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Ministering Spiritual Gifts
(with personal prophecy and impartation)

        A satirical article rebuking those who “make merchandise” of the saints of God by allegedly ministering spiritual gifts, personal prophecy, and impartation by laying on of hands for money given. This smacks of earthly lust and greed for money and power, not Godly wisdom and righteousness from the Spirit of God.
2 Peter 2:1-3 (Amplified Bible):
        1. But also [in those days] there arose false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among yourselves, who will subtly and stealthily introduce heretical doctrines—destructive heresies—even denying and disowning the Master Who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
        2. And many will follow their immoral ways and lascivious doings; because of them the true Way will be maligned and defamed.
        3. And in their covetousness (lust, greed) they will exploit you [King JamesVersion: “make merchandise of you”] with (cunning) false arguments. From of old the sentence [of condemnation] for them has not been idle; their destruction (eternal misery) has not been asleep.
        The phrase “make merchandise” in the Greek is emporeuomai. Strong’s Definition is “to travel in (a country as a peddler), i.e. (by implication) to trade.” Vine’s Expository Dictionary says this about the verb: emporeuomai primarily signifies “to travel,” especially for business; then, “to traffic, trade,” (Jas. 4:13); then, “to make a gain of, make merchandise of,” (2 Pet. 2:3).
        It sounds like these false teachers travel around peddling their self-proclaimed “spiritual gifts” and self-imposed titles to make money from those who name the name of Christ.
        Peter the apostle says, (KJV) “And many shall follow their pernicious ways ...”
        Whether you are selling these false teachings, or you are buying these false teachings, this shameless conduct before God will reap a sentence of condemnation and eternal misery for you.
        Scriptural support for opinions stated is provided in this article.
        The prophecy peddlers are hawking their wares through the internet and the U.S. mail with increasing frequency. The catch phrase seems to be “Ministering Spiritual Gifts,” with a promise of a taped personal prophecy and, as an extra added bonus from them to you, “impartation!”
        Untold thousands of dollars are being spent on this purchase of “spiritual gifts.” Seminars, meetings, classes, conferences, ad nauseam, invite the apparently ungifted and unanointed saint of God to receive their “spiritual gift.”
        How awful that God forgot to give them their share of “spiritual gifts” and now they must pay for that “gift” from the hands of another human being who has the very power of God Himself to “impart” to you your choice of “gifts!” This is, of course, an improved version of biblical “spiritual giftings” as you yourself now have the choice of what “gift” you want, instead of relying upon the sovereignty of God to distribute whatever gift He so desires for you to have!
        It just gets better and better, doesn’t it? After all, the rest of us have to be content with what God has gifted us with ... but these people give us our very own choice of what gift we want! Wow, in effect, they have improved on God’s wisdom and method of distribution!
        Oh, how wonderfully wise and powerful these people must be, huh?
        What, you disagree? You would touch God’s anointed? Go back and do your homework, saint ... just read the glowing praises they heap upon themselves and others of their kind. Can’t you see that they have Father, Son and Holy Spirit living inside them and you don’t? When Jesus said, “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (John 14:23) He was talking about them, not you! Which means they have the Anointed One living in them and are “God’s anointed” and you don’t so you aren’t God’s anointed.
        Simple, huh?
        So spend your money, forget about food, clothing, shelter, medical and dental care, transportation, and family expenses and responsibilities and borrow money on your credit card and fly, fly, fly into their loving arms! Prove God to be wrong and that “spiritual gifts” are not freely distributed by the Holy Spirit as He wills. Show God where Jesus was prejudiced against you and not only failed to give you your fair share of gifts according to your will, but that He also refuses to allow Himself (Father), the Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit to live and abide in you.
        Pay for that air flight, pay for that hotel, pay for that restaurant food, pay for those tapes and books and give liberally into their eager grasping hands your “tithes” and “offerings” to buy for yourself that which God has prejudicially withheld from you! Prove to God that you are worthy and that you can have gifts, just like your “super-apostle” and “ super-prophet” mentors!
        Who says holiness, and sanctification and justification and spiritual giftings can’t be bought? Why, one of the biggest and richest religious cults on earth has taught this for years! Why shouldn’t you get in on this super religious bandwagon? Never mind what the Bible says, you’re gonna get in agreement with what all your buddies say. The majority is always right, isn’t it? After all, we’re all little gods, aren’t we? So it’s just a matter of degree, isn’t it? Doesn’t it make sense that you should want to grow from “little” to “big?” Doesn’t nature itself teach us that? And you must increase and He, Jesus, must decrease? (Or something like that).
        Have you done it yet? Go, go, go, make it a done deal! Strut around with your self-righteousness and call yourself a “Prophet” or an “Apostle” (that’s a little more expensive, but what the heck ... aren’t you worth it?). Are you just a “Level One Prophet?” Don’t you really want to spend more money and be an “Advanced Level Two Prophet?” And, oh joy, spend even more and be known as an “Advanced Level Three Prophet?” Won’t that look real good on your printed business card!
        Or how about “Horizontal Apostle?” Well, that sorta sounds like you’re laying down horizontal, and taking a nap or sleeping. Better yet, is “Vertical Apostle.” That projects a better image of at least being awake and standing up. The best (?), of course, is “Presiding Apostle.” That one puts you in the place of authority over an assembly. Question is: “An assembly of what?” Well, that question best goes unanswered, doesn’t it? Since all of this ego stuff of “titles” and assigned weight and authority according to that title, we know from scripture that it’s not an assembly of the saints of God. Or, we should ... but when it comes to personal glory, who among you cares? Just because Jesus temporarily laid aside the manifestations of His Personal Glory, as God, why should you avoid opportunities for your personal glory? None of this “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” stuff for you, right? Why not get it all now, while all these “super-saints” are dishing it out. After all, you know how things of the world continue to go up in price and tomorrow you may not be able to afford this “instant glory!”
        Of course, you’ve read your Bible and understand all that stuff falls under the category of “vain imaginations” in the kingdom of God, but, after all, you are advancing yourself in the kingdom of man because that’s where you live! Right? Right! It’s your choice, isn’t it? Go for it, guys and gals and get all your earthly rewards in the here and now. Eternal rewards aren’t for you, it’s just too long to wait. Right? Right!
        And whatever you do, do not read the rest of this article (below the scripture quotation)! Just keep on laying empty hands on empty heads ... (If I’ve done my research right, the only thing one human being can impart to another human being, by touch or proximity, is infectious diseases). Selah ... pause and calmly think of that.
        [Before you send me an e-mail telling me how God will punish me for satirizing your biblical illiteracy and ignorance (you didn’t really expect a biblically literate person to take you seriously, did you?) read the rest of this article. And then read “Personal Power Of Christ Or Corporate Power?-An Open Letter.” When you do, you’ll find all your protests answered. Right? Right!]

        Isaiah 55:1-7:
        1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
        2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
        3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
        4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
        5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.
        6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
        7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Impartation

        1 Corinthians 12:4 reads: “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.”
        “Diversities” diairesis, is literally, to take apart. It signifies to divide into separate parts and distribute. It is translated “diversities” here and in verse 6, and “differences” in verse 5. In verse 11 “dividing” is diaireo, same meaning. “Gifts” charisma, here and in verses 9,28,30 and 31 show spiritual endowments manifested, by God’s grace. This is through individual believers by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.
        Gifts of the Holy Spirit, as disclosed in verses 7 through 11, are separated and distributed by Him as He wills. In Hebrews 2:4 the word for “gifts” is merismos, a separation or distribution. It should read “and distributions of the Holy Ghost” referring to His gifts, but not explicitly stating the word “gift.” These manifestations of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and of Joel 2:28,29 are given by the Holy Spirit. They cannot be “imparted” to another.
        Deuteronomy 34:9 is quoted as proof that one can “impart” a spirit of wisdom by laying on of hands. The following verses, however, make it clear that the “spirit of wisdom” spoken of in these passages refers to the Holy Spirit.
        Exodus 28:3: “And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.”
        Isaiah 11:2: “And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;”
        Ephesians 1:17: “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:”
        With this understanding, we can better understand Deuteronomy 34:9 and Numbers 27:18-20 as laying on of hands for receiving the Holy Spirit, or a fullness, or baptism of the Holy Spirit, Who is the giver of all gifts.
        Deuteronomy 34:9: “And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses.”
        The parallel account of this incident is in Numbers 27:18-20:
        18 And the Lord said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;
        19 And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.
        20 And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.
        Note that Joshua was “a man in whom is the spirit.” After Moses laid his hands upon him he “was full of the spirit of wisdom.”
        Honour is hod, “splendor; majesty; authority.” The following is excerpted from Vine’s Expository Dictionary: “In many cases hod focuses on “dignity and splendor” with overtones of superior power and position but not to the degree seen in oriental kings: “And thou shalt put some of thine honor upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient” (Numbers 27:20) — the first occurrence of the word. ... In every use of the word the one so described evokes a sense of amazement and satisfaction in the mind of the beholder.”
        Genesis 48:10-22 is also quoted as proof of “impartation.” However, the context indicates laying on of hands for blessing in response to a subsequent prophetical utterance.
        In Romans 1:11 when Paul said “that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift” the word “impart” is metadidomi, meaning to give a share of, as distinct from giving. Verse 12 explains Paul’s intent.
        1 Timothy 4:14 and 2 Timothy 1:6 are also used as proof of “impartation.”
        1 Timothy 4:14: “Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.”
        2 Timothy 1:6: “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.”
        Apparently, Paul is speaking of the same incident in these two verses. 2 Timothy 1:6 really explains that, whatever the gift was, it was “the gift of God.”
        Examining 1 Timothy 4:14, the gift given to Timothy “was given thee by prophecy” which makes it clear that it was a Holy Spirit inspired utterance that conveyed the information that the Holy Spirit was giving Timothy a spiritual gift. The word “with” is meta, a primary preposition (often used adverbially); properly, denoting accompaniment.
        After having announced that Timothy was receiving a spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit, it was accompanied by the ceremonial practice of laying on of hands by the elders. In 2 Timothy 1:6 Paul is reminding Timothy of the incident and speaks only of himself “putting on of my hands” but not mentioning the other elders present.
        The Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary says this about the phrase “by the putting on of my hands” in these verses—It is “with [not by] the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” The apostle was chief in the ordination, and to him “by” is applied. The presbytery were his assistants; so “with,” implying merely accompaniment, is said of them. Paul was the instrument in Timothy’s ordination and reception of the grace then conferred; the presbyters were the concurrent participants in the act of ordination; so the Greek, “dia” and “meta.”
        In other words the symbolic act of laying on of hands was done by Paul, with the presbytery (elders). This same principle holds true for all such incidents recorded in the New Testament.
        An excerpt from Unger’s Bible Dictionary regarding “men already possessed of delegated power and authority” tells us that “Not that the mere act” [of laying on of hands] “could confer any special spiritual power, but it was employed as a fit and appropriate symbol to denote their full and formal consent to the bestowal of the divine gift; and, being accompanied by prayer to Him who alone can really bestow it, might ordinarily be regarded as a sign that the communication had actually taken place.”
        We have the problem of accepting this logical explanation or of accepting the fact that the Bible contradicts itself in 1 Timothy 4:14 and 2 Timothy 1:6 when compared to 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 and Hebrews 2:4:
        1 Corinthians 12:8-11:
        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 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.
        Hebrews 2:4 “God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts” [read: distributions] “of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”
        It’s clear from these texts that “by the Spirit” and “by the same Spirit” and “the selfsame Spirit” and “according to his own will” mean what they say.
        Laying on of hands for Holy Spirit baptism, blessing, healing and deliverance and raising the dead is scriptural. However, scripture is equally clear that gifts are given by God the Holy Spirit only.
        This is a basic understanding concerning Godly wisdom which involves understanding and intelligence of God’s word and Godly principles. This Godly wisdom is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, impartial and sincere. With a Godly lifestyle of peacemaking it will result in a harvest of righteousness. This Godly wisdom brings righteousness and life. Earthly wisdom will bring unrighteousness and death.

Righteousness A Prerequisite

        We can see from this that a need for righteousness, to bring life, is a necessary prerequisite for operating in the Holy Spirit descension charisma gifts.
        Those whose lifestyle is not biblically righteous will come to us to minister with earthly wisdom and will bring unrighteousness and death to us.
        Those who minister to us and those who minister must have this Godly wisdom operative in their life, manifesting righteousness and bringing the fruit of life. They must be prudent, upright, understanding and intimately related to divine knowledge, selecting proper ends for the proper means for their accomplishments in the natural world and especially in the economy of redemption. They will have Godly practical skill, quickness of perception, keenness of mind, discernment and insight into the righteousness of God and will minister in a fullness of the Holy Spirit of God that those who do not have this Godly wisdom cannot possibly attain to.
        You must responsibly determine the lifestyle of those who minister to you. And you must responsibly follow Jesus in every way possible in thinking as He thought, speaking as He spoke and doing what He did.
        The ministry of Jesus was the Father, and He did only what the Father told Him to do, and what the Father told him to say, and where the Father told Him to go. He was constantly attuned to the wisdom of the Father. As a disciple of Christ, that is also your responsibility.
        (Excerpted from “Prophets And Prophecy.”

        Related articles:
•“Americans religious faith in self and church, not Christ.” Americans religious faith is in self and church, not Christ, the Bible or God as biblically illiterate people obey flesh strongholds not the Holy Spirit.

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