| I Corinthians 12:1 says, "Now concerning spiritual gifts, | | | | definitions combined then mean, Divine power granted |
| brethren, I do not want you to be unaware." The gifts | | | | to provide help for the situations that we face, that |
| of the Spirit spoken of in this verse are the subject of | | | | was not earned by us, but was given as a gift. What |
| much debate, confusion, and segregation. How is it that | | | | was the biggest problem we ever faced, sin. So what |
| the subject of the "Gifts of the Holy Spirit" could cause | | | | was the solution, given through divine power as a gift |
| such problems for the bride of Christ? Is it possible that | | | | which we did not earn, salvation. We are saved by |
| we miss something important not correctly defining | | | | grace! |
| words? Notice the title of this article, The Graces of | | | | What do we see now when we put this together? |
| the Holy Spirit. What is the connection between the | | | | We see that the operations of the Spirit in our life, we |
| word grace and the word gift? | | | | do not earn. The divine power that brings solutions |
| I Corinthians 12:4 says, "Now there are varieties of | | | | comes by the Holy Spirit, and His operations are the |
| gifts, but the same Spirit." The word, gifts, translates | | | | result of grace. Now some feel that "gifts" are not for |
| the word charisma. Charisma is a two part word. | | | | today. To that I would say this. Do we need solutions |
| "Charis" is grace, and "ma" is a suffix that means, the | | | | today? Is the Holy Spirit still here today? Do we not |
| results of. The manifestations of the Spirit are the | | | | live by grace today? If we live by grace today then |
| result of grace. But what is grace? Grace is unmerited | | | | the gifts are for today because the gifts are a result |
| favor. Unmerited means quite simply that I did not earn | | | | of grace. All of the operations of the Spirit are the |
| the favor God has given. Favor is a word that, for me, | | | | result of grace! How is it possible to have the grace of |
| proved harder to define. | | | | God, and the Spirit of God, and not have the results of |
| The way I have come to understand the word "favor" | | | | God? How is it possible to have grace and at the |
| is in the context of kings and kingdoms. Remember in | | | | same time not have the results of grace? |
| the book of Hebrews we are invited to come boldly to | | | | For me this is not a Pentecostal message! It is a |
| the throne of grace, and remember Jesus is our King! | | | | message of grace! I do not view the "gifts" in the |
| When a king says to you, you have found favor in my | | | | context of Pentecost. Pentecost was when the |
| sight, what is he saying? I believe he is saying this. | | | | outpouring of this grace began. So I do not understand |
| When I look at you and I hear your heart felt cry for | | | | the "gifts" in light of the day they came, as much as in |
| help, I am moved with compassion to use my power in | | | | the light of what they are, divine empowerment |
| your behalf, to bring a solution to your suffering. The | | | | resulting in solutions that are given for the common |
| king was moved by his own compassionate heart, not | | | | good. |
| the merit of the individual. Unmerited favor! The two | | | | |