All The Gifts Of The Holy Spirit Are Important

To another the working
of miracles, to another
prophecy, to another 
discerning of spirits,
to another different kinds
of tongues, to another 
the interpretation of tongues.
But one and the same
Spirit works all these things,
distributing to each one
individually as He wills.
1Corinthians 12:10,11

     Confusion over Spiritual gifts have divided the Church for many years, especially after the introduction of Arminianism by the preaching of such men as Charles Wesley, and Charles Finney, and others, teaching methods of worship and doctrine that the Bible does not teach. Churches excepted this teaching and the more exciting gifts were promoted and the so-called lesser gifts were not given the same import. In the upcoming blogs I will discuss the sign gifts, or the revelatory gifts, but until then I must continue to speak of those gifts that are relevant for the benefit of the Church today. Remember, when I speak of the Church I am speaking of Christians, not some denomination, or institution, for it is you who are the Church. Therefore I will discuss the above Scripture as there has been much discussion over the use of these gifts; what does the Bible actually say in regard to these gifts? 

     As a beginning to our understanding of all gifts verse 12 of Chapter 12 explains to us that it is the Spirit that gives the gifts and He does this according to His will and distributes the gifts to individuals. It is Scriptural to desire spiritual gits (1Corinthians 14:1) but it is the Holy Spirit who gives the gifts and we are to accept the gift(s) given to us and exercise our faith in the use of those gifts. We are to to pursue love not to pursue spiritual gifts according to 1Corinthians 14:1, but this verse is not guiding many Churches and schools, such as schools of supernatural gifts, where a student pays a tuition and is taught those supernatural gifts as though they could cause the Holy Spirit to give to them a gift. This is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit because we are misusing the grace of the Holy Spirit who understands what is need, where it is needed, and to whom He by means of His omniscience gives to certain individuals the needed gift(s). All gifts are needed, there is no question to that fact, but not all gifts are needed at all times for there are reasons for the giving of gifts and it is for us to understand that we may not know the reason why the Holy Spirit gives certain gifts and at certain times, but we must understand that we are to use whatever gift God has determined to give us, if indeed He has given us more than the gift of faith. So very often a Christian is not happy with having the single gift of faith, of course this gift is most important for without that gift given to you for without it you cannot become a Christian. Once that gift has been given and you have placed that faith upon the very object of that faith, Jesus Christ, then you are commanded to live a certain way, and to make disciples. If God has given to you a certain gift, then use it, but it does not require a special school of supernatural gifts for you to receive that gift, for the Holy Spirit is able to give that gift and to cause you to discern that gift, and it is He who will direct you in the use of that gift. Many so-called Christians, and I use that term with caution, marvel at the fact that they have been given a gift, and they go about misusing this gift with an over exuberance and a practice of this gift that may or may not be a leading of the Holy Spirit; they just cannot accept the fact that God calls us to live the Christian life, and to do this quietly: "That you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing" (1Thessalonians 4:11-12). This is a command but many Churches have ignored this command, and we can find much emotional outbursts, and misuse of Scriptural gifts as though they are worshiping God and showing signs of their being holy. Far too often those Churches resemble a rock concert, demonstrating the same euphoric gyrations as to be seen at those concerts as can be seen at the Woodstock rock concert. By means of such services where there are explosions of emotional and sentimental demonstrations as though the participants have some special gift of the Holy Spirit are done and promoted so that those Churches will touch upon the senses of people. Why? Often so that those Churches will continue to exist as a Church, and there is often much money involved and that old saying to follow the money is apropos, just look at the lifestyle of many Church leaders and you will find that they live in abundance, extravagantly; now this is said not to disparage those who are honestly attempting to follow our Lord and Savior, but have been wrongly taught the Bible. 

     As we enter this new year make it your goal to know God's word even if what you are learning is striking against what you have come to believe is true. Paul in writing to the Corinthian Church did not hesitate to point out their errors and to do all he could to bring them into a right position with God and to speak against their misuse of many things including their misuse of spiritual gifts. Paul in Chapter 12, as elsewhere in this letter, of 1Corinthians is not commending the Corinthians for their use of Spiritual gifts, rather is condemning them and showing them the right way in the use of spiritual gifts, and for the proper worship towards God. We must make the same decision, will we follow what we have come to believe and practice as true or will we do what God wants us to do? Would you make changes, even to change from Churches that teach and practice such misuse of the Spiritual gifts, regardless of the consequences? Matthew writes: "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch" (Matthew 15:14). Mark records the words of Jesus Christ: "So Jesus answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house of brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for my sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions-- and in the age to come, eternal life" (Mark 10:30-31). Do you think that this is impossible, so very hard then you have not come to believe the words of Jesus: "But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible" (Mark 10:27). You make the effort, God will supply the power enabling you to do that which you may think is impossible.

But You are He who

     took Me out of

the womb; You made

     Me trust while on

My mother's breasts.

    I was cast upon You

from birth. From My 

    mothers womb You 

have been My God.

                Psalm 22:9-10

God is our help 

Richard L. Crumb