[biblegateway passage=”Pastor Bola Bello” display=”Pastor Bola Bello”]
It is important to introduce the giver of the Spiritual gifts before we introduce the gifts. Many desire the gifts without the giver but we should desire the gifts as well as the giver. You should know this truth that the first evidence of your salvation is the Holy Ghost. Romans 10:10 says; “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation“. Salvation is a journey and confession is not the end of it. Your confession must come with the fruit of repentance without which salvation is not sure. The Holy Spirit is the guarantee that you are saved Ephesians 1:17-18. The word “seal” means a stamp. When the Holy Spirit comes inside you, He is your certificate of membership that you belong to God. The seal of the Holy Ghost is proof that you are owned by God. This suggests that without the Holy Ghost you are not saved.
John 7:38 – He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. This scripture also affirmed that the baptism of the Holy Spirit as an ingredient required to perfect your belief. The outflow of the Holy Spirit is the evidence to a Believer that there is an exchange to another realm. The word “rivers” (a plural) nor river, implies many rivers, like a river this, a river that etc. These are a typology of the Spiritual gifts. They are living waters for sustenance because they minister life to people. If you have Christ and don’t have as much of the Holy Spirit, then you are missing.
(Mark 16:15) The baptism of John is meant for repentance but it does not have the potency to heal people of sicknesses and diseases, or it cannot casts out devils in people. You cannot become prophetic through the baptism of John. However, the baptism of the Holy Spirit brings you to stand as a blessing to people. If we don’t harness the provision, we will not get the best from it. Even when Jesus was with His disciples, they still could not do great miracles but when the Holy Spirit came upon them, they wrought great signs and wonders.
The Holy Spirit is the promise of the father, Joel 2:28. The baptism of John does not make people prophesy but the baptism of the Holy Ghost makes prophecy available for all who thirsty Speaking in tongues is the blessing of the Holy Spirit. This takes you into the devotional where higher realms and channels of the spirit are opened up. This is the place of hearing, listening and where you can learn from God and see things in the heavenly places. However, you have to be intentional because it is not spontaneous.
Gifts from the Holy Spirit can be divided into two broad headings: Spiritual gifts and the Ministry gifts. Jesus ascended and descended and brought the Holy Ghost who also gave the spiritual gifts to believers. The word “another comforter” means another type of Jesus who will do works just like he did.
Spiritual gifts are the inheritance of believers. This is the riches of God in us. However, as it is possible for a man to have riches and inheritance yet, not showing it forth, so is it with many of us, who have enjoyed the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit comes with a package of spiritual gifts. The manifestation of the gifts does not come until you desire/thirst/seek for its manifestation. Many do not have it manifested in them, because they do not desire its operation. So far the Holy Spirit is in you, the spiritual gifts are there but latent.
1 Corinthians 12:7 A significant thing to note is the profitability of the gifts of the Spirit. In the ministry of Jesus, there were demonstrations of these gifts; working of miracles at the marriage in Cana. There is always a throng of people towards a person who manifests the spiritual gifts because it profits the church. The profit is in two stages: The enrichment of the work of the entire body and the individual benefits. Though it could also come with its own pitfalls: the thought that you are the one who has done a thing and that people can also shift attention to you is a serious danger. However, the sense of profitability of the gifts to the entire Body of Christ should elicit your hunger. In conclusion, always remember that you are not the giver of the gifts but the privilege receiver.