Such
a question is akin to asking, “Is the Holy Spirit for today?” True believers would never dream of denying
that! Yet, many deny the power of the
Spirit of God. Some may claim ignorance,
but they don’t have to be in the dark about such a thing as this when it is
clearly taught in the Bible.
There are denominations and people who are closed to the reality of
these marvelous things the Lord has given to the Church. Any wonder why the Church is mocked as powerless
with no distinction as the only True and “Living Faith” by the heathen world?
Unbelief in God’s people, makes Christianity appear as just another religion
among many fine religions.
They are perfectly fine with the non-miraculous gifts such as gifts
of mercy, helps etc. but don’t believe in certain others in the Bible which
are miraculous in nature such as gifts of healing, tongues etc. They do the same with the offices, which are gifts from the
Lord to the Church. They will believe in the offices of Pastors, Teachers, Evangelists
but not in the Prophetic ministry (foretelling the future by the revelation
of the Lord) or Apostles, etc. They relegate
the office of Prophet to simply any church official who preaches!
Prophetic ministry is a unique one in addition to teaching and pastoring
and evangelizing. Otherwise the distinction would not be made.
The Bible clearly speaks of prophesying to mean both speaking or preaching a
prophetic Word from God making manifest the secrets of the hearers’ hearts (like
Peter to Annanias and Sapphiras) as well as foretelling the future (like Agabus
in the New Testament).
Following are a list of reasons
why many have rejected the Word in this regard and are consequently robbing
themselves of the miraculous Hand of God in their lives and more seriously,
robbing the Lord of the Glory due to His Name for the Gifts He has bestowed
upon us, His Body.
They
all
have to do with unbelief!
1.
Some do not believe because they would be rather loyal to their denomination, their pastor
(even if he is faithless!) and the traditional teaching of men (even if it contradicts
the plain teaching of Scripture) than God, in His Word. The Lord warned
about the blind obedience to man instead of God which displeases Him greatly.
(Matthew
15:9) But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments
of men.
2.
Some do not believe because they fear that such manifestations may be of the Devil. God
said that He would never give a serpent or scorpion if we ask for good blessings,
so there is no warrant for that type of unbelieving fear!
(Luke 11:10-13)
10 For every one that asketh receiveth;
and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that
is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish
give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him
a scorpion? {offer: Gr. give}
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good
gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the
Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
3.
Others feel they ought not to, “bother God with selfish, miracle-hungry, prayers” but
should rather be content with a, “normal, ordinary walk with God just obeying
His Word.” They remind one of Ahab, who though called upon by Isaiah
the prophet to request a miraculous sign from God, answered in unbelief a sly
reply,
“I will not ask, neither
will I tempt the LORD.” – Isaiah 7:12
4. Yet others say that the blasphemous activities of some who claim to be filled
with the Spirit and possess spiritual gifts, “prove that all this miraculous
stuff is fake and not from God anyway even if there is any real power behind
it.”
Doubtless,
these are the last days and many false prophets abound trying to imitate the
Spirit’s genuine moving. There is a superabundance of false manifestations,
however, that does not justify one discarding the real thing that is recorded
in the True Word of God and seeking God for that experience that God has promised.
(Joel
2:28, 29) And it shall come to pass afterward,
that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters
shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids
in those days will I pour out my spirit.
5. Some do not believe because they say even though they have sought
such things, they have not experienced any such thing from the Spirit of God.
This of course is pitting experience against Scripture and then discarding
the Truth because of lack of faith and/or improper motive. Without faith and pure motive, it is impossible
to please God but also
impossible
to discern these things in the Spiritual realm, let alone receive any of these
blessings.
(Hebrews
11:6) But without faith it is impossible
to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he
is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
(James
1:6-8) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like
a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive
any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
6. Some others are afraid that they will misuse the gifts or become
proud if the get a miraculous gift. A silly, excuse also rooted in unbelief.
The God Who gives a gift will give the recipient the wherewithal to exercise
it appropriately. It is given to edify and profit a man not to
harm him. All one needs to do is obey His commandments following the leading
of the Holy Spirit.
(1 Corinthians 12:7)
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
(1
Corinthians 14:32) And the spirits of
the prophets are subject to the prophets.
7. Probably, the Biggest Excuse and Lie - Some say that the Age of Miracles has come to an end. There
is not one single verse of Scripture to validate such a position. On the contrary everything in the New Testament
and current reports of miracles in many of the (physically poor but spiritually
rich) believing villages where people are laying down their lives for the Lord,
proves that God is doing miracles and still blessing His Body with miraculous
gifts and manifestions. A simple, childlike
faith in the believers in whatever the Lord says in the Bible brings about countless
healings that the Lord works through men and women who are truly devoted to
Him in these sometimes remote areas where they are hungry for everything God
wants them to have by faith.
(Joel
2:28, 29) And it shall come to pass afterward,
that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters
shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids
in those days will I pour out my spirit.
8.
Finally, in a bizarre twist of the Word of God,
some even dare to say that when Paul says in 1 Cor 12:31,( But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto
you a more excellent way.) that he will
show yet a more excellent way; that of Love, it is showing clearly that the
gifts are not important and that Love is. But
they use that as a launchpad for not only unscriptural but downright illogical
reasoning that Love has now superseded the gifts. They use this type of reasoning
to discard the miraculous gifts altogether! How convenient an answer to continue
in and propagate unbelief. The Scriptures
teach actually that Love is the most important thing and that the gifts must
be exercised in true Love. The Corinthians to whom the letter was addressed
had a problem of being immature and contentious with one another while there
was the manifestations of various God given miraculous gifts. Paul never discounted
the spiritual gifts that were exercised there in that church nor did he pit
spiritual gifts against Love and state that Love was superseding the gifts.
1
Corinthians 13:2, “And though I have
the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though
I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I
am nothing.” He merely was
pointing out that if Love was not present in the Christian worker, even the
miraculous gifts have no real value for the worker. Thus, one must be filled with the Spirit, desire
earnestly the best gifts, and operate in love without pretence. That is the
Scriptural position.
Now,
if you have been doubting about all these things we’ve discussed, then please,
let God speak to you through His flawless Word, is our sincere prayer.
A
simple, childlike faith in what God says will revolutionize your life, we promise.
Better yet, God Himself promises that in His Word when we, “trust and
obey.” Blessings you never thought could be yours in Christ as they will be
readily given you from the Father as you yield to the Holy Spirit instead of
grieving Him with unbelief and your finite intellect.
Remember, 1 Corinthians 2:14, “But
the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned.” Also, it’s up to each of us in faith to, “ … covet earnestly the best gifts
.” They are as follows:
This
Word of God is for Today; all the Gifts mentioned below are for Today.
Romans 12:6-8:
6
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether
prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7
Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on
teaching;
8
Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with
simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
{giveth: or, imparteth} {with simplicity: or, liberally}
1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 12:28-31
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the
same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations,
but the same Lord. {administrations: or, ministries}
6 And there are diversities of operations, but
it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given
to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of
wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another
the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another
prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues;
to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame
Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles,
secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings,
helps, governments, diversities of tongues. {diversities: or, kinds}
29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all
teachers? are all workers of miracles? {workers…: or, powers?}
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak
with tongues? do all interpret?
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet
shew I unto you a more excellent way.
Ephesians 4:10-12
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended
up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets;
and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For
the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying
of the body of Christ:
Amen.