Spirit Led Living

Diversity of Teaching on Spiritual Gifts A.    Cessationism (Dispensationalism): Teaches that the gifts ceased with the Apostles and the completion of the Biblical cannon.   Once the Church was firmly established and the writings of the N.T. complete, these signs and wonders were no longer needed.   They don’t believe that God can’t or won’t work through gifts, merely that He has withdrawn them since the purpose for them has passed. This is primarily a Southern Baptist view though not all Baptists adhere to this view. (Thus what have been come to be know as Bapticostals) B.    Possessionism: This view teaches that God gives us Spiritual Gifts and they become our possessions for life.   Every Christian has at least one Gift.   It becomes the responsibility of each Christian to discover their gift set and to grow in effectiveness in operating in those areas. This was common during the 50's and 50's with people like Oral Roberts and other faith healers C.    Distribut

Roles, Gifts, Ministries, and Offices A.    Roles:   There are things that one does as part of being a member of the Body of Christ that operate completely within the realm of natural (God-given) abilities.   We give, we pray, we give time to the church, we tell others about Jesus.   These things require nothing more than obedience and at times risk taking. B.    Gifts:   At times while we perform our roles God gives us a gift to help us at a specific time, in a specific situation, and for a specific reason.   John Wimber called these times, when God shows up in power while we are exercising our roles within the Body, “Gracelets”.   A Gracelet is a manifestation of a Spiritual Gift. C.    Ministry:   A person will tend to operate more in some areas of gifting than others do.   For example, I may find that God works more often when I am in an evangelism situation, but less often when I pray for healing.   If this is happening, and I start to operate in this area more and more

Gifts in Corinthians Fall into 3 natural divisions: A.    Gifts of Revelation (The mind gifts) a) Words of Wisdom : It is supernatural revelation, or insight into the divine will and purpose, showing how to solve any problem that may arise.   This is the special ability that the Holy Spirit gives to see beyond individual facts and understand how they fit together in the “big picture”, to “fathom all mysteries and all knowledge.” (1 Corinthians 13:2) James 3:17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. b) Words of Knowledge : This is a special ability to perceive knowledge revealed directly by the Holy Spirit.   It is knowledge that could not have been perceived by natural means.   This is supernatural revelation of divine knowledge, or insight into the mind, will or plans of God or of others that man could not know of himself. Col 2:2-3 My purpose