance.  Am I ready for what comes next?
4. "He will guide you into all truth for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.  He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you " (vs.13,14).

The Holy Spirit Himself has gifts for God's people: ". . . 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 " (I Corinthians 12:8-11).  A careful study of Scripture reveals more of these gifts; it can be accurately stated that when we receive God's gift, the Holy Spirit, we receive with Him a multitude of gifts that equip us for our role in God's kingdom.

 

Father God, how we need this precious gift Jesus promised!  Give us a deeper appreciation of this wonderful gift, a more intense desire to see His work in our minds and hearts, I pray - that you may be glorified in us! 

 

Philippians 1:6   I am confident that He who has begun a good work in you will continue that work until the day of Jesus Christ.