A Study on the Holy Ghost

̶ Week 24 of 38 ̶

By David Wilson

© 2017 by David Wilson

All rights reserved

Spiritual Gifts

It’s a sad fact that in today’s world, the church is sadly ignorant of the spiritual workings of God. In most churches the gifts of the Holy Ghost are cast aside because they do not fit into their program. They have no place in the worship service, because God and the moving of the Spirit are foreign to the church world. This condition is almost as bad in the Pentecostal churches of today. If you ask how many gifts of the spirit there are, most people cannot tell you, much less name them. There are nine main gifts with many subdivisions, but we will focus on the nine major ones. We will also break them down into three classifications.

1 Corinthians 12:1-31

¹ Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

² Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

³ Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

⁴ Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

⁵ And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

⁶ And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

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;

¹⁰ 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.

¹² For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

¹³ For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

¹⁴ For the body is not one member, but many.

¹⁵ If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

¹⁶ And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

¹⁸ But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

¹⁹ And if they were all one member, where were the body?

²⁰ But now are they many members, yet but one body.

²¹ And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

²² Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

²³ And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

²⁴ For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: ²⁵ That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

²⁶ And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

²⁸ And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

²⁹ Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

³⁰ Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? ³¹ But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

(Next week we will read about the classification of the Gifts.

If you enjoyed this, you can purchase the book on our website in the Bookstore.)

A Study on the Holy Ghost

̶ Week 23 of 38 ̶

By David Wilson

© 2017 by David Wilson

All rights reserved

1 Corinthians 14:19-40

¹⁹ Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

²⁰ Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

²¹ In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

²² Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

²³ If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

²⁴ But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

²⁵ And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

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.

(Next week we will read about the Spiritual Gifts.

If you enjoyed this, you can purchase the book on our website in the Bookstore.)

A Study on the Holy Ghost

̶ Week 22 of 38 ̶

By David Wilson

© 2017 by David Wilson

All rights reserved

Tongues in the Church

Tongues serve a very important service in the church. God uses tongues in two completely different ways. ONE: The church knows when someone has received the Holy Ghost baptism. Tongues is the initial sign or evidence that one has received the Holy Ghost. This is God’s way of saying to the world that this one has received the promise of the Father. TWO: Tongues and interpretation equal prophecy. The Lord moves upon an individual to deliver a message in tongues to the congregation. Then the Lord moves upon another person to interpret the message that was delivered in tongues. Sometimes the person who delivered the message will interpret the message, if no one else will yield to the spirit. At times, no one will interpret the message. The message can be to one person or to the whole congregation. The message can be about the future, our condition with God, words of encouragement, or whatever the Lord wants us to know. To get a well-rounded look at tongues, we need to study the whole of 1 Corinthians, Chapter 14.

1 Corinthians 14:1-18

¹ Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

² For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

³ But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

⁴ He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

⁵ I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

⁶ Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

⁷ And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

⁸ For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

⁹ So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

¹⁰ There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

¹¹ Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. ¹² Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

¹³ Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

¹⁴ For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
¹⁵ What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

¹⁶ Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

¹⁷ For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

¹⁸ I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

 

(Next week we will read more scriptures about tongues in the Church.

If you enjoyed this, you can purchase the book on our website in the Bookstore.)

10-28-2018

Brother Jackson and Sister Pat Bell had their first Eastern Oklahoma fellowship meeting last night. And it was a good one with Sister Bell preaching on John 4:1-14, 34-35 with verses 34-35 the main verses.

John 4:34-35 (KJV)
³⁴  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
³⁵  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

Sometimes we feel the urging of the spirit to go somewhere specific. When we feel this specific urging, it is because God wants us there for a certain reason. It may be to help someone financially, to minister to someone on the spiritual side or even to be ministered to by someone else.

Sister Bell also brought out that we need to witness and not judge someone based on their race, color, lifestyle, dress, actions or language. Jesus is to be our example and as these verses show, Jesus went to the enemy of his people the Samaritans and ministered to the woman by the wall. Not only was she a Samaritan, she was a woman that was living in sin, one who had to go to the well after all of the “good” women otherwise she would not have been at the well around noon.

Sister Bell also brought out Psalms 100 and how it is to encourage us and that we might want to make a habit of reading it every day so that we will be better able to make it through the day and be encouraging those we meet.

I want to think Sister Shelia Isenberg for helping with the singing. She led us in some old time chorus, which my husband and I enjoyed. Also the special singing was good, Brother Jimmy Martin sang "Ain't No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down", brother Gary Wingrove sang "On My Way To Heaven" while Brother and Sister David Wilson say "A Little Touch of Heaven".

Brother Wingrove took this opportunity to Ordain Sister Donna Stephens, so be sure to ask God to bless her ministry.

The day ended with some wonderful fellowship. Overall, I feel the Bell’s did an excellent job of hosting the First Eastern Oklahoma Fellowship Meeting. It was a pleasure to meet them and Brother and Sister Jess Baker.

C.I. Wilson

10/25/2018

This year’s conference was held at Sterling Full Gospel Church in Independence, Missouri; if you were not there, you missed a blessing. For the women who did not want to go because they thought their husband was not allowed to attend or the husband did not want to go with their wife because they thought it was for women only, you missed a blessing. The husbands that came received a blessing right along with the women. The invitation went out to all and the few men who came were blessed and went up for prayer because God was speaking to them just as he was to the women.

After every service there was time taken for anyone to ask questions or give their testimony about what God had or was doing in their lives. We heard from several women after each service and some men as well. They told how God was moving in their lives, what God had already accomplished in their lives.

In the mornings for an hour before the service, there was coffee, water, donuts and some fruit served. For lunch or dinner as some call the noon meal, we were served a good meal. Tuesday we had meat and vegetable platters so that we could make our sandwich and for those health conscience people, they had the option of doing without the bread. For those of us that like fried chicken, we had some of the best with several options of salads served to us on Wednesday. According to my husband, they topped themselves on Thursday with chili and for those that were not able to eat chili we had left over fried chicken. Overall, I think the ladies and men of Sterling Full Gospel can be proud of the meals that they provided.

We arrived on Tuesday morning for the first service and could feel the Spirit of the Lord in the building. Everyone arrived expecting to feel and see God work on lives. The Praise and worship team started out by inviting the praise that God so enjoys and the group of around thirty opened up and gave that praise to the Lord. Then Sister Carolyn Smith (she preached at this year’s Campmeeting) inspired us with the Word. She brought out that God wants unity among the women of the church as well as the church in general. I think that we can expand that to the I.F.G.E.A. as a whole.

In the afternoon service we heard how God worked a miracle in the lives of Brother and Sister Jim Gorham. Sister Bev Gorham told about how she falls apart when there is an emergency and the day that her husband had a massive heart attack God gave her peace and how that peace spread throughout all the family that came to the hospital. No matter how bad the reports were, there was peace. Brother Gorham is now 100% released with no restrictions and is faithfully serving the local church by teaching and putting their services on Facebook.

Then Tuesday night we heard from Sister Ruth Turner. She brought with her the Praise and Worship Team from her church. They were so in tune with God during the altar service that they sang and played songs that went right with the spirit of the service.

Sister Turner preached on the two women in Philippians 4:2-3, that were workers in the church, Euodias and Syntyche. They were fellow workers with Paul when he was there and he encouraged to be unified in the work of the church. She went on about the fact that they had some importance in the work they did. Just as the women in today’s church can play a big part in how the church grows and prospers today. Pastors need to encourage the women to become spiritual workers in their church and not just take a back seat. Otherwise, the women and all of the church is missing out.

Wednesday Morning Sister C.I. Wilson talked about how God made women to be a “help meet” or in modern terms a helpmate. And went on about how the word “bless” is found 127 times in 117 verses in the Bible. Then went on to tell how when we help or bless others then God will bless us. In fact, she used scripture to back it up (Luke 6:38 and James 1:22a and 25b). She closed her talk with speaking a blessing over all in attendance found in Numbers 6:24-26.

In the afternoon service, Sister Lois Ruff, the Women of Worth/Helping Hands leader, read a “prayer” from a senior citizen’s viewpoint. We all enjoyed it and most likely saw some of it in all of our lives.

Wednesday night Brother Raymond Cox preached on how important women are to the church. They are actively involved in all areas of the modern church from the maintenance of the building to the maintenance of the spiritual needs in the church. He ended his message with something we all need to pay attention to from the top of the church to the newest visitor in the church. We need to quit saying that it is their job and just step up and do what God and the church leaders ask of us. Then do the job in such a way that it promotes God.

On Thursday morning, Sister Bev Gorham taught on how many different people, ideas, talents and backgrounds can be made into a body of people that are unified. We need to have unity in all churches and families. She wore a blouse that was black with many dots of different colors. However, the dots were many colors that made up one blouse. Which shows that like the designer of the blouse, God can and will, if we let him, make a unified church from all the differences that the people bring into the church.

In the afternoon service, Brother David Wilson preached on how the Ladies Group is the backbone of the church. He gave examples of how as a pastor when something needed done in and for the church he asked the women’s group, because then he knew it would be done. From keeping the church clean to raising funds for a project in the church even handling the means of a church gathering.

Prophet Linda Taylor of the Truth That Exist For The Wise Ministries brought the closing message. After recapping the messages of the last three services she ended with presenting four keys. Brother Cox received a key as Sheppard of the local Women’s Group while Sister Connie Cox as his wife and main supporter. Sister Ruff received one for being the leader of The Women of Worth/Helping Hands and Sister Gorham received hers as a teacher. These keys represent the responsibility that has been given to us to follow in the leadership of the church. These keys can be removed if at any time we are not in unity or we lead in error.

The following people participated in one or more areas of the conference and we wish to pass on our heartfelt thanks for all they did: The Praise and worship Team (Nancy Clements, Tina Hefley, and Carolyn Smith), Pianist was Harla Moritz. Speakers: Sister Carolyn Smith, Pastor Ruth Turner of Greater Works and Empowerment Church, Sister C.I. Wilson, Pastor Raymond Cox of Sterling Full Gospel Church, Sister Bev Gorham, Brother David Wilson and Prophet Linda Taylor of Truth That Exist For The Wise Ministries. Sound Booth/Video: James Gorham and Christopher Whitby. Other workers: Barbara Fox, Sharan Kirk, Cheryl Whitby, Janie Campbell, Mario Orelus, the Praise & Worship Team from the Greater Works and Empowerment Church, Lois Ruff, Gloria Clark, Lila Littleton, Mark Boyd, Shirley Minniek, Lois Chalmers, Oliva and Delinda Finn. Food provided by the ladies of the church and Chef Timmy Clark.

God truly met with the Women of Worth/Helping Hands Conference

Several people stated that they were looking forward to next year’s conference and hope to see you there. If you did not attend, you missed a great blessing. Ladies and Gentlemen, hope and pray that we see you all next year during the annual Women of Worth/Helping Hands Conference.