Gifts: The evidence of eternity

Summary Scripture:

Hebrews 6:5

And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

Now let us speak of the operation of God.

Colossians 1:12-13

12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

The word translate means “to remove.” If the definition holds true, then where have we been removed from? This is the mystery of Christ.

Psalm 68:18

18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.

Jesus paid the price so those who believe on Him might receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. When the above scripture sites “for the rebellious also,” it is referencing the fact that the gifts and callings of God are without repentance.

Psalm 68:19-20

19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

20 He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.

Jesus prevailed over the issues of sin, death, hell and the grave. These were the captivities that held men captive in life and death. They all were conquered by righteousness and the resurrection of Christ. Having ascended into Heaven to the throne of God, He received from God gifts of the Spirit which were to be distributed to the people of God. These gifts are measures of the faith. In a conversation with the Lord, He said to me, “The gifts of the Spirit are portals through which flow a measure of the power and operations of the Kingdom of God into this world.”

Ephesians 4:7-8,11

7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. … 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; …

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. (The Holy Ghost)

5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. (Type of Ministry or Service)

6 And there are diversities of operations, (Effect or working); but it is the same God which worketh all in all. (It is God who works in us to will and to do.)

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; (To predict or speak concerning future events. Now to prophesy is to speak the mind or counsel of God. This may or may not be relative to a future event. But may indeed be associated with a present situation or state of being.); to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

But there is another aspect of this gift-giving.

Hebrews 8:3-5

3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.

4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

These gifts and sacrifices were only shadows of the heavenly things. These heavenly things are the sons of God. They are the tabernacle of God in the earth today. He lives in them. But they are also the gifts offered up to God by Christ. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14). After having offered Himself to God; salvation and all that is given to the sons are for the purpose of serving the Father. In the Old Covenant, Israel was instructed to take the best of their flocks and offer them as gifts to the Lord. These gifts were then sacrificed on the brazen altar before the Lord. Paul speaks of this in his epistle to the Romans. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1).