Signs and Wonders conclusion...

The Conclusion:

My previous two blogs have established both the good and the bad that come with spiritual gifts from my own experience and the experience of others. Yet, why not go to the source. No one in the Bible talks more about the spiritual gifts than the Apostle Paul. He lists the gifts three different times in his epistles, and two of those times came from one book (1 Corinthians chapters 12-14). It seems even he needed to reign in the believer’s at Corinth concerning the gifts because there was confusion and discord going on. Paul recognized that the gifts were a good thing that came from God, but certainly not the most important. He exhorted the Corinthians to “pursue love, but desire spiritual gifts.” The gifts were to serve the purpose of encouraging the saints and to be a sign amongst the non-believers that God was indeed real and active. Yet, Paul had to set boundaries, because there seemed to be chaos afoot. People were speaking out during times of teaching. People started speaking in tongues which no one could understand without interpretation. He never condemns the gifts, but he points out the necessity of order within church meetings with the central theme being that of love. Churches today should sincerely try to apply the order and direction Paul gives, for it is just as relevant today.

Why do we need them…?

Many today would pose the question “why do we need the spiritual gifts, when we have the Bible?” It’s a good question. I believe there are several reasons why the spiritual gifts are a useful tool in this day. I use the word tool, because they are meant to perform a job or a work. It is a tool which God uses to touch peoples lives in various many ways. Ultimately, it is a super-natural aid that points people to Jesus and equips them to fulfill His plans on the Earth. They are for multiplying, encouraging, and equipping the church. They are a sign that God is real and active. I would go out on a limb and say that if there were no longer any manifestation gifts active we would have “a form of Godliness without power.” God the Holy Spirit is still with us and if we are open to Him He will move through us to touch others. I’m sure there are several other reasons to embrace the gifts, but for now this explanation will do.

Where do we error concerning the gifts…?

This is where I like to say that a really important gift within the church that is often overlooked and badly needed is discernment. It is my prayer that God would give me spiritual discernment and a word of wisdom over any other gift. For the manifestations that we witness have their source in one of three places. God, human, or satanic. I believe some error when they mistaken a manifestation that is not from God for something that comes from their own imagination or psyche. The problem becomes worse when that person believes they now have a direct line with God when they are really moving on their own ideas and will power. One can be deceived to the point where such gifts can begin to become demonic counterfeits. Demons can heal. Demons speak in other languages. Demons foretell the future. Demons believe in God and will use his name indirectly to mislead the church. I personally question some of the more bizarre manifestations that are happening in the church today. Such as angel feathers falling from the ceiling (which have been tested and were found to be bird feathers) and sparkling gold substances pouring out of the pores of people in services. Some will argue “the Bible says we shall do greater things than even Jesus did, and these are the greater things.” The problem I have is that these manifestations are not found in the scriptures. Healing is, tongues are, prophecy is, even people being bitten by snakes and acting like nothing happened. Yet, this gold dust isn’t there. Either this kind of thing is slight of hand or it could quite possibly be a spiritual counterfeit. One thing I know for sure is that you can test the gifts by the plumbline which is the Bible and by the fruit they produce. Are they leading people to Jesus? Are they causing people to glorify God? Or are they leading people away from God. Are people becoming out of touch and losing themselves in a strange imaginary world, becoming so heavenly high that they are no longer any earthly good. If one were to ask me about strange manifestations like gold dust my response would be, “I don’t need it, and I don’t want it. Thanks anyways, just give me Jesus.” We need God’s protection and discernment in this day probably more so now than any time in church history. The church has been surrounded and is being bombarded by the world and the devil, plus we still have to deal with ourselves which is hard enough as it is. Ask God for discernment, in His son’s name. Test the spirit to see whether it is of Jesus.

Final thought…

About a month in a half ago I was at a church service during the music/worship time. I had my hands raised in the air as I praised God and I had feelings of goose bumps and warm sensations coming over my body. In the past I would have just embraced such an occurrence without question. This day I decided to do something that I never do. I said, “If this feeling does not come from Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, then I want nothing to do with it.” Immediately the sensations ceased. I am very grateful for this season I have had away from the charismatic movement. For one, I have come back to the essentials of the faith, which is all about Jesus. Two, I can ask questions without feeling odd or unspiritual. And lastly my fervor for evangelism and having a heart for the lost is beginning to come back. I go to a church where I have never seen any of the manifestation gifts operate, yet it is growing. People are coming to know Jesus and are being delivered from their sins. I am excited to be a part of something so lively and vibrant without there having to be a prophetic word every service. This does not mean that I have thrown the baby out with the bath water when it comes to the gifts and the super-natural. In a way I appreciate them more when they do happen. I’m sure I will continue to struggle at times with certain expressions, but this walk was never meant to be easy.

I hope you have found this blog helpful, maybe you didn’t. If so, whatever. I, for one, feel more liberated having written it. To God be the glory always and forever…