Part 4, The Whole Counsel Of God
Part 4: God's Whole Counsel
Tuesday September 8, 2026
Acts 20:27 ESV for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
Quick Review
The counsel of God means the will of God.
The Bifurcated Work Of the Holy Spirit In A Believer’s Life: Within and Without
The Holy Spirit was given to do essentially two things in our lives.
He is to work within us and to work through us.
Performance is easier than transformation.
The impartation of gifts is the easier work of the Holy Spirit, while the transformation into Christlikeness is more difficult because it requires our cooperation.
How The Fruit of the Spirit is cultivated.
When it comes to cultivating the fruit of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit prompts us on how to think in any given situation.
He reminds us of the teachings of Jesus regarding the specific issue we face, counseling us on how to act, or how not to act.
When we heed His promptings, we walk in obedience. Each act of obedience makes the next one easier. If we continue on that path, we won’t even realize we are changing until we are completely transformed.
How The Gifts of the Spirit are developed.
With regards to His gifts, He will prompt us to take a step, speak a word, pray for a person. If we respond by faith and comply, our obedience will produce results that we will learn from, increasing our knowledge/skill and confidence the next time. (see Luke 10: 1-20)
Soon, our gifts are clearly manifest, operating effectively and the body of Christ profits.
As the fruits and the gifts of the Holy Spirit become more visible in our lives, people will come to us with questions. They will see us as something of an SME, (Subject Matter Expert.) Their questions will require us to study so we can explain the reason for the hope we have in Christ.
Gifts Of Knowledge, Gifts of Utterance and Power Gifts
1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 27-31 NKJV There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. [5] There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. [6] And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. [7] But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: [8] for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, [9] to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, [10] to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. [11] But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
[27] Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. [28] And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. [29] Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? [30] Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? [31] But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Assignment:
Each spiritual gift can be placed in one of the three groups: Knowledge, Utterance or Power. Use the passages above to identify and assign each mentioned gift to its appropriate group.
