Here’s the outline of a seminar/talk/sermon I’ve given in many churches over the last 30 years:

WHY SO MUCH INTEREST IN SPIRITUAL GIFTS TODAY?

· IMPATIENCE / INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH Like a mighty tortoise

Moves the church of God

Brothers we are treading

Where we’ve always trod

We are all divided, many bodies we

Very strong on doctrine, we all on charity

a.. THEOLOGY OF LAITY

· RISE OF PENTECOSTAL / CHARISMATIC RENEWAL 1/5 all Christians

1/4 all full-time pastors/missionaries

1/2 all conversions

· INCREASE IN OCCULT EASTERN RELIGIONS, DRUG CULTURE OUIJA Boards

· AMAZING STORIES: MISSION FIELDS JOSIE – Telefomin, child dead 3 hours. Fish multiplied

VISION – pointing stick, ‘jumping in the spirit’

· DIVISIVE No.1 problem Baptists in Australia (in the 1960s – 1980s)

WHY DIVISIVE?

· RESISTANCE OF INSTITUTIONS TO RENEWAL

Moses & The prophets

Test of Institutionalism: who are the prophets? Don’t despise prophesying

· FEAR (CHARISPHOBIA)

What is God asking me to do?

Father – fish/serpent?

….- egg/scorpion?

What if nothing happens?

What if experience spurious OR demonic?

· PRIDE (CHARISMANIA)

‘Why aren’t you travelling first class?’

“My Gift” – No, God’s gifts

· DIVORCE OF HEAT AND LIGHT

‘John Wesley had a strangely warmed heart allied to a strangely cool head’

WHAT ARE THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS?

Speaking Gifts:

1. APOSTLE (Ep. 4:11)

Foundational: Leadership over a number of churches

Preservation of doctrine

Church planting

2. PROPHET (Ep. 4:11)

Inspired word for today

Judgment & hope

3. EVANGELIST (Ep. 4:11)

Every Christian a witness

10% Evangelists (Wagner)

Proclamation – repentance

4. TEACHER (Ep. 4:11)

Instruction – formation

5. PASTOR (Ep. 4:11)

Shepherd – pray, teach, train.

6. EXHORTATION (Ro 12: 8)

Barnabas .. (paraclete)

7. WORD OF WISDOM (I co. 12: 8)

Understanding of God’s purpose

8. WORD OF KNOWLEDGE ((I Co. 12: 8)

Q.T: Justice and righteousness (JER. 22:15, 16): Encounter

N.T: Personal, not theoretical

9. MISSIONARY

Gift of one church to another

10. COURAGE (MARTYRDOM) (I Co. 13:3)

Dangerous situations

Blood of martyrs: seed of church

11. DISCERNMENT (I Co. 12:10)

Good / Holy Spirit or Evil

12. SPEAKING IN TONGUES (I Co. 12:10)

Acts: Given by spirit – not sought – founding of church

I Co.12: 30: Given some Christians – others sometimes (14: 5)

May be psychological, demonic

13. INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES (I Co. 12:10, 30; 14:13, 27, 28)

When tongues is public

Serving Gifts

14. SERVICE (Ro.12: 7)

15. MERCY (Ro.12: 8)

Sympathy, compassion

(a) HELPING (Ro.12: 28)

Help given to weak

(b) ASSISTANCE

Help given to the strong

16. VOLUNTARY POVERTY (I Co. 13: 3)

17. GIVING (Ro 12: 8)

18. LEADERSHIP (Ro 12: 8)

19. FAITH (I Co. 12: 9)

20. ADMINISTRATION (I Co. 12: 28)

21. CELIBACY (I Co. 7: 7)

22. HOSPITALITY (I Pet. 4: 7-10)

23. INTERCESSION (Ro 8: 26-27)

24. HEALING (I Co. 12: 9, 28)

25. MIRACLES (I Co. 12: 10, 28)

26. EXORCISM

WHAT ARE GIFTS FOR?

1. GLORIFY CHRIST (Jn 16: 14, Ac 11: 18)

2.. CONVICT THE WORLD OF SIN (Jn 16:8-11, I Co. 14: 24, 25)

3.. CONVINCE THE WORLD OF THE TRUTH (Jn 16:13; Mk 16:17, 18; Ac 2: 12, 13; 4: 16, 6: 8, 13: 12)

4.. GUIDE THE CHURCH (Ac 13:1-3, I TM 1:18)

5.. EDIFY THE CHURCH (I Co. 14: 4)

6.. HEAL SPIRIT, MIND, BODY

HOW DO WE TEST A GIFT TO FIND OUT IF IT’S FROM GOD?

Testing Gifts: (Watson – I Believe in the Church, p. 112-113)

NT – numerous warnings / false prophets and teachers

Confusion / charismatic renewal – Spurious manifestations of so-called

MONTANISTS – ‘write off’ others

CATHOLICS – over reacted – quenching prophetic spirit for centuries

Better – submit to scripture.

1.. IS JESUS LORD OF THAT PERSON’S LIFE? No one can say Jesus is Lord except by Holy Spirit – REALITY

2.. IS JESUS ACKNOWLEDGED AS PERFECT MAN & PERFECT GOD? (I John 4: 2)

– some denied either humanity of Jesus or Divinity – both true – crucial

3.. IS THE MANIFESTATION OF GIFT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SCRIPTURES? Samuel to Saul: “You have rejected the word of the Lord” -spirit of the Lord/ Lord departed from Samuel. (I Sam. 15: 26; 16: 14)

4.. IS THERE TRUE HOLINESS & GODLINESS ABOUT THAT PERSON? Great men – great faults

False prophets – you shall know them by their fruits (Mt. 7:15-20)

Self-centredness, immorality

Common NT marks of false prophet

5.. IS THERE SUBMISSION TO CHURCH LEADERS? “Subject to one another out of reverence to Christ” (Eph. 5: 21) – spirit of independence – often rebellion – not mark of someone under control of Holy Spirit

6.. IS THE CHURCH EDIFIED THROUGH THIS GIFT? Repeated emphasis on I Cor. 12:14 – never personal display or sensationalism, unless help members / grow up into .. – useless – deceptive

7.. IS LOVE THE CONTROLLING FACTOR? Without love we are nothing, we have nothing

HOW DO I DISCOVER THE GIFT GOD HAS FOR ME?

ASK, SEEK, KNOCK

1. Ask for a specific gift? Yes – allow father’s discretion

Study scriptures

Love and acceptance

2.. When you pray: 3.. a.. Greatest concern for the Church / world?

a.. What is your desire?

3.. Assessment of your own giftedness? Natural – Birth

Spiritual – New Birth

4.. What do others think?

5.. Assured of success, what contribute to others?

6.. What am I asked to do? Others appreciated?

THE CHURCH & THE WORLD NEED YOU. GOD NEEDS YOU!

Rowland Croucher