Are spiritual gifts able to be used in contexts other than "church gatherings"? For example what about the following venues?
Home Bible studies
At home with family and/or friends
At work
When out and about
Per a private request
At family gatherings
Over the internet
Over email
Gifts of the Spirit are defined as being any of the following:
• The gift of wisdom seems to be the ability to make decisions and give guidance that is according to God's will through the power of the Spirit.
• The gift of knowledge is the ability to have an in-depth understanding of a spiritual issue or situation through the power of the Spirit.
• The gift of faith is being able to trust God and encourage others to trust God, no matter the circumstances through the power of the Spirit.
• The gift of healing is the miraculous ability to use God's healing power to restore a person who is sick, injured, or suffering through the power of the Spirit.
• The gift of miracles is being able to perform signs and wonders that give authenticity to God's Word and the Gospel message through the power of the Spirit.
• The gift of prophecy is being able to proclaim a message from God through the power of the Spirit.
• The gift of discerning spirits is the ability to determine whether or not a message, person, or event is truly from God or to see/feel and understand what is happening in the spiritual realm through the power of the Spirit.
• The gift of tongues is the ability to speak in a spiritual language (the tongue of angels) accompanied with prophetic interpretation or in private prayer through the power of the Spirit.
• The gift of interpreting tongues is the ability to translate the tongues speaking and communicate it back to others in your own language through the power of the Spirit.
• The gift of administration is being able to keep things organized and in accordance with God's principles through the power of the Spirit.
• The gift of helps is always having the desire and ability to help others, to do whatever it takes to get a task accomplished through the power of the Spirit.
Are spiritual gifts able to be used in contexts other than "church gatherings"? For example what about the following venues?
Home Bible studies
At home with family and/or friends
At work
When out and about
Per a private request
At family gatherings
Over the internet
Over email
...
Thoughts?
Sure! Here are some other venues you can use them in:
TV Shows, such as The 700 Club.
Night clubs
Variety shows
900-number hotlines
Detective agencies
Police investigations
Use your imagination!
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
I've been led to pray for complete strangers at the hospital. I always ask their permission of course but every person I've ever felt I should approach said that they were in desperate need of someone to pray with them and had been praying alone until I got there (even though sometimes family members were present). As far as 'results' I leave those to God.
For the original question... I think those who prayerfully and carefully approach the use of their gifts will have wisdom about when to use them. I don't really see that there is a 'wrong' time or place if God is doing the leading. I have however seen many instances where people have other agendas, as in those mentioned by Timmy, and behave shamefully in the name of God. Too bad really.
What if someone approached you and asked if you'd pray with them and inquire to the Lord privately (like in your home over coffee next Saturday) about a situation because they heard that you were sensitive to the Spirit when it comes to spiritual discernment, word of knowledge, and word of wisdom? Would you give the private consulation?
What if someone approached you and asked if you'd pray with them and inquire to the Lord privately (like in your home over coffee next Saturday) about a situation because they heard that you were sensitive to the Spirit when it comes to spiritual discernment, word of knowledge, and word of wisdom? Would you give the private consulation?
I would absolutely be open to that. If it were an adult man I would also ask my husband to be present. Of course when we had a friend feel that Jesus name baptism was important I told Don to take him out to the pond and dunk him.
What if someone approached you and asked if you'd pray with them and inquire to the Lord privately (like in your home over coffee next Saturday) about a situation because they heard that you were sensitive to the Spirit when it comes to spiritual discernment, word of knowledge, and word of wisdom? Would you give the private consulation?
I dunno, but I'd be like .
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
First of all, I really like your post. It is a great summary and clarification of the nature and function of the Gifts.
We teach that every believer is a minister and that the gifts are intended to be our tool kit for daily use in whatever venue they happen to be needed.
We teach our teams to go out in the spirit of Matthew 10:7-9 -- And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give
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