The Gifts of the Spirit ARE FOR YOU!

One dividing point among Christians is the issue of the gifts of the Spirit. Are they for us today? Or, did God withdraw them at some point in time? These nine gifts are listed and discussed in chapters 12,13, and 14 of I Corinthians. These gifts are, in order as listed, wisdom, knowledge, faith, healings, miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues, and interpretation of tongues.

Many refer to these gifts as the “power” gifts or the “charismatic” gifts. These gifts are accepted by and operate within most Churches of God, Assemblies of God, Pentecostal churches, independent charismatic churches, and among various Christians even in mainline denominations. Typically, Presbyterians, Baptists, and Churches of Christ, and others would take the position that the gifts ceased after the Church was established in the first century or a little later.

A Catholic priest introduced me to the charismatic movement in 1970. Also around that time we saw the emergence of the Jesus Movement that was heavily of the charismatic genre. So, should all Christians be open to being used in the operation of these gifts? My position is yes.

I Corinthians 14:1 says, Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. I have read books and listened to arguments making the case against the modern use of the gifts. Honestly, none of these have been persuasive. I find nothing in Scripture that clearly indicates that the gifts have ceased.

From a purely experiential perspective, I know that I would not have been able to minister in certain situations had it not been for the operation of one or more of the power gifts. I am convinced that we miss so much in our individual ministries when we fail to accept these wonderful gifts that God freely supplies. They are amazing. They are powerful. They glorify God and demonstrate His love for us.