As I’ve established in Parts I – III, spiritual manifestations are real, important, and they should function in the Body today. But they must be held in proper balance.
Interestingly, spiritual gifts operate non-personally. This means that they function regardless of the spiritual stature of the person who functions in them. Gifts can be thought of as an outside power that God places upon an individual for a specific task.
Accordingly, the Bible gives us many instances where newborn babes and even carnal Christians functioned in powerful gifts (Acts 19:1-6; 1 Cor. 3, 14). God’s ultimate purpose, however, is intensely personal. It is not outward, but inward. God’s highest aim for His children is the inward formation of Christ within them. It is not the outward manifestation of the Spirit that temporarily abides upon them.
The essence of the gospel is conformity to Christ. The abiding purpose of God is that Christ be formed in us (Rom. 8:28-29; Gal. 4:19). Gifts are called “spiritual” simply because they come from the Holy Spirit, not because the recipients are spiritual people. As I’ve put it elsewhere, the closer a person is to Jesus, the less self-righteous, the less judgmental, the less harsh, and the less self-absorbed he or she will be.
Samson was one of the most gifted individuals in history (his power was virtually unlimited). Yet Samson was found lacking in character and spiritual understanding. Due to his foolishness, he was of little account to the Lord. He was raised up and gifted to fulfill an immediate purpose and nothing more.
Samson (the judge), Saul (the king), and Balaam (the prophet) are summary witnesses to the fact that the possession of impressive gifts does not insure spiritual maturity. The gifts of God can never be revoked. So a person can live ungodly and still have a power gift operating in their life.
This has been the cause of untold confusion in the church. It is hard to understand how a person can operate in the most extraordinary gifts yet practice gross sin. Such people are eventually shelved, even though their gifts remain. I’ve seen this happen to several people over the years. Samson, Saul, and Balaam were eventually put out of commission because of their deficit in spiritual life and character.
So it’s a grave mistake to gauge the spirituality of a person by the presence or absence of spiritual gifts. In themselves, gifts are a flimsy basis for a person’s usefulness to God. While they do have their value, there is something in God’s heart that is far greater—the formation of Christ within one’s character. How do they react under attack and persecution? Do they attack back or do they bear the cross and take on the spirit of the Lamb, trusting God to vindicate? Do they believe the worst of others or the best? Are they merciful or self-righteous? Do they lift others up or do they lift themselves up constantly?
A person can be tremendously gifted and still fail here. God’s goal is to have Christ’s character wrought in us . . . which is found in the fruit of the Spirit . . . . treating others the way we want to be treated in every situation.
While some people are in love with “spiritual work,” God is more interested in what we are than in what we do. He is more concerned with our being rather than in our doing. This does not imply that we are to be quietists and pacifists. It rather means that a person can be busily engaged in spiritual works and in the exercise of spiritual gifts, yet be lacking in any real value to God due to a dearth in spiritual life. In the words of T. Austin-Sparks,
“There is a difference between spiritual gifts and spiritual persons. The gifts—what are they? The result of the Spirit coming upon a person. The spiritual person—what is he? He is spiritual as a result of the Spirit forming within. There is a lot of difference between inward formation and merely outward action.”
As the Lord Himself becomes more precious to us, all other things—even spiritual “things” like gifts—become less important as things in themselves. We begin to seek the Lord’s face rather than His hand. And we realize that He is the incarnation of all gifts and graces.
I’ve greatly enjoyed this whole series, but especially this one. I’ve often found myself confused over a carnal Christian displaying spiritual gifts. This post has brought me understanding and perspective.
Thanks Frank. Each of us is responsible to not allow anyone or anything to lead us astray. This is why (I think) that it is so important to have a personal relationship with Christ; be filled with the Holy Spirit; desire truth! The Holy Spirit within will lead and guide us and He points us back to Christ. I have said many times that I am not against gifts but Christ manifested in my life and others is far more important. Thanks again. Ruth
“Samson (the judge), Saul (the king), and Balaam (the prophet) are summary witnesses to the fact that the possession of impressive gifts does not insure spiritual maturity. The gifts of God can never be revoked. So a person can live ungodly and still have a power gift operating in their life.”
This is a tremendous point and should put in us the fear of the Lord in our own life we seem to have giftings but are not walking in the Spirit daily, as led of the Lord.
Hi Frank,
I’ve really enjoyed this series so far.
Today’s post begs the question, why are God’s gifts irrevocable? I know we are told as much in scripture, but I’m interested in any thoughts you have as to why God chooses to dispense His gifts in this way. Given the damage that can apparently be done by people whose character falls shockingly short of the most basic scriptural standards but who continue to exert great influence over God’s people because of very visible gifts (you could insert a whole string of very public examples here), do you not wonder why God chooses to leave those gifts in operation?
I don’t have a good answer for this that I’m satisfied with. Perhaps someone else does.
Well, thanks for giving an honest reply and not trying to make up a plausible-sounding answer
Deut 13:1-3. Perhaps the gifts are given and remain so that God can prove us to see if we will follow a false prophet simply because they have a ‘gifting’ or whether we will stay true to Him. Some are led astray by the supernatural, and that waywardness is brought out by testing.
Frank, I have really enjoyed your thoughts on “Rethinking the Gifts of the Spirit.” Great insight and your presentation is seasoned with humility and grace! Glad I “stumbled” upon your books and blog. You have given me new inspiration to write and share God’s Word. God bless you.
Hi Frank
Great reminder of what is the pre-eminent importance, it is always Christ and Him displayed in character individually and most importantly corporately as a whole.
Great series brother. Keeping it real
Thanks again Frank, “learn of me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you shall find rest for your souls.” Matt 11:28-30. When we are resting in the finished work of Christ daily, we are complete in Him and we have nothing else to prove.
This is such a great reminder and so freeing; it sends shivers up my spine. It just seems like an added bonus to dig deeper. There are a lot of people out there who have not come to a place of rest. They have questions; I feel like I should at least push myself as far as I can go for myself and for them and not just be satisfied with rest. I hope that makes sense:)
Sometime in the 90′s I spent a winter reading books about Jim Jones and the People’s Temple. The thing that most struck me was Jones’ beginning in Indiana. Over and again, I read quotes from Pentecostals who knew him then, quotes about the power of his spiritual gifts, his gift of healing, his words of wisdom and knowledge. Because of these gifts, many people followed him from Indiana to California – and ultimately to Jonestown in Guyana, where he led over 900 people to drink cyanide-spiked koolaid and die.
This is a very serious example of spiritual gifts functioning “regardless of the spiritual stature of the person who functions in them.”
If you seek spiritual gifts, I encourage you to also seek spiritual discernment.
Thanks for sharing- sobering thought about Jones’ beginnings. It’s so sad that many go off the rails, though few do it as spectacularly as he did. This must be why Paul was concerned about his own life being shipwrecked and ‘running the race’ to the end.
Many of the Biblical “heros” endured looooooong periods of character building with God before being used in heroic ways. Shepherds, prisoners, carpenters, etc. And the life expectancy then was much shorter than now. I think many young Christians today would be shocked to be told to spend the next 10 – 20 years really being built up in Christ and not focusing on Christian “work” (although you would certainly want to be part of and serve in a local body). I would have scoffed at that myself in my 20′s, but I see the reality of it in my 30′s. I guess I’m learning how little I really know and how vast Christ is. May the Lord raise up those whose work is built on a sure foundation in Christ.
Great Series Frank! Thanks for sharing.
Good series of articles! I especially appreciate how you are continually refocusing on the reality and not the signs! Face instead of the hand! In my quest, I have found the idea stolen from Jesus and the Shema to grow in the love of God with a whole heart, soul and strength or very to be extremely helpful in direction! David and Josiah are the only two mentioned in scripture that accomplished this–stated in scripture. However, we Christians would know this about Jesus and the “quote father of the faith”, Abraham, who did not not withhold his own son, signified he loved YHWH with his (qol)whole heart and soul. Solomon started on the right road of this love only to be side-tracked by to many earthy loves/wives.
We cannot love Him, I am convinced and 1 John 4 seems to agree without letting Him love us first. The Pentecostal/Charismatic Movements that I have experienced have been good instructors in letting Him love on us and overwhelm us to receive, then give His love to others. Their worship assemblies have led millions to the throne room and helped many I believe to see Him in some form or fashion. It is a real pity to have some more focused on the gifts than the Giver! It happens to all of us and I remember it every Christmas morning as a child when we tear into presents without a sense of the giver. Thanks be to God, we will eventually find the Giver in the midst of all gifts and respond with a whole heart and soul to Him instead of binding “proofs” of His presence on others!
Great post Frank, thanks for bringing clarity to this topic. Man how refreshing it is for the Lord to have His way in us for that inward formation.
Yes, Frank. This is a great lesson. Actually, one of my favorite so far. I’ve known men that couldn’t parse a Greek verb, nor argue the finer points of doctrine as such. But, were humble men of deep character who had extraordinary spiritual gift manifestations.
“We begin to seek the Lord’s face rather than His hand.”
What a beautiful closing to this article – so on point! Certainly helps me understand how things can happen that seem so illogical to our human thinking. Thankful for His Sovereignty in all things. And thankful for these articles as He grows me daily.
So good!!
Hi Frank, I was thinking about this very thing this morning. Very nice post.