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  THE CROSS IS THE POWER
  by G.W. North
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Summary: The power of spiritual gifts depends on the believer's
spiritual state and their willingness to allow the Holy Spirit to work
through them.

Topics: "The Power of the Cross", "Spiritual Gifts"
Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 12:4

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G.W. North emphasizes that spiritual gifts, while inherently spiritual,
depend on the recipient's spiritual state for their continued
effectiveness. He warns that if an individual becomes carnal, the gifts
will also lose their spiritual essence and become misused. To maintain
the original power of these gifts, one must live in holiness and allow
the Holy Spirit to guide their use. The gifts should be initiated and
inspired by the Holy Spirit, particularly in oral communication, to
avoid the risk of becoming misleading or destructive. Ultimately, the
gifts are meant to manifest the Spirit's power, rooted in the sacrifice
of the cross.

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CONTENT
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Now, as before stated, any gift given by the Spirit is in itself
spiritual in origin, but having been once bestowed, for its permanent
spirituality in use it depends very much upon the person to whom it is
given. It must ever be remembered that the person so privileged must
bear the responsibility for its use. If the individual remains
spiritual, the gift will continue as spiritual as the Spirit who first
gave it, but should that individual become carnal, the gift will also
unavoidably become carnalized in use.

The only way an individual can preserve his gift in its original
spiritual condition is by maintaining his own spirit in holiness and
power, and always allowing the Holy Spirit Himself to work the gift.

In the case of an oral gift, this means that the Holy Spirit must be the
sole initiator and inspirer of each particular message. He must be both
the beginning and the ending upon each occasion. If it be one of the
other gifts, he must use it as from and by the power of the cross, or
else the power that works it will be carnal soul power. Should this
latter state become so with any member, the ultimate function can only
be misleading, and its power destructive. Each of the gifts must only
ever be a means of manifestation of the Spirit.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/gw-north/the-cross-is-the-power/
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