BIBLE STUDIES OUTLINE

EXPLORING THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS
MEMORY VERSE:
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
1Corinthians 12:4-6
INTRODUCTION
The body of Christ has access to unlimited source of divine power and authority. The purpose of the power is that, the church must triumph over the works of the enemy.
This enemy is spirit; we can not see him with our physical senses unless there is a divine endowment to sense or perceive his art spiritually. This has therefore brought about the spiritual gifting.
They are spiritual because you can not see it with your physical senses.
According to the memory verses, we are told that there are Diversities of gifts that the Holy Spirit gives; there are Differences of administration but the same Lord Jesus; and there are Diversities of operations but the same God.
We can therefore conclude from this text that, there are three categories of spiritual gifting.
There are many charismatic gifts mentioned in the Bible. We will be taken into consideration the first categories which is called the nine manifestations in
1 Corinthians 12.

THE THREE CATEGORIES OF SPIRITUAL GIFTINGS
1. Diversities of gifts- Gifts of the Holy Spirit
2. Differences of administrations- Gifts of Jesus Christ
3. Diversities of operations- Gifts of God

LESSON ONE
DIVERSITIES OF GIFTS

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. Corinthians 12: 4
The word diversities has the root word in Greek rendition is diaresis (dee-ah’ee- res- is) which means a distinction or (concretely) variety.
What it means is that, there are varieties of the gifts. The same spirit is also a phrase which means that it is the same spirit of God. The Holy Spirit gives gifts to church but not fruits. These gifts are deposited in our spirits to empower us to live a victorious kingdom life.
The diversities of gifts are listed in the text below;
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 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: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
1 Corinthians 12:8
In summary, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are categorized as;
1. Gifts of speech- Gifts of inspiration
2. Gifts of revelations- The mind gifts
3. Gifts of power- Working gift or gift of ability
THE GIFTS OF SPEECH
These are gifts that manifest through speech. There are three of such gifts of the Holy Spirit.
a. Tongues
b. Interpretation of tongues
c. Prophecy
SECTION ONE
THE GIFT OF TONGUES
The Biblical description of gift of tongues is divers kinds of tongues. The Greek word for tongues is glossa (gloce’-sah) which means uncertain affinity; the tongue; by implication a language (specifically one naturally un-acquired). This is a supernatural utterance in other languages which are not known to the speaker.
THE FUNCTIONS OF THE GIFT OF TONGUES
There are two functions of gift of tongues.
• It is used as “devotional tongues,” the purpose of which is to edify the person who uses it.
• It is also used in conjunction with the companion gift of interpretation of tongues, is for edifying of the whole Church, as well as the individual’s understanding.
1. This gift is given to a believer at new birth as a heavenly language- Mat 16:17
2. This gift manifests after you are filled with Holy Ghost- Acts 2:4
3. The Holy Spirit gives you what to say or utterances- Acts 2:4
4. You speak without understanding. That is you don’t understand what you say-1 Corinthians 14:14
5. You make yourself great when you speak in tongues. 1 Corinthians 14:3

HOW TO RECEIVE THE GIFT OF TONGUES
1. You must be in a waiting mode- be expectant of the manifestation of the gift of speaking in tongues
2. Develop a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit.
3. Wait for the sign or emblem of the Holy spirit- Acts 1:4
4. When you receive it, you will experience that your tongue has either become too light or too heavy in your mouth and articulation.
5. In such a condition, you just open your mouth in an attempt to speak. The Holy Spirit shall put words in your mouth to articulate. Initially, it comes in short phrases.
6. Use the gift to pray consistently in your personal prayer time and general assembly prayer time.
CAUTIONS
1. We do not copy the gift of tongues from others.
2. 2. Do not use it to pray or preach alone without interpretation when you are prayer for somebody- when you are leading the congregation or ministering, limit the use of it.
3. Do not stop using it after you receive it. If you do that, the gift will become vacant.
1 Timothy 1:6
SECTION TWO
INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES
Interpretation in the Greek is hermeneia
(her- may- ni’- ah) which means to translate. This is simply supernatural ability to translate tongues into the native tongue what is uttered in other languages not known by the one who interprets by the spirit. The interpretation is just supernatural as the utterance.
1. Interpretation of tongues is higher than tongues speaking since it benefits the entire church. 1 Corinthians 14:5
2. The church is edified by the gift of interpretation of tongues. 1 Corinthians 14:5It reveals hidden secretes of the heart of the congregation.
3. It is sometimes personal but does not normally use specific names. Interpretation of tongues is used to remind the church of what is going wrong in the body of Christ.
HOW TO OPERATE THE GIFT OF INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES
While you are worshipping God in a gathering of believers, keep your mind and spirit open to the Holy Spirit. Frequently, you will sense beforehand that someone is going to speak in tongues and that God is giving you the translation in a language you understand and speak.
When the person speaks in tongues, wait quietly until it is concluded. When you begin to speak, you may only have the first sentence of the interpretation and a brief idea of what is to follow. Like all other gifts of the spirit, this one operates by faith too.
As you commence to give forth what the Spirit is giving you, speak in a normal, clear, audible voice.
CAUTIONS
1. Take care not to speak beyond the proportion of your faith- Romans 12:6
2. Avoid letting any personal thoughts, feelings or ideals creep into the interpretation. Let your own thoughts be in neutral, and your mind be a clear channel for the Holy Spirit to flow through.
3. Do not seek to interpret the interpretation that the Holy Spirit gave to you. Leave that to the people to allow the Holy Spirit to apply the exhortation or comfort given to themselves.
4. After you have delivered the interpretation, keep quiet while the utterance is judged by those who are present especially those who are regularly used in vocal gift, they should try to evaluate whether the words are truly fro God- 1 Corinthians 14:29
SECTION THREE
THE GIFT OF PROPHECY
The word prophecy in the Greek is prophrteia (prof-ay-ti’-ah) which is translated as “to utter inspired words”.
Prophecy is supernatural utterance in the native tongue. It is the miracle of divine utterance, not conceived by human thought or reasoning- Acts 3:21, Acts 11:28, 2 Peter 1:21, 1 Corinthians 14; 23-32.
WHAT THE GIFT OF PROPHECY IS NOT
1. The gift of prophecy is not for personal guidance. If we are in need of personal guidance,, we should ask Jesus himself for it (James 1:5) and studying the word of God. If a prophetic utterance comes to us with instructions for the future, it should only be to confirm what God has already shown us.
2. The gift of prophecy is not the office of a seer. That is, the gift of prophecy is not foretelling the future. It is for forth-telling rather than foretelling. It does not predict future events- 1 Corinthians 14:3
3. The gift of prophecy should not be confused with preaching. The reason is that, the gift of prophecy is not as the result of careful study; it is usually an unpremeditated, spontaneous speaking forth by the spirit.
WHAT THE GIFT OF PROPHECY IS
1. It is for speaking supernaturally to men- 1 Corinthians 14:3. It carries the mind of God to the Church. The prophet is speaking on behalf of God to the Church or believers for three purposes:
a. Edification of the church
b. Exhortation of the body of Christ
c. Comforting the believers
Therefore any prophetic word that does not come from God or may not be classified as a gift of prophecy.
2. The gift of prophecy convinces the unlearned believer so that he/ she may learn-
1 Corinthians 14:15, 16. The unlearned believer is anyone who does not know the word of God. Through the gift of prophecy; they are encouraged to study into the word of God or learning of spiritual truths through the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The unlearned believer may be convincing of the following through the operation of the gift of prophecy;
a. Convinced of all things
b. Be judged of all things
c. The secrets of his will be made manifest
d. Fall before God in humility
e. Acknowledge that God is truly among you

CAUTIONS
1. Those who prophesy can make mistakes, so the prophecy must be judged or examined- 1 Corinthians 14: 29
2. Prophecy should never contradict the written word of God. Therefore every prophetic utterance must be tested with the word of God.
3. It should always exalt Jesus Christ, and never denigrate Him
4. It should edify, exhort and comfort the believers.
5. It should witness with the majority of believers present.
6. It should not break the spirit of the meeting, though it may change the course of it.
7. It should come to pass if there is a predictive part of it.



HOW TO OPERATE THE GIFT OF PROPHECY
1. Do not be under strain. Quietly wait upon the Lord in your spirit.
2. Keep your mind open to his voice.
3. When you feel the prompting of the spirit within your spirit, commit yourself to God afresh as a channel for Him to flow through. Remember that the Gift operates by faith.
4. Trust the Lord enough to speak out what God gives you.
5. Keep it simple.
6. While you are speaking, be waiting upon Him quietly for the remaining message. Do not prophesy beyond the proportion of your faith- Romans 12:6
7. Stop when you do not have anything from the spirit to speak again.

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