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NASB | 1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 12:1 Now about the spiritual gifts [the special endowments given by the Holy Spirit], brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. |
Bible Question: How do I know that the Spirit is the originator of the Gifts of the Spirit in my life? For example, if I have a word of knowledge for someone how do I know it is from God? |
Bible Answer: Greetings Asis! I see that Brad has already given you an excellent response. Let me add a couple of points! Any prophecy, word of knowledge, or any other revelatory gift must meet the following conditions. 1) As Brad pointed out, it must be in accordance with God's Word. Someone could never say that God has revealed to them that they should have an affair, because adultery is forbidden by Scripture. 2) It must come true! Scripture is quite clear that a prophet must be 100 percent accurate. This is the difference between true gifts and false gifts. Look at the prophecies of other faiths. One will see things like 'a savior will be born somewhere, sometime'. They read like horoscopes, so generic that anything could fulfill them. However, look at the prophecies of Scripture and one finds specific details given. For instance, Scripture tells us the exact town and lineage from which Christ would come. It tells us exactly how He would die. There are not generic, and they were 100 percent accurate. 3) It must be uplifting. God's Word edifies. 4) Finally, it must confirm something that God has already been dealing with that person about. For instance, God may be dealing with someone about becoming a missionary. A word of knowledge may be a confirmation to them that God is really speaking to them. But, God will never tell you first before telling them. :-) If the word of knowledge meets these conditions (the last one you will not know until it has been shared), then take a leap of faith and share it with the person. If not, then keep it to yourself. :-0 Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |