Power for the job

We've discussed the gift of the Holy Spirit and what it means to the completion of the great commission given to the church in Mark 16:15. Knowing that God's plan was for us to spread the Good News about Jesus with signs and wonders confirming the Word of God is an important step to realizing the fullness of the Gospel Message. However, it is crucial to embrace all of the gifts of the Spirit. These are found in 1 Corinthians 12 -


There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.... (7) Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

These verses contain what is commonly accepted as the 9 gifts of the Spirit:

• the word of wisdom
• the word of knowledge
• faith
• gifts of healing
• the working of miracles
• prophecy
• discerning of Spirits
• divers kinds of tongues
• the interpretation of tongues


We know that these gifts were in use during the time of the early church. The question that needs to be addressed is are they in use today. These are gifts of the Spirit that are administered by Him through God's people to accomplish God's will. When Jesus told us to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" he clearly stated the will of God. It was the will of God then and it is the will of God now.

The good news about the Good News is that it is a package deal and there is no expiration date. God didn't suddenly decide to take the engine out of the plane. Our commission comes with the power to accomplish the work before us. If you have embraced The Gospel but are not yielding to the power of the Holy Spirit in your life... now is the time.