Quote:
Originally Posted by Esaias
Considering 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14 and Paul's correction of abuses regarding speaking in tongues, don't you think it odd that he never said "some of this stuff going on is demonic"? Rather, people simply weren't operating properly "as a team", causing disorder. The solution wasn't casting out demons, but proper teaching.
Thoughts?
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I think you make a valid point.
I've seen things in churches that I thought were demonic. For example, people barking like dogs, walking around the room on all fours making cow sounds, hooting like owls, and laughing hysterically as "the spirit" (an unseen force) comes over them. I'd agree with casting whatever spirit of chaos is inspiring these behaviors.
But you're right. When it comes to the gifts of the Spirit, sincere individuals can use them improperly. When a gift is used improperly, it isn't a demonic manifestation. It is a circumstance that might just require some basic teaching and training.
Based on my studies these gifts can be defined as follows:
Speaking Gifts:
1.) Gift of Prophesy - The impartation of the ability to speak and/or deliver a message directly from God concerning a spiritual reality or situation in the past, present, or future ("Thus saith the LORD..."). It is also the ability to declare a thing using authority from God, and it come to pass ("I prophesy healing into the lives of God's people, in the name of Jesus!").
2.) 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". 3.) Gift of Interpretation of Tongues - The impartation of the ability to "interpret" (not translate) unknown tongues spoken through the "Gift of Tongues".
Revelatory Gifts:
1.) Word of Knowledge - The impartation of knowledge and/or information pertaining to a person, place, thing, situation, or chain of events that the gift holder could not have known by any natural means.
2.) Word of Wisdom - Divine wisdom or insight about a situation that is delivered straight from God.
3.) Discernment of Spirits - The ability to supernaturally know the motive of a human spirit or to discern the presence and nature of spiritual beings (angels or demons).
Power Gifts:
1.) Gift of Faith - The impartation of supernatural faith that defies all logic in a given, seemingly hopeless, situation or circumstance.
2.) Gifts of Healing - The impartation of the power to heal various maladies in the body, soul, or spirit.
3.) 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.
When operating in the Spiritual gifts, we have to consider another provision of the Holy Spirit, "visions". I believe visions can reveal things about the past, the present, or the future. A vision might also reveal a previously unseen or misunderstood spiritual truth or reality. In addition, any of the
Revelatory Gifts can be communicated via a vision. Based on my studies of the Scriptures, visions can come in at least five different ways. The five ways one might experience a vision are:
Visionary Dreams - A visionary experience while asleep or unconscious. The individual having this type of vision might be a participant or a passive observer during the vision.
Inner Vision - A visionary experience while awake. It might seem like a daydream, or it might be of such an intensity that it commands one's full attention.
Open Heavens Vision - A visionary experience wherein the individual having the vision experiences the vision as one looking into a what has, is, or will transpire as the vision plays out before them. It can be very real, like watching a movie that appears to be playing in thin air.
Panoramic Vision - A visionary experience wherein the individual who is having the vision experiences the vision as though they are a part of it as it transpires all around them.
Spiritual Vision - A visionary experience wherein the one who is having the vision is caught up out of their body and is spiritually translated to another location or even Heaven (or perhaps the "realm of spirit") to experience the vision and even interact with angels or the Lord Himself.
I believe that those who walk in the prophetic will have some rather deep experiences in these things. Those who hear the Holy Spirit communicate to them through a type of impression or inner hearing are experiencing the "prophetic anointing". Those who see visions and have visionary experiences are experiencing the "seer anointing". Prophets "hear" and tell. Seers "see" and tell. Not all prophets are seers. However, all seers are prophets.
I don't believe that any of these giftings are "demonic". They are genuine manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the church. However, those who experience these gifts must be taught what these gifts are, how to activate this power of the Holy Spirit, how to allow these gifts to flow, and how to use them properly in one's daily life as it might relate to edifying the body, winning the lost, or in ministering to one's coworkers, close friends, and family.
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