Saturday, March 19, 2005

Spiritual Gifts

In response to Flannel Avengers Spiritual Gifts post here is my take on it. Let's start with the scriptures.

1 Cor. 12:1-11 NIV
Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. (2) You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. (3) Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. (4) There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. (5)There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. (6) There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. (7) Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (8) To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge of the same Spirit, (9) to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, (10) to another miraculous powers, to another prophesy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and still to another the interpretation of tongues.(11) All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

So God gave them out in biblical times and God is the same yesterday as He is today and will be tomorrow. So if He gave them out then He will certainly give them out today. And in verse 31...

(31)But eagerly desire the greater gifts.

He says we should desire to have them. So thus saying He will give them out and we need to eagerly desire them. Then in this verse...

1 Cor. 14:1
Folow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophesy.

It again states we should desire to have them.


So my belief is that they are still in effect and He still gives them out. But we must also use them responsibly.

1 Cor. 14:40
But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

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