The church that is man-managed instead of God-governed is doomed to failure. A ministry that is college-trained but not Spirit-filled works no miracles.
- Leonard Ravenhill
Psalms of Delight...
Most of the Bible's Psalms give thanks to God on one or more levels. Commanded to do so, Christians aught to make the time to praise God for His glorious nature, creative genius and many gifts to mankind.
Psalms of Delight are written in concert with Psalms in the Night. Both series contain Modern Psalms meant to comfort and inspire those seeking the Omni-God revealed in Scripture.
Gifts of the Spirit Summary
God's gift of His only begotten Son sends a strong message of the Trinity's faithfulness to the plight of man. We do well to carefully consider the cost of our atonement, beginning with the Incarnation. All the more since there remains hope that we might receive the kind of Gifts of the Spirit, such as healing the sick, essential to experiencing and evidencing genuine Kingdom power.
Gifts of the Spirit
Modern Psalm 21
It's twelve days before Christmas and I'm asking for the same presents I've been pestering You for pretty much since high school. For over thirty years I've longed to see You restore the gifts of the Spirit to the Church.
The best part of asking for this is it was Your idea! Two thousand years before Santa and his bag of presents, You gave the most expensive gift of all, Yourself. First, through the incarnation and atonement of the Son of God. Then, Your very Spirit, once Christ had "ascended on high and taken captivity captive He gave gifts to men." Or as The Message put it, "He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts."
And what gifts they are! The kind that never go out of style. As noted in "Healing the Sick" and "A New Pentecost" scripture's clear they're as necessary and available today as when Christ and the Apostles first unwrapped them. What could be more exciting than to be filled with the fruit and gifts of Your Spirit? What amazing and limitless possibilities await men and women who become nothing short of new creations, filled with the power and demonstration of the Spirit. The very Promise of the Father:
- “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” Luke 24:49
- "Then, raised to the heights at the right hand of God and receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he poured out the Spirit he had just received. That is what you see and hear." Acts 2:33 MSG
- "Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this...There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all... A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts... 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
We've been in a spiritual drought for so long Lord. Without Your glory among us our sins have multiplied exponentially, reaching to Heaven and filling it with scandal. Through abortion alone we've covered the Earth in crimson, murdering a billion and turning a mother's womb into the most dangerous place in the world. I tremble, particularly at Christmas, to think of the judgment awaiting my generation for such treachery against You and humanity. The Trinity chose an astounding way to sanctify the birth process. Through immaculate conception, God the Father by the Spirit implanted the Son into the womb of a lowly teenage girl in Nazareth. When only a embryo about the size of a thumb, Christ was recognized by the fist sized fetus John the Baptist. The "child" within Elizabeth "leapt for joy" as she was filled with the Holy Spirit. It was her "baby" not a product of conception, inviable tissue mass or tumor who was the first person Scripture records recognizing and praising the arrival of the long await Messiah growing in Mary's womb. Two millennia before Dr. Sues, months before the first Christmas when Jesus was born in a stable, the Bible declares what everyone knows "A person is a person no matter how small!"
Yet even knowing this better than most, here I am again asking for more blessings rather than the justice we deserve. But even this is Your idea. I'm so grateful that Scripture explains You take no pleasure in the death of the wicked and aren't willing that any should perish but that all should come to the knowledge of repentance, truth and salvation. The very message of Christmas is that as the Father of us all, it grieves You to have to punish mankind for our sins. In love and mercy You provided a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes instead. Yet dear Lord, without the fruit and gifts of Your Spirit, fewer and fewer acknowledge Your existence much less their need for Christ.
I know it's asking a lot, maybe even too much. But unless You soften our hard hearts by pouring out Your Spirit "who shall believe our report?" How else can we be made right with You and one another? As a dad myself, I would think this is what You want above everything else. So humbly yet boldly I inch towards Your throne of grace asking for mercy and resource. You've got about 7.5 billion children who desperately need Your presence and power, provision and protection. Please restore and multiply the gifts of the Spirit and give us all the perfect present this Christmas.
Author's Note
What is needed is spiritual balance and equilibrium. In this case, as a decades old prayer partner once noted in regards to resolving the tension between accurately discerning Scripture and the centrality of the Holy Spirit, “Evangelism without prayer is Fruitless, Prayer without Evangelism is Faithless. Scripture without the Spirit is Lifeless, the Spirit without Scripture is Baseless.” With this mind, let us more prayerfully study the Bible, recognizing Scripture itself must be "spiritually discerned."
Spiritual truths, often quantum in nature, may have more in keeping with a philosophy and theology of both/and rather than either/or. The cessation vs. charismatic question is just such a religious/social paradox. On the one hand, clearly the extraordinary and/or miraculous gifts of the Spirit were instrumental in testifying to the authenticity and power of the message of the apostles. Much of which would come to be canonized into the New Testament. Furthermore, traditionalists and conservatives from both camps would agree that the Old and New Testaments represent a unique and completed work of the highest authority.
Yet each argues, from these very Scriptures, what is often an apposing viewpoint regarding spiritual gifts. In his Strange Fire conference, the globally syndicated John MacArthur objecting to both doctrine and often outlandish practice, has gone so far as to publicly excommunicate charismatics in toto from Christendom. Equally emphatic in his book by the same name.
On the other hand, a review of Scripture renders a clear and decisive verdict on the matter. Simply put, examples and teachings on spiritual gifts abound throughout the entire New Testament. Without which, neither the 1st or 21st century church could fully forward, much less fulfill, Christ’s great commission.
Wikipedia records the following cursory review of just a handful of many helpful passages:
The cessationist are right to both note and object to unfortunate subtle and obtuse, unbiblical and nonsensical practices by innumerable charismatics for over a century. Nevertheless, they are equally wrong to assert Scripture forbids the seeking and implementing of genuine spiritual gifts. In fact, both are mandated pursuits required by the New Testament. A point made obvious in just a single chapter regarding the subject:
“What I want to talk about now is the various ways God’s Spirit gets worked into our lives. This is complex and often misunderstood, but I want you to be informed and knowledgeable.” 1 Corinthians 12:1 The Message
“God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful: wise counsel, clear understanding, simple trust, healing the sick, miraculous acts, proclamation, distinguishing between spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues, All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 The Message
“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues?" Do all interpret?” 1 Corinthians 12:27-30 New International Version
“Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.” 1 Corinthians 12:31 New International Version
As easily seen by these and a plethora of New Testament verses, the Bible reveals no spiritual gift recension or cease clause. Far from it, we are all instructed to “eagerly desire the greater gifts.” Again, another crucial and powerful passage in this regard, concerns itself with healing the sick:
“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:13-16 New International Version
Here we find no hint of the spiritual gift of miraculous healing having timed out. Certainly not any more than the confessing of sin and/or prayer. In fact, these four verses may be among the most telling in all of Scripture. Why? Because the inability of the elders of both cessationist and charismatic churches alike to genuine and consistently heal the sick suggests the we have few if any authentic elders. Or at least elders capable of praying the prayer of faith.
This may go a long way in explaining the hostile doctrines of cessationists, as well as the exaggerated claims of charismatics.
In the case of the modern practice of “speaking in tongues,” and to a lesser degree “prophecy,” misunderstanding abounds on both sides of the aisle. In regards to the latter, charismatics by and large reject the assertion that contemporary personal prophetic words are offered with anything close to the authority of Scripture. Unfortunately, the use of phrases such as “Thus saith the Lord” only add to the confusion and should be avoided for many reasons. Not the least of which is a dismal track record of doctrinal error and inaccuracy.
Regarding the former, the often misinterpreted subject of speaking the tongues, Scripture reveals two unappreciated yet salient points of clarification:
Speaking in tongues is certainly among the spiritual gifts offered by the Holy Spirit to Christ’s church. - 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
Scripture would seem to suggest there are at least five viable categories of tongues.
Point 1 has been clearly referenced. Point 2, while obvious, requires some explanation.
Prior to the Day of Pentecost, a group of the highest trained and motivated Disciples turned Apostles strove for, until receiving the promise of the Father, i.e. the complete infilling of the Holy Spirit. This transformational outpouring far exceeded all their previous extremely impressive spiritual experiences and exploits. Up to and including Christ’s individual calling and training, as well as miraculously healing the sick and casting out demons. Not to mention Jesus already breathing on them while commanding, “receive” the Holy Spirit.
If anyone could claim to have already responded to God, to the point of working miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit, it was such as these.
Rather, obeying Christ’s command to them, and by extension and example all future believers, they chose to "tarry until you receive power from on high." In an upper room experience they were united “in one accord” with other extremely serious believers in what may well have been the most fervent Christian prayer meeting in history. Lasting for weeks, they undoubtedly cried out to the resurrected Messiah whom they had just witness vanishing in clouds of glory, leaving them utterly alone. This at at time when Jew and Roman alike wanted them silenced, if not dead.
Little wonder, praying as if their very lives depended on it, they continued to do so until bursting into spontaneous spiritual combustion.
From these points we glean that there are levels of yielding to and empowerment by the Holy Spirit. As well as the importance of seriously seeking to progress from lesser to greater degrees of both.
On the Day of Pentecost these unique and exemplary Christian men and women encountered God in a way previously unknown. One of several evidences of which was speaking “in other tongues as the spirit gave them utterance.” From that event, the Apostles walked in a wisdom and power far beyond their own education and resource, causing even their enemies to take note:
“Now when the men of the Sanhedrin (Jewish High Court) saw the confidence and boldness of Peter and John, and grasped the fact that they were uneducated and untrained [ordinary] men, they were astounded, and began to recognize that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in reply.” Acts 4:13-14 Amplified Bible
Case in point, the minimum five varieties of the gift of tongues, as represented in the New Testament, are frequently lumped into a single category. Both by practitioners and detractors alike. They are as follows:
Ecstatic utterance as evidence of being Filled with the Spirit
Speaking in unlearned languages (of men and angels)
Public expression with interpretation
Public expression without interpretation
Private devotional language
1. Ecstatic Utterance: Like in the Book Acts, tens if not hundreds of millions of modern charismatic have long had the privilege and experience of speaking in tongues. Including the author. Unlike in the Book of Acts, neither this nor subsequent events tend to translate into the kind of radical discipleship and miraculous power that defined not only 1st century apostles, but even Kingdom table waiters like Stephen. Hence our generation’s critical need for our own Pentecost. Perhaps one with an immediate global impact of million upper rooms:
“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.” Acts 10:44-46 New International Version
2. Unlearned Languages: While sometimes advertised otherwise, among the hundreds of millions of charismatics in the First World, this may be so rare as to be all but a lost art:
“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place, and suddenly a sound came from heaven like a rushing violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. There appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were being distributed [among them], and they rested on each one of them [as each person received the Holy Spirit]. And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately].” Acts 2:1-4 Amplified Bible (AMP)
3. Public Tongues With Interpretation: As reference by the previous passage, tongues followed by genuine interpretation have a much stronger public effect:
“Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?” 1 Corinthians 14:6 New International Version
“For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.” 1 Corinthians 14:13-17 New International Version
4. Public Tongues Without Interpretation: While somewhat vague, Scripture seems to suggest this level of tongue may be akin to a personal devotional prayer language, which is the 5th and least variety. As such, while authentically doing so is said to glorify God, it does little or nothing for others than the speakers themselves:
“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.” 1 Corinthians 14:1-5 New International Version
5. Private Devotional Language: This last and least level of tongues is most likely the variety employed by the vast majority of honest modern charismatics. Particularly in the First World were levels of temptation and deception, worldliness and sin are rampant.
All but universally mistaken for one, if not all four greater levels of spiritual infilling, innumerable errors in doctrine and practice hamper rather than help those seeking to truly experience and walk in the Spirit. Often and regrettably to the point of meriting Paul’s rebuke to his beloved self same Corinthians, “I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.”
Nevertheless, private devotion tongues come with an incredible, albeit somewhat convoluted endorsement:
“I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.” 1 Corinthians 14:18-20 New International Version
Here the great Apostle Paul reveals one the hidden secrets to his amazing relationship with God. Recognizing the potential edification of tongues, Paul who “in the church would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue” yet speaks “in tongues more than all of you.” The syntax seems to suggest this was his private habit, and thereby most like not the language of men and angels but rather that of the Spirit’s interceding:
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27 New International Version
The spiritual gift of a private devotional language should neither be over or undervalued. While hardly equivalent to the outpouring on the Day of Pentecost, it is nonetheless an outgrowth of it. It may also be a small step towards recovering that which is both most necessary and tragically lost. Spiritual gifts if found, may yet provide profound access to God. For believers and unbelievers alike:
“But if all prophesy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], and an unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convicted [of his sins] by all, and he is called to account by all [because he can understand what is being said]; the secrets of his heart are laid bare. And so, falling on his face, he will worship God, declaring that God is really among you.” 1 Corinthians 14:24-25 Amplified Bible
“Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:20-23 New King James Version
Prophetic Christians appreciate the essential importance of both the gifts and fruit of the Spirit. Both on an individual and corporate level. In regards to prayer, they are inspired by the Spirit to undertake the art of intercession, harmonizing with creation as together we groan to experience the trinity of God's glory. Such sorely needed men and women recognize the Bible was written by and tells the stories of people who cultivated and experienced great revival. Saints, while no doubt our betters, still offer encouragement and counsel to even such as we.
A sentiment captured by a few lines from Alfred Tennyson’s Ulysses:
“Though much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are —
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”
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