“All these (gifts) are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.” – 1 Corinthians 12:11
“Now eagerly desire the spiritual gifts.” – 1 Corinthians 12:31
“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the spirit, especially the gift of prophecy.” – 1 Corinthians 14:1
Why are spiritual gifts neglected in the church, particularly in the church of America? Most denominations rarely speak about things like prophecy, speaking in tongues, miraculous healing, visions and dreams, etc. And if they don’t rarely speak about them, whenever they do many church leaders teach in a way that makes believers not want to eagerly desire the spiritual gifts.
However, 1 Corinthians 12:31 and 14:1 directly tells us to seek after gifts from the Holy Spirit. So, I’d like to point out a couple of bad teachings that many people proclaim to help us grab the purity and truth of God’s Word on the topic.
The Flat Out Lie
Some pastors and teachers say that spiritual gifts and miracles ended when the disciples died. They distort verses like Matthew 10:1 which tells us Jesus gave the disciples power to heal and cast out demons. They say the power was only given to those disciples and wasn’t passed on to future generations. What a terrible manipulation of Jesus’ words! Jesus never said that. Just because he gave the authority and power to his disciples first, doesn’t mean it stopped with them. Jesus told his disciples to go into all the world and make disciples, teaching those new disciples to follow and obey ALL he taught them. Jesus taught them to heal the sick, so they had to teach others to do it as well!
The Misconception
1 Corinthians 14:1 explains that the Holy Spirit gives the gifts to people as he determines. Therefore, people who are not in a spiritual environment conducive of the greater gifts feel that it must be God’s will for them to not operate in the supernatural realm because God has not “zapped” them like the disciples experienced on the day of Pentecost. If that’s the case, then why would Paul instruct us to eagerly desire the spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:31 and 14:1. If our ability to operate in the spiritual gifts is only determined by God and how he chooses, then there’s absolutely no reason to eagerly desire and seek the greater gifts.
Here’s my take. The spiritual gifts are not as much like presents as they are special talents. When someone is very good at math, we say they have a gift. Does that mean someone who’s not very good at math can never learn it. No, of course not. It might take more time and effort than someone with a gift, but it’s still attainable. That’s why we’re told to eagerly desire the spiritual gifts.
Speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophecy, healing, visions and dreams are ALL available to us. Some of the gifts might come more naturally to us than other gifts because the Holy Spirit has gifted us in them. However, if we eagerly desire them, God will develop any and all of his gifts in our lives.
Love you fam!
Brice Tabor
Director of Worship
