Spiritual Gifts
This brings us to the Holy Spirit and if we allow the fruit of the Spirit to reign in our hearts then the Holy Spirit can dwell amongst us and move in our midst and words spoken will be confirmed among us of what He wants to say to us.
Speaking in tongues is firstly a Sign to the unbeliever *! Cor 14:22* – words spoken in another language, therefore there must be people of other nationalities present to speak in tongues otherwise it is useless or for say a specific word spoken in tongues and then interpreted by another person who can actually speak that language and say exactly what it meant.
Secondly it is for our own edification when we are communing with God in our secret place *! Cor 14:27*, where we speak in another language where normal words do not suffice. It is therefore a private thing not for the publics’ ears.
As for any of the gifts of the Spirit, God gave gifts to all; not just to one or two but to many and not just men but to women also for we are one and are in His likeness and image.
We've've questioned another common teaching regarding ‘ascension gifts’ from Eph 4:11. Most believers are taught that there are five specific gifts that are given, apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors and teachers.
We love to look for categories and clear definitions to keep us secure in doctrine but we can’t see that this is a special category of gifts or that there were just 5 of them. The ‘Later Rain’ movement has really taken hold of this and has now created a complex church leadership pattern.
But then there are the gifts of healing, helps etc. Surely these gifts also help in building up the Body of Christ.
Many of us have been led to believe that there are only a few people who are prophets or apostles but in the New Testament it indicates that there were many apostles. In fact if we look closely at the NT church examples from the bible we can see that there were all sorts of gifts for all believers. It is curious that one gift not mentioned much is ‘pastor’ but today almost every church gathering has a pastor or pastors over it. Do you ever wonder why we have such a structure under pastors?
We believe that God has given everyone a gift but for most of us it is not evident as yet but it will be clearly seen by all as we gather together. No man appoints another to be this or that – God will make it clear and as He moves in our midst. The gifts are to edify the Body. Gifts were not to be used to control, condemn anyone or pull people down or humiliate anyone publicly either. Most people who say they are this or that was told so by someone else and most of us want it to be this way so that we are valid. But we have to shun the old ways of thinking; we must put them off to start afresh and just BE, so that God can truly move in our midst without someone trying to prove to others that he or she is/are a prophet or a teacher or a healer etc.
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