- Jan 29, 2019
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1. The Gifts of the Spirit are not for today.
This shouldn’t be much of a shocker on this particular forum, but I will say this. In my experience rejection of the gifts today flows people trying to make sense of horrible situations, often death. In an attempt to make sense of their hurt, confusion and frustration (why didn’t God heal my loved one) he develop and/or embrace this doctrine. However, hurt, confusion and frustration are not Godly foundations to establish doctrine.
2. The Gifts of the Spirit are for advanced Christians only
In 1 Cor 3 Paul tells the Corinthian church they are carnal. That they should be able to eat the meat of the word, but before and still now they can only handle the milk of the word. Therefore, everything that follows is what Paul considers milk, not meat. True meat of the Gifts isn’t debating which is which and which goes where and when. When writing to mature churches Paul says things more like, “Continue to walk in the Spirit”. Maturity is knowing the Holy Spirit is with you and fully capable of using you at any given time to accomplish His will, and you being willing to step out and do it when He speaks to you. Maturity doesn’t really focus on, or even care, which gifts are being used to do so, it is focused on the will of the Father.
3. God only gives certain people certain gifts
This would make God subject to our gifts, not us subject to His gifts. ALL the gifts are available to any believer if they are baptized in the Holy Spirit. They can and will manifest in vastly different ways even within the same gift, but they are available to all that give Him permission. The entirety of scripture bears this out.
4. The Gifts (or certain gifts) are rare
Places where this is true it is because man has made them rare, not God. The Gifts are a partnership between man and God, expressed at His will, but in reality God is often far more willing than man.
5. The Gifts, especially prophecy, cannot bring correction, reproof or specific guidance.
This just is not biblical and puts limits on God. Correction, reproof and guidance can be done in a way that is consistent with edification, exhortation and comfort. These are not adversarial principles. Sure, it should be done with wisdom, but that is a Godly principle too. Once again the entirety of scripture bears this out.
6. The gifts are different now than in the OT, or there are different sets of Gifts
God is the same yesterday, today and forever. The gifts are the same as they always have been. They are the same whether one is a Prophet/Apostle/ect or not. God determines the usage, He always has. The application and focus of the gifts have changed because of the Cross, but the gifts remain the same.
7. Certain gifts are limited to certain groups or settings (ie believers/unbelievers, in church/out of church)
Before listing the gifts Paul emphasizes there are diversities of gifts, ministries and operations. Meaning the gifts will manifest according to the ministry God has called you to and what He is trying to accomplish at that moment. Paul isn’t limiting the use of the gifts here, he’s broadening it. The word of wisdom can manifest EXTREMELY different through a Pastoral or Apostolic ministry vs a Evangelist ministry... but it is still a word of wisdom. Paul articulated this, then focused on the ministry that needed addressing at the time, congregational ministry.
What about verses 27-30? This is similar to #7. What many people miss about 1 Cor 12 is that the main theme of the chapter is not listing out the gifts. The main theme is to not compare yourself to others and try to be someone you are not. God will use you in the unique way He created you. Everyone can prophesy, but not everyone needs to do it from the platform every single service. If that’s not you don’t be upset, there are other places and ways that God will use your prophetic gift, it won’t look the same, and that’s ok, it’s still prophetic. THAT is the main theme of 1 Cor 12 for all of the gifts.
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For what it's worth, the information in this post comes not only from biblical understanding but decades of actual practical and repeated experience as well. Leading a church that flows in all of the gifts weekly and training and mentoring 5-fold ministers as well as non ministers, and heaps of testimonies and fruit to back it up.
This shouldn’t be much of a shocker on this particular forum, but I will say this. In my experience rejection of the gifts today flows people trying to make sense of horrible situations, often death. In an attempt to make sense of their hurt, confusion and frustration (why didn’t God heal my loved one) he develop and/or embrace this doctrine. However, hurt, confusion and frustration are not Godly foundations to establish doctrine.
2. The Gifts of the Spirit are for advanced Christians only
In 1 Cor 3 Paul tells the Corinthian church they are carnal. That they should be able to eat the meat of the word, but before and still now they can only handle the milk of the word. Therefore, everything that follows is what Paul considers milk, not meat. True meat of the Gifts isn’t debating which is which and which goes where and when. When writing to mature churches Paul says things more like, “Continue to walk in the Spirit”. Maturity is knowing the Holy Spirit is with you and fully capable of using you at any given time to accomplish His will, and you being willing to step out and do it when He speaks to you. Maturity doesn’t really focus on, or even care, which gifts are being used to do so, it is focused on the will of the Father.
3. God only gives certain people certain gifts
This would make God subject to our gifts, not us subject to His gifts. ALL the gifts are available to any believer if they are baptized in the Holy Spirit. They can and will manifest in vastly different ways even within the same gift, but they are available to all that give Him permission. The entirety of scripture bears this out.
4. The Gifts (or certain gifts) are rare
Places where this is true it is because man has made them rare, not God. The Gifts are a partnership between man and God, expressed at His will, but in reality God is often far more willing than man.
5. The Gifts, especially prophecy, cannot bring correction, reproof or specific guidance.
This just is not biblical and puts limits on God. Correction, reproof and guidance can be done in a way that is consistent with edification, exhortation and comfort. These are not adversarial principles. Sure, it should be done with wisdom, but that is a Godly principle too. Once again the entirety of scripture bears this out.
6. The gifts are different now than in the OT, or there are different sets of Gifts
God is the same yesterday, today and forever. The gifts are the same as they always have been. They are the same whether one is a Prophet/Apostle/ect or not. God determines the usage, He always has. The application and focus of the gifts have changed because of the Cross, but the gifts remain the same.
7. Certain gifts are limited to certain groups or settings (ie believers/unbelievers, in church/out of church)
Before listing the gifts Paul emphasizes there are diversities of gifts, ministries and operations. Meaning the gifts will manifest according to the ministry God has called you to and what He is trying to accomplish at that moment. Paul isn’t limiting the use of the gifts here, he’s broadening it. The word of wisdom can manifest EXTREMELY different through a Pastoral or Apostolic ministry vs a Evangelist ministry... but it is still a word of wisdom. Paul articulated this, then focused on the ministry that needed addressing at the time, congregational ministry.
What about verses 27-30? This is similar to #7. What many people miss about 1 Cor 12 is that the main theme of the chapter is not listing out the gifts. The main theme is to not compare yourself to others and try to be someone you are not. God will use you in the unique way He created you. Everyone can prophesy, but not everyone needs to do it from the platform every single service. If that’s not you don’t be upset, there are other places and ways that God will use your prophetic gift, it won’t look the same, and that’s ok, it’s still prophetic. THAT is the main theme of 1 Cor 12 for all of the gifts.
-------------------------------------------------------
For what it's worth, the information in this post comes not only from biblical understanding but decades of actual practical and repeated experience as well. Leading a church that flows in all of the gifts weekly and training and mentoring 5-fold ministers as well as non ministers, and heaps of testimonies and fruit to back it up.