Opening illustration: Reflect on my first experience at Nizwa of how hesitantly I discovered and used the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit in faith. It just blew me away. The secret was praying without ceasing, fasting, practicing holiness and being sensitive to heed and obey the Holy Spirit.
Introduction & Background: There has always been a discrepancy of the operation or manifestation of the Charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit. In fact Church History clearly refutes any notion that charismatic gifts faded away after the apostolic era. Other than diminishing somewhat during the middle ages (probably due to the inaccessibility to scripture by the common people), it is obvious that spiritual gifts were never completely absent from the church. Scores of statements to this effect were recorded by church leaders such as Irenaeus, who wrote around A.D. 150 "...we hear many of the brethren in the church who have prophetic gifts, and who speak in tongues through the spirit, and who also bring to light the secret things of men for their benefit [word of knowledge]..." Elsewhere he said, "When God saw it necessary, and the church prayed and fasted much, they did miraculous things, even of bringing back the spirit to a dead man." (Refutation and Overthrow of False Doctrine, Pg. 174). Near the close of the second century, Tertullian cited similar incidents, describing the operation of prophecies, healings and tongues, and in 210, Origen reported many healings and other charismatic gifts, as did later writers such as Eusebius, Firmilian, Chrysostom and others throughout many centuries. None of these gifts can be learned or developed. [complete]
Argument of whether they are operational today or not:
Arguments based on ~
1 Corinthians 13: 8 – 10 “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.”
• Context of comparison with love to show that the practice of love supersedes everything.
• Prophecies and speaking in tongues cease with the advent of the arrival of the perfect one.
• Most people think that the perfect one is the ‘Bible’ whereas there is no verse or passage to support that in ‘God’s Word.’ When the Bible talks about the perfect one, it always refers to Christ or God the Father Himself. [Deuteronomy 32: 4; 2 Samuel 22: 31; Matthew 5: 48; Hebrews 7: 19] Obviously when Christ returns we will not need ‘Prophecy, Tongues or Healing’ any more.
• In fact in 1 Corinthians 14: 39 it says, “Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.”
• If prophecy and tongues were to cease in 1 Corinthians 13: 8 why then is Paul still continuing to talk about them in 1 Corinthians 14 and Timothy, Peter in his letters and John talks about them in Revelation?
• In Greek the phrase that Jesus uses to still the storm on the Sea of Galilee. ‘Storms will cease’ – have they ceased? In fact they reoccur but with greater intensity in this century.
• Then why do many in Christian leadership and the churches keep harping about these charismatic gifts being non-operational today?
• They are afraid of chaos at their churches. If the ‘Body of Christ’ is taught these gifts of the Holy Spirit in the right manner, there will be no confusion. The challenge is to teach it through the ‘Word of God.’ How many would really stand up to this challenge?
What are ‘God’s Power Tools’ and how are they manifested?
1. Word of Wisdom
OT ~ Operational through the prophets and chosen men & women of God [e.g. Solomon].
NT ~ Operational without any changes from the OT.
Manifestation ~ While the word of wisdom may generally be a spontaneous manifestation of a God-given insight or perspective to the mind or spirit of the believer, references to God’s secret wisdom in 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 and elsewhere in the letter may enhance the understanding of this gift. The secret wisdom pertains to the Gospel that Paul preached. This wisdom relates to that which God had previously hidden and destined for the glory of believers. It is a wisdom that speaks of those things that God has prepared for those who love Him. These emphases from the broader context of the Corinthian letter could imply that the gift known as the “word of wisdom” involves insight into God’s plans and preparations for the Christian believer. These things are not made known through human wisdom; they are revealed or manifested by the Holy Spirit. As is the case with all of the manifestation gifts, in light of 1 Corinthians 13, the expectation in the community of faith is that the word of wisdom be exercised out of a heart of love.
2. Word of Knowledge
OT ~ Operational through the prophets and chosen men and women of God.
NT ~ Operational without any changes from the OT.
Manifestation ~ Among apostolic and prophetic Christians it is often taught to be a gift of knowledge given by the Holy Spirit to one individual for the benefit of another, as opposed to a prophecy which is usually for a congregation, an individual, or a nation. The message is given to the Christian via specific verses in the Bible, through dreams and visions, or by an immediate realization and understanding. The term "Word of Knowledge" is used in some Christian groups to describe events that are distinguished from other forms of immanence. For example, a Christian knowing detailed information about a stranger is considered to have a "Word of Knowledge" and allows the Christian to minister to strangers more effectively. At times, a "Word of Knowledge" can come to an individual for his or her personal edification directed by the Holy Spirit of God. Often, a personal "Word of Knowledge" is God’s way of prompting an individual in his or her spiritual growth and eventual conformity to the image of His Son Jesus Christ.
3. Faith
OT ~ Strong evidence with Abraham being used as an example for being the father of faith.
NT ~ Purpose of faith in the NT was no different from the OT but started to dwindle within individuals and even the contemporary ‘Body of Christ’ because of man’s self-reliance.
Manifestation ~ Pi’stis in the New Testament context is a physical action based upon a mental belief and sustained with confidence. Belief, in this context is non-synonymous with faith because, belief primarily conveys the mental action, thought of confidence, trust, and/or firm persuasion, not the physical act. Hebrews 11: 1 - 3 lays out very clearly as to what faith is and how one needs to operate it. It says, ‘Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.’
4. Gifts of Healings
OT ~ evidence of healing with the individual (s) taking some action in order to avail it.
NT ~ healing differed slightly in operation in the NT. It was given freely.
Manifestation ~ Faith healing is the attempt to use religious or spiritual means such as prayer, mental practices, spiritual insights, or other techniques to prevent illness, cure disease, or improve health. Faith healers say they can summon divine or supernatural intervention on behalf of the ill and say their practice may afford gradual relief or bring about sudden "miracle cures." It has been criticized as "not effective" and concerns have been voiced that those who pursue it may use it instead of (or delay seeking) conventional medical care.
Illustration: Jesus and His disciples practiced this gift very frequently and Jesus made it very clear that it would not be possible without prayer and fasting to be able to practice this gift. [Matthew 17: 21 says, "However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."] Share personal experience of healing ministry in the Middle-East.
5. Working of Miracles
OT ~ God used His prophets and chosen ones for displaying His miraculous powers through them.
NT ~ was no different but now focused on miracles in the lives of individuals.
Manifestation ~ the gift of miracles is, in Christian theology, among the charismata or gifts mentioned by Paul in his First Epistle to the Corinthians, among the extraordinary graces of the Holy Ghost. Although miracles are necessarily the work of God, men and angels may be said to work miracles in a number of ways
• by their prayers invoking a miraculous effect;
• by disposing or accommodating the materials, as it is said of the angels that they will in the resurrection collect the dust of the dead bodies that these may be re-animated by the Divine power,
Like other charismata, these are special and extraordinary powers vouchsafed by God only to a few, and primarily for the spiritual good of others rather than of the recipient.
6. Prophecy
OT ~ there is no question or debate at all, among Bible believers, that the Old Testament prophets received direct revelation and were able to foretell the future. There were prophetesses too.
NT ~ neither is there any indication of change in the character of New Testament prophecy, but rather its revelatory nature is clearly assumed.
Manifestation ~ Prophecy is the voice that God has lent to the silent agony, a voice to the plundered poor, to the profane riches of the world. It is a form of living, a crossing point of God and man. God is raging in the prophet’s words. A prophet is inspired by God through the Holy Spirit to deliver a message for a specific purpose. It is often associated with predicting future events, but in Biblical terms it is wider and can include those given the power to preach repentance to those who do not want to hear the message and to warn of God’s wrath for disobedience. God’s calling as a prophet is not considered to elevate an individual for their glory, but for the glory of God and to turn people to him. Another purpose of prophesying is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 14: 31 which says, ‘For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.’
7. Discerning of spirits
OT ~ more related to angelic or demonic forces. [Saul being attacked by a demonic spirit, Help delayed to Joshua and the Israelites due to the warrior angel being delayed on the way because of the evil forces]
NT ~ evidence of Godly and demonic spirits [Evil spirits driven into the swine’s which drowned in the water]
Manifestation ~ Charismatics consider it to be a spiritual gift that supernaturally enables a Christian believer to distinguish between holy and unholy spirits through the power of the Holy Spirit. This gift is thought to be especially necessary in instances when individuals may need to be delivered or healed of Demonic possession. In today’s world, people are led astray by complacency and temptation to live only for and in this world {see Gospel of Matthew 25:29}. Again, most do not realize the spiritual warfare going on all around and within them. Ephesians 6: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” The truth here seems to say we fight against spiritual evil not against each other although the evil spirits love to confuse us to war against each other. In 1 John 4: 1 it tells us to test every spirit because of many false prophets.
Illustration: Spiritual warfare; sinful bondage; places or individuals under the influence of Godly or demonic spirits.
8. Speaking in Tongues [used interchangeably with languages in the Bible]
OT ~ starts at the tower of Babel in Genesis [God used it to cause confusion as man had rebelled]
NT ~ shows up again in Acts 2 [God used it to bring all races, nations, ethnicities etc together]
Manifestation ~ The Apostle Paul instructed the church in Corinth about speaking in tongues in his discussion of the gifts of the Spirit in a letter to them. His purpose was to encourage them to value the gift, but not too highly; to practice it, but not abuse it. In the letter, Paul commands church brethren, "Do not forbid to speak in tongues" (1 Corinthians 14:39), while warning them that "all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner" He further expresses his wishes that those to whom he wrote "all spoke with tongues" (1 Corinthians 14:5) and claims himself to speak with tongues more than all of the church at Corinth combined ("I thank God I speak with tongues more than you all" 1 Corinthians 14:18). At the same time he argues that not everyone can speak in tongues (1 Corinthians 12:29) and discourages simultaneous speaking in tongues directed at people rather than God, lest unbelievers should think that the assembled believers were "mad" (1 Corinthians 14:23, 27). Tongues, says Paul, is speaking to God, rather than men ("in the Spirit he speaks mysteries" (1 Corinthians 14:2)). Paul claims that tongues-speaking edifies the person speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:4), that it is the action of a praying tongues-speaker’s spirit (as opposed his or her understanding, see 1 Corinthians 14:14), and that praying in tongues serves both to bless God as well as to give thanks (1 Corinthians 14:16-17). However, he also expressed a preference for prophecy over tongues-speaking, unless [a tongues-speaker] interprets, so that the church may be edified (1 Corinthians 14:5). Paul also gave instructions that unless there was an interpreter of tongues present, believers should avoid directing their tongues toward other believers, and instead speak only to themselves and to God (1 Corinthians 14:27-28). In 1 Corinthians 14: 22 some assume that tongues are "a sign for unbelievers that they might believe", and so advocate it as a means of evangelism. Others point out that Paul quotes Isaiah to show that "when God speaks to people in language they cannot understand, it is quite evidently a sign of God’s judgment"; so if unbelievers are baffled by a church service they cannot understand because tongues are spoken without being interpreted, that is a "sign of God’s attitude", "a sign of judgment". Some even go to the extent of having only one tongue / language ~ which one is appropriate? Why or why not English? Obviously people making animal like sounds doesn’t line up with scripture and therefore we can be assured that practice of such articulation is ungodly or to be precise ~ demonic.
[Go to articles at www.valleychurchia.com to check out my detailed discussion on Tongues]
9. Interpretation of Tongues
OT ~ no interpretation.
NT ~ Paul instructed interpretation otherwise it would sound like babbling.
Manifestation ~ the interpretation of tongues is noted in 1 Corinthians 12:10 as one of nine manifestation gifts of the Holy Spirit. This gift is a supernatural enablement for one to interpret unknown tongues (languages) when they are spoken among Christian believers. The gift of interpretation of tongues is that which causes tongues to be beneficial for the edification of the church. According to 1 Corinthians 14:26, it is one of the gifts that the Apostle Paul says is necessary for the strengthening of the church. 1 Corinthians 14:13 teaches that if a person is already functioning in the gift of tongues, he should pray that he may also interpret tongues. According to 1 Corinthians 14, in the corporate gathering, if an individual speaks out in tongues, the church should prayerfully and expectantly wait for an interpretation. If there is no interpretation to the first utterance, and yet a second or even a third utterance is given in tongues without an interpretation, at that point, with the obvious absence of an interpreter, those who speak in tongues should do so quietly. Evidently, either someone is not being responsive in giving the interpretation, or it is not God’s intention to manifest a message through tongues and interpretation at that time.
Conclusion: Today, the charismatic gifts remain available as a part of God’s plan for His church, and are increasingly being manifested within fellowships and believers around the world. They are sometimes called God’s "power tools," given to the body of Christ as valuable helps to accomplish works of ministry. Let us not forget prophet Joel’s words in chapter 2: 28 – 31 ‘And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.’
