by Gary L. Evans
Spiritual Gifts — Part 1
1Co 12:1-3 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 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.
The word “spiritual” is from the Greek “phyoo-mat-ik-os'” which means “non-carnal, that is, (humanly) ethereal (as opposed to gross), or (daemoniacally) a spirit (concretely), or (divinely) supernatural, regenerate, religious.” Note that the word “gifts” is in italics and is not in the Greek text.
The word “Spirit” is from “pnyoo’-mah” which means “a current of air, that is, breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively a spirit, that is, (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, daemon, or (divine) God, Christ’s spirit, the Holy spirit: – ghost, life, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind.” The best translation in this context is “mind.”
The word “God” is from “theh’-os” which means “a deity, especially (with G3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively a magistrate; by Hebraism very.” In this context it means God Most High. So the combined term of the text becomes Mind of The Most High God.
The word “accursed” is from “an-ath’-em-ah” which means “a (religious) ban or (concretely) excommunicated (thing or person).”
The word “Jesus” is from “ee-ay-sooce'” which means “Of Hebrew origin [H3091]; Jesus (that is, Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites.” In the Hebrew Old Testament this word is “Joshua”.
The word “Jehoshua” is from the Hebrew “yeh-ho-shoo’-ah” which means “Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua (that is, Joshua), the Jewish leader.” This compound word fully translated means “The Eternal Savior.” This is the literal meaning of the Name Jesus.
The word “Lord” is from “koo’-ree-os” which means “(supremacy); supreme in authority, that is, (as noun) controller; by implication Mr. (as a respectful title).”
The word “Holy” is from “hag’-ee-os” which means “sacred (physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated).”
The word “Ghost” is from “pnyoo’-mah” which means “a current of air, that is, breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively a spirit, that is, (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, daemon, or (divine) God, Christ’s spirit, the Holy spirit: – ghost, life, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind.” This is simply the word “spirit” which is also “mind.”
Webster defines “ghost” as “a disembodied soul, especially: the soul of a dead person believed to be an inhabitant of the unseen world or to appear to the living in bodily likeness.”
So we see that the word “spirit” is here mistranslated to being the BODILESS SOUL OF A DEAD PERSON! My friends, herein learn to use a bit of Spiritual Discernment to realize that the translator who did this was sowing confusion in his translation here. Christ Jesus is NOT DEAD. He is NOT BODILESS. But let’s put this aside and just understand in our reading that this word should be translated to “Spirit” and “Mind.” And also recognize that a few of the translators chose to confuse The King James Bible with this absurd and purely superstitious translation whether for political reasons or merely by ignorant tradition. The result of their error is actually Blasphemy of The Holy Spirit of Christ.
1Co 12:4-7 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
The word “diversities” is from “dee-ah’ee-res-is” which means “a distinction or (concretely) variety.”
The word “gifts” is from “char’-is-mah” which means “a (divine) gratuity, that is, deliverance (from danger or passion); (specifically) a (spiritual) endowment, that is, (subjectively) religious qualification, or (objectively) miraculous faculty.”
Paul explains that based on what people say we can determine whether they speak by The Holy Spirit or Mind of Christ or not. If they speak against Christ then they obviously do not have The Holy Spirit. This is the most basic level of Spiritual Discernment.
1Co 12:8-10 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 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.
The word “discerning” is from “dee-ak’-ree-sis” which means “judicial estimation.”
Paul lists Nine Gifts that The Holy Spirit gives to New Covenant Christians. Note that the number “nine” represents “Finality of Judgement” and “Divine Completeness” in Biblical Numerics (see Appendix 10 of The Companion Bible by E.W. Bullinger):
- word of wisdom
- word of knowledge
- faith
- healing
- working of miracles
- prophecy
- discerning of spirits
- divers kinds of tongues
- interpretation of tongues
1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Everyone who enters into The New Covenant and receives The Holy Spirit is given one or more of these Divine Gifts. And each one is provided to us by The Word of God. As we think of these various gifts, we can see that some require quite a lot of study. For example: how much study is required to learn a foreign language? or to become an expert in translating a foreign language? or to gain the Wisdom and Knowledge provided to us in God’s Word? or to Preach or Teach The Word to other people who may not know anything at first because they have never read it? How much study of The Law is required to be able to form a Judicial Estimation of various spirits or minds? How much study is required to perceive when someone is possessed by a devil also called an “unclean spirit?”
“Faith” is “Belief coupled with Works.” So how much effort is required and how long does it take to fully demonstrate our Faith by wisely using the gifts The Lord has entrusted us with? My friends, it takes A LIFETIME! Remember, once we enter The New Covenant we also enter into The Lord’s Rest where we cease doing our own works, but instead dedicate the rest of our lives to serving The Most High God by The Holy Mind of The Lord Jesus dwelling in us.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.
Spiritual Gifts — Part 2
Mat 1:18-20 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
Mary was betrothed to a man named Joseph and became pregnant before they were married. So naturally Joseph assumed that Mary had been unfaithful to him and thus had committed adultery. Note that being engaged was a legal bond, and to break it off required a divorce.
Then an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream saying “Do not be afraid to marry Mary.” What would make Joseph afraid of Mary?
Num 15:27-28 And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.
Transgressions of God’s Law committed in ignorance can be atoned for and forgiven.
Num 15:29-31 Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them. But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.
The TSK Cross Reference states: “presumptuously: Heb. with an high hand, That is, bold, daring, deliberate acts of transgression against the fullest evidence, and in despite of the Divine authority. Such conduct “reproacheth the Lord,” as if his commands were needless, unreasonable, and inimical to the happiness of man; his favour were not desirable, or his wrath not to be feared. In short, as if it were more advantageous to rebel against him than to serve him. Such acts admitted of no atonement. The person was condemned to bear his own iniquity, and to be cut off.”
The word “reproacheth” is from “gaw-daf'” which means “to hack (with words), that is, revile: – blaspheme, reproach.”
Exo 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
The word “vain” is from the Hebrew “shawv” and means “evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjectively), uselessness (as deceptive, objectively; also adverbially in vain): – false (-ly), lie, lying, vain, vanity.”
The Third Commandment forbids for anyone to cause The Name of The Lord to be put to shame, to be defamed or ruined. And Willful Sin does just that because when someone knows God’s Will but defies it and rebels against it, then they also defame The Lord Himself and His reputation in the world.
Num 15:32-36 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.
So we have an example of Willful Sin by the transgression of The Fourth Commandment. The punishment is death.
Exo 20:8-11 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Since our Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection, The New Covenant in The Blood of Christ became our Sabbath Rest. And the judgement remains the same for the disobedience to enter into it as commanded by Christ as the sin of transgression of The Fourth Commandment. All who commit that sin will not be in The First Resurrection at the return of Christ Jesus to establish His Kingdom. They will be among the Spiritually Dead for one thousand years awaiting The Judgement.
1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
For example, just consider how many agnostics are appalled by the obvious hypocrisy of people who claim to be Christian but demonstrate that they are actually con artists deceiving people with fake religion to take their money. Turn on your TV on Sunday morning and flip the channels to watch all of the so-called religious sounding preachers giving great swelling speeches but always begging for more money at the end. And because of their hypocrisy, the agnostics feel justified in their unbelief and are turned even further away from The Word of God. So we can perceive that False Preachers and Teachers willfully transgress The Third Commandment.
Given this knowledge of The Law, Mary certainly knew The Ten Commandments and knew that Committing Adultery was a mortal sin, therefore from Joseph’s perspective she must have also committed WILLFUL SIN which is Blasphemy against The Word of God. And both of these were mortal sins that required that she be put to death.
Joseph was then AFRAID OF HER because her mind was reprobate, even treacherous, and thus dangerous and unforgivable by him or by God. But note that if Mary had sinned in ignorance then she could have obeyed The Law to have her sin atoned for and even Joseph might be able to forgive her if she repented. The key then is regarding willful sin which is unforgivable. And that is why the angel told Joseph not to be afraid, that Mary was innocent because The Holy Spirit had impregnated her to bear The Son of God.
Based on his knowledge of God’s Word, especially of God’s Law, Joseph was right to be afraid of Mary. That’s why the angel quickly explained to Joseph that Mary had not sinned but had been chosen by God to bear The Only Begotten Son of God.
And why did Joseph believe that the angel was sent by God? Because only God is The Heart Knower who knows the very thoughts and feelings of our hearts and minds. When the angel indicated that he knew that Joseph was afraid of Mary by saying “Do not be afraid,” the angel’s Holy credentials were certified and thus what he said should be believed as true. We see this is the case given that declaring that God Most High was The Father of the baby in Mary’s womb was perhaps the most miraculous thing to believe to explain Mary’s pregnancy, Joseph still fully believed that the angel spoke the truth. So he took the appropriate action based on his belief by marrying Mary.
Isa 7:13-15 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
Dr. Bullinger states: “Immanuel = “GOD (’El) with us”. Most codices, and six early printed editions, give it as two words. Some, with two early printed editions, as one word.”
Mat 19:3-6 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
The hypocritical Pharisees came to Jesus to test Him, and asked if divorce was lawful for any reason. But Jesus replied that God made mankind male and female and said that they should join together as man and wife. Once they are joined in this way according to God’s Word, they are no longer two bodies but one and cannot be divided.
Mat 19:7-9 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
The word “fornication” is from “por-ni’-ah” which means “harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively idolatry.”
Jesus explained that the only justifiable reason for divorce is in the case of adultery or similar sin. This is an example of Willful Sin for anyone who knows The Ten Commandments. And Willful Sin cannot be forgiven. So when Joseph decided to divorce Mary after he learned she was pregnant, his decision was according to God’s Law, just as Jesus explained when confronted by the hypocrites.
Luk 23:33-34 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Jesus prayed that the sins of people committed in ignorance would be forgiven. But Jesus did not pray for the forgiveness of anyone who committed willful sins. Thus The Blood of Christ does not atone for willful sin. And those hypocritical scribes and priests who willfully bear false witness against Jesus to have Him crucified could not be forgiven, even by The Blood of Christ.
We should evaluate the actions of people based on knowledge of God’s Word, especially of God’s Law. Joseph was right to be afraid of Mary. When a young man is considering getting married to a woman, he must be alert of her sincerity particularly regarding God’s Law. It is one thing if she is agnostic, because unbelief is ignorance, but another thing altogether if she claims to be a Christian but disobeys The Law willfully. And this test should also be applied by women who are considering marriage to a man. Naturally the couple must spend many hours talking to each other in order to learn about what each of them thinks and how they have behaved in the past, and those observations require months or years of dating.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.
Spiritual Gifts — Part 3
Mat 4:1-2 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
After Jesus was baptized by John The Baptist, He went into the wilderness to fast for forty days and to be tested by Satan. This conversation between Satan and Jesus provide us with a perfect example of how antichrists contradict Scriptures in order to deceive people. And in this case, it shows us the utter deceit of The Antichrist, Satan The Devil, who will come to test the entire world at the end. It is critical for us to realize, my friends, that we are tested in this world every day, not just by discussions of Scriptures, but by our relationships with other people in every aspect of our lives.
The word “devil” is from “dee-ab’-ol-os” which means “a traducer; specifically Satan: – false accuser, devil, slanderer.” And Webster defines “traducer” as “TRADU’CER, n. One that traduces; a slanderer; a calumniator.” So The Devil and devils in general are Slanderers who bear false witness.
Rev 12:7-10 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Satan is The Accuser who deceives the people of this world to commit sin and then accuses them before God in Heaven. He is also The Slanderer against God’s Servants who Falsely Accuses them of sin when the truth is they are innocent.
Eph 6:10-12 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Our struggle is not against people made of flesh, but against Supernatural Powers and the Satanic Rulers of this world and Occult Lawlessness far beyond our perception. For example: it may be an error to become angry with someone for slandering us, because they may be possessed with a devil. Thus our anger is misplaced in this case, because we do not recognize who or what is actually attacking us. After reading the four Gospels, one most important thing we learn is that Jesus cast out devils from very many people. In fact nearly every place He traveled to teach there were people possessed by devils that He cast out. So devil possession is clearly not rare, but a plague on people all over the world even to this day.
Mat 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Dr. Bullinger states: “If. Greek ei, with the indicative mood, assuming and taking it for granted as an actual fact.”
So a better translation here would be, “since you are the Son of God…”
Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Dr. Bullinger states: “It is written = It standeth written. This is the Lord’s first ministerial utterance; three times. Compare the last three (Joh_17:8, Joh_17:14, Joh_17:17). The appeal is not to the spoken voice (Mat_3:17) but to the written Word. Quoted from Deu_8:3. See App-107 and App-117.”
Deu 8:2-3 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
In rebuttal Jesus quotes from God’s WRITTEN Commandment which Satan ignored in testing Jesus. Note that whosoever we bow down to and obey is our slave master. So Satan’s objective here in testing Jesus was to get Him to obey him and thereby become his servant.
Mat 4:5-6 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Dr. Bullinger states: “cast Thyself down. An attempt upon His life. See App-23, and note on Mat_23:16.”
Has The Lord ever promised to protect us if we commit suicide? No, of course not.
Dr. Bullinger also states: “it is written. Satan can quote Scripture and garble it by omitting the essential words “to keep Thee in all Thy ways”, and by adding “at any time”. Quoted from Psa_91:11, Psa_91:12 (not Mat_4:13; see note there).”
Psa 91:9-12 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Mat 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Deu 6:16 Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.
The word “tempt” is from the Hebrew “naw-saw'” which means “to test; by implication to attempt.”
Mat 4:8-9 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Satan tested Jesus by offering all of the kingdoms of the world if He would worship him. But that would be the transgression of The First Commandment.
Mat 4:10-11 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Jesus was not enticed to obey Satan in any of his deceitful tests, which would have enslaved Him to serve Satan. Instead, Jesus commanded Satan to get away from Him, and Satan obeyed and became the servant of Jesus.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.