This new season that we are emerging into is a season where the gifts of the Spirit, or the charismata, are going to start being released to the body. This is a word that Pastor Mike has released to the body of Christ. For the work that needs to be done for the final harvest and for the end times, there is much to be done, and frankly, what we need to do for the kingdom cannot be done by our own strength. Just as the Apostles were endowed on the day of Pentecost to go out into all the world in power, we cannot do the Father’s good work without His power to be engrafted into us.
The Presbyters, who were the apostolic Sanhedrin of counselors in the church, were being ordained by the Bishop (High Priest) before the body, and during their ordination they were being endowed with the gifts of the Spirit. In most churches that are charismatic, as soon as they get a new person in, they want to “activate” them and then send them back out. There is no sanctification, no washing of the word, no healing process, for maturing them in the Word, none of the things a new soul needs. This was not the pattern the early church was established in. The gifts of the Spirit are meant to be implements of divine grace to help others. Just as King Solomon asked for wisdom to judge rightly the people of Yah, he understood the necessity of the need for the spiritual gift of wisdom for the sake of the people (2 Kings 3:9-12). It is the same reason for the spiritual priesthood to be endowed with these gifts.
The spiritual gift of wisdom is given to the spiritual priesthood for the sake of the people.
Do Thou therefore now also look down upon Thy Holy Church, and increase the same, and multiply those that preside in it, and grant them power, that they may labor both in word and work for the edification of Thy people. Do Thou now also look down upon this Thy servant, who is put into the presbytery by the vote and determination of the whole clergy; and do Thou replenish him with the Spirit of grace and counsel, to assist and govern Thy people with a pure heart, in the same manner as Thou didst look down upon Thy chosen people, and didst command Moses to choose elders, whom Thou didst fill with Thy Spirit. (Exo_18:1-27, Exo_24:1-18, Exo_28:1-43) Do Thou also now, O Lord, grant this, and preserve in us the Spirit of Thy grace, that this person, being filled with the gifts of healing and the word of teaching, may in meekness instruct Thy people, and sincerely serve Thee with a pure mind and a willing soul, and may fully discharge the holy ministrations for Thy people, through Thy Christ, with whom glory, honor, and worship be to Thee, and to the Holy Ghost, forever. Amen. (1)
Notice that this power given was to edify the church through their works and the word that they preached to them. There is also a qualification, that is to serve the people with a pure heart, pure mind, and a willing soul. This wasn’t given to those who reluctantly do this because they “have to do a job.” This was a privilege and equally a weighty responsibility to undertake.
Currently there are various interpretations on the evidence of someone who walks in the charismata. Some say that the evidence is through the praying of tongues, or prophesying, etc. Essentially, the evidence of one having the Holy Spirit is by the sanctification on one’s life, the absence of sin in one’s life, the purity of one’s conscience, and so on. The charismata is not only for the intention of helping others go through their process, but also to help us come into a place of perfection, coming back to the image of the Father.
I will conclude with this passage from Irenaeus concerning the charismata being used to bring us the final perfecting of the saints.
1. But we do now receive a certain portion of His Spirit, tending towards perfection, and preparing us for incorruption, being little by little accustomed to receive and bear God; which also the apostle terms “an earnest,” that is, a part of the honour which has been promised us by God, where he says in the Epistle to the Ephesians, “In which ye also, having heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation, believing in which we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance.” (Eph_1:13, etc.) This earnest, therefore, thus dwelling in us, renders us spiritual even now, and the mortal is swallowed up by immortality. (2Co_5:4) “For ye,” he declares, “are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.” (Rom_8:9) This, however does not take place by a casting away of the flesh, but by the impartation of the Spirit. For those to whom he was writing were not without flesh, but they were those who had received the Spirit of God, “by which we cry, Abba, Father.” (Rom_8:15) If therefore, at the present time, having the earnest, we do cry, “Abba, Father,” what shall it be when, on rising again, we behold Him face to face; when all the members shall burst out into a continuous hymn of triumph, glorifying Him who raised them from the dead, and gave the gift of eternal life? For if the earnest, gathering man into itself, does even now cause him to cry, “Abba, Father,” what shall the complete grace of the Spirit effect, which shall be given to men by God? It will render us like unto Him, and accomplish the will of the Father; for it shall make man after the image and likeness of God.
“It will render us like unto Him, and accomplish the will of the Father; for it shall make man after the image and likeness of God.”
2. Those persons, then, who possess the earnest of the Spirit, and who are not enslaved by the lusts of the flesh, but are subject to the Spirit, and who in all things walk according to the light of reason, does the apostle properly term “spiritual,” because the Spirit of God dwells in them. Now, spiritual men shall not be incorporeal spirits; but our substance, that is, the union of flesh and spirit, receiving the Spirit of God, makes up the spiritual man. But those who do indeed reject the Spirit’s counsel, and are the slaves of fleshly lusts, and lead lives contrary to reason, and who, without restraint, plunge headlong into their own desires, having no longing after the Divine Spirit, do live after the manner of swine and of dogs; these men, [I say], does the apostle very properly term “carnal,” because they have no thought of anything else except carnal things. (2)
References:
1. Constitutions of the Apostles; Book 8 Part 2; Vol. 7
2. Irenaeus-Against Heresies Bk. 5 Ch. VIII, Vol. 1
