Spiritual Gifts
Spiritual Gifts
I’ve recently been getting questions about spiritual gifts. I haven’t written much on this because frankly, I don’t think it should be our focus.
Let me begin by affirming that I am not a cessationist. I believe all Father’s gifts are still available today. How can I not? They are from God and He hasn’t changed. I sure can’t box Him in by saying He cannot display miraculous signs, prophesy, or anything else He chooses to do.
That said, I also believe the gifts (especially “flashy” ones like tongues, healing, and prophesy) have been counterfeited and incorrectly taught about in many places. I’ve seen these things used to glorify people far more often than to glorify God.
Experiences such as many people getting the same insight from Father ring true. In such cases I note that it isn’t one person getting a special message for a particular individual. Other than a couple of examples involving Paul in Acts, I can’t think of one example in the New Testament of such a thing.
I believe that tongues are given to allow people to speak in languages they do not know so they can communicate with those who speak another language. I think it’s also possible that the gift could result in those who are listening, hearing in the language familiar to them words spoken in another language. I do not believe in tongues as a prayer language or the language of angels. IF that happens, I believe it is for private use only and not to be included in corporate settings unless there is an interpretation consistent with Father’s character as revealed in the Lord Jesus and the Scriptures.
Prophesy is different under the New Covenant because now Holy Spirit lives permanently in every believer. He speaks to every believer. That’s why there is no longer a need for prophets in the Old Testament sense. They were needed before the cross because Holy Spirit only “came upon” individual people and only for a time. Only those people heard from the Lord directly. Rather, prophesy is telling the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ. This can be done by every believer.
I hope this helps.
Grace and peace to you.
Larry
