Where is teaching on 'gifts of the Spirit?”
 

It seems to me, that the churches I have been in, in the past, take for granted that the 'gifts' will just happen. Not much teaching on them, and yet Paul used 3 chapters in 1 Cor to teach the people about how to use the 'gifts.'

I believe the gifts were given to guide the church. To increase faith, when they see healings being done and prophesies fulfilled and people with the gifts of knowledge and wisdom speaking out.

I can't even find a good book on this subject. People talk about tongues and interpretations, but there are 7 other gifts that we need in each group.

Re: Where is teaching on 'gifts of the Spirit?”
 

Two treatments are as follows:

Spiritual Gifts by David K. Bernard

Read here:

http://pentecostalpublishing.com/sit...views/9411.pdf

The Gifts of the Spirit by Lee Stoneking

Buy here:

http://www.amazon.com/The-gifts-Spir.../dp/B0006XQL86

I've read both, having read DKB's treatment at least twice.

They are standard. Nothing exceptional, as I recall.

Smith Wigglesworth did a treatment a long time ago. Try this:

http://www.smithwigglesworth.com/sermons/eif13.htm

I also recall Verbal Bean wrote a book called The Works of the Holy Spirit. I can't remember if he addresses the Gifts of the Spirit, however. It's been awhile since I read it. You might look into it.

Re: Where is teaching on 'gifts of the Spirit?”
 

Votive, I've read most of David Bernard's books, his book as you said, is standard, but I didn't feel that he went into depth enough.

Also I've read Smith Wigglesworth life story, was this a different book?
I'd like to get a hold of Verbal Beans, book. Will see what I can find on Amazon.

There is everything on Amazon, under, Gifts Of The Spirit, from possibly true teachings to teachings from Psychics. But actually, there are many on here that have experienced the Gifts, and needs to speak out.

I believe that every person that receives the Holy Ghost, also receives at least one Gift of the Spirit. But I feel that because of lack of teaching, that many Gifts lie dormant in Christians, that God wants to use.

Re: Where is teaching on 'gifts of the Spirit?”
 

As I said: Most churches are in a "coma".

I started a thread on this issue but it was getting sidetracked very fast into a non related useless discussion
about "what is church", "what is a congregation" etc.

Not unusual here.

Re: Where is teaching on 'gifts of the Spirit?”
 

When gifts are experienced and put into practice... it's often hard to keep people under human control.

Re: Where is teaching on 'gifts of the Spirit?”
 

I believe that there is a very subtle rise in "seers". These are devout Christians who are willing to delve into the spiritual dimensions of the Spiritual Gifts. They often attend churches but don't pastor. You often have to seek them out and go to their homes to seek a personal Word from God. Sometimes "Seers" hold studies and "development groups" to assist believers with opening up to the Spiritual Gifts and using them in a more controlled environment. It's a different approach from the traditional approach of just thinking that the spiritual gifts will "just manifest" and things will "just happen" on their own during a "church service".

For example, they will explain what the four different kinds of "visions" are:

Dreams
Inner Vision
Open Heavens Vision
Spiritual Vision In Translation

They also help define the Gifts of the Spirit for the believer in more solid terms. For example the gifts are as follows:

Word of Wisdom - Divine wisdom or insight about a situation that is delivered straight from God.

Word of Knowledge - The impartation of knowledge pertaining to a person, situation, or chain of events that the gift holder could not have known by any natural means.

Discernment of Spirits - The ability to supernaturally know the motive of a human spirit or the presence and nature of spiritual beings (human, angel, demon).

Gift of Faith - The impartation of supernatural faith that defies all logic in a given, seemingly hopeless, situation or circumstance.

Gifts of Healing - The impartation of the power to heal various maladies in the body, soul, or spirit.

Gift of Miracles - The impartation of the power to pray and have prayers answered, even if the outcome requires supernatural means that defy the laws of nature.

Gift of Tongues - The impartation of the ability to speak a message directly from God "in the Spirit" or to supernaturally "pray in the Spirit".

Gift of Interpretation of Tongues - The impartation of the ability to "interpret" (not translate) unknown tongues spoken under the "Gift of Tongues" before listeners.

Gift of Prophesy - The impartation of the ability to speak a message directly from God concerning the future or a present spiritual reality or situation ("Thus saith the LORD...").

Development groups can be fun and very inspiring. They can build great confidence with regards to following the Spirit in the realm of the gifts.

Re: Where is teaching on 'gifts of the Spirit?”
 

This should all be in operation in the church today.
Many churches fight against it. It's another way of satan coming into the body of Christ and disturbing the works of the Spirit. Many in leadership fall for it and in the process down grade the church to a social club.

Re: Where is teaching on 'gifts of the Spirit?”
 

A lot of believers are afraid of the "spiritual" elements of the faith. We've become more focused on doctrines and concepts and have neglected the "experiential" side of the doctrines and concepts we claim to believe.

Development groups are good. They help to properly recognize and understand the gifts when they are in operation. They also help to recognize the limitations each gift has within a given individual.

Re: Where is teaching on 'gifts of the Spirit?”
 

it is easy to cry Gnosticism! at many of these, and i admit that i'm having some trouble seeing the line there, myself. I think a pretty strong--tho not conclusive--case might be made that many of the recorded Gifts in the Gospels were Apostolic, and given because we were beginning a new age or dispensation, and may not be applicable now (Benny Hinn, anyone?); but this still leaves many 'Spiritual Gifts' that should be applicable today?

Dordt saying that churches are in a coma is interesting to me, and i wonder if that isn't a point central to the understanding here. i personally don't believe that a church that has ascribed to the doctrine of OS is even capable of imparting these gifts, and so have sought them outside of the Western church system, in men similar of statement to Aquila (Larry Wood, et al)

Re: Where is teaching on 'gifts of the Spirit?”
 

Development groups often start off with prayer that expresses the desire for God to allow the gifts of the Spirit to flow. Sometimes a meeting might be dedicated to a specific Gift of the Spirit as specified by the seer (as the Spirit leads the focus). Then there is a moment of silence for people to begin considering various circumstances, issues, or challenges in their lives. The group may pair up and partners lay hands on one another, praying for Spiritual insight. They are to focus on the impressious that they feel "in the Spirit" as they are praying for the individuals. Sometimes these come as images, visions, sounds, scents, or "feelings". Sometimes the people are encouraged to speak them out. At other times they are encouraged not to speak them out, but remember them and record them in a journal that is revisited throughout the secessions. For example, in sessions focused on Word of Knowledge a person may smell the scent of a drug or have an image of a drug impressed upon their mind while praying for someone. They will then say, "Lord, I sense in the Spirit that this person or someone close to them is struggling with drugs... we plead the..." Or the person might receive an image or vision of a broken wedding cake topper, note it, and later in discussion mention that they saw this and how they feel it may indicate that the person prayed for or someone close to them is facing (or going to face) a divorce. The issues at hand can then be prayed for together by the group.

Spiritual development groups can be very interesting as the Spirit begins to reveal things to the group that no one in the group could possibly know about one another, their churches, families, jobs, or friends. In this manner people become rather confident in following the leading of the Spirit in these areas. If something is "off" the seer(s) will typically help to interpret as the Spirit leads them... or it is left as is and considered to be a "misinterpretation of the Spirit" or a thought rooted in the "flesh".