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"Arguments for the Gifts of the Spirit"

  1. Why not go pell-mell through the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit…?
    1. A new strategy. Attempting to create and to stir desire within hearts to go deeper in God and overcome fears of phenomenon.
  2. Read Hebrews 5:11-14
    1. Hebrews 6:1-2 (KJV) Therefore [Therefore - In view of your lack of progress, let us leave the infantile stage of Christian experience and become adults] leaving the principles of the doctrine (elementary teachings) of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, [2] Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
      1. Don’t tear it up but lay it and leave it as your foundation.
  3. Job 28 read.
    1. A man can live off the surface and its yield but if you want the wealth of this earth you must dig below the surface to find its hidden wealth.
      1. Silver isn’t found lying around upon the ground; you must put effort into it.
      2. You will reap what you sow.
    2. It is the same with the Bible, you can live off of its surface but in order to grow and become wealthy and strong you must go deeper.
    3. The difference between an immature Christian and mature Christian is not one who is growing gradually out of sin.
      1. Rather is the one who has put away childish things.
      2. Tweedy bird shirt. 1st Cor. 13:11 the shirt was not sin but rather it is simply childish.
  4. Spiritual Gifts Are Not The Same As Natural Talents:
    1. Spiritual Gifts Benefit Man's Spiritual Nature -- It is true that talents such as musical ability, artistic skill or athletic coordination are also gifts from God. But they are gifts on a physical or social level only and are given to benefit mankind in his "natural" life. Spiritual gifts, on the other hand, are given to benefit the realm of the spirit of man, the realm of an individual's relationship to God.
    2. Only Christians Have Spiritual Gifts -- Talents, obviously, are distributed to men and women quite apart from any reference to their spiritual condition. But only Christians have spiritual gifts, because they are given only to those in whom the Spirit of Christ has come to live (1 Corinthians 12:7).
    3. It is Quite Possible for a Christian to Have a Talent, but Not to Have the Corresponding Spiritual Gift.
      1. Suppose you had a talent for teaching, but lacked the spiritual gift of teaching. If this is the case and you were asked to teach a Sunday school class, you would be quite capable of imparting considerable information and knowledge of facts, but your teaching would lack the power to advance your students spiritually. For another example, we have all been treated to the painful experience of listening to a Christian sing without exercising any spiritual gift. We find our hearts left cold and unmoved by a technically excellent performance, but without spiritual power.
    4. Conversely, it is Quite Possible For a Christian to be Given a Spiritual Gift That Has Absolutely Nothing to Do with Any Natural Inclinations or Talents He or She Possesses. -- For example, it was not necessary for the Acts 2 disciples to have a natural talent for languages before they spoke in tongues.
  5. Does God still give the miraculous gifts of tongues, interpretation of tongues, miraculous healing, and prophecy to Christians today?
    1. The First Argument:
      1. They would say, "The miraculous gifts were only for the time of the apostles to authenticate (prove the truthfulness of) the apostle's message. The Bible teaches that this was the purpose of the miraculous gifts. Read Hebrews 2:3-4. Once the gospel was firmly established in the Roman empire and the apostles died, these gifts ceased. They were no longer necessary."
      2. Some Problems with this Argument:
        1. Authentication of the gospel message was definitely one of the purposes of the miraculous gifts, but it is only-one of the purposes. We are also told in other places in Scripture that spiritual gifts are given to serve the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:7; 14:26), to equip people to share the gospel (Matthew 10:19,20; Luke 4:18; 1 Corinthians 2:13), and to show God's compassion and concern for His people (examples: Matthew 14:13-14; 20:29-34; Mark 1:40-42). Surely these needs still exist.
        2. The "miraculous" gifts were not just the possession of the apostles in the Bible. Other non-apostles also were given miraculous gifts by the Spirit. (Take for example Luke 9:49-50 or Philip's use of the gifts in Acts 8:6,7,13).
        3. The Scriptures don't seem to make any distinction between what we call the miraculous gifts and the other "less" miraculous gifts. Note that they appear mixed together in Romans 12:6-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:28. If we are going to deny the operation of "miraculous" gifts in this day, then it seems logical to deny all the gifts of the Spirit mentioned in these passages (not just some).
    2. The Second Argument:
      1. People who use this argument say, "The Bible actually tells us that miraculous gifts will cease. Read 1 Corinthians 13:8-10. It is clear that this passage predicts the gifts of prophecy and tongues will not continue. In verse 10, Paul says that once the perfect comes, tongues will cease. What could be more perfect than the Bible? When the last New Testament book was written the need for supernatural revelation ended. At that time prophecy, tongues and the other miraculous gifts ceased."
      2. Problems with this Argument:
        1. Where do we get the idea that the "perfect" is the Bible? This seems to be reading something into verse 10 which isn't there. It ignores the context. A completely reasonable interpretation for "perfect" would seem to be found in verse 12. The "perfect" is (not the completion of the Bible, but) when we see God "face to face" and "we know fully." This happens upon our death or at the time of Christ's second coming. This is the time that the imperfect will be done away with (v. 10). There won't be any need for spiritual gifts in the presence of the Lord.
        2. If tongues and prophecy ended when the Bible was completed (as these men say verse 8 teaches), then so did "knowledge" according to the same verse!
If you have any questions please email me @

mtcalvary@embarqmail.com

and place in the subject line "sermon & the title" I will be happy to answer any questions or discuss the above outline with you! God Bless, Pastor Reuben