Christian Mission Outreach

What about the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

Are they for today or did they cease 2000 years ago?

Two Catholic theologians, K. McDonnell and G.T. Montague, investigated the matter and wrote a book called CHRISTIAN INITIATION AND BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, Evidence from the First Eight Centuries. They could have kept going investigating other centuries, but found plenty of evidence that Holy Spirit gifting continued long after the book of Acts. It did not stop there.

Let’s see what the Bible says. To begin with, the “laying on of hands” to impart gifts of the Holy Spirit is listed as part of “the foundation” of our faith, “the elementary principles of Christ.” (Heb. 6:1-2 NKJV) So Paul expected that Christians believed this.

When Jesus walked on the earth in human form, His disciples had God in the flesh with them. But Jesus promised that after His resurrection, they could have God with them through the Holy Spirit, who would not be confined spatially as Jesus was, but be in many places at once all over the world. He would come with His gifts and produce His fruit in believers who abide in Jesus with His word abiding in them. Jesus said He would pray the Father to send “another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:16-18) Like the woman at the well, we can have His words bubble up inside us, or receive dreams or visions from God showing us His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Many people do not even think of the gifts, sometimes from a lack of knowledge. And others have vast experiences with Holy Spirit gifts today such as in Christ For All Nations crusades in Africa where many hundreds of miracles have been recorded. We are to believe when God moves and not be unbelievers.

In Ephesus, Paul said to some disciples he found, “‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ So they said to him, ‘We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.’ And he said to them, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ So they said, ‘Into John’s baptism.’  Then Paul said, 'John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him [Jesus] who would come after him’… When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.” (Acts 19:2-6) In crowds, God sometimes baptizes with Holy Spirit and fire without the persons even being touched.

We can use the gift of discerning of spirits and watch the fruit in lives to see if happenings are genuine movements of God. But whether you’re expecting it or not, celebrate what is from God. “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thess. 5:19-21) God is pleased when the Spirit is welcomed who proceeds from the Father and His Son Jesus. However, Paul warned that in the last days some people would do a lot of things which displease God, including have a religious spirit, “having a form of godliness but denying its power.” (2 Tim. 3:5) We are to have the form of godliness, living holy lives, but we are to also affirm, even welcome, the power of the Holy Spirit. The “gospel of Christ…is the power of God to salvation.” (Rom. 1:16) It is demonstrated through the Holy Ghost. As Jesus said before ascending to the Father, “For you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me.” (Acts 1:8)

Are there only the Isaian gifts or are there more?

When I studied Catholic catechism many years ago, the only gifts we studied were wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the LORD, from Isaiah 11:2. They were imparted to us with Holy Spirit at Confirmation. But later I learned in the Charismatic Renewal that I could be baptized, immersed in, the Holy Spirit and receive any or all of the charismatic or Pentecostal gifts. There was such a difference in my life when that happened, because Holy Spirit could speak to me from inside of me.

“For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one as He wills.”  (1 Cor. 12:8-11) God has other gifts too like helps, giving and hospitality.

Does everyone have the same gifts and to the same degree?

The above passage and its preface show that Holy Spirit does not gift all people the same, even though they receive the same Holy Ghost. It is like the talents. Five, two or one was given to each servant “according to his own ability.” (Matt. 25:15) “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities if activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.” (1 Cor. 12:4-6) Holy Spirit distributes what He chooses, and to what extent, to whomever He wills. So a believer may receive “gifts of healings” or “miracles” from Holy Spirit, yet not as powerfully as Benny Hinn received. So a believer should not feel guilty if he does not receive the same results as Benny. “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one as He wills.”

Jesus received all the gifts to a great measure. Yet He let Father God direct Him, showing Him what to do and say. What about us?

God expects us to be faithful with what He gives us, and He might then give us more. We are to have no jealousy over another person’s gifting. Instead, praise God for what He is doing through your brother or sister. It is the same with the 5-fold ministries. They are each a chosen gift of God for the good of the body of Christ. A congregation member might have some of their gifting, but to a lesser degree. “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.” (1 Cor. 12:7 “But as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Rom. 8:14)

“…God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of [belong to] one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them…” (Rom. 12:3-6)