SPIRITUAL GIFTS
The concept of spiritual gifts is one of the most divisive issues among Christians in the churches and ranges from belief that the gifts died out with the apostles, to belief that they still exist today.
And among those who believe that they still exist, many clearly violate Scripture in fraudulently attempting to display gifts that they do not have, creating much confusion and division within the churches. It has become so bad that numerous churches forbid the display of any gifts just to prevent fraudulent displays, and are stifling any real displays that may occur.
The purpose of this study is to take a look at the gifts Scripturally, and see if they really do exist today, and if so, how they are to be used in the life of the Christian.
The first mention of the gifts of the spirit happened in the book of Acts at Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus' resurrection. 120 believers, including the apostles, were gathered together in a room for prayer and devotions. Scripture first records;
ACTS 1:15-26
15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said,
16 “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus;
17 for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.
18 (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out.
19 And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.)
20 For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, and let no one live in it’, and, ‘Let another take his office.’
21 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
23 And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24 And they prayed and said, ‘You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen
25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.’
26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
The apostles and disciples all knew that Judas' "going to his own place" meant that he had gone to his ordained place in Hell when he died.
Scripture then records;
ACTS 2:1-13
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.
7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, ‘Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?
8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?
9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretans and Arabs, we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.’
12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘Whatever could this mean?’
13 Others mocking said, ‘They are full of new wine.’
Many people think that it was only the twelve apostles who received the gift of tongues and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, when Scripture records in Acts 1:15 above, that there were about 120 people who were disciples of Jesus, and they remained together in fellowship and prayer with the apostles.
And ever the careful historian, Luke, the author of Acts records in chapter 2 verse 1 above that they were ALL together with one accord in one place, ("all" referring to the group described in verse 15 of the previous chapter), when the Holy Spirit fell upon them. I had often wondered how twelve men could speak with at least 17 recorded languages, not including dialects. True, they could have uttered things in different tongues but it would make more sense if the whole group spoke in tongues. Also the entire multitude gathered in Jerusalem heard them speaking, and as any of us knows, when you get a crowd of people together and you can hardly hear yourself speak, let alone someone else.
Yet if there were 120 people rejoicing, praising God in other languages, this would have certainly gathered attention from a crowd! Apparently by their manner of dress they were instantly recognizable as Galileans, who were considered to be peasants, basically ignorant country folk who could neither read nor write. Yet these people were speaking fluently in other known foreign languages, which astounded the multitudes.
An example would be if a person who dropped out of school in the third grade and grew to adulthood in this country suddenly started speaking perfect Russian, Hungarian, or Farsi (language spoken in Iran) having never been exposed to these languages before. It would be a source of astonishment and wonder to those who were learned in these languages, and had spent long hard years learning to speak that language!
This also brings up another point. If the entire 120 people received the Holy Spirit, then the Spirit and the Gifts were not just limited to the apostles at that time. However, to magnify their ministry, Luke focuses on the works of the apostles throughout the book of Acts.
And I have yet to figure out the line of thinking of those who thought that the apostles were drunk. How could a drunkard speak in another discernable language that he had never previously learned? The only thing I can think of, is that the action of the Holy Spirit caught Satan totally by surprise, and he had to come up with something to explain the event. Saying that the disciples were drunk is somewhat of a lame explanation if you ask me, but would fit if Satan had to suddenly come up with something to explain this new phenomenon.
The gifts of the Spirit are wonderful tools given to us by God for the ministry that He has called each of us to do. However some Christians become so wrapped up in the attempted exercise of the gifts that they begin falling into serious errors, and teach unscriptural doctrines which cause divisions in the churches. We'll deal with those in a bit, But first let's look at the gifts themselves.
The apostle Paul records;
1 CORINTHIANS 12:1-11
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:
2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.
3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
4 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.
And;
1 CORINTHIANS 12:28-31
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.
And;
Romans 12:5-8
5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;
8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Note first of all, that in 1 Corinthians 12:28 above Paul states that the three primary positions within the church are set for those who teach. The apostles trailblazed the way preaching the Word; prophets in turn reveal God's words and will for the church and exhort believers to greater faith; pastors and teachers do the "trench work", teaching God's children, feeding His sheep.
Note: There is a difference between being a pastor / preacher and a being a teacher. A long time ago I had asked God to make me a preacher. He asked me, “What is it that you want to do?” I said, “Reach as many people with Your Word as possible”.
He then told me, “A preacher or pastor feeds his congregation, they are his flock. But as a teacher, the world is your flock.” As I was in the Navy at the time and was frequently set out on patrol, I was able to teach God’s Word to many of my shipmates during the long periods at sea. I thought that this was the fulfillment of God’s words.
It wasn’t until I developed this Web site that I suddenly realized what God had meant. I began hearing from people all over the world who had read the studies and realized that with the Internet, God’s teachings could be seen literally around the world!!!
The rest of the gifts are supportive to the primary task of teaching of the Word of God. We should be concentrating more on the teaching of the Word than on the supporting gifts themselves, for the lesser gifts are meant to augment the primary ministerial gifts.
I honestly feel that Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 above was only listing some of the gifts in these Scriptures. I have met prayer warriors who were mighty in prayer, others who were veritable towers of faith and others who were fountains of joy, etc. I think Paul only listed some of the more prominent or popular gifts with the understanding that there were others that he need not mention.
But let's note several things here.
First Paul is teaching the facts concerning the gifts to the Gentiles. This immediately disproves the concept that the gifts were limited only to the apostles and ceased after their deaths as some churches teach. For if Paul gave the Gentiles instructions concerning the Gifts, they existed among the Gentile believers during that time. And the fact that Paul wrote to the Gentile believers in both Corinth and Rome shows that the gifts were widespread and well-known among the Gentile churches.
Next, Paul is careful to assert that not all people will possess the same gifts. I have run into the doctrine time and again, where people believe that you must speak in tongues to show that you have been baptized by the Holy Spirit. Paul states flatly in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 above that the Holy Spirit gives different gifts to people according to His will. And in verses 29 and 30, he again states that not all will receive the same gifts.
So by stating that you must speak in tongues to demonstrate that you have been baptized by the Holy Spirit is clearly against Scripture and violates the purpose of the Gift of tongues.
In fact, Paul apparently became so frustrated with church members faking gifts or being jealous of those demonstrating seemingly greater Gifts that he wrote;
1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-26
12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
15 If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?
18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’
22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,
24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,
25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Bottom line: The Gifts are to support the Church, it is not a popularity contest.
The Spirit determines who gets what Gifts and if you are jealous of others’ Gifts you are telling God that the Gift(s) you’ve been given aren’t good enough for you. He could very well take away what He gave you and leave you with nothing.
Paul is saying that as our bodies have many members with different functions, so also the members of the Church the body of Christ. Are all church members pastors? Are all ushers, choir directors or song leaders? Of course not! The gifts are the same way. Each person has differing gifts, and there is no "benchmark" gift to determine if you have the Holy Spirit or not!
Those who teach that tongues are a verifiable sign of the Holy Spirit in a person are in serious error, and are teaching doctrines contrary to Scripture! If God chooses not to give a person the Gift of tongues, who are we to say that this person does not have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them? Did Jesus speak in tongues? Scripture doesn't record that He did, and yet He was filled with the Holy Spirit without debate.
Do not teach doctrines that cannot be backed up with Scripture in context!
Ok, so far we have proven from Scripture that the gifts of the Spirit were not limited to the apostles, they did not cease when the apostles died, and that not all people receive the same gifts. Now, let's move on to the uses of the gifts.
God has given each of us a ministry to perform in His church, and has given us gifts with which to augment that ministry. Some gifts are permanent, and remain with the believer throughout their lives, and others may appear temporarily, for a specific purpose.
For example, I while I was in the Navy, we had a young man come into our shop to be trained before he was to be sent overseas. This man had gone to the enlisted men's club and had become involved in a fight. As a result, when he came in to work the next day, one side of his neck was swollen and he could hardly move his head. As I was observing this, the Lord quietly told me, "Go and heal him". My immediate answer was "WHAT?"
I instantly retreated to the corner of the shop where I worked, and began wrestling with the Lord on this issue. As usual, He won. I then put all of the faith I had into my prayer, and honestly told Him, "I am going to do this, because I feel You asked me to. But Lord, if this isn't from You, then I will look like a fool, but even worse, it will bring shame to You also."
I then walked up to the young man, and asked him in front of people who were standing there, "Do you believe in the Bible?" He said, "Well, I've read a little of it." I then placed my hands on either side of his neck, and quietly said, "In the name of Jesus Christ, be healed of your affliction."
He stared at me for a split second like I was weird, but then a look of surprise came over his face and he said, "I don't know what you did, but it's working!" He then began moving his head about, and feeling the side of his neck, where I could see the swelling visibly going down.
He accepted Jesus as His Savior three days later as a result of that healing. Two days after that, he was gone to Japan and I never saw him again. The Lord has never asked me to do such a thing again. But the gift was there when I needed it, and the experience taught me that the Lord determines how and when the gifts are to be used, not we ourselves. I think it was also a test of my faith, to see how I would react to the situation.
Which brings up my point. We are to use the gifts as part of our ministry, and they are NOT to be used whenever WE want to exercise them. We cannot prophesy whenever we wish, as the Old Testament prophets prophesied only when the Lord spoke to them. The apostles could not speak in tongues until the Holy Spirit moved them to do so at Pentecost. We cannot heal whenever we wish, nor can we perform miracles whenever we wish either.
The gifts are also to be used for the edifying (building up) of the church, not the believer;
I CORINTHIANS 14:12
12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the
church that you seek to excel.
One thing that has puzzled me is that Christians seem to think they can use the gifts whenever they want to. Case in point;
I had spent five years practicing witchcraft before I became a Christian, and after I had accepted Jesus I tried attending a nearby church. The service went well at first. Then the pastor said, "We're all going to speak in tongues now", and immediately the church was filled with pandemonium as people began speaking in weird languages. The pastor suddenly began blowing random notes on a trumpet at the podium, and the effect was absolute chaos.
I was stunned and confused to say the least! No one had told me what was going on, so I had no idea what was happening. I left badly shaken after the service, and I sadly told the Lord, "If this is what is required to worship You, I was better off in the Occult."
I know better now, but I wonder how many new Christians or potential Christians have been turned away from the Lord by the actions of that church? If the Spirit of the Lord had been truly moving through that church, He would have known of my shock and confusion and would have had someone explain to me what was happening.
For as Paul says of these things;
1 CORINTHIANS 14:22-25, 33, 40
22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.
23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?
24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.
25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.
33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
If a church gets together and all speak in tongues, someone unlearned or uninformed will think that they have stumbled into a looney bin! Which is exactly what I thought of the church I previously described! Fortunately I attended another church, and received the feeding and teaching that I needed.
But if the whole church prophesies and reveals the thoughts of newcomer's heart and life, it will be a definite sign of the Holy Spirit at work within that church. And it will be irrefutable proof to the unbeliever that God is the discerner of the thoughts and hearts of men.
Another case in point. I had read where a missionary was invited to Japan to speak to a congregation there. When he arrived, his interpreter hadn't yet showed up, so he waited. After a while the audience became restless, and the missionary understood that people would soon start leaving. He then put all of his faith in God, and basically told Him that he was going to step up and preach anyway, and asked for help with the situation.
He started talking, and suddenly had no idea what he was saying. Moments later his interpreter showed up, listened for a moment, and sat down. That missionary spoke perfect Japanese to that audience, and as a result many accepted Jesus as they knew that the missionary had no previous knowledge of their language. It was a sign to unbelievers just as Paul stated it would be in verse 22 above!
When God gives you one or more Gifts, it is to support the particular ministry or purpose He has set for your life. And if you go with it, God will ensure that you excel at what the Gift is meant for. And in many cases you’ll be using the Gift(s) without realizing it.
I had just started teaching Bible studies to High School students at our church (I’d only taught family Bible studies before then) when the assistant pastor of our church told me, ‘I see in you the spirit of a teacher’. Then it struck me that teaching was one of the Gifts. And apparently my teachings were so good that I had adults wanting to attend my classes!
Ok, let's go through the gifts, and see what they are to be used for.
Word of wisdom
Many times we run into situations that are outside of our knowledge scope, and yet we are required to make some kind of decision or judgment concerning the issue. And that is where this gift becomes extremely useful.
A good case of this would be the wisdom of Solomon, in the case of the two women who claimed the same baby.
Scripture records;
I KINGS 3:16-28
16 Now two women who were harlots came to the king, and stood before him.
17 And one woman said, “O my lord, this woman and I dwell in the same house; and I gave birth while she was in the house.
18 Then it happened, the third day after I had given birth, that this woman also gave birth. And we were together; no one was with us in the house, except the two of us in the house.
19 And this woman’s son died in the night, because she lay on him.
20 So she arose in the middle of the night and took my son from my side, while your maidservant slept, and laid him in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.
21 And when I rose in the morning to nurse my son, there he was, dead. But when I had examined him in the morning, indeed, he was not my son whom I had borne.”
22 Then the other woman said, “No! But the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son.” And the first woman said, “No! But the dead one is your son, and the living one is my son.” Thus they spoke before the king.
23 And the king said, “The one says, ‘This is my son, who lives, and your son is the dead one’; and the other says, ‘No! But your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.’ ”
24 Then the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought a sword before the king.
25 And the king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to one, and half to the other.”
26 Then the woman whose son was living spoke to the king, for she yearned with compassion for her son; and she said, “O my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him!” But the other said, “Let him be neither mine nor yours, but divide him.”
27 So the king answered and said, “Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him; she is his mother.”
28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.
Solomon, faced with a hard case with no evidence of proof for either woman's claim, made a shrewd decision. He would not have killed the infant, but used wisdom given to him by God to decide the case.
And so is the word of wisdom used. God will give a person the wisdom to understand the situation, and provide a means of resolution by granting wisdom to bring about proper judgement.
These people are usually set by God to be leaders within His church, namely pastors, teachers and counselors. Their duties are to dispense their wisdom to the church in order that the church may grow in wisdom and understanding of both the Scriptures and judgment.
Word of knowledge - This is an interesting gift, and differs from prophecy in the fact that a person having a word of knowledge has not been commissioned by the Lord to be a prophet. But to this person is given knowledge of something that they couldn't have possibly known otherwise.
A good example of this is found in the book of Acts;
ACTS 27:1-44
1 And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment.
2 So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us.
3 And the next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care.
4 When we had put to sea from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
5 And when we had sailed over the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and he put us on board.
7 When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone.
8 Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.
9 Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them,
10 saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.”
11 Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul.
12 And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.
13 When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete.
14 But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon.
15 So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive.
16 And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty.
17 When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven.
18 And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship.
19 On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands.
20 Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.
21 But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss.
22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve,
24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’
25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.
26 However, we must run aground on a certain island.”
27 Now when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors sensed that they were drawing near some land.
28 And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms.
29 Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come.
30 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow,
31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”
32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.
33 And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing.
34 Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.”
35 And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat.
36 Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves.
37 And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship.
38 So when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea.
39 When it was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a bay with a beach, onto which they planned to run the ship if possible.
40 And they let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore.
41 But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.
42 And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape.
43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land,
44 and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.
Note that in verses 9-12, first Paul is given the word of knowledge that the voyage would be dangerous, and they would suffer as a result, a fact which did indeed happen. Then after nearly two weeks of being driven by a storm, Paul warns them that they should have listened to him. He then reports that an angel assured him that the lives of himself and those aboard would be spared. He then reveals through a word of knowledge that they would be cast upon an island, and the ship would be wrecked, a fact which did indeed happen.
So a word of knowledge is information of something or some event that is given by God to someone. Usually it is something you just "know" with every fiber of your being.
Faith
This one needs little explanation. I have met Christians who are veritable towers of faith, people who have made my faith seem weak by comparison! I really admire these people, for they have rock-solid faith, believing that God can do anything, no matter how hopeless the situation may seem.
The duties of these people are to be pillars for others to lean on when their faith becomes weak or falters. These also tend to be the mighty prayer warriors who intercede with God in matters for the church, and are examples of the faith that all in the church should have.
Healing
Pretty much self-explanatory, but with one important exception. Healers are not called to heal everyone. They can only heal when the Spirit wills for them to, and only whom the Spirit selects! Healing was one of the gifts given to the apostles for the magnification of their ministry, and they healed as the Spirit gave them ability.
If a healer tries to heal without the Holy Spirit's consent, no healing will take place. God will tell them whom to heal, as He did with me. I have not yet met a healer who could heal whenever they wished to.
Television evangelists use "long-distance healing" to promote their ministries, yet I have never heard of any of them being truly effective. They couch their responses in vague, general terms such as "There is someone out there watching this program who has gall-bladder problems. We command healing in the name of Jesus Christ for this person." If it truly was of God, I believe the person would be specifically named, so that the hundreds of people watching who might have gall-bladder problems would not have a false hope.
I am wary of these types of "healings", for there is no way for the average person to verify that such a healing has taken place. Jesus did such long-distance healing only on rare occasions, Scripture verifying that the event did indeed take place, and usually many were witnesses of the event.
For example;
LUKE 17:11-19
11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off.
13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.
17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?
18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”
19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”
Here were ten lepers, diseased, unclean men, shunned outcasts of society who called to Jesus from a distance for mercy and healing. The crowds with Jesus couldn't help but see these men, and when the healing took place, one of them, a Samaritan, considered by the Jews to be among the dregs of society returned to Him, loudly praising God for his healing and worshiping at Jesus' feet.
Please understand that I am not maligning prime-time ministers, but I am wary of those whose healing ministries cannot be verified. There are well-known and documented cases of fraud in the healing ministries, and Paul admonishes us to;
I THESSALONIANS 5:21
21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
My personal belief is that healing ministries were meant for the local area and were never meant for state or nationwide campaigns. If the gift of healing is spread abroad among God's people, why do we need prime-time ministers to try to heal on camera?
I know there are probably many who will disagree with me on this point. But if God has called a person to be a prime-time preacher, then they should do what God has called for them to do, namely preach. Let those chosen by God to be healers do what God has called for them to do.
Miracles
This would be the ability to raise the dead, multiply foods, etc. This I think would be a rare and treasured gift, and while I have heard of cases of the dead being raised today, foods being multiplied, water being walked on, and it is not often reported in modern times. This is not to say that God does not still perform miracles such as this today. If I was to name a reason, I would say that it was the lack of faith in Christians today that is the cause of this. But, this is only my opinion.
Prophecy
This is another much-abused ministry. First of all, Scripture has clearly set down the parameters of what is required to become a prophet.
NUMBERS 12:1-6
1 Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
2 So they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it.
3 (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)
4 Suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tabernacle of meeting!” So the three came out.
5 Then the Lord came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward.
6 Then He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream.
Note God's words here. He will commission a prophet in a vision or a dream, appearing to them personally, to do so. As far as I know and understand Scripture, He has never modified or changed this proof required of a prophet, and what He has not changed or removed is still valid.
The gift of prophecy should not be confused with the gift of the word of knowledge. A person can have a word of knowledge from the Lord and not be a prophet simply by the fact that God has not appeared to them and commissioned them to be a prophet.
Nor is the fact that a person has had a vision or a dream proof of a prophetic ministry. I have had several dreams and visions, and yet I am not a prophet, nor do I claim to be a prophet, as God has not appeared to me to commission me to be a prophet.
I believe there are prophets today, but the apostle Paul is adamant as to the purposes of prophecy today. He says;
I CORINTHIANS 14:1-5
1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
Note what Paul is expressing here. The gifts are for the building of the church, not for the glory of the individual. Prophets are to speak the words given to them by the Lord to the church, for learning and comfort and that the church may know what God requires of them. A good example would be John's prophetic letters to the seven churches in Asia. (REVELATION chapters 2 and 3)
I have heard of people calling themselves prophets, because they perceive their ministry to be one of teaching and exhortation. Once again, I refer these people to NUMBERS 12:1-6 above; if the Lord has not appeared to you personally and called you to be a prophet, do not call yourself a prophet.
Note also that prophets were called Seers in that people came to them to enquire of the Lord some word concerning a request or action they wished to perform. The Lord gave His word to the Seer/Prophet, who in turn gave it to the people.
I SAMUEL 9:9
9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he spoke thus: “Come, let us go to the seer”; for he who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer.)
The purpose of prophecy is to relay to the church the words that God has given to a person either through dream, revelation, or direct word to the building up of the body of believers, or to warn them of things to come.
A good example of this would be when prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch in Syria. Agabus indicated that there would be a famine soon, and the disciples gathered and sent money to their brethren in Judea to help beforehand. Scripture records;
ACTS 11:27-30
27 And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.
29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.
30 This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Also, after the resolution of the great dispute as to whether the Gentile converts should be required to follow the Law, prophets came to the Gentile church in Antioch and exhorted the Gentile Christians there and comforted them, apparently with words given to them by God. BUT, note that Judas and Silas were already proven prophets.
ACTS 15:1-32
1 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.
3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.
4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.
5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.
7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,
9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”
12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.
13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me:
14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.
15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
16 ‘After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up;
17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does all these things.’
18 “Known to God from eternity are all His works.
19 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,
20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
23 They wrote this letter by them:
The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,
To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Greetings.
24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment—
25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.
Farewell.
30 So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.
32 Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.
So should it be today. Only if a person is proven to be a called prophet, should they be accepted as a prophet. There are many counterfeits who call themselves prophets, but are not. We in the churches need to be watchful, and follow Paul's commands of;
I THESSALONIANS 5:20-21
20 Do not despise prophecies.
21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
Peter's warning;
II PETER 2:1-2
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
And the apostle John's admonition of;
I JOHN 4:1-4
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Note that Paul and Peter both advocate the testing of the prophet and the spirit by which the prophet prophesies. Paul states to not despise prophecies, but prove everything. John says to test the spirit within the person for truth. This does not mean the human spirit, but the spirit dwelling within the person. Note that John specifically mentions prophets as needing to be tested.
Paul finalizes the issue with;
I CORINTHIANS 14:29-33
29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.
30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.
31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
Note that Paul says when a prophet speaks, other proven prophets are to judge the prophecy as to whether it came from the Lord or not. I suspect that the gift of discernment may be tied in with the prophetic gift, but Scripture is silent on this subject.
And note that Paul says that there should be at most three prophets who prophesy at any particular time within the church. And when a prophet speaks, they are not to be interrupted. In other words, no outbursts of tongues or any other kind of distraction, for the Holy Spirit would not interrupt a teaching or revelation given from God to the church.
Discernment of spirits
This is a gift that is vital for those called into spiritual warfare. Demon workings can be subtle, and the discernment of the Holy Spirit is needed to separate normal problems with demonically driven ones. Case in point:
A friend of mine introduced me to a lady he knew, a single mother named Sherry. In talking with her, she indicated that her little boy Bobby, then about 4 years old had been having severe nightmares nearly every night for the last two years. I suspected a demon problem, but had no proof. I spoke to her about what I suspected, but she wanted nothing to do with me, apparently thinking I was a crackpot. I told her that if she wanted to talk further, to let me know.
Two weeks later, I got a call from the friend who had introduced me to her, saying that she wanted to speak with me. I then called Sherry and she told me that the nightmares were getting worse, and she wanted to talk further.
My wife and I went over to her house on Sunday evening, and witnessed to her, and I explained my suspicions further to her. She wasn't sure what to believe, but I told her that I would be back next Sunday night, and we would take care of the problem. I told her to put him to bed as usual next Sunday night, and we'd go from there.
On Wednesday, we were conducting a Bible study with some close friends, and I was explaining the situation and was telling them what I planned to do, and when. Suddenly I felt something in the room with us. I said "Something's here!" and immediately cast it out. Nothing further happened that night.
On Saturday night, I called Sherry to confirm our appointment for the next night, and she said, "Oh, my sister called Friday night, and came and picked up Bobby for the weekend." I then understood what had happened. On Wednesday night a demon had eavesdropped on what I had planned to do, and had ensured that the boy was taken away for the weekend. I told Sherry that we would try it again the next Sunday night, and to make sure that no one took him away for the weekend this time.
The next Sunday night, we went over to Sherry's and she told us that she had put Bobby to bed and had told him that if he had any more nightmares, a nice man was going to talk to him, and make them go away.
My wife and I proceeded to witness to her more, and about a half hour later, we heard Bobby running out from his bedroom into where we were sitting. He took one look at me, and raced back into his bedroom. Sherry went in to calm him down while my wife and I prayed for God to deliver the little guy.
When I walked into the bedroom, Bobby was watching me. He had the covers pulled up to just under his eyes. So, I sat on the bed, and said "Hi, Bobby, how are you?" No answer. I asked "Do you have these nightmares often?" "Yeah." I asked, "Are they the same, or are they different?" He said "They're different." and was instantly asleep.
I watched for a moment, surprised, then I felt a growing evil presence in the room. I said, "Oh no you don't!" I then rebuked it and ordered it to leave him in the name of Jesus Christ. A moment later I felt it leave, and Bobby fell into a normal, peaceful sleep.
I waited for a moment, then walked out to where my wife was sitting with Sherry. "Feel anything different?" I asked. She thought for a moment, and said, "Yes, it's warmer in here! Even in the summer it's always been cold in the house!" We explained what had happened, and left about an hour later.
When we got home, we had just climbed into bed to go to sleep when the phone rang. My wife answered it, and said, "It's Sherry.....!" My first thought was that the thing had come back. But Sherry told me that Bobby had come out after we had left, asking when the nice man was going to come and visit him.
She said, "I heard you talking to him, and I heard him answer you! What's going on?" I told her, "Sherry, it wasn't your son I was talking to. I was talking to the demon controlling him." Needless to say, she was shocked.
I lost contact with her two years later, but up until then, Bobby had had several nightmares, but they were usual little boy nightmares, not the graphic horrors he'd had before. Sherry still hadn't accepted Jesus into her heart, but I prayed that Bobby's deliverance would plant the seeds that would bring them both to Him.
But it was through the gift of discernment that I was able to identify the problem, and feel the demon presence that was eavesdropping on our Bible study and feel the demon attack starting when I went in to deliver Bobby through the power of the Holy Spirit.
People with discernment usually don't go looking for demons in everyone, or in every situation. In fact, most of the time, the discernment is involuntary. I had no idea that the eavesdropper would show up, nor did I even consider it beforehand. But when needed, the Holy Spirit will grant that a person with discernment will either feel a demonic presence, or will understand that demon forces are at work in a situation.
I have had many other cases of discernment, and almost all of them were verified before witnesses, up to and including physical manifestations of the demon(s) involved. In each case, I suddenly sensed what was going on, and was able to prepare ahead of time, although in some cases, I only had seconds worth of warning before the attack.
Tongues
Sadly, this gift has to be the most abused of all of the gifts, and it's because it is so hard to verify. A person can babble anything they wish, and claim it's a tongue and usually there is little way to verify that it is indeed a tongue given by God.
And I can't count the number of people who teach that if a Christian doesn't speak in tongues, they have not been baptized with the Holy Spirit, despite Paul's express instructions that say just the opposite.
However, a look at what Scripture says about tongues will tell much about their use and validation.
I CORINTHIANS 14:1-2
1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
Here we see a separation from the tongues spoken in the book of Acts. Paul says that those who speak in unknown tongues speak to God alone. The disciples and apostles in Acts spoke in tongues that were readily understood by the people who spoke those languages. The purpose of tongues in Acts was to preach the Gospel in the native tongues of those who were gathered at Jerusalem.
I CORINTHIANS 14:3-5
3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
Paul addresses the crux of the issue here. It is far more important that the church receive edification than for an individual to be edified. We are all equal in the body, and have different functions within the body. But our primary purpose is to support the body as a whole.
I CORINTHIANS 14:6-11
6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?
7 Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played?
8 For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?
9 So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance.
11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.
Again Paul strikes at the heart of the issue, when he states that speaking an unknown tongue is useless to the church, for no one understands what is being said. And yet in churches I have heard people yelling words that no one can understand, many times simultaneously, and others praising God for the tongue(s) being spoken!
I CORINTHIANS 14:12-13
12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
Here Paul states that a person who speaks in an unknown tongue should also interpret, if they are going to speak the tongue aloud to the church. The primary thing that Paul is expressing again, is that the church be edified rather than the believer.
I CORINTHIANS 14:14
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
I have only spoken in tongues on several occasions. In each case it was strictly involuntary, and each case served a specific purpose. Case in point:
My wife and I had laid down to take a nap. Suddenly she doubled over with severe stomach pains. I suspected Satan was involved, so I gently laid my hand on her stomach and began praying quietly to myself in English.
Suddenly I was speaking in an unknown language, and I had no idea what I was saying. I remember thinking "This must be speaking in tongues!" And when I stopped several seconds later, her pain vanished. My wife stared at me curiously, and I related what had happened. She in turn had no idea what I had said, as I had apparently spoken directly to God. But just as the disciples and Apostles at Pentecost, I spoke as the Spirit gave me utterance. I did not speak in tongues on my own accord!
I have previously related about the church I attended right after coming out of the Occult. They all felt that they could speak in tongues whenever they wished, which goes completely against Scripture.
This is also a golden opportunity for witches and satanists who infiltrate the churches and believe me, they do. Any church with over 30-50 members within their congregation will more than likely have someone in their congregation who is a witch or a Satanist.
Please understand that this does not mean that congregations should go on "witch hunts" to root out any witches or satanists within their congregations. At a church I attended some years ago I identified two witches in the congregation, and I knew this only because the Holy Spirit showed me.
I proceeded to tell the Pastor privately, and he didn't believe me at first. Then several months later he called me into his office, and told me that I was right. He didn't relate how he found out, but the witches left immediately afterward, promising to bring down both he and his ministry.
I have also been in churches where there was a "praise time" where people all spoke in tongues at once, praising God. This is a wonderful opportunity for witches and satanists to bring curses on the church as well as believers within the church.
With everyone babbling in weird languages who is going to know? Satanists can use tongues as well as Christians but for far different purposes, and witches and satanists who have come to the Lord have admitted cursing churches, praising Satan, releasing demons, and cursing believers during this time.
That's why it is SO important to have an interpreter if someone speaks in a tongue in church. And if two or more satanists or witches team up to have a tongue and an interpretation, surely the Holy Spirit will convict the congregation that it is a false tongue.
And remember Paul's warning;
I CORINTHIANS 14:23
23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?
And yet whole churches don't seem to understand this warning, or totally ignore it. But ignoring warnings such as this in Scripture is sin, and Satan has every legal right to curse a church and believers which are engaged in active disobedience to the Scriptures!
And they then fall under the condemnation of James who says;
JAMES 4:17
17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
I CORINTHIANS 14:15-19
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?
17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;
19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
In the above verses Paul proceeds to put tongues in their place as the least of the gifts. For if the church is not edified, what good does it do to speak in a language no one understands? Who is taught by the experience?
I CORINTHIANS 14:20-22
20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.
21 In the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” says the Lord.
22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.
Remember the missionary in Japan that I described earlier? The one who spoke perfect Japanese to his audience? And the apostles who spoke in languages understood by those who heard them? This is the true use of tongues. That unbelievers may understand the Gospel, and come to the Lord especially when they see and hear you speaking their language and know you have never learned it. This is in fulfillment of the prophecy of ISAIAH 28:11-12 as quoted by Paul in verse 21 above.
Unknown tongues are reserved for speaking to God, unless there is an interpreter. And Paul places this use of tongues as the least of all of the gifts, for the church is not edified or taught by the experience. Anyone can fake an unknown language, and unfortunately many well-meaning Christians do so. But remember, we can only do so at the will of the Holy Spirit, and when it happens, it is usually involuntary.
I CORINTHIANS 14:23-25
23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?
24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.
25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.
Paul in verse 23 points the finger directly at churches which have uncontrolled speaking of tongues within their congregation. I mentioned a church that I attended as a new Christian, and I thought they were nuts, just as Paul describes.
Like I said, anyone can fake a tongue but the gift of prophecy is given only to believers. And if an unbeliever isn't convinced by tongues, they certainly will by prophecy! Only God knows the thoughts of the heart, and can reveal such to men. And an unbeliever who hears his thoughts and secrets revealed will know for certain that God is indeed in that church!
Paul in the verses below sets out the exact order that the gifts are to be used within the church. Remember, this is accounted as Scripture, and is to be obeyed as the commandments of God Himself through the Holy Spirit!
I CORINTHIANS 14:26-33, 37-40
26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.
28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.
29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.
30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.
31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.
38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
In summary, we have proven that the gifts of the Spirit did not die out with the apostles as some teach, but were given to the Gentile churches as well as to the disciples at Pentecost. We have also proven that the gifts cannot be used at will, but only by the motivation of the Holy Spirit, and only for the purposes that He has set for them to be used.
We have also shown that the greatest gifts are those which teach the church, namely the gifts of apostleship, teaching/preaching and prophecy. The rest of the gifts support the ministry of the teachings, confirming the teachings with signs.
We have also shown that uncontrolled speaking in tongues, faking of the gifts, etc. is direct disobedience to the Scriptures, and allows Satan to curse the church and believers through that disobedience.
And sinning through ignorance will not protect the church or the believer from Satan. As God told Moses;
NUMBERS 15:27-31
27 ‘And if a person sins unintentionally, then he shall bring a female goat in its first year as a sin offering.
28 So the priest shall make atonement for the person who sins unintentionally, when he sins unintentionally before the Lord, to make atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.
29 You shall have one law for him who sins unintentionally, for him who is native-born among the children of Israel and for the stranger who dwells among them.
30 ‘But the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the Lord, and he shall be cut off from among his people.
31 Because he has despised the word of the Lord, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt shall be upon him.’ ”
Granted, we are no longer under the Law of sacrifices, but if it still remains that if we sin in ignorance before the Lord, it is STILL sin in His eyes, and allows Satan the legal right to work within the church.
Case in point;
While on one of my cruises in the Navy, the church I had been attending suddenly got a new pastor. My wife attended the church after the new pastor arrived, and didn't like him. She said there was something about him that bothered her.
Several months later when I came home, I decided to see and hear this new pastor for myself. I also wanted to see friends there that I hadn't seen in over 8 months. (Navy cruises were usually 6-9 months long at the time)
When I entered the church, I could feel a coldness in the atmosphere even though it was high summer, and it seemed to be more of a spiritual coldness than a physical feeling. I also felt somewhat uneasy, but I put my misgivings aside and sat down.
As soon as the pastor got up and began to preach, my spirit fell flat. I had been teaching intense Bible studies while out at sea, and thought perhaps that I was feeling just a "step down" from that kind of intense fellowship and teaching, so again I watched and waited. But by then I knew that there was demon activity within the church. I just didn't know where it was coming from.
When the service was finished, we went to leave, and the pastor was standing at the door, greeting the congregation members as they left. And when we reached the door, he reached out and took my hand to give me a handshake. And when he did, I knew without a doubt where the demon influence was coming from. It was him! I was stunned!
As I left, badly shaken, I asked the Lord concerning this. I told Him, "Lord this is your anointed, your servant whom You have brought to this church as a pastor! How can this be?" I doubted what I had felt, telling myself that it couldn't be so, and wrestled with myself throughout the rest of that week.
The next Sunday, I decided to go again, and see what would happen. Again, my spirit fell flat, and less than halfway through the service I heard the Lord clearly tell me, "Get out! Get out of this church now!" I immediately took my wife and children and left.
Three weeks later I saw one of the elders of the church in a grocery store, and he told me he had seen me take my family and leave, and had wondered why I hadn't been back. I proceeded to tell him what had happened, and braced myself for a railing rebuke.
Instead he gave me a long look, and asked that I write a letter to the Diaconate, telling them what I had felt, and what the Lord had told me, which I did. I told them that there was a demon influence within the church, and while I didn't know how this could be, the pastor was the source of it.
Apparently my letter confirmed suspicions that the elders of the church had had concerning this pastor, and havoc broke loose. The elders tried to get him to leave. He wouldn't, and began a railing accusation from the pulpit against those who were trying to remove him, accusing them of hindering God's work, and trying to divide the church.
The congregation finally bought out the rest of his contract, and he left. The congregation fellowship was shattered and divided, and some went with him, forming a new church. This church disintegrated within a year, and as far as I know, the pastor never formed another church.
I found out several months later, that this pastor had put voodoo fetishes that he'd picked up in Haiti on display in the church. That explained how the demons got into the church, and what I had felt coming from him.
God's word is clear concerning such things when He warned Israel;
DEUTERONOMY 7:25-26
25 You shall burn the carved images of their gods with fire; you shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it; for it is an abomination to the Lord your God.
26 Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be doomed to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest it and utterly abhor it, for it is an accursed thing.
Bringing those fetishes in his house brought a curse on the pastor, and bringing them into the church allowed Satan legal access to the church, and it's members.
In summary, we have proven that the gifts of the Spirit did not die out with the apostles as some teach, but were given to the disciples at Pentecost and later to the Gentile churches We have also proven that the gifts cannot be used at will, but only by the motivation of the Holy Spirit, and only for the purposes that He has set for them to be used.
We have also shown that the greatest gifts are those which teach the church. The rest of the gifts support the ministry of the teachings, confirming the teachings with signs.
We have also shown that uncontrolled speaking in tongues, faking of the gifts, etc. is direct disobedience to the Scriptures, and allows Satan to counterfeit the Gift of tongues, deceiving the church and believers through that disobedience.
Best-selling Christian author Hank Hanegraaff in his book ‘Counterfeit Revival’ illustrates some frightening examples of faking the Gifts where he reports churches that had people barking like dogs, jumping like frogs, being stuck to the floor and performing other weird acts while claiming they were manifestations of the Holy Spirit!! Satan must have been holding his sides from laughter!!!
And by definition this is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. They are attributing the works of Satan to being the works of the Holy Spirit!!!!
And sinning through ignorance will not protect the church or the believer from Satan. As God told Moses;
NUMBERS 15:27-29
27 ‘And if a person sins unintentionally, then he shall bring a female goat in its first year as a sin offering.
28 So the priest shall make atonement for the person who sins unintentionally, when he sins unintentionally before the Lord, to make atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.
29 You shall have one law for him who sins unintentionally, for him who is native-born among the children of Israel and for the stranger who dwells among them.’
Granted, we are no longer under the Law of sacrifices, but if it still remains that if we sin in ignorance before the Lord it is STILL sin in His eyes, and allows Satan the legal right to work within the church.
And concerning the use of the gifts, if we sin in willful disobedience, knowing the truth written in Scripture, we are told;
HEBREWS 10:26-31
26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, ‘ says the Lord. And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Pastors, you are responsible for the doctrines taught in your church. If you preach doctrines and beliefs contrary to Scripture, even if done so in ignorance, you are sinning and leading your congregation into sin also and neither you nor the church will prosper.
Paul has set out an orderly use of the gifts, and these are to be obeyed as the commandments of God Himself. His Holy Spirit spoke through Paul to set these things in this exact order to prevent confusion and to limit Satan's ability to try to corrupt the church through counterfeit gifts.
Those of you who attend churches who violate these commandments, talk to your pastor and
show him how he is in violation of the Scriptures. If he refuses to listen, talk to the elders. If
they refuse to listen, leave and find another church which DOES follow these commandments.
Questions? Comments? E-mail: watchmen_777@yahoo.com