Bible Question (short): What is YOUR spiritual gift? |
Question (full): Greetings Grace and Truth and Forum Participants! For most of my life I was taught to believe just what you have written here: "The means for the reception of spiritual gifts in the Christian age are not operative today. Gifts, in the first century, were bestowed by means of Holy Spirit baptism (Acts 2; 10), and through the laying on of the apostles1 hands (Acts 8:17, 18; 19:6; ” Tim. 1:6). Since there is no Holy Spirit baptism today (Eph. 4:5; Mt. 28:19, 20), and as there are no living apostles, it is obvious that, so far as biblical evidence is concerned, no spiritual gifts are being given to believers today." But God was not limited by what I had chosen to believe about Him. He had to overtly "knock my socks off" (this got my attention!) several times before I could finally admit that I had been foolish to put up with the traditional teaching of men rather than depending upon the teaching of the Holy Spirit on the matter of spiritual gifts. Because I had refused to believe that God no longer spoke except through His Word, I denied myself the privilege of hearing His voice and allowed doubt to reign. BIG MISTAKE! I am saddened that you have chosen to put God in a box - in reality, you are defining who YOUR God is and not allowing HIM to do the defining for YOU!The spiritual gifts are alive and well today. "You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures." James 4:2-3 In Christ's love, Mommapbs PS:For those Forum members who are exercizing their spiritual gifts to edify the body of Christ, please send a note of encouragement to Grace and Truth! |