Receiving Gifts may feel "glorious," but discovering which ones and the commitment involved is a struggle...
"For those who once received the light, enjoyed the Heavenly Gifts, and became partakers of the Holy Spirit,who experienced the goodness of God's word and the power of the coming world, and after all this fell away, they cannot be brought to repentance again. For they crucify the Son of God a second time and put him to public shame.", Heb 6:4-6.
No Gifts without biblical faith!
The basis for receiving the Gifts of the Spirit is faith in 1 true God YHWH Who is a Spirit (John4:24) and in 1 Lord Christ Yeshua, John 17:3, John 4:24, Rom 10:9. To also establish that foundation of faith consistently, of course: baptism leading to Christ (Gal 3:27, Acts 19:5) followed by prayer with the laying on of hands to God to receive the Spirit and Spiritual Gifts (Acts 19:6, Acts 8:16-18). Without that foundation, you do your own will leading to the fruit for sin and eternal death, or you can become demonically contaminated during the laying on of hands, which can also lead to eternal death...
Finding out which Gift(s) you received
With a focus on new "skills" that you previously had little to none, it might seem easy to figure out, but that might turn out to be a bit disappointing. The struggles with your own insecurities, interpretations, your environment, and how/where/under what conditions and for whom to apply them, for example, are about to start...
What you cannot share with the world
You cannot share your search and skills with the (church) world, because then conflict with the church awaits you, as well as rejection, scorn, accusations of discrimination or lack of qualifications, or perhaps even violent behavior or worse! Yet the Gifts received are meant to be used in that world!!
What you can do, however, is—however you can organize your set of Gifts—use them somewhat to test them, so that you yourself arrive at insights regarding those received Gifts.
For example, with an inquisitive, cautious style of operation, where direct or indirect "inquiry" verbally or via the internet can be a good option. Incorporate into this inquiry what your Gifts show you, what the Spirit says or gives, what the inspiration after prayer says, what the visual impressions show you, and what your equipment seems to do to you at times (words in your throat/thoughts/heart, your hands, your eyes).
Example 1. Burning words
You suddenly receive very intense words as a message or teaching that you want to speak or write/send. Briefly test them against the Bible, test them against the practical situation, and pray for confirmation.
Example 2. You suddenly see something scary
In the eyes, on the face, or around the person, you suddenly see something very scary. 1. A white haze, 2. gray/green haze around that person, 3. dark eyes or eye sockets, 4. a face turning green, mirror eyes, etc. What you see concerns the spiritual state of that person. In case 1: stay far away from that person. Warn those in your party to stay away from that person, but do not tell them why. Or choose the indirect approach and walk away from that person and lead your party away without saying anything. In the other cases, you can discreetly inquire or investigate that person, for which the internet can also be useful. In the event of a green turn, be wary of sexual aggression & idolatry; in the case of black, of formal (Freemasonry, Wicca, Satanism) or personal malice. With mirror glass, of selfishness, New Age, and narcissism.
What can you/cannot say?
Directly stating that someone is demonically possessed is actually never an option. Nor is it really a good idea to tell someone that they are unclean, wrongly connected, or malicious. Whereas selfishness, New Age, and narcissism can usually be stated directly. It is better to ask sensible, neutral, and investigative questions or make comments. Meanwhile, act according to the insights given via inspirations, visions, what your eyes show you, accidental touch (itch, force, electricity, or a combination), or sudden, unpleasant force or nausea on your head or stomach (= keep praying silently!!).
Take a bit of distance from that person and his/her sphere of influence, be on your guard, enter "question and investigation mode," and meanwhile pray silently in your thoughts for kind words, protection, help, etc.). (Nausea and nasty forces on your head will pass fairly quickly + the situation will turn around completely!).
Example 3. Suddenly big hands!
You feel that your hands appear enormous or swollen, even though nothing is actually wrong. You are not sick or injured, either. You don't have any scratches. Otherwise, absolutely nothing is wrong. And yet, those big, almost pulsating hands.
There is a very high chance that you have received the Gift to heal. That seems wonderful, but how to put that into practice is not easy. Do not present yourself as a doctor and never claim to be able to provide healing, because even if some kind of healing occurs, it is God who did it. Moreover, only a doctor can and may determine whether it concerns healing or not. That is why Yeshua sent healed persons to the priests.
Here, too, examination and silent prayer beforehand (asking!) are important, although if it is God's Will and the touch is already there by accident, meaning healing is already taking place, that is fine too. Giving thanks afterwards in prayer is important, however, as is recognizing the Gifts you have received.
Renewal of Gifts
We know from the Bible that the apostles received prayer with the laying on of hands again for new tasks/assignments, and thus a renewal of the Gifts for that assignment. God YHWH Himself can also decide to sharpen existing Gifts if He deems it highly desirable, and you can naturally pray for this as well, with a request to Him, albeit in the name of Yeshua.
Continue despite setbacks!
For Christians, stopping the use of the Gifts is absolutely not an option. Hebrews 6:6 (see above) makes it clear that whoever does so will be lost forever. No matter how great your problems become, or that your efforts do not work out as you thought at that moment, or as people accuse you of: stay in contact with YHWH and Yeshua, present your questions, disappointments, and problems to them, but keep going. Listen to whatever answer may follow and make adjustments where necessary.
Reversing spiritual defilement
People who have suffered spiritual defilement can reverse it, provided that:
1. they stop with idolatry entirely,
2. they also stop associated activities,
3. they stop memberships that go hand in hand with it,
4. they show repentance for their idolatry, ways, and deeds, and
5. they allow themselves to be baptized into Yeshua.
And as soon as the opportunity is opportune (testing!) to receive God's Spirit into that beautiful temple in Christ through prayer with the laying on of hands.
Prophecy & Speaking in Tongues?
The Bible states that speaking in tongues is the least of the Gifts, which actually also indicates unbelief. And without a Tongue Translator, it is even forbidden!
"Fair-weather prophecies" are generally not from God, and the content of a prophecy will eventually have to be verifiable. The content can, however, already be tested against Biblical "Rules & Morals" and what the prophecy leads to; which will never result in the benefit of the giver (office, salary, possessions, status, etc.).
With all other Gifts: be careful, test, pray, investigate, and look at the consequences afterward and give thanks for it.
Note: I have posted virtually no written-out Bible verses this time because I wanted to emphasize the substantive story. I also do not want to make anyone "lazy." Go look up, read, and investigate for yourself as well.
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