The Spiritual Gifts are to be used to edify the Church, but sadly these days (and historically) they have been abused by people seeking to edify their own ego more than the Church. We should not throw out the baby with the bath water, but we should however beware when Spiritual Gifts are used for manipulation in the Church. The focus should be on God and not the gift itself as we see in some Churches. Some people will try to use Spiritual Gifts as a means to control, manipulate, or self exalt themselves. We are called to walk in the Spirit however and to walk not in the flesh. How then can we avoid abusing the spiritual Gifts that God gives us? It comes through understanding and applying His word in our lives.
1 Corinthians 12:4 – 7 says,
1 Corinthians 12:11 says,
1 Corinthians 12:29-30 says,
I'm also so glad to see that speaking in tongues is listed among the questions in verse 11. There are some who will tell you that if you don't speak in tongues then you don't have the Holy Spirit. Some will even go as far as to say a person is not saved if they don't speak in tongues. Paul clearly tells us in verse 11 that not all believers will speak in tongues, therefore this qualifies the teachings of “No Tongues – No Holy Spirit” and No Tongues – No Salvation” as false doctrines. In other words, the absence of any of the Spiritual Gifts does not prove or disprove a believer's salvation. That is determined alone by our acceptance of what Christ with His death, burial, and resurrection on our behalf for the debt of our sin.
One should always beware of any church service where the focus is on the manifestation of the Spiritual Gifts rather than on the Giver of the gifts – God. When the service becomes a show with a circus type of atmosphere, there is usually something not right. The purpose for the Spiritual Gifts being given is not for our amusement.
Ephesians 4:11-12 says,
If you are given a Spiritual Gift, then your attitude should be thankfulness to God for using you to help edify His church, and bring Him glory. This gift shouldn't be put on display in a pompous or arrogant way, but should be used as the Holy Spirit prompts you, and with a humble spirit that seeks not to self exalt. One shouldn't compare his or her gift(s) with other Christian's gifts either, for it always leads to either coveting this person or having pride – both being sins.
2 Corinthians 10:12 says,
God honors His word, and God honors His gifts. These are God's tools that He places in our hands to accomplish His perfect will. Sometimes we can see people speaking the word of God, or operating in a Spiritual Gift, but they may be living in an immoral lifestyle. God's word is going to accomplish what He sets out for it to accomplish, and so will His gifts. If the hands are dirty, yet the spade is good, and the seed is good, the seed will still grow. The person with the dirty hands however won't benefit from doing the work. This would explain why we sometimes see God moving in spite of a corrupt minister. God knows He is using flawed people to sometimes get His work done.
When we are seeing Spiritual Gifts in use this is not to say that we should become overly cynical, but we should at least examine the fruit being produced, examine the persons lifestyle, and consider whether there may be some ulterior motives behind the scenes. Some of the things here may help you as you do, but most of all it is God's word that everything should line up with, and it should always be used as our spiritual barometer.
1 Corinthians 12:4 – 7 says,
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.What God does in giving Spiritual Gifts is always done for the common good of the Church and not meant to exalt an individual above the others.
1 Corinthians 12:11 says,
All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.In some Churches people will try to bestow a Spiritual Gift on someone, but this is not biblical. You should beware when you encounter this as it could be a means of manipulation. God is the only one who gives the Spiritual Gifts, so there is no person that can give a Spiritual Gift to you. For anyone to claim they can do this means they are taking the role of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:29-30 says,
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?Paul is asking these questions in the rhetorical, as the answer to all of them is NO. Paul is making a point that there is nobody who has all of the Spiritual Gifts. You should therefore look out for anyone claiming they operate in ALL of the Spiritual Gifts, for they are not. What motive could they have in making this claim? The obvious one would be to assert a dominance over other believers to further advance their own ambitions in ministry, and not God's. The Bible clearly tells us that God doesn't give out all of the gifts to one person according to the above passage. God wants the Church as a collective group to do His work on the earth. This means He isn't looking for a superstar that will steal His glory, but that God is glorified through the work of His Church.
I'm also so glad to see that speaking in tongues is listed among the questions in verse 11. There are some who will tell you that if you don't speak in tongues then you don't have the Holy Spirit. Some will even go as far as to say a person is not saved if they don't speak in tongues. Paul clearly tells us in verse 11 that not all believers will speak in tongues, therefore this qualifies the teachings of “No Tongues – No Holy Spirit” and No Tongues – No Salvation” as false doctrines. In other words, the absence of any of the Spiritual Gifts does not prove or disprove a believer's salvation. That is determined alone by our acceptance of what Christ with His death, burial, and resurrection on our behalf for the debt of our sin.
One should always beware of any church service where the focus is on the manifestation of the Spiritual Gifts rather than on the Giver of the gifts – God. When the service becomes a show with a circus type of atmosphere, there is usually something not right. The purpose for the Spiritual Gifts being given is not for our amusement.
Ephesians 4:11-12 says,
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,Once again we are reminded in God's word that the Spiritual Gifts are given for a specific purpose – that is - “for the edifying of the body of Christ”, or in other words to help other Christians further grow in Christ, just as in 1st Corinthians 12:7 where we read, “the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” It seems clear that the point being made is not for us to receive these gifts for our own spiritual glorification or well-being, but that our focus should be on the Church as a whole benefiting from their use, and growing into spiritual maturity. How sad is it that they are being abused by people to glorify themselves and manipulate others.
If you are given a Spiritual Gift, then your attitude should be thankfulness to God for using you to help edify His church, and bring Him glory. This gift shouldn't be put on display in a pompous or arrogant way, but should be used as the Holy Spirit prompts you, and with a humble spirit that seeks not to self exalt. One shouldn't compare his or her gift(s) with other Christian's gifts either, for it always leads to either coveting this person or having pride – both being sins.
2 Corinthians 10:12 says,
For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.We should also look out for the extreme positions on Spiritual Gifts. On one extreme we hear people saying that the Spiritual Gifts stopped being given in the Church and do not exist at all, and on the other extreme we hear that a Spirit-filled Christian will have all of the gifts in operation. Both are extreme positions, and both are not biblical. Some Churches also completely ignore the subject of Spiritual Gifts, but this too is not an option for us. The Apostle Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians 12:1 that he “did not want us ignorant” when it came to Spiritual Gifts. In other words, God wants us to understand them.
God honors His word, and God honors His gifts. These are God's tools that He places in our hands to accomplish His perfect will. Sometimes we can see people speaking the word of God, or operating in a Spiritual Gift, but they may be living in an immoral lifestyle. God's word is going to accomplish what He sets out for it to accomplish, and so will His gifts. If the hands are dirty, yet the spade is good, and the seed is good, the seed will still grow. The person with the dirty hands however won't benefit from doing the work. This would explain why we sometimes see God moving in spite of a corrupt minister. God knows He is using flawed people to sometimes get His work done.
When we are seeing Spiritual Gifts in use this is not to say that we should become overly cynical, but we should at least examine the fruit being produced, examine the persons lifestyle, and consider whether there may be some ulterior motives behind the scenes. Some of the things here may help you as you do, but most of all it is God's word that everything should line up with, and it should always be used as our spiritual barometer.
