Gifts of the Spirit

[Galaen]

I was wondering what other members thought about the use of the Gifts of The Holy Spirit today. Is there a place for the use of the Gifts of The Holy Spirit in todays world? Is there a place for them in the Church? Should we be seeking the Gifts of the Holy Spirit? Should we be using the Gifts Of The Holy Spirit? What do you think?


Please- polite answers only!

[smellycat]

if you could heal people,yep that would be cool.the hospitals might lock you out though.

[Galaen]

why should people not be healed today as they were when Jesus was on earth? Doesn't He tell us - 'all these things you shall do and more'?

[streetsinger]

I believe the gifts are available Galaen, but we need faith to access them. When Jesus invited Peter to walk on the water he did, he walked out to where Jesus was, and then he realised that he was doing the impossible and sank. Had he held on to that moment of grace, kept his eyes on Jesus and not put them back on himself, I believe he would have completed the task. On another occation the disciples were attempting to drive out a demon and it wouldnt leave, Jesus explained that in this particular case prayer was needed. What this indicates is that we have to learn to do these things and the lessons are in the word. Many Christians experience the infilling of the Spirit and bathe in his love, that infilling can I believe, with faith, empower us to miracle. We have in our fellowship, had limited success in healing prayer. members will often be moved to tears as they receive a burden for someone and we are standing our ground in refusing to accept the doubts that come against us in our prayer. I do believe in the gifts. and I encourage everyone to experiment and go for it, if it doesn't happen at first, keep on, it took time for the disciples, so we must expect it to take time with us. It's exciting and gives fellowship depth and a sense of entering the unknown. Hey, we have access to the power of God.

[Galaen]

Indeed we do have access to the power of God - shouldn't we all be availing ourselves of the gifts of the Spirit, if they are there for the asking? Surely salvation doesn't just stop at asking Jesus into our lives, we should also be welcoming the Holy Spirit to enter us too. As Cat is often telling us this is a spiritual war we are in and we need the Holy Spirit to guide us, to teach us and to make us more like Jesus.

[smellycat]

you see often i can be Good ,and send Good messages.

[Chuckt]

The church is divided on this topic and while I don't speak in tongues, I don't know. I have an openness to God and what He wants to do and I also have a disdain for the abuses of theology and abuse of said gifts practiced in the church and because of that I highly doubt a lot of what goes on in the name of charisma. There are a lot of problems that go above and beyond the scope of a single post as it would be over the top.

I called around and I finally found a pastor to ask a question. I asked him if there was a charismatic church that was based on doctrine. It took him a while to give me an answer and there was only one and the church was two and a half hours away from my old house.

I know of another non-denominational Church that fits as a doctrinal church but doesn't meet some charismatic's description of a charismatic church.

What I do believe is valid is something that I found in the Westminster Confession of Faith and that is too much for people:

"X. The Supreme Judge, by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture."-Article X, Westminster Confession of Faith

The Holy Spirit speaks through Scripture and I believe people can hear His voice and to that extent I'm charismatic.

[Galaen]

Sometimes the gifts are abused but that happens in all walks of life, some folk will do good and others will not. Surely this does not mean we must abandon the Holy Spirit and the gifts He has to offer us. If we truly believe in the divine trinity of God how can we only accept God the Father and God the Son yet exclude God the Holy Spirit. Think about it - God the Father created this world and us, God the Son came to redeem us, the only contact we have now with God is The Holy Spirit - He is God's only presence here on earth today!

[canny]

I understood the Gifts of the Spirit to be many different things, it seems that concentrating on the dramatic effects of Tongues (never sure what that achieves...) and Healing take away those gifts that many already have. I do not doubt that some can heal, but I am quite certain the same gifts are not available to all.... gordon Bennet, we would be super humans..................

[iamowen]

I understood the Gifts of the Spirit to be many different things, it seems that concentrating on the dramatic effects of Tongues (never sure what that achieves...) and Healing take away those gifts that many already have. I do not doubt that some can heal, but I am quite certain the same gifts are not available to all.... gordon Bennet, we would be super humans..................

There are many that do not undersand or want to understand the gifts of The Holy Spirit. I am from a Pentecostal background and have no problem with them at all. If you have any queries ask and I will try to answere them, but if someone wants to criticise, then I will withdraw, for it is not me you will be criticicing but HIM. Scripture is clear ! I will endeavour to use Scripture to answere your queries.