“Fear can lead us to view the possibilities of tomorrow without the promises of God, which are true yesterday, today and forever”.

(The idea for this post comes from a sermon delivered by Pastor Chris Voorhees of Naples Covenant Church, Naples, Florida. However, I am presenting a contemporary view on the outcome of the prophetic nature of these scriptures, as a remedy and as countermeasures for today in our world of chaos, war and disease.)

An example of this can be seen from the “Y2K” scare of the year 2000. The Y2K Scare was a phenomenon at the turn of the 21st century where computer users and programmers feared that computers would stop working on December 31, 1999. The phenomenon was also referred to as the “Millennium Bug” or “Year 2000 problem” by technology experts. A lot of planning went into preparing for the ‘Millennium Bug.’ In fact, the scare led governments and private organizations to spend millions of dollars in an attempt to avert the risk.

In the 1960s and 1970s, when computer engineers worked on complex computer programs, they used two-digit codes to represent the year. The first two digits were left out. For example, instead of coding “1960”, they just used “60”. The main reason for leaving out the first two digits was to save on storage space which was too costly. For instance, a kilobyte of storage went for as high as US$100. Additionally, the programmers did not expect the programs to last up to the turn of the century. When the new Millennium neared, computer experts realized that the software would recognize “00” as 1900 instead of the year 2000. This realization posed a risk to many institutions such as banks, insurance companies, hospitals, and government departments that relied on computers to provide accurate time and date.

As the calendar approached the year 2000, anxiety spread across the world as people feared that computer systems would shut down. Banking institutions which relied on software programs to calculate daily interest were at risk of system failure. As a result, stock prices of banking institutions dropped in value as the year 2000 neared. Transport systems were also affected especially in the airline business whose operations depend on accurate time and date. There were rumors that planes would drop from the sky when clocks turned to midnight on 31st Dec 1999. This led travelers to avoid the airport on New Year’s Eve. Hospitals, power plants, and government organizations were not spared from the threats either.

Due to the severe implication of a possible shut down, organizations went to great lengths to prevent the system failure from materializing. One way the year 2000 problem was handled was by creating new software programs that saved dates as four digits instead of the two digits previously used. The remedy was very expensive to implement. The other solution was to amend the algorithm used in calculating leap years so as to recognize the year 2000 as a leap year.

On the much-awaited date of January 1st, 2000, computer programs updated to the new dates and carried on as usual. Except for a few incidents of software failures, not much happened on the date as earlier anticipated.

Computer experts were later accused of exaggerating the concept of the “Millennium Bug” as millions of dollars were spent in preparation of the Y2K problem (WorldAtlas.com).  And that was then end of it – or was it?

Let’s use a little reason and logic here, which something the computer experts are reportedly highly trained in, but apparently failed to employ. And I ask again, or did they?

What if this was just a ‘test run” in the use of unreasonable and unfounded fear to the purpose of manipulating masses of people, corporations, nations and governments for political reasons?

A second glaring example is the use of “Global Warming” scare of the late 1900’s and the early 2000’s.

You can watch this documentary video “The Great Global Warming Swindle” for detailed information on how the Globalists-Socialists have weaponized innocuous matters such as the weather and spread fear around the world for political reasons:

Then came Covid-19. This has been one of the most successful Globalist fear-inspired lockdowns in history, which is now a faint memory, but laced with unnecessary death and destruction with a cost exceeding 11 trillion dollars, and still growing.

The Covid-19 experiment proved that world populations and governments can be successfully manipulated with proper fear induced motivations.

Hence, the United Nations’ U.N.E.S.C.O, The World Economic Forum, Global Marxism, the American Democrat Party have carefully planned and executed a global coup de tat conspiracy using their Agenda-2030.

YOU HAVE TO READ IT TO BELIEVE IT

That is to say, you have to read the Agenda-2030 (and the predecessor document, Agenda-21) to believe the audacity and the temerity of it all. Which finally brings us to the point:  “Fear can lead us to view the possibilities of tomorrow without the promises of God which were true yesterday, are true today and shall be forevermore.

“Fear can tempt us to try and create our own future rather than trust God’s future for us.”.

Taken from the Old Testament book of 2 Kings 19:1-20, Pastor Voorhees outlines four important truths and reveals the tactics of Satan, our eternal enemy and how to identity his evil influencers.

FEAR OF THE FUTURE WILL OFTEN INCLUDE LIES OF THE ENEMY

1. The enemy will tear down your trust in God and tempt you to do it your own way by telling you ‘half-truths’ (which is just another word for lies), which puts our focus on your immanent and ultimate defeat rather than on the victory God has planned for you.

2. The antagonizing voices of the enemy speak about things that are true, but does not tell the truth and is void of faith.

3. The enemy will seem to offer terms of compromise and peaceful coexistence that look attractive, but replace the promise of God with counterfeits and lies resulting in a hellish prison of your body, soul and spirit.

Just like in the events in 2 Kings 18:30-32, where Rabshakeh offers Israel and Hezekiah security, hope, sustenance, stability, land and a future of safety and prosperity against the threat of fear, defeat and death, the Marxist-Globalists of our day (The U.N., U.N.E.S.C.O., The World Economic Forum, Agenda-2030 and the American Democrat Party) in part, are offering:

(From the Preamble of the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”)

“This Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. It also seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom. We recognize that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. All countries and all stakeholders, acting in collaborative partnership, will implement this plan. We are resolved to free the human race from the tyranny of poverty and want and to heal and secure our planet. We are determined to take the bold and transformative steps which are urgently needed to shift the world onto a sustainable and resilient path. As we embark on this collective journey, we pledge that no one will be left behind. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets which we are announcing today demonstrate the scale and ambition of this new universal Agenda. They seek to build on the Millennium Development Goals and complete what these did not achieve. They seek to realize the human rights of all and to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. They are integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental.

The Goals and targets will stimulate action over the next fifteen years in areas of critical importance for humanity and the planet.

“We are determined to protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and future generations.”

 Who would not want to achieve these goals and live in such a Utopian world? Beware. The goals are lofty, but, the methodologies, the implementation and the governing of the world they describe can be likened to the gulags of Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin, the reign of terror imposed on China by the notorious Mao Zedong or the racist Hegelian, Karl Marx’s nefarious social construct of Marxism which is responsible for the deaths of upward of 200,000,000 people. They, all, used the same Siren’s song the United Nations is using now, to lure hundreds of millions into the webs of Agenda 2030.

It must be noted that these ‘noble sounding objectives’ will come at the loss of many personal freedoms and individual liberties, according to the the World Economic’s own statements. Additionally, the Commission on Global Governance boldly states, “This agenda will be foreign to and ignores ideas precious to the American experience”.

However, there is no reason to fear what they fear, and we are not to dread what they dread. We have overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by our testimony:

For in this way the LORD spoke to me with His strong hand [upon me and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people behaving as they do, saying,

“You are not to say, ‘It is a conspiracy!’

In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy,

And you are not to fear what they fear nor be in dread of it.

 “It is the LORD of hosts whom you are to regard as holy and awesome.

He shall be your source of fear,

He shall be your source of, dread, not man.

“Then He shall be a sanctuary, a sacred, indestructible shelter for those who fear and trust Him. (Isaiah 8:11-14)

You can hear pastor Chris Voorhees entire sermon here:

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

More important and relevant posts:

The tentacles of the socialist-marxist takeover/

Agenda-2030, the United Nations and Global-Marxism

Why is it that some ‘themes’ seem to occur in ‘groups of three’? What I mean is you might see a picture of a statement of something, repeatedly, over a course of days. For example, “That’s the third time this week that I have heard something like, “The things that consume my mind, control my life”.

I was writing an article, a post, for my web and blog site from Matthew 6:24 on the subject of serving two masters, God and money. One of the lessons to be learned is that the thing that consumes my mind, controls my life.

The next day, a friend posted a meme on Facebook which simply said, “The things that consume my mind control my life”. Hmmmm.

Today, I get up to do my morning Bible study and I believe God puts the idea of the book of Job into my mind. (Strangely enough, it is one of my favorite studies.)

So, welcome to my ‘day three’, the true story of JOB. (A spiritually deep teaching.)

I have studied and thought, deeply, about the Old Testament Book of Job.  There was a time that I shied away from this Book.  It was confusing and depressing to me.  I kept asking myself “Why would a Just and Loving God allow such horror and prolonged suffering to one of His Chosen servants?”

Then, one day, I felt a determination to get a fresh perspective on God’s Word through His Book of Job.  I thought this motivation must be from God, because I had plenty to do aside from reading a Book about a man’s suffering written over 2,500 years ago.

Please allow me to explore this Book with you keeping these things in mind.

1.  The Bible is all about Jesus which means the Bible is all about God’s unconditional love for us.  You cannot study or understand the Bible correctly if you start on any other basis.  And the Book of Job is no exception.  You’ll find the “God with us” in Job.  You must find Jesus, reaching out to you, calling you, in this Book, or you missed the point.

2. The Bible is a Prophetic Book. It is the Truth to you and once you implant that Word in you, it tells the Truth through you.  This is how prophecy works.  It is the living Word of God, manifest.

The prophecy of the Book of Job is still alive and reverberating throughout time.  It is still calling to us.  It will still be manifest in your life and my life, if we embrace this Truth.  (This is difficult to explain but it is most significant).

1. The Bible is to be understood on three major levels:
   1. With the physical mind (soma). What you “see” is what you get.  Cognitive. This is where much of our learning begins.
   2. With the soul, that is the mind, the will and the emotions (pseuche). This is deeper than just physical facts.  You see, think, meditate, have emotions and with your will to accept or reject the Word is affected.  This is where most of us a moved into some sort of decision making, process and eventually, action.
   3. With your Spirit (pneuma).  This is what a current-day psychologist might,    inadequately call, “core beliefs”.  This are where beliefs of how we see ourselves,   other people, the world, the future, and God are formed and kept.

2. Every word of the Book of Job is prophetic and significant. There is neither time nor space in this exploration to look at the prophetic significance of every word, but much is to be gained by such a study.  (I will occasionally dip into some of these words)

NOTE:  In order to interact with the Holy Spirit, The Spirit of all Truth, and to understand the Prophetic Truth of the Book of Job, you must be a Believer and follower of Jesus, filled by and with The Holy Spirit. It is He Who will teach and guide you into all Truth.

Let’s pray to The Holy Spirit for wisdom and understanding and let’s start exploring:

Job 1:1, “There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.

What do we know from verse 1 about Job?   (This is very important).

1. a) He was blameless,
2. b) He was upright,
3. c) He feared God
4. d) He turned away from evil

How do feel about Job, from this description?

NOTE:  Job’s name, from the Hebrew means “hated”; to be hostile to or to be an enemy to.  Job’s name translated from Greek means “the cry of woe” or “I will exclaim”

Read these verses from the New Testament and tell me, How does Job’s name square with his character?

(John 17:14  “I have given them Your word. And the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”

John 15:18  “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. ¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’^[a] If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ²¹ They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me..)

How do you think God viewed Job?

How do you think ‘the world’ will feel about you, if you assume the nature and character of Job?

Verse 2.  Seven sons and three daughters were born to him.

 Verse 3.  His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

What do verses 2 and 3 say about Job on the “physical level”?

What do verses 2 and 3 say about Job on a “Spiritual level”?

(The sacred numbers, three and seven, often occur. 

The number seven is one of the most significant numbers of the Bible because it is the number of spiritual perfection. It is the number which is stamped on every work of God.

Three is also a number of perfection, or completion. This number is repeated throughout the Bible as a symbol of completeness.  God’s attributes are three: omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. Three denotes divine perfection; Seven denotes spiritual perfection.

The number five symbolizes God’s grace, goodness and favor toward humans and is mentioned 318 times in Scripture. Five is the number of grace.

The name of Job, too, is derived from an Arabic word signifying repentance.)

Verse 4.  His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

Explain what you see and how you feel about verse 4.

Verse 5.  When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all;  for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus, Job did continually.

What is the significance of  Job consecrating his children and offering burnt offerings for his children (to sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate), in verse 5?

After praying for his children, why would Job suddenly consider that perhaps his sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts?

How often did Job think this way?

Was this a disciplined prayer life or had it become an obsessive and compulsive type of thinking? “Thus, Job did continually”.

PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION TO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT:  The scene / setting of this narrative shifts dramatically from the ‘earthly or natural realm’ to the ‘Heavenly or spiritual realm’.  Our attention is drawn away from Job and his righteousness – to GOD.

Verse 6.  Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.

 How does Satan gain entrance to the presence of God? Who or what opened the door for him?

 Verse 7.  The LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.”

 Why does God have to ask Satan where he came from? God is omniscient. He knows all things.

 Verse 8  The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.”

Once again, why does the omniscient God have to ask Satan if he has ‘considered’ or been thinking about Job. Doesn’t God already know the answer? And, why does God then describe Job for Satan to hear? Or could it be a reminder of how Job has come to see himself?

Verse 9  Then Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?

 Does Satan no hear God’s question or does he choose to not answer it? Instead, Satan asks, if Job fears (reverences) God for any good reason?

Verse 10.  “Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. Verse 11.  “But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.”

 Verse 12.  Then the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So, Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.

Notice the progression here.

1. Job was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. Job was the greatest of all the people of the east.
2. Job would send and consecrate his children, and
3. he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all.
4. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.”
5. Thus, Job did continually.
6. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.
7. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”
8. And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”
9. Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So, Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Job is a great man. Fearing God and turning away from evil. There is no one on earth like him.

Is what we are seeing the spiritual order being played out?

Many, (if not most) commentaries and Bible teachers, make the assumption that these foregoing verses describe some sort of wager between God and Satan, betting on the life and character of Job. I am personally outraged that someone who is considered  a sound and credible Bible teacher or scholar would make such a defamatory and heretical statement about God. When confronted, many of these same ‘scholars’ will become indignant, begin waving their educational achievements and sheepskins in your face or retreat to the idea that the book of Job is just a metaphor. They say it did not actually happen but was written as an object lesson in suffering. To both, I say, rubbish!  This is not some foolish game between God and Satan.

This is what happens when we are drawn into Satan’s trap of compulsive doubt, worry and fear. This is what happens when we fix out mind on the things of the flesh. Carefully read Romans 8:5-8, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh.  For to set the mind on the flesh is death…For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

When we as sons of God come to present ourselves before the LORD, we either open or close the door for Satan to come among us by how we conduct our thought life, by the things we have set our mind upon!

What comes next is unspeakable carnage. Job loses his property, his possessions and his children.

Then Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head in mourning for the children, and he fell to the ground and worshiped God. He said, “Naked without possessions I came into this world from my mother’s womb, And naked I will return there.  The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.” Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.

Then the previous scene repeats when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD and Satan comes among them. This time conditions worsen and Job’s body is afflicted with sores and boils and Job begins his lament. The most revealing statement is made by Job in Chapter 3, verse 25:  “For what I fear comes upon me, And what I dread befalls me.

What follows is a fruitless discourse between Job, his wife and his friends. Job has done all he knows to do and has said all he knows to say in order to find relief. But he finds no relief. So, foolishly, Job questions God and this draws a response from God

What happens next could easily be imagined to have been accompanied with a scene of dark roiling dark clouds, deafening thunder and blinding lightning and a terrifying and booming voice from the heavens, Chapter 38, verse 1,

 “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, Verse 2.  “Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge? Verse 3.  “Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!

 A colloquial expression of these same words from God might be “Job! Hike up your britches like a man and face Me if you have the nerve!” God proceeds to ‘set the record straight’, reminding Job that it is God who creates and provides all things. Without God, Job would not have been considered as  “no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.”

We do all our religious duties and we become good in our own mind and in our own eyes, and when evil comes to visit, we have only ourselves to turn to. So, we worry, doubt and obsess on what we must do to fix things.

We do the good things we know to do, such as rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all and present ourself before the LORD, and will all our best intentions, still,  Satan comes among us, and asks the God, “does                                  (fill in your name) fear God for any good reason?”

It is when we come to the end our ourselves and repent and submit ourselves to God that relief comes. Jesus teaches this very thing, found in Matthew chapter 5,

“Blessed are we when we are made poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are we when we are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

“Blessed are we when we are made meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

“Blessed are we when we are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are we when we are made merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

“Blessed are we when we are made pure in heart, for they shall see God.

“Blessed are we when we are made the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

“Blessed are we when we are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

(Is this not the saem progression for Job and his difficulties?)

Chapter 42, verse 1:   Then Job answered the LORD and said,

 Verse 2.  “I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.

Verse 3.  ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ “Therefore, I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”

 Verse 4.  ‘Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me.’

 Verse 5.  “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You;

 Verse 6.  Therefore, I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes.”

This is a creative, causative, prophetic and instructional warning for every man, woman, boy and girl who would believe in God and who would follow Jesus.

Now let’s see the result of complete submission and humility, which has come from trials, tribulations and loss.

Job’s (and our) Confession and Repentance

Chapter 42:1, Then Job answered the Lord and said:

Verse 2. “I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
verse 3. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
verse 4. ‘Hear, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
verse 5. I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
verse 6,  therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.”

verse 7. After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. verse 8. Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” verse 9. So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the Lord had told them, and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.

The Lord Restores Job’s (and our) Fortunes

Verse 10. “And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Verse 11. Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of money and a ring of gold.

verse 12. “And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. verse 13. He had also seven sons and three daughters. verse 14. And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. verse 15. And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job’s daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. verse 16/ And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, four generations. 17And Job died, an old man, and full of days.”

(The sacred numbers, three and seven, often occur. 

The number seven is one of the most significant numbers of the Bible because it is the number of spiritual perfection. It is the number which is stamped on every work of God.

Three is also a number of perfection, or completion. This number is repeated throughout the Bible as a symbol of completeness.  God’s attributes are three: omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. Three denotes divine perfection; Seven denotes spiritual perfection.

The number five symbolizes God’s grace, goodness and favor toward humans and is mentioned 318 times in Scripture. Five is the number of grace.)

Now, let’s pray for one another that we might be those who set their minds on the things of the Spirit, for to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8)

And remember, do not call a conspiracy when the sons and daughters of God present ourselves before our LORD, like those who call it a conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But it is the Lord of hosts we shall honor as holy. Let him be our fear, and let him be our dread, and he will become our sanctuary. (Isaiah 8)

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

How can I do that? I’m not a pastor, a preacher or an evangelist! I don’t have the training and I can’t afford the time or money to go to seminary. Why can’t I just be a member of the church and give my tithes and offerings to support missions and missionaries? You can do that, but that is not what Jesus said to do. What you suggest has been adopted by the church as a viable alternative to what He told us to be doing, and it has seemed to fit nicely – except when it doesn’t.

God The Holy Spirit has equipped all believers with supernatural spritual gifts and appointed us to an office to exercise those gifts to serve, build up and edify the Church.

Look at this list of Spiritual Gifts and Offices. Can you find the Gift or Office The Holy Spirit has given you and appointed to you?

GIFTS                      MINISTRIES                  EFFECTS                     OFFICES

​Romans 12             1 Corinthians 12         1 Corinthians 12:28       Ephesians 4:11

Prophecy               Word of wisdom            Apostle                        Apostle
Serving                  Word of knowledge       Prophet                       Prophet
Teaching                Faith                                Teacher                       Evangelist
Exhortation           Gifts of healing              Miracles                      Pastor
Giving                     Miracles                          Kinds of healing        Teacher
Overseer                Prophecy                         Helps
Mercy                     Distinguishing spirits   Administration
Tongues

It is through Spiritual Gifts that God empowers and enables us to serve Him and to serve His Church, which is His Body.  We are, as Christians, to serve the Lord and His Church.

Jesus created His Church, His Body, and made it so the whole Body fits together perfectly.  As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

The Holy Spirit guides us, convict us, defends us and empowers us.

Jesus transformed the practice and attitude of ‘going to church’. He also teaches about not allowing external things to convict or to defend us. We are to depend on and call upon the Holy Spirit for those things.  Jesus has told us that His laws are now written upon our hearts and in our consciences.

We must BE the Body of Christ, The Church, and behave as such, or we simply are not following Jesus.

Let’s take a quick detour and see how the church came to our current paraidgm of making disciples of all the nations, and helping the people to learn of Jesus, believing in Him, obeying His words, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe everything that He has commanded.

Our roots go back to the Jewish nation, the Israelites. The primary purpose of education among the Jews in Old Testament times was the learning of and obedience to the law of God, the Torah.

Primary ways of imparting religious knowledge to Jewish children were example, imitation, conversation and stories. Parents could utilize the interest aroused in their children by actual life observances such as Sabbath or Passover to teach about God.

Training in the Torah began very early. The father had an obligation to teach his children the Law by words and example. A child could observe his father binding the phylacteries on his arm and head. The natural question, “What are you doing?”, could be used to teach the child that it was everyone’s duty to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5 ).

When the son reached the age of twelve, the Jews believed his education in the Torah was complete enough to help him know the Law and keep it. He was then known as a “son of the Law.” As a symbol of this attainment, the father would fasten the phylacteries upon the arm and forehead of his son. The box placed on the forehead indicated that the laws must be memorized. The other box was placed on the left arm so that it would press against the heart when the arms were folded or the hands were clasped in prayer. The box pressed against the heart would symbolize that the laws were to be loved and obeyed.

The elementary school system among the Jews developed in connection with the synagogue. Even before the days of Jesus, schools for the young were located in practically every important Jewish community.

Boys usually began formal schooling at the “house of the book” at age five. He would spend at least a half day, six days a week for about five years, studying at the synagogue. Parents brought their son at daybreak and came for him at midday. While not at school the boy was usually learning a trade, such as farming or carpentry.

If a boy wanted training beyond that given in a synagogue, he would go to a scholarly scribe. Saul of Tarsus received such advanced theological training “at the feet of Gamaliel” in Jerusalem (Acts 22:3 ).

Jesus was also a trainer of teachers. He selected the twelve and taught them how to teach others. His last directive or commission made before He ascended to heaven was and still is, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually–regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”

As risen Lord, Jesus commissioned his followers to carry their evangelism and teaching ministry into all the world (Matthew 28:19-20 ). As seen in Acts 2:42 , Acts 4:1-2; Acts 5:21 ,Acts 5:21,5:28 , teaching became an important work in the early church in Jerusalem.

The New Testament places importance on the teaching function of the church. Teaching is regarded as a primary function of the pastor (1 Timothy 3:2 ). Volunteer teachers are also important to the work of the church (James 3:1 ).

In New Testament times churches met in the homes of members and Christian teaching was done there (Romans 16:3-5 ).

While the synagogue school still existed, the home was still considered a primary place of education for children. Timothy is a notable example of a child who had been educated in the Scriptures in the home (2 Timothy 1:5 ).

Fast forward to the year 2023

The road to becoming a pastor in our current-day churches, typically begins after you have completed your secondary education training and all of your college undergraduate studies, have come to understand God’s calling, then the final step on the road to becoming a pastor begins by deciding to attend a seminary. Seminaries offer ministry degree programs, in addition to many other types of degree programs, that will properly educate and equip you to fulfill your calling.

At seminary, several ministerial degree programs focus on the practice of ministry and Christian leadership. Acceptance into these programs typically comes down to three main factors:

• Faith and belief
• Academic ability
• Overall character

Commitment to your faith and belief is perhaps the most critical prerequisite to any seminary program. You may be asked to write essays and provide letters of recommendation regarding your faith during the application process. While the academic requirements will vary from seminary to seminary, most ask for a bachelor’s degree for admission to a master’s program and a master’s degree for admission to a doctoral program. While you don’t have to be at the top of your class, the seminary will need evidence of your ability to keep up with rigorous, graduate-level studies. Seminaries also consider your character, sometimes requiring a background check as part of your application.

The greatest failure of our ‘religious educational systems’ is that it pushes the perceived requirements for you to complete the Great Commission, as issued by Jesus, far beyond what He required. So, only a relative minority will ever elect to ‘fulfill the great commission’ since they incorrectly assume it is for the highly trained seminary graduate. The rest of us will go to church, give offerings to missionaries and missions efforts, but we do not go to the mission field, whether near or far.

Here is what Jesus said on this matter:  “When Jesus’ disciples had come together, they asked Him repeatedly, “Lord, are You at this time reestablishing the kingdom and restoring it to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.”  (Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth could be taken metaphorically to say, ‘in your home town, the cities and states around your locality, and even as far as the ends of the earth. But we do not go – not even across to the street.)

CALLED AND COMFORTABLE

Some do not feel ‘called’, others do not feel ‘comfortable’ with the whole thing of ‘witnessing Christ to other people’. So, a few will invite others to church services, a Christmas play, an Easter service or some other church program.

Training in the Great Commission is either being misdirected in this 21st Century church, lacking in direcdtion, or absent all-together for those who cannot or will not spend eight years in college and post graduate seminary studies.

BACK TO BASICS

Please consider JESUS’ MODEL OF MINISTRY and “THE CYCLE OF DISCIPLESHIP”

I.

Romans 10:9 “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

II.

Matthew 4:19 “And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

III.

Matthew 10:5, “Jesus sent These twelve out after instructing them: Verse 7. “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’Verse 8.  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Verse 9. Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, Verse 10, or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support.”

IV.

Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

V.

Mark 16:15 “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Verse 16. “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. Verse 17. “These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; Verse 18. they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

VI.

1 Corinthians 12:25 “so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. Verse 26. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Verse 27. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. Verse 28. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.”

VII.

Ephesians 4:21, “Indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, Verse 23, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, Verse 24, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God. Verse 25. Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. Verse 26. BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, Verse 27, and do not give the devil an opportunity. Verse 28. He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. Verse 29. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as it is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Verse 30. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Verse 31. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Verse 32. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

 HERE ARE THE INSTRUCTIONS:

“WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD [in prayer] WILL BE SAVED.”

Romans 10:14, “But how will people call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher (messenger)? Verse 15. And how will they preach unless they are commissioned and sent [for that purpose]? Just as it is written and forever remains written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!”  (Amplified version).

HERE IS THE EXAMPLE:

Matthew 4:17. “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent [change your inner self–your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

(The First Disciples)

Verse 18. “As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He noticed two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Verse 19. And He said to them, “Follow Me [as My disciples, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher and walking the same path of life that I walk], and I will make you fishers of men.” Verse 20. Immediately they left their nets and followed Him [becoming His disciples, believing and trusting in Him and following His example]. Verse 21. And going on [further] from there He noticed two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets; and He called them [to follow Him as His disciples]. Verse 22. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him [becoming His disciples, believing and trusting in Him and following His example].

Ministry in Galilee

Verse 23. “And He went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news (gospel) of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people [demonstrating and revealing that He was indeed the promised Messiah].

Verse 24. So the news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were sick, those suffering with various diseases and pains, those under the power of demons, and epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them. Verse 25. Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and the other side of the Jordan.” (Amplified Version).

Footnote:  [a] 17 Jesus’ public ministry began at this time and He was preaching the same message John the Baptist had proclaimed.

Footnote:  [b] 19 The concept of “follow” can represent three separate possibilities: in the early stages of His ministry, (1) walking with Him physically (literally), that is, merely being in His presence regardless of personal belief or commitment, (2) accepting and identifying with the salvation He offered; and later on, (3) being identified with Him by being subject to the scorn and rejection of unbelievers because of personal belief and commitment to Him.

HERE WERE THE QUALIFICATIONS:

Acts 14:13. “Now when the men of the Sanhedrin (Jewish High Court) saw the confidence and boldness of Peter and John, and grasped the fact that they were uneducated and untrained, that is they had no formal religious training in the rabbinical schools, [i.e., ordinary men], they were astounded, and began to recognize that they had been with Jesus!”  (Amplified version).

Sadly, now-a-days, see these advertisements which are typical for pastoral positions, 2023.

1. 1. 1. 1. What a Strong Candidate Would Look Like: • Meets the Biblical qualifications of elder/overseer as set forth in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. • Demonstrates a growing Christlikeness in demeanor and character. Can articulate a clear sense of calling to pastoral ministry. • Has completed a full graduate seminary degree at an accredited                 institution or equivalent. A doctorate is preferred but not required. • Demonstrates a growing love for and devotion to his spouse and commitment to his family. • A person of integrity who ministry team members, as well as the church body, can respect and follow

1. 1. 1. 2. Requirements: The Candidate We seek a Senior Pastor who has been ordained by an accredited Protestant denomination, a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, and a Master of Divinity degree from a theological seminary or divinity school accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. The candidate must also have served as a Senior or Associate Pastor and possess a Christian character and pastoral qualifications which are compatible with our Mission Statement. In addition, the candidate shall demonstrate the ability to meet the organizational and operational needs of the Church and provide for the spiritual welfare and well-being of the Church and the area. Benefits The Compensation package range of $100,000 to $130,000 based on experience

These are just for the few.

Should there be an ecclesiastical hierarchy in God’s Church? This question should remind us of a discussion between Jesus and the mother of James and John. She asked if her two sons could sit, one at His right side and one at His left side, when He became King.

Jesus replied that she did not know what she was asking. He said to them, “You will suffer as I will suffer. But the places at My right side and at My left side are not Mine to give. Whoever My Father says will have those places.” We should not aspire to seats of authority, honor or prestige. We are servants.

Let me finish, saying that I understand that organizational structure can be important. But scriptures tell us for just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though many, form [only] one body, so it is with Christ. For by one [Holy] Spirit we were all baptized into one body, [spiritually transformed–united together] whether Jews or Greeks (Gentiles), slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one [Holy] Spirit [since the same Holy Spirit fills each life].

We are told, [collectively], that we are Christ’s body, and individually [you are] members of it [each with his own special purpose and function]. So, God has appointed and placed in the church [for His own use]: first apostles [chosen by Christ], second prophets [those who foretell the future, those who speak a new message from God to the people], third teachers, then those who work miracles, then those with the gifts of healings, the helpers, the administrators, and speakers in various kinds of [unknown] tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire and strive for the greater gifts.”

And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one of the choicest graces and the highest of them all: unselfish love].

Finally,  Jesus has told us, “This is My commandment, that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you. No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends.”

You are my friends if you keep on doing what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you [My] friends, because I have revealed to you everything that I have heard from My Father.

You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed and placed and purposefully planted you, so that you would go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit will remain and be lasting, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name [as My representative] He may give to you. This [is what] I command you: that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another.

Now, let’s be like Jesus. If there is any encouragement and comfort in Christ [as there certainly is in abundance], if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship [that we share] in the Spirit, if [there is] any [great depth of] affection and compassion, make His joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love [toward one another], knit together in spirit, intent on one purpose [and living a life that reflects your faith and spreads the gospel–the good news regarding salvation through faith in Christ].

Let’s do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves. Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

For even “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

You are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A CONSECRATED NATION, A [special] PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were NOT A PEOPLE [at all], but now you are GOD’S PEOPLE; once you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.  For [as a believer] you have been called for this purpose. (See 1 Peter 2:9-10, 21).

No matter your Gifting, no matter your Office, regardless of your position in the Church, let each of us, according to our gifts, go, teach, train, equip, encourage, send, and keep going until He returns.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(There is a Link to a Spiritual Gifts Test at the end of this article)

 “DO YOU KNOW YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT?”

​Have you ever been asked that question before?

So, do you?  Do you know your Spiritual Gift?  And, if you do know your Spiritual Gift – SO WHAT?

​What I mean is, SO WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR PRECIOUS GIFT from the Holy Spirit?

​Spiritual gifts, (charismata) are an endowment or extraordinary powers given by the Holy Spirit.

These supernatural graces, are given to individual Christians by the Holy Spirit with the purpose of building up the Body of Christ which is The Church and are needed to fulfill the mission of the Church.  Spiritual Gifts enable Christians to serve the Lord and His Church.

Two important Truths have been lost over time, and this loss is rendering God’s Church as less effective in Her mission and, is in fact, soiling His Bride.

Truth #1.  Many in the Church have become grossly “self-serving”.

It is through Spiritual Gifts that God empowers and enables us to serve Him and to serve His Church, which is His Body.  We are, as Christians, to serve the Lord and His Church.

Jesus, Himself, said, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.”

That is our calling also. ​We are not here to be served, we are here to serve.

​Truth #2.  You and I are The Body of Christ, that is we are “The Church”. 

​We have become accustomed, over the last two millennium (beginning with Constantine) with the idea that we ‘go to church’, but that is impossible in God’s Kingdom and in His economy because we are The Church.

Jesus created His Church, His Body, and made it so the whole Body fits together perfectly.  As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

The Holy Spirit guides us, convict us, defends us and empowers us.

Jesus transformed the practice and attitude of ‘going to church’. He also teaches about not allowing external things to convict or to defend us. We are to depend on and call upon the Holy Spirit for those things.  Jesus has told us that His laws are now written upon our hearts and in our consciences.

We must BE the Body of Christ, The Church, and behave as such, or we simply are not following Jesus.

​No matter what we believe or say or do, we are not a follower of Jesus and we should not call ourselves by His Holy Name, if we are not behaving as Jesus says.

​We are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus and called to serve. ​We are God’s church.

Here is a list of the Gifts which God gives His Body.  See if you can find which gift or gifts are yours.  Can you imagine how different things would be in The Church and the world around us if we engaged and used these Gifts, daily?

GIFTS                      MINISTRIES                EFFECTS                 OFFICES

​Romans 12             1 Corinthians 12         1 Corinthians 12:28       Ephesians 4:11

Prophecy               Word of wisdom            Apostle                        Apostle
Serving                  Word of knowledge       Prophet                       Prophet
Teaching                Faith                                Teacher                       Evangelist
Exhortation           Gifts of healing              Miracles                      Pastor
Giving                     Miracles                          Kinds of healing        Teacher
Overseer                Prophecy                         Helps
Mercy                     Distinguishing spirits   Administration
Tongues

​Sometimes, Spiritual Gifts are mistakenly considered to be a natural talent or a person’s proclivity, a natural inclination.  Natural talents can mimic Gifts of the Holy Spirit, but, they will never accomplish God’s purposes effectively.

Please remember, these are not natural talents.  These are supernatural Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

(ALSO PLEASE NOTE the order of these gifts and offices. They seem, in each case, to be listed by order of importance and priority.

The Apostle Paul speaks to this when he teaches on the gifts of toungues, which mentioned LAST but seems to be practiced most and with greater emphasis by many.  1 Corinthians 14:20-25, “Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. In the Law it is written:

“By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me,” says the Lord. So then, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe.

“Therefore if the whole church gathers together and all the people speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are insane? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.“)

Here are more detailed descriptions and functions of these Gifts.

Apostle:   The title apostle comes from the Greek word apostolos which means “a messenger, one sent forth with orders”.  It refers to one who has been delegated authority by another in a foreign land.  Apostles were the first leaders of the Church; they were commissioned by Jesus to initiate and direct the preaching of the gospel. (There is no passage in the Bible saying this gift was temporary nor that is has ceased)

Prophet: In the New Testament, the office of prophet is to equip the saints for the work of service through exhortation, edification, and consolation (1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Corinthians 14:3 Ephesians 4:11).  The prophet’s corresponding gift is prophecy. Prophecy is “reporting something that God spontaneously brings to your mind”.

Prophecy is addressed to the human understanding “he who prophesies speaks to men,” Corinthians 14:1-25. The prophet “edifies the church” (14:4).

​Evangelist:   An evangelist is one who devotes himself to preaching the gospel. In the New Testament, evangelists preached from city to city, church to church.

Pastor:   This term derives from a Greek word for “shepherd”.  Pastoral Gifts include integrity and compassion.

(The tasks of a Near Eastern shepherd were to watch for enemies trying to attack the sheep to defend the sheep from attackers to heal the wounded and sick sheep to find and save lost or trapped sheep to love them, sharing their lives and so earning their trust.

​During World War II, a shepherd was a pilot who guided another pilot whose plane was partially disabled back to the base or carrier by flying alongside him to maintain visual contact.)

Teacher:  Someone who devotes his or her life to preaching and teaching the Christian faith. When teaching is provided for the Church by God, two gifts are actually given—to the Church is given a teacher and along with the teacher comes a divine capacity to teach.

Service: The word translated as “ministry” is diakonia, which can also be translated “service”.  Since there are many types of ministries and service to the Church, this then describes a broad array of gifts rather than a single gift.

Exhortation: The ability to motivate Christians “to patient endurance, brotherly love, and good works”.

Giving: Those with this gift share their own possessions with others with extraordinary generosity. While all Christians should be givers, those possessing this gift will go beyond this normal giving.

Overseeing:  This gift speaks to the various roles found in the Church. While many think of roles such as administration, management of funds, strategy planning, etc. as functions outside of the supernatural realm, in reality individuals in these positions are just as in need of supernatural empowerment as are ministers of the gospel.  This is sometimes inappropriately called ‘leadership’.

Mercy:  Possibly identical to the gift of helps, the mercy-shower possesses a ministry of visitation, prayer, and compassion to the poor and sick.

​Word of wisdom:   An utterance or message of wisdom supernaturally granted to an individual. For Paul, wisdom refers to “the knowledge of the great Christian mysteries: the Incarnation, Passion, and Resurrection of Christ, and the indwelling in the believer of the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2; Ephesians 1:17)”.

​Word of knowledge: The knowledge referred to is often said to relate to understanding Christian doctrine or scriptural truth.  It is sometimes said to be connected with the ministry of teachers.

Faith:  This refers to that strong or special faith “which removes mountains, casts out devils (Matthew 17:19–20), and faces the most cruel martyrdom without flinching”.  It is distinguished from the “saving” and “normal” Christian faith.

Gifts of healing:  The ability to supernaturally minister healing to others. The plural indicates the variety of sickness healed and the many forms the gift takes, such as healing by anointing with oil, by the laying on of hands, by saying the name of Jesus or by the sign of the cross.

​Working of miracles: The performance of deeds beyond ordinary human ability by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Visions. An outpouring of this gift is prophesied in Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:17 and is expected to increase and be of great value in the “last days”.

Discerning of spirits:  The capacity to discern, distinguish, or to discriminate the source of a spiritual manifestation—whether it emanates from a good or evil spirit. It seemed to have been particularly associated with prophecy as it would be necessary to know whether a prophetic utterance was truly inspired by God.

​Tongues:  The supernatural ability of speaking an unlearned language.  Paul seems to have distinguished between the public use of the gift (which must always be interpreted) and the private use which was for the spiritual strengthening of oneself.

​(Among Christians there is a discussion as to whether tongues were/are always xenoglossy, which is speaking an unlearned human language, or whether it also included/includes glossolalia, which is speaking an unlearned and allegedly non-human language of heavenly or angelic origin).

Interpretation of tongues:  This gift always follows the public exercise of the gift of tongues.

(In 1 Corinthians 14, the Apostle Paul required that all speech in Christian worship should be intelligible. This required that speech given in an unknown tongue be interpreted in the common language of the gathered Christians.)

​Helps:  This gift has to do with service to the sick and the poor.   Possessor of this gift has a “spiritual burden and a God-given love for the needy and afflicted”.

Administration:   Also called the gift of governing, the Greek word translated “governments” is kubernesis, the verb form of which means “to steer” or “to be a helmsman”. This gift then refers to the God-given capacity to oversee or guide the Church through storms and difficult seas.

(NOTE:  Many versions of the Bible and many theologians and bible teachers say the word “leader” or “leadership” is a Spiritual gift.  That is a misunderstanding of the correct word and intention of the word “overseer”. )

Now, to answer the question, “Are Spiritual Gifts still valid today?” The answer is YES. These supernatural graces, are given to individual Christians by the Holy Spirit with the purpose of building up the Body of Christ which is The Church and are needed to fulfill the mission of the Church.  Spiritual Gifts enable Christians to serve the Lord and His Church.

I pray that you will consider the Gifts God has given you and how you can serve His Church and affect the world around you as we make ready for His return.

​There are many places you can find and take a Spiritual Gifts test for the purpose of applying what God has so graciously and generously given you.  Here are just two of such web sites:

​Click here on the image below for an online digital Spiritual gifts test link to an external site​

Or, you can click here or on the image below to take a downloadable written test in PDF format, test yourself and grade it manually.

In His Service – Your Friend and Brother

​Mike Young