Why a multitude of spiritual gifts are ignored

[Nehemiah6]

There are at least twenty three spiritual gifts mentioned in the New Testament. Most of them are not even mentioned in discussions about the gifts of the Spirit, because the focus is generally on tongues and healings. Yet all these gifts were given for a very good reason – the building up (edification) of the Body of Christ.

The NT passages regarding spiritual gifts are Mark 16:17-18; Acts 2:1-13; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14; 2 Corinthians chapters 8-9; 12:12; Ephesians 4:7-16; Hebrew 2:1-4; and 1 Peter 4:10-11. When we carefully examine these gifts in the light of Scripture and Church history we find that there are THREE GROUPS of gifts: (1) those which would cease after the completion of Scripture (2) those which would cease after the passing of the apostles and their companions; and (3) those that would remain until the Rapture of the Church.

I. GIFTS WHICH CEASED AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE BIBLE (1 COR 13:8-10)
1. Prophets or prophecy or prophesying (this is by divine inspiration and revelation)
2. Tongues (speaking unknown languages supernaturally)
3. The interpretation of tongues/languages
4. Supernatural knowledge (called knowledge)

II. GIFTS WHICH CEASED AFTER THE PASSING OF THE APOSTLES
5. Apostles [there are only twelve apostles of the Lamb, Rev 21:14]
6. Miracles workers (miracles, signs, wonders, mighty deeds)
7. Healers (healings)
8. Snake handlers (safe from snake venom)
9. Drinkers of poison (safe from being poisoned)

III. GIFTS WHICH ARE NOW OPERATIONAL UNTIL THE RAPTURE
10. Evangelists
11. Pastors
12. Teachers
13. Rulers or ruling or governments (applicable to elders)
14. Ministers (any kind of Christian service/ministry)
15. Helpers (helps)
16. Exhorters (exhortation -- those who encourage others)
17. Liberality (those whose Christian giving is extraordinary)
18. Those who show extraordinary mercy (mercy as a spiritual gift)
19. Those with extraordinary faith (faith as a spiritual gift)
20. Those with words of wisdom (the word of wisdom)
21. Those with words of knowledge (the word of knowledge)
22. Discerning of spirits
23. Casting out of evil spirits and demons (exorcism)

EVERY CHRISTIAN HAS AT LEAST ONE SPIRITUAL GIFT AND THE FAITH TO USE IT
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal... For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith... Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith...(1 Cor 12:4-7; Rom 12:3,6)

 

[Word_Swordsman]

A major reason spiritual gifts are in general ignored is from laity hearing preachers who are convinced most of them are no more according to many different beliefs of modern scholars. An example is not accepting healing miracles. What went wrong with that? Depending on denomination, one might be consigned to misery of disease to somehow bring glory to God by accepting diseases, yet most if not all seek to thwart God's will by going to medical doctors and hospitals to fight diseases. If of another denomination one can witness healing miracles right and left and enjoy hope of healing.

Jesus taught us to pray God's will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Is there sickness there? Is there crime there, or any other sadness? Isn't it possible there is so much of that on earth due to lack of prayer of faith otherwise? We grow up being taught not to dare put God on the spot, while reading that all who came to Jesus were healed and delivered. All. Wasn't that the will of God? Or will you limit that will only to prove to those mostly Israelites that Jesus was authentic? Are not many in the world still ignorant of who Jesus is, dying without Him? What is the difference between the offering of glory of God in Jesus then and now? They could believe having witnessed Jesus in the flesh. Later generations are resigned to believe and benefit only in spiritual salvation by faith only, no signs for them?

Of course it's easy to ignore the spiritual gifts altogether if all one needs is to believe Jesus existed and died for sins. Why bother?

I for one believe all published spiritual gifts remain avilable to any believer willing to embrace them by faith, and knowledge. I have listened to visiting pastors from far away who led people to Christ without a printed Bible, but relied solely upon divine prophecy, pleading for support for very technicological methods of delievering scriptures through computer means using tiny memory cards easy to smuggle. They call upon computer savvy folks to use their wisest skills to bypass evil governments which grow increasingly wise to such means. Sounds like a comparatively new spiritual gift needed to be exploited. I wish I could do that!

The Bible declares every Christian to be an ambassador for Christ. Since you apparently believe apostleship is dead, are the ambassadors done for too? If so, who can authenticaly represent the gospel? If not dead, only someone ordained by a denomination? Which one(s)? How can any ordained represent if there's any denominational dispute?

I believe the only solution is to live by the holy scriptures, doing it all by the word of God, not according to modern social scientists. Everything rejected due to modern "theology" only weakens the promotion of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

[Waggles]

Wow this is completely fantastic and highly imaginative.
And completely wrong and untrue.

 

[Dino246]

Title: "Why a multitude of spiritual gifts are ignored"
Body of post: Gifts mentioned in the NT and some unbiblical classification thereof with no explanation of why they are ignored.

It's best to choose a title that relates to your interpretation, or write your post to match the title. Preferably the latter, in this case.

 

[Didymous]

Jesus taught us to pray God's will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Is there sickness there? Is there crime there, or any other sadness?

If what you say is true, go to the nearest hospital and heal everyone.

 

[Nehemiah6]

An example is not accepting healing miracles.

There is a big difference between "healing miracles" as direct answers to prayer (or even simply by God's grace) and the gift of healers. If the gift of healers was current, every church (even the non-charismatic) would have at least one healer. And the healers would simply go to the hospitals and apply their gifts. The fact is that there are no healers and faith healers are generally charlatans. But God does heal people all the time.

Isn't it possible there is so much of that on earth due to lack of prayer of faith otherwise?

Now this is an entirely different matter. If there were genuine healers around, they would simply lay hands on the sick and they would be healed. But James talks about the prayer of faith because God already anticipated that there would be no healers in the churches. So it is not elders doing the healing as miracle workers, but the prayer of faith making healing a reality. Big difference.

The Bible declares every Christian to be an ambassador for Christ. Since you apparently believe apostleship is dead, are the ambassadors done for too?

Did you notice the gift of EVANGELISTS as a current gift? Evangelists are indeed ambassadors, as are many others. But evangelists and apostles are not the same gift. There are only 12 apostles of the Lamb according to Scripture, and they were apostles because of specific criteria.

Everything rejected due to modern "theology" only weakens the promotion of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Don't forget that it is modern charismatic and Pentecostal theology that has undermined all the other gifts.

 

[Noose]

If what you say is true, go to the nearest hospital and heal everyone.

Or the nearest grave yard and raise one person.

 

[Angela53510]

Nehemiah, I have been saying what your OP says for a long time.

There are so many gifts, yet Pentecostal denominations focus on one- speaking in tongues. (Ok, maybe the healing thing, too!) Something, let's face it, if you look at it historically soon after Jesus died, (before the fall of Jerusalem, anyway!) passed away forever. If it had been important, it would not have disappeared 20 centuries ago!

People should start looking at the gift list, and praying God will show them their gift, so they can walk in it. I figured out my husband's gift was "helps!" I got him on the building committee, and he exercises the gift all the time with our church, with family and neighbours. What a blessing he isn't sitting around all day babbling in fake tongues, but actually doing something, quietly, for the kingdom of God!

I have some of those gifts, not going to fight about it! This is not about me! However, I seem to be doing a lot of exhorting lately. One on one. It never hit me till I looked at the list.

Of course, I don't agree with 2 small things you said, but they are so small, and I want to focus on the big picture. The Bible is SO clear that tongues was a sign of the birth of the church. A sign accompanied by flames of fire and a rushing wind. A great day, an amazing day! But finished a long time ago!

Thanks for starting this thread! I know some will not like it, as we have seen. But the truth has to be made known!

 

[iamsoandso]

1 Corinthians 12:9 none will deny that gift...

 

[Nehemiah6]

1 Corinthians 12:9 none will deny that gift...

We have the spiritual gift of faith and that of healing in the same verse.

This is obviously not saving faith, since it is given to those who are already saved.

And it would be fantastic to have healers in every Christian church, but we do not find them there today. We do have prayers of faith, and we do have evidence of divine healing through prayer.

 

[Word_Swordsman]

If what you say is true, go to the nearest hospital and heal everyone.

Even Jesus couldn't do that in His home town due to their unbelief. Those who came to Jesus seeking help got it, and that's the way it still is, and must be. Few will come with faith and keep on living by the faith they approach healing with.

A difficult situation I find often is people not willing to give up a disability, with little or no hope of replacing a lost disability check with a paycheck. It's understood, given that the longer someone chooses that sustenance, the less likely they can make the big change.

Your reply is support of my post above, which is based on "A" major reason.

 

[Word_Swordsman]

There is a big difference between "healing miracles" as direct answers to prayer (or even simply by God's grace) and the gift of healers. If the gift of healers was current, every church (even the non-charismatic) would have at least one healer. And the healers would simply go to the hospitals and apply their gifts. The fact is that there are no healers and faith healers are generally charlatans. But God does heal people all the time.

Now this is an entirely different matter. If there were genuine healers around, they would simply lay hands on the sick and they would be healed. But James talks about the prayer of faith because God already anticipated that there would be no healers in the churches. So it is not elders doing the healing as miracle workers, but the prayer of faith making healing a reality. Big difference.

Actually James' instructions are locked in forever true and useful. There's more to it than you indicated, a reason you don't see such things happening.
James 5:13-16 (KJV)
13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Did you notice the gift of EVANGELISTS as a current gift? Evangelists are indeed ambassadors, as are many others. But evangelists and apostles are not the same gift. There are only 12 apostles of the Lamb according to Scripture, and they were apostles because of specific criteria.

The Greek words used to identify apostleship don't limit apostles to the original 12, Paul being the fourteenth (Matthias #13) who didn't accompany Jesus from the beginning of His ministry, but was busy persecuting Christians. They are messengers sent out to the commissioning of the gospel of Christ. This world is needy of many more. Evangelists assemble people to hear, but don't typically build churches. Apostles do that. They establish, then appoint preachers and teachers towards self-government. I am a friend of a modern apostle, Doctor P Satish Kumar, founder of Calvary Temple, Hyderabad, India. My wife and I hosted his visits here in the USA two decades ago and supported him when he had only 7 widows he ministered to when not working, until the church grew to 50,000. They are now 200,000 and growing. It can be confirmed by asking him about "Dad Jim" and "Mum Jan" if you can get through to him.

Don't forget that it is modern charismatic and Pentecostal theology that has undermined all the other gifts.

Undermined? They are the ones who practiced all the gifts until the fake media poisoned their works. The unbelieving "church" stood by gawking. Please notice I didn't deal with that third list of popular gifts since the topic is about those considered by some Christians to be ignored. My non-denominational full gospel church exercises most if not all known gifts, some daily and weekly, some rarely.

 

[Word_Swordsman]

So far I appreciate ya'll proving my post #2 to be correct, seeing the responses indicate unbelief, criticism, jesting, and other reasons the unlearned are discouraged from bothering to pursue Christianity, which is sadly in decline. However, I am more saddened by the nature of your comments, folks. You really need to go study the Bible. If you don't believe the holy scriptures, just say so, sparing me many words that should grow knowledge in some.

 

[Didymous]

Even Jesus couldn't do that in His home town due to their unbelief.

Jesus is God, and there's nothing God can't do. He didn't do many miracles in his home area because he knew the people against him wouldn't change their minds. You are the one who needs to study your bible. The miracles weren't because God wants earth to be like heaven, but as a sign for unbelieving Jews. If God wanted it to be like heaven here-then why would he destroy heaven and earth, and make news ones? Yes, it really is you who need to study your bible more-not the ones here who disagree with you,

 

[Melach]

i know the lack of faith is mentioned as a reason for not having answered prayers.

still feels like its a rip off answer. just like saying well you just didnt have enough faith so it didnt work out. how can anyone just increase their faith levels? isnt faith a gift from God? it says that

 

[Melach]

Nehemiah, I have been saying what your OP says for a long time.

There are so many gifts, yet Pentecostal denominations focus on one- speaking in tongues. (Ok, maybe the healing thing, too!) Something, let's face it, if you look at it historically soon after Jesus died, (before the fall of Jerusalem, anyway!) passed away forever. If it had been important, it would not have disappeared 20 centuries ago!

People should start looking at the gift list, and praying God will show them their gift, so they can walk in it. I figured out my husband's gift was "helps!" I got him on the building committee, and he exercises the gift all the time with our church, with family and neighbours. What a blessing he isn't sitting around all day babbling in fake tongues, but actually doing something, quietly, for the kingdom of God!

I have some of those gifts, not going to fight about it! This is not about me! However, I seem to be doing a lot of exhorting lately. One on one. It never hit me till I looked at the list.

Of course, I don't agree with 2 small things you said, but they are so small, and I want to focus on the big picture. The Bible is SO clear that tongues was a sign of the birth of the church. A sign accompanied by flames of fire and a rushing wind. A great day, an amazing day! But finished a long time ago!

Thanks for starting this thread! I know some will not like it, as we have seen. But the truth has to be made known!

i think too its one gift placed over others.

my reason is that nobody is denying the other ones, but many deny healings and tongues.
they are focusing on it to fight agaisnt people denying it i think

i wish we can all get along can someone send me a good sermon on the gifts of the Spirit. how to know who has real one and who is faking`??

 

[RickyZ]

If what you say is true, go to the nearest hospital and heal everyone.

Show me where Jesus did that.

 

[RickyZ]

So far I appreciate ya'll proving my post #2 to be correct, seeing the responses indicate unbelief, criticism, jesting, and other reasons the unlearned are discouraged from bothering to pursue Christianity, which is sadly in decline. However, I am more saddened by the nature of your comments, folks. You really need to go study the Bible. If you don't believe the holy scriptures, just say so, sparing me many words that should grow knowledge in some.

These people are why they created the MRV

 

[RickyZ]

i think too its one gift placed over others.

my reason is that nobody is denying the other ones, but many deny healings and tongues.
they are focusing on it to fight agaisnt people denying it i think

i wish we can all get along can someone send me a good sermon on the gifts of the Spirit. how to know who has real one and who is faking`??

A simple test is to determine who gets the glory. If it's anyone but Christ, it's fake.

 

[Melach]

These people are why they created the MRV

whats that