Originally posted by Dave L
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Ephesians 2.7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8This is why it a says:
“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.” b
9(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions c ? 10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
The gift is not the Holy Spirit. To be a gift, something must be given free. But the Holy Spirit is not given freely. It is given only on being loyal, hearing and believing.
The real gifts are the gifts of solving problems, picking up crosses and being raised up by God, taking up difficult matters for explanation and having the explanation given by God:
Mark 13.11And when they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you at that time; for you are not the ones speaking, but it is the Holy Spirit.
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