I am a non-cessationist, meaning I believe that the gifts given to
the Church in the New Testament by the Holy Spirit are still in action
and that they never ceased. I believe that the Church in the West is
still in dire need of these gifts and that to ignore them is to cut off a
big chunk of life as a Christian. I can go into the whole mess of the
effects of Naturalism and Deism on the Christian faith at another time,
but I believe that both of those things are a huge reason (along with
the abuses of supposed "spiritual gifts" by certain denominations and
Church movements) as to why we don't actively welcome the Holy Spirit's
leading in our churches, and cultivate the gifts that are laid out in
the New Testament.
I also think that ignorance about the gifts stunts our relationship with God. In following these beliefs, I've been reading and listening to various teachings over the years about the Holy Spirit, and the gifts. During my questioning and learning, I've come across a teacher with a lot of good things to say about both subjects. Right now I'm reading his "Beginner's Guide to Spiritual Gifts". It has been very encouraging reading and listening to Dr. Sam Storms because he has such a balanced approach to the subject. He has re-iterated and addressed a lot of the things I've wondered myself, such as why the abuse of a spiritual gift must automatically mean that it shouldn't be used? I would definitely recommend that anyone who is curious or in need of being taught about the gifts, check out Dr. Storms sermon series on the gifts here: http://www.bridgewaychurch.com/sermons#series_8
And that you also check out his book. Here is an excerpt:
"Myth # 5: If people abuse spiritual gifts, they should cease to use spiritual gifts. Right? Wrong!
I find it nothing short of remarkable that to a church obsessed and glutted with spiritual gifts, to a church awash in spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 1:5-7), indeed to a church that had abused spiritual gifts, Paul wrote: 'Earnestly desire spiritual gifts' (1 Corinthians 14:1)! This is stunning, if only because it is so different from the sort of counsel we might have given the Corinthians.
The Corinthian believers came in second to no one in the charismatic race. Yet they had seriously misunderstood and abused these gifts. My first response is to assume that Paul would tell them to slow down, if not declare a temporary moratorium, on the exercise of these gifts. At the very least he should have told them to stop praying for and seeking after such miraculous phenomena as tongues and prophecy. So much for my wisdom!
What he told them to do is really quite amazing. To a church aflame with charismata, Paul commanded the people to earnestly seek for more (1 Corinthians 12:31; 14:1, 39)! Whereas we might have doused their zeal with water, Paul appears to pour gasoline on the fire. The point is this: The solution to the abuse of spiritual gifts is not prohibition, but correction. Paul simply told them, 'Do it right!' In other words, 'Don't do it less. Just do it better!'
I could understand if Paul issued such counsel to a church with great character and little power. But Corinth was a church with little character and great power. This counsel strikes some as unwise, if not dangerous, like throwing a life jacket filled with lead to a drowning man, or saying to a recovering alcoholic, 'Hey buddy, let's go get a drink!' Yet, to the very people guilty of elitism and fanaticism, Paul said, 'Be eager and zealous for more gifts than you've already got.' We, on the other hand, would most likely have said: 'Cool it, Corinthians! Settle down. Forget about gifts. Your spiritual focus is way out of balance. Don't you realize that spiritual gifts are what got you in trouble in the first place!' But, of course, the problem was not spiritual gifts. The problem was immature and unspiritual people. The point is that suppression of spiritual zeal is never the answer. The solution to abuse is not disuse but proper use.
Recently, a man who had been raised in a charistmatic church wrote to me of his decision to leave it. He had become disillusioned with what he believed were counterfeit gifts and people feigning spiritual manifestations. I'm saddened when I hear stories like this. As hard as it may be for us, we must remember that the existence of fake is not proof of the nonexistence of the real. I'm amazed at how many Christians subconsciously formulate their theological beliefs based not on the beauty of what the Bible describes but in reaction to the ugliness of what they have seen in others who have fabricated an experience or abused some good gift of God.
Be careful that you do not develop unreasonable expectations of anyone who has any particular gift. After all, no matter how spectacular the gift, no matter how marvelous the manifestation of the Spirit, we are but 'earthen vessels' (2 Corinthians 4:7).
Myth #6: If you ever used a spiritual gift, you can always use it. Right? Wrong!
Many mistakenly believe that if you have prophesied once, you can prophesy at will, or if you have ever prayed and someone is healed, you can heal at will. The issue at stake here is whether spiritual gifts are permanent (what some have called 'residential') or occasional and circumstantial. Can we legitimately say a person has a gift, or does one simply use a gift? For example, is it possible that someone may on occasion perform a miracle without having the gift of miracles?
There are several factors that support the notion of permanency, not least of which are the texts that speak of one 'having' a spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 13:2; Romans 12:6). In 1 Corinthians 14:28 Paul seemed to envision the possibility of knowing whether or not one with the gift of interpretation is present in the meeting. Paul exhorted Timothy not to neglect 'the spiritual gift within you ' (1 Timothy 4:14). Paul also said some people have titles that describe a continuing function, such as 'teachers,' 'evangelists,' or 'prophets' (Ephesians 4:11). And in 2 Timothy 1:6-7 Paul clearly affirmed that, notwithstanding neglect and disuse, one's gift (at least Timothy's) can remain. We can't appeal to Romans 11:29 to answer this question, for there the 'gifts' of God refer to covenantal blessing bestowed on national Israel.
On the other hand, Paul consistently used the present tense in his discussion of the gifts (1 Corinthians 12:11), as if to suggest that gifts are bestowed to meet the need of the moment. Prophecy, for example, is dependent on the spontaneity of revelation (1 Corinthians 14:30) and evidently cannot be exercised at will. Healing, too, is always subject to the sovereign will of God. We'll see this more clearly later on.
Perhaps the best answer is to say that some gifts, such as teaching, leadership, tongues, mercy, and so on are more likely permanent and can be exercised at will, whereas others such as prophecy, healing, and miracles are always subject to the sovereign purpose and timing of the Spirit."
- Dr. Sam Storms
from : http://www.amazon.com/The-Beginners-Guide-Spiritual-Gifts/dp/0830746501/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386536982&sr=8-1&keywords=the+beginner%27s+guide+to+spiritual+gifts
I also think that ignorance about the gifts stunts our relationship with God. In following these beliefs, I've been reading and listening to various teachings over the years about the Holy Spirit, and the gifts. During my questioning and learning, I've come across a teacher with a lot of good things to say about both subjects. Right now I'm reading his "Beginner's Guide to Spiritual Gifts". It has been very encouraging reading and listening to Dr. Sam Storms because he has such a balanced approach to the subject. He has re-iterated and addressed a lot of the things I've wondered myself, such as why the abuse of a spiritual gift must automatically mean that it shouldn't be used? I would definitely recommend that anyone who is curious or in need of being taught about the gifts, check out Dr. Storms sermon series on the gifts here: http://www.bridgewaychurch.com/sermons#series_8
And that you also check out his book. Here is an excerpt:
"Myth # 5: If people abuse spiritual gifts, they should cease to use spiritual gifts. Right? Wrong!
I find it nothing short of remarkable that to a church obsessed and glutted with spiritual gifts, to a church awash in spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 1:5-7), indeed to a church that had abused spiritual gifts, Paul wrote: 'Earnestly desire spiritual gifts' (1 Corinthians 14:1)! This is stunning, if only because it is so different from the sort of counsel we might have given the Corinthians.
The Corinthian believers came in second to no one in the charismatic race. Yet they had seriously misunderstood and abused these gifts. My first response is to assume that Paul would tell them to slow down, if not declare a temporary moratorium, on the exercise of these gifts. At the very least he should have told them to stop praying for and seeking after such miraculous phenomena as tongues and prophecy. So much for my wisdom!
What he told them to do is really quite amazing. To a church aflame with charismata, Paul commanded the people to earnestly seek for more (1 Corinthians 12:31; 14:1, 39)! Whereas we might have doused their zeal with water, Paul appears to pour gasoline on the fire. The point is this: The solution to the abuse of spiritual gifts is not prohibition, but correction. Paul simply told them, 'Do it right!' In other words, 'Don't do it less. Just do it better!'
I could understand if Paul issued such counsel to a church with great character and little power. But Corinth was a church with little character and great power. This counsel strikes some as unwise, if not dangerous, like throwing a life jacket filled with lead to a drowning man, or saying to a recovering alcoholic, 'Hey buddy, let's go get a drink!' Yet, to the very people guilty of elitism and fanaticism, Paul said, 'Be eager and zealous for more gifts than you've already got.' We, on the other hand, would most likely have said: 'Cool it, Corinthians! Settle down. Forget about gifts. Your spiritual focus is way out of balance. Don't you realize that spiritual gifts are what got you in trouble in the first place!' But, of course, the problem was not spiritual gifts. The problem was immature and unspiritual people. The point is that suppression of spiritual zeal is never the answer. The solution to abuse is not disuse but proper use.
Recently, a man who had been raised in a charistmatic church wrote to me of his decision to leave it. He had become disillusioned with what he believed were counterfeit gifts and people feigning spiritual manifestations. I'm saddened when I hear stories like this. As hard as it may be for us, we must remember that the existence of fake is not proof of the nonexistence of the real. I'm amazed at how many Christians subconsciously formulate their theological beliefs based not on the beauty of what the Bible describes but in reaction to the ugliness of what they have seen in others who have fabricated an experience or abused some good gift of God.
Be careful that you do not develop unreasonable expectations of anyone who has any particular gift. After all, no matter how spectacular the gift, no matter how marvelous the manifestation of the Spirit, we are but 'earthen vessels' (2 Corinthians 4:7).
Myth #6: If you ever used a spiritual gift, you can always use it. Right? Wrong!
Many mistakenly believe that if you have prophesied once, you can prophesy at will, or if you have ever prayed and someone is healed, you can heal at will. The issue at stake here is whether spiritual gifts are permanent (what some have called 'residential') or occasional and circumstantial. Can we legitimately say a person has a gift, or does one simply use a gift? For example, is it possible that someone may on occasion perform a miracle without having the gift of miracles?
There are several factors that support the notion of permanency, not least of which are the texts that speak of one 'having' a spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 13:2; Romans 12:6). In 1 Corinthians 14:28 Paul seemed to envision the possibility of knowing whether or not one with the gift of interpretation is present in the meeting. Paul exhorted Timothy not to neglect 'the spiritual gift within you ' (1 Timothy 4:14). Paul also said some people have titles that describe a continuing function, such as 'teachers,' 'evangelists,' or 'prophets' (Ephesians 4:11). And in 2 Timothy 1:6-7 Paul clearly affirmed that, notwithstanding neglect and disuse, one's gift (at least Timothy's) can remain. We can't appeal to Romans 11:29 to answer this question, for there the 'gifts' of God refer to covenantal blessing bestowed on national Israel.
On the other hand, Paul consistently used the present tense in his discussion of the gifts (1 Corinthians 12:11), as if to suggest that gifts are bestowed to meet the need of the moment. Prophecy, for example, is dependent on the spontaneity of revelation (1 Corinthians 14:30) and evidently cannot be exercised at will. Healing, too, is always subject to the sovereign will of God. We'll see this more clearly later on.
Perhaps the best answer is to say that some gifts, such as teaching, leadership, tongues, mercy, and so on are more likely permanent and can be exercised at will, whereas others such as prophecy, healing, and miracles are always subject to the sovereign purpose and timing of the Spirit."
- Dr. Sam Storms
from : http://www.amazon.com/The-Beginners-Guide-Spiritual-Gifts/dp/0830746501/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386536982&sr=8-1&keywords=the+beginner%27s+guide+to+spiritual+gifts
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