John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ." Each and every person who comes into the new creation family of God, has the responsibility of learning and walking with the Father. We've all been given the same Grace and Blessing and the above scripture tells us that, "We all have a share in God's fullness." Just being saved is enough for some believers, while others strive like Paul commended "toward the mark of the high calling of God." Some find contentment in their new lives in God, like they do in their natural lives. There's so much left unfulfilled in our new creation lives with the Father, because we're content with going to Heaven when we die and living morally good lives here on earth. This is acceptable to God, but there's so much more we can accomplish in the ministry He has sent us to do.
We've left the sick still sick and the blind persons in their blindness. We've let those who are in bondage to drugs and other weaknesses, remain bound. God has given us His fullness for here on earth, in order to get others saved and to teach them how to proceed to free others. The power of the Gospel seems to have been lost or diminished and not valid in many Christian circles. We've seemingly lost the zeal for moving into the Super-natural works of the ministry. We've turned the working of the Holy Spirit, over to those in the five-fold ministry, deciding they're charged with doing them.
We've decided that the Gifts of the Spirit found in 1Corinthians 12, aren't for everyone and are only for those who are called. 1Corinthians 12:11,7 (Amplified) says, "All these Gifts (achievements, abilities) are inspired and brought to pass by One and the Same Holy Spirit, Who apportions to each person individually exactly as He chooses." Verse 7 says, "But to each one is given the manifestations of the Holy Spirit (the evidence, the Spiritual Illumination of the Spirit for good and profit)."
You might not be called into the ministry of these five-fold portions, but the Same Holy Spirit lives inside you to do good and profit those who need Super-natural help from the Father. Jesus instructs His disciples about their ministry following His Ascension, in Mark 16:17,18-20 (Amplified). Jesus said that those who would believe what they heard would be born-again. Jesus went on to say in Verses 18-20, "These attesting signs will accompany those who believe; in My Name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; they will pick up serpents, and even if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will get well. So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into Heaven and He sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the Message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied it , Amen (So be it)."
The above scriptures tells us that those who would believe the Message they heard preached, were also called to speak in tongues, lay hands on the sick, cast out devils and do the works of the Gospel. These aren't those listed in 1Corinthians 12, but are for the whole body of Christians who would believe. It's the Same Holy Spirit Who was given to us to do good and to profit those in need. The ministry of setting captives free, was never intended to be left to only the five-fold ministry, but was given to do all believers, to do the works of Jesus and teach others about Him.
Not everyone in the five-fold ministry have received God's Super-natural ability. The Holy Spirit "gives these Gifts severally as He wills." If you're ministering to someone who needs healing, then the Holy Spirit will execute healing, in order to set them free. We've been taught that the Holy Spirit does these things for only a chosen few, instead of any believer that needs them. It's true that there are those in whom these Gifts operate more so than others, but that doesn't mean that the Holy Spirit has left the rest of us out of His ability. The sick shouldn't have to wait until they can find someone in whom the Gift of Healing is working, in order to get well. They should be able to receive from the Same Holy Spirit, at the hands of any believer. This doesn't mean you have the Gift of Healing, but that you have the Gift of the Healer. Doesn't the Same Holy Spirit live in you and care as much for those you minister to, as He does for those of the five-fold ministry?
Acts 6:8 (Amplified) tells us that Stephen was appointed by the Apostles and was "full of Grace and Divine Blessing and favor, and power and strength and ability, worked great wonders and signs (miracles) among the people." Stephen wasn't a man from the five-fold ministry, but he yielded himself to the Holy Spirit and God used him mightily. Acts 8:5-7 (Amplified) says, "Philip [the deacon, not the apostle], went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ (the Messiah) to them (the people). And great crowds of people with one accord listened to and heeded what was said by Philip, as they heard him and watched the miracles and wonders which he kept performing from time to time. For foul spirits came out of many who were possessed by them screaming and shouting with a loud voice, and many who were suffering from palsy or were crippled were restored to health."
These Spiritual Gifts are given by and through, the Holy Spirit. 1Corinthians 12:11 (Amplified) says, "All these Gifts (achievements, abilities) are Inspired and brought to pass by one and the Same Holy Spirit, Who apportions to each person individually exactly as He chooses." When anyone needs these Gifts, in order to set the captives free, then it's up to His discretion to use them as He chooses. He isn't moved by titles, denominations or anything else. He's moved by setting the captives free and He does so "as He chooses." The Holy Spirit has been sent here, in order to continue Jesus' earthly ministry, by whosoever will believe and allow Him to do so.
This doesn't mean that you're now and Apostle or prophet, but you are a representative of God and Jesus to this world. The Holy Spirit has and can simultaneously use all the nine Gifts from 1Corinthians 12, to set one person free. God saved Philip, healed him, delivered him, filled him with the Spirit, called him and instructed Philip where he was to go, all at one time. This is the ministry of the Holy Spirit. All He needs is a believer to work through and 1Corinthians 12:11 (KJV) says, "He gives these Gifts severally as He wills."
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