It's about time, but I understand it's all in God's timing! For the past 4 weeks Pastor Neal has been preaching and teaching on the Spiritual Gifts. I'm so happy to finally feel like we can discuss them and talk about them openly. Based on that last sentence one would think I'm talking about something taboo, but I'm simply talking about the Holy Spirit.
It's amazing to me how much the Western Church has demonized the "sign gifts" of the Spirit (i.e. speaking in/interpreting tongues, prophecy, etc) to the point that our leaders and pastors are afraid to bring the subjects up in their pulpits. The silence from pulpits in many denominations is deafening. I have blogged many times about this very subject so I'll try not to go back to the same points.
I'm very happy that Pastor Neal has moved us into a discussion and teaching on these things. I think it's been a very enriching time for the body based on the many positive comments I've heard. There is a mass of people that have seen the Holy Spirit's power mocked and abused by people we don't really trust. Then there's a mass of people that are afraid of what might happen to them if they experience the Holy Spirit's manifestation in the ways described in the Word. I'm thankful that there's a trust factor with our pastor that the congregation has so that we can be taught from someone that we know and that we know hears from the Lord and is grounded enough to teach us the right things. Then there is the Holy Spirit to verify in our spirits what we hear as we continue to study and seek understanding.
Interestingly enough, we've also heard from our missionaries in the field of East Asia who have started seeing many signs and wonders follow them as they go out in the Name of Jesus and teach, preach, and sow His word. Why should anyone be surprised that our God is the same God and has the same power and intentions as the God of the Bible, specifically the New Testament? Now a problem can arise if we aren't careful that we start looking and "following" the signs and wonders instead of following after Christ. If we follow Christ and are working for His Kingdom then those things FOLLOW US...not the other way around...they are simply a by-product of our obedience.
Why is it God's Spirit is revealing Himself to our missionaries in South Africa and East Asia? Why do they see healings and experience Words of Knowledge and Wisdom and prophecy and on and on as they see God use their work to expand His Kingdom? I guess the question really isn't why do we see it there, but more in line of why don't we see it here in the USA like that? It's because we've placed the Holy Spirit in our tidy little boxes and closed the lid in many cases. We are happy to say that we have the Holy Spirit when we get saved and that He gifts us with the ability to be a great administrator or an encourager, but we stop there because the other gifts would actually require us to exercise our faith! OUCH!
Should we be surprised to hear that our missionaries pray in the Spirit? No! Should we be surprised that the Spirit can give them the faith to be healed of a chocolate allergy or a broken tooth? No! We should be thrilled that God continues to fulfill his promises that He will pour out His Spirit!
I am thrilled that we can finally talk about this. We aren't crazies. We aren't super-spiritual nut-jobs who think they are better than everyone else. We are just ordinary men and women, hungry and seeking after our God. Let's keep up the discussion and keep looking and living with expectancy as we follow Him.
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