Understanding the Issue of Spiritual Gifts (Part 1)
Why is it so important in understanding the issue of spiritual gifts? The apostle Paul begins by saying, "Now about the gifts of the Spirit my brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed." (1 Cor. 12:1) In the first part of this verse according to 1 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 1, the apostle Paul says, "Now about the gifts of the Spirit..." In 1 Corinthians 11, the apostle Paul was addressing the issue of the abuse of the Lord's Supper. Now, going into 1 Corinthians 12:1a that the apostle Paul begins to address that of the issue of the gifts of the Spirit. The question: "What was the issue that the apostle had to address concerning spiritual gifts?" It is so important that God's people clearly understand the issue of spiritual gifts especially those who are leaders within the church today. There is such gross misunderstanding of the gifts of the Spirit by which there are those within the professing church today claim such prophetic message and gifting of the Spirit by which they are not convinced of the truth of God's Word (1 Cor. 14:37). Those who claim such prophetic message believe that God can supernaturally give them "special" kind of knowledge or spiritual "revelations" by which they explicitly deny the authority and inspiration of scripture. They seek to challenge that of the written Word of God by questioning the authenticity of scripture, claiming to have a 2-way conversation with God by worshipping such angelic being, putting words in God's mouth by which the God of the Bible does not bear witness to what they say. It is all about the glorification of one's own self, seeks such vainglory, and to intimidate others by pronouncing God's judgment upon those within the church that do not receive their "message" that comes "directly from God. There are a plethora of false prophets that are filling many of our churches today. They will say and do anything to profit from the pockets of God's people. So, when it comes to addressing the issue of spiritual gifts is that the purpose of such gifts of the Spirit is to strengthen God's people by edifying them based upon God's Word (Rom. 1:11). It is the responsibility of elders within the church is to edify by building up God's people concerning the true faith or the faith of the gospel. It is not a short-term goal, but, as elders, we must lead, instruct, encourage, strengthen by edifying God's people concerning God's Word until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:7). Also, when it comes to those who claim such "gifting" of the Spirit as if they possess such "sign" gifts of apostles and prophets. When it comes to such "temporary" sign gifts is that it has ceased (Eph. 2:20). That the "permanent" edifying gifts are according to Romans 12:4-8. It was needful for the establishment of the church to have such "sign" gifts: that of apostles and prophets. The apostles were the builders of the church; the prophets spoke concerning God's divine will.
Even though there are those who believe in the "continuationist" view of the unceasing of spiritual gifts, for example, Ephesians 4:11 where it says, It was he (Christ) who gave some to be apostles, and some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers." But in verse 12 of Ephesians 4 gives the purpose of these gifts to the church: "to prepare God's people for the works of service, so that the Body of Christ may be built up. But, also the goal of such gifts according to Ephesians 4:13 where it also says, "until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." The whole idea of edifying the church is (1) the unity of the faith, (2) in the knowledge of the Son of God, (3) our maturity in Christ, and also (4) attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Many of God's people must grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ by which they will mature in the faith by which they will be complete in Jesus Christ. The reason for the spiritual "malnutrition" of the Church today as it relates to their knowledge and understanding of God's Word is due to its ignorance (Rom. 10:-4). In order for believers to live a life pleasing unto the Lord is to have such proper knowledge and understanding of God's Word.
It was needful for the establishment of the church to have such gifts within the church, but, now that the church has already been established there is no need for apostles and prophets (Eph. 2:20). The problem with many Charismatics and Pentecostal who would contend that such gifts as the apostles and prophets are still operative within the church today. Many of these churches, groups, and organization ignore that of the historical/biblical/ grammatical structure of the immediate passage/s of scripture as to its wider context. Whenever such Charismatic leadership and churches begin to interpret 1 Corinthians 12-14 is it the cultural contours of Pentecostalism. In order to properly interpret a particular Book of the Bible, chapter/s, and passages of scripture is to study the whole of such biblical interpretation (2 Tim. 2:15).
The apostle Paul was addressing the issue of spiritual gifts: that the purpose of the gifts of the Spirit is to strengthen by edifying the church based upon God's Word (Rom. 1:11; Eph. 4:12-13). It is the responsibility of elders within the church is to lead, instruct, encourage, and edify that of the local church through preaching and teaching until the Lord returns (1 Cor. 1:7; Rom. 12:4-8). Also when it comes to addressing the issue of the gifts of the Spirit is through the gift of prophecy: that of the edification of believers based upon God's Word; not that of prophetic utterance nor some "special" revelation that is outside the boundaries of scripture. God's Word is true, sure, reliable, trustworthy by which God is the Author of the Bible (2 Pet. 1:19-21; 2 Tim. 3:16). Therefore the issue of spiritual gifts is that the demonstration of love must be above any and all gifts of the Spirit even the gift of prophecy. Such gifts of the Spirit should not be used by the church for such self-gratification and self-glory so as to demean others who these self-proclaimed individuals who claim such gifting of the Spirit (1 Cor. 13:1). Therefore, also, the issue of addressing spiritual gifts is to remind those who claim to be modern-day prophets or they are gifted spiritually is to acknowledge the trustworthiness and reliability of God's Word. There are pseudo-teachers within the professing church today who claim such prophetic revelations, but, are not convinced of the truth of God's Word. Also, their source of "authority" is that of the prophetic revelation in and of itself by which they deny the absolute authority of the written Word (2 Pet. 1:20). Scripture is complete without any "additional" revelation nor revelation of the spirit. For such individuals to add or to take away from God's Word is to envision God's divine judgment (Rev. 22:18-19).
Rev. Darryl L. Miller is the president & Chairman of Darryl Miller International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia and travels extensively throughout the United States and continents. Darryl is the best-selling author of his book, "The Prosperity Gospel: Where Did It Come From? Gnostic Source? Or Spiritual Revelation? He is also the Podcast Host, "Ask Darryl" which airs regularly 24/7 @ www.spreaker.com/user/bishopoflyons. As an apologist, conference speaker and lecturer he is in great demand both in the United States and around the world. Darryl lives with his wife Vivian outside metro Atlanta with their puppy "Little Baby."
Even though there are those who believe in the "continuationist" view of the unceasing of spiritual gifts, for example, Ephesians 4:11 where it says, It was he (Christ) who gave some to be apostles, and some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers." But in verse 12 of Ephesians 4 gives the purpose of these gifts to the church: "to prepare God's people for the works of service, so that the Body of Christ may be built up. But, also the goal of such gifts according to Ephesians 4:13 where it also says, "until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." The whole idea of edifying the church is (1) the unity of the faith, (2) in the knowledge of the Son of God, (3) our maturity in Christ, and also (4) attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Many of God's people must grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ by which they will mature in the faith by which they will be complete in Jesus Christ. The reason for the spiritual "malnutrition" of the Church today as it relates to their knowledge and understanding of God's Word is due to its ignorance (Rom. 10:-4). In order for believers to live a life pleasing unto the Lord is to have such proper knowledge and understanding of God's Word.
It was needful for the establishment of the church to have such gifts within the church, but, now that the church has already been established there is no need for apostles and prophets (Eph. 2:20). The problem with many Charismatics and Pentecostal who would contend that such gifts as the apostles and prophets are still operative within the church today. Many of these churches, groups, and organization ignore that of the historical/biblical/ grammatical structure of the immediate passage/s of scripture as to its wider context. Whenever such Charismatic leadership and churches begin to interpret 1 Corinthians 12-14 is it the cultural contours of Pentecostalism. In order to properly interpret a particular Book of the Bible, chapter/s, and passages of scripture is to study the whole of such biblical interpretation (2 Tim. 2:15).
The apostle Paul was addressing the issue of spiritual gifts: that the purpose of the gifts of the Spirit is to strengthen by edifying the church based upon God's Word (Rom. 1:11; Eph. 4:12-13). It is the responsibility of elders within the church is to lead, instruct, encourage, and edify that of the local church through preaching and teaching until the Lord returns (1 Cor. 1:7; Rom. 12:4-8). Also when it comes to addressing the issue of the gifts of the Spirit is through the gift of prophecy: that of the edification of believers based upon God's Word; not that of prophetic utterance nor some "special" revelation that is outside the boundaries of scripture. God's Word is true, sure, reliable, trustworthy by which God is the Author of the Bible (2 Pet. 1:19-21; 2 Tim. 3:16). Therefore the issue of spiritual gifts is that the demonstration of love must be above any and all gifts of the Spirit even the gift of prophecy. Such gifts of the Spirit should not be used by the church for such self-gratification and self-glory so as to demean others who these self-proclaimed individuals who claim such gifting of the Spirit (1 Cor. 13:1). Therefore, also, the issue of addressing spiritual gifts is to remind those who claim to be modern-day prophets or they are gifted spiritually is to acknowledge the trustworthiness and reliability of God's Word. There are pseudo-teachers within the professing church today who claim such prophetic revelations, but, are not convinced of the truth of God's Word. Also, their source of "authority" is that of the prophetic revelation in and of itself by which they deny the absolute authority of the written Word (2 Pet. 1:20). Scripture is complete without any "additional" revelation nor revelation of the spirit. For such individuals to add or to take away from God's Word is to envision God's divine judgment (Rev. 22:18-19).
Rev. Darryl L. Miller is the president & Chairman of Darryl Miller International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia and travels extensively throughout the United States and continents. Darryl is the best-selling author of his book, "The Prosperity Gospel: Where Did It Come From? Gnostic Source? Or Spiritual Revelation? He is also the Podcast Host, "Ask Darryl" which airs regularly 24/7 @ www.spreaker.com/user/bishopoflyons. As an apologist, conference speaker and lecturer he is in great demand both in the United States and around the world. Darryl lives with his wife Vivian outside metro Atlanta with their puppy "Little Baby."
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