Spiritual Gifts

[ruah brit]

For me, and my church, and the American Baptist Association, the knowledge of the unity of the faith, the perfect thing is - THE BIBLE

Have you given up the perfect Spirit of Christ for a book that only tells you where to find Him?

Denise

[Sanctyfied]

wow!  while i do not believe that spiritual gifts have ceased (because i believe that, 'that which is perfect' is JESUS CHRIST), i do believe that this can be taken out of context.  i think that the Word tells us later in the same book guidelines for some of these gifts.  this is such a touchy subject! 

when i first got saved, i went to a church of the denomination belief that gifts (prophecy, tongues, miracles) had ceased.  they aimed to teach me that the Bible is that which is perfect.  when i moved a year later, i found myself in a different church....whose denominational belief was that the gifts do exist; that each believer has access to each one if their faith is strong enough, and that not only was tongues a gift, but a requirement and mark of true acceptance.  needless to say, that is alot of confusion.  as far as i am concerned there is a more balanced and right interpretation of scripture.  reading on my own, i am led to believe that all gifts do still exist.  i do not myself expect to see the miracle of healing every day or in every service, but know that GOD is still a GOD of signs and wonders.  i do not expect to hear prophecy every day or in every service and know that the test of a true prophet is whether his/her words are shown to be true.  i do not expect to see and hear tongues in every service, but know the Biblical guidelines for tongues and know they do still exist.  i believe that GOD is able at any time to bring about change, revelation, revival in any way HE chooses.  HE is a GOD without limits.

as for my personal experiences, i found both the doctrinal beliefs above (personally) to be extreme and inaccurate.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I love it. There is no better way to put it. That I have found anyway.

It is very important to read the Bible Yourself and not to accept all the doctorine of men.

I agree that the Gifts are there for God to use in His timing Not ours. As for tongues I speak in tounges, I also understand that it is for My Spirit to speak directly To God In Words that I cannot express In My own Language.

Though I understand What I am saying Some things Just cannot be explained in a Human language.

I don't expect everyone to understand this. So Please don't go off in a fit. Trying to say how wrong I am. lol

If you don't understand it. Just leave it alone. lol

The Gifts of Healing is awesome. I have seen and been a part of this many times. Does it happen everyday? I wish it did. But it is usually When God decides to do it. Not when I want it.

Prophecy? I don't think all can handle Prophecy. They are to scared of it. It even worries me most of the time. When you see it happen. Well It shows you the Truth of God's own Word.

There are many gifts. To say you are saved if you have them or not. That is just wrong. We are not God to say anyone is saved or Not. That is God's Job not ours. lol

Edited September 5, 2005 by Sanctyfied

[Salt]

netwattie wrote:

Look at these verses:

Ephesians 4 vs 11-16

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head - Christ - from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

For me, and my church, and the American Baptist Association, the knowledge of the unity of the faith, the perfect thing is - THE BIBLE

But there are spritual gifts that I should have mentioned which have not ceased- FAITH, HOPE and LOVE.

So what you are saying is that the church no longer has: "apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry"

That would be to resist the authority of God!

What the scripture is saying, is that we need "apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers" to equip us till we arrive at being "a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ".

1 cor 13 vs 8-11:

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

For we know in part and we prophecy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man a man, I put away childish things.

You can't leave out the context of verse 13:

1Co 13:12 KJV For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Prophecy, tongues, and knowledge (along with the rest of the gifts) are given while we live on the earth. When we see Jesus "face to face" in heaven our lives are infinitely complete--not just the "in part" of the gifts while living now in a flesh body.

Edited September 28, 2005 by Salt

[Anne]

This is a subject which I debate much within myself, are the gifts real or not?

I have not come to a absolute conclusion yet, but i do know this, if I am in a church where these gifts are not used decently and in order, and there is confusion and no understanding of words spoken and prophecies given, then I disregard them.

God Bless you

Your Sister in Christ Jesus

Anne

[yomotalking]

I once heard someone say on here once

"Oh, that time will come when they will cease.......but it does not say WHEN.. (or)..WHERE...."

You are Baptist, I presume, Net?

[Guest lvnpeace]

Okay Netwattie you have allowed yourself to first of all be divided, All denomotations are just that divisions! Satan will divide and conquer! I know that an Awesome man named JESUS CHRIST died for my sins, therefore I am a christian! No man named bap died for you!!!! when someone asks you your religion, I bet you say baptist, Right? well realize that by saying that you have not even acknowledge JESUS CHRIST! Gladly proclaim his name from every mountain top! Let everyone know that you are a Christian! not a baptist! Second of all if you read in Revelation 11 you will see that at the end of time there will still be prophesy. which is one of the spiritual gifts that a lot of religions have said does not exist anymore.