Earnestly desire the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These gifts are spiritual and are
given as God wills, but they will not happen unless a believer earnestly
desires them. Love is the better way to enter into the gifts. These gifts have
not passed away. Can I imagine myself operating in the gifts of the Spirit?
There were words of encouragement given by members of the congregation.
Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 12, 13, and 14:1, 39.

Text: 1 Corinthians 12. Pastor Syd reviewed and expounded on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Are you desiring to move in the gifts? Are you imagining and meditating on the gifts? Pastor Syd delineated the gifts, the ministries, and the operations (activities, workings) of the gifts of the Spirit. He explained about submitting to good government (Romans 13:1-4). There are also the five-fold ministry gifts. All gifts of the Spirit are given as the Holy Spirit wills, and they are for God’s glory (1 Peter 4:10-11). All parts of the body are needed.

Pastor Syd taught on the gifts of the Spirit, the revelation, the power, and the speaking gifts. He focused on the revelation gifts (word of knowledge, word of wisdom, and discerning of spirits) and gave Biblical examples of each, as well as his personal ones. Scriptures: 1 Cor. 12:1-11; John 4:7-18; Mark 11:12-13; Acts 5:1-6; Acts 9:10-19; Acts 10:19-21; Acts 11:27; Acts 16:27; Acts 21:10-11; Acts 27:9-10, 21-26.

Pastor Syd expounded on the spiritual gift of “discerning of spirits.” He defined it and gave Biblical examples of it, some in connection with the other gifts. Scriptures: 1 Cor. 12:1-11; Revelations1:1-20; Acts 7:54-60; 8:26, 29; 9:1-19; 10:1-20; 12:1-17; 13:4-12, 16; 16:16-18; 27:9-26; and Hebrews 13:2. There were various testimonies.

Pastor Syd taught on the gifts of healings found in 1 Corinthians 12. Sometimes God heals through a believer with the gift of healing (Acts 28:1-10), and sometimes through the person’s faith to be healed (Acts 14:8-10). Preaching the Gospel provides an atmosphere for healing and miracles, as well as a person’s obedience and being moved with compassion. Other Scriptures: Acts 8:1-7; Mark 16:15-20; Matthew 20:29-34.

Text: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. Pastor Syd continued his sermons on the gifts of the Spirit, featuring the power gift, specifically the gift of special or wonder-working faith. He explained the four types of faith: salvation faith, common faith, fruit of faith, and special faith. Special faith is only as God wills and is to accomplish a special purpose. It takes a person’s yielding to Holy Spirit. He then gave examples of special faith from the Bible and his experience. Scriptures: Hebrews 11:1; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 1:4; Romans 12:3; Mark 11:24; Mark 4:40; Romans 4:19; 1 Timothy 1:5; Romans 4:20; Matthew 8:10; Acts 6:5; James 2:22; 1 John 5:4; 1 Timothy 1:19; Galatians 5:23-24; Acts 3:1-16; John 5:19; Acts 9:32-43; 1 Kings 17:1-16.

Pastor Syd continued his sermons on the Gifts of the Spirit, teaching on the working of miracles. He defines “miracles” as the demonstration of the power of God, workings of mighty deeds, and producing conditions that override and suspend the laws of nature. He gave Scriptural examples of the working of miracles. Scriptures: 1 Cor. 12:1-11; Heb. 2:3-4; 2 Cor. 12:12; Rom. 15:17-19; 2 Kings 2:8ff; 2 Kings 4:38ff; 2 Kings 4:42-44; 2 Kings 6:1-7; John 2:1-12; Luke 7:11-17; Acts 4:33; Acts 5:12; Acts 8:4.

Scripture text: 1 Corinthians 12 and 14. Pastor Syd taught on the speaking gifts of the Spirit: tongues, interpretation of tongues, and prophecy. There are three kinds of tongues: tongues to God, messages to people through interpretation, and sign tongues, like on the day of Pentecost. He explained the controversial text of 1 Corinthians 14:34-36. Other Scriptures: Acts 21:8-11; Isaiah 28:11-12; Jude 20; Acts 2; Ephesians 6:18; Ephesians 5:17-20.

Accompanying the gifts of the Spirit is persecution. Biblical suffering is promised either from persecution or from God’s discipline, which is never in the form of sickness, disease, or infirmity. Using many Scriptures, Pastor Syd explains how persecution followed the apostles’ preaching and ministering. We are to resist and fight persecution with our mouths. Pastor Syd expounds on “Paul’s thorn in the flesh.” There is deliverance and reward for persecution. Beware: Persecution can come from fellow Christians!