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Frank Viola | Beyond Evangelical
Official Blog of Author & Speaker Frank Viola. Digging below the surface and moving beyond the shallows in today's Christianity.
Rethinking the Gifts of the Spirit: Part XI
Rethinking the Gifts of the Spirit: Part X
Great post, Christ in us the hope of glory. To live out what we say and believe is truly the fruit of Jesus in us. It is great to here others have the same leading and that is to exalt Jesus Christ. Our flesh wants to get in the way and magnify its self in so many forms. May God bless us all as we [let go and let God] A simple quote for us believers. Thanks again Frank
It’s all good, but this one is my favorite:
“…the ability to see the ordinary through God’s eyes.”
That alone makes the gift of each day an amazing journey.
Amen and thank you! Yeshua Hamashiah…Jesus the Messiah be glorified!
It is so encouraging to have confirmation of the light that God has started to shed in my heart.Don’t look too far for the proper use of gifts- you are an example – Christ be glorified
Thank you Frank for bringing truth to the malnourished church.
Wow, I think I could have written something pretty similar – per my experiences anyway. Thanks for writing this series and for elevating J.C. 🙂 I’d not heard of the term “post-charismatic” but I suppose that is a fair way to put it. Like much of culture, many today believe there are only two camps to just about every topic (democrat/republican, conservative/liberal, charismatic/cessasionist). Thanks for reminding us of yet another area where there are more than two extreme viewpoints.
AMEN!!!
YES! I am in total agreement with you brother. Why does it always take someone else to make clear and able to voice what I believe? Thank you so much for this series; I don’t want it to end.
Frank,I have really been enjoying this series. In the 70’s, I was what I called a charismatic sympathizer. I was in a Lutheran Church and believed that the gifts were for the church today, but witnessed a lot of self-centered misapplication of the gifts. I really liked the new music, but saw people that were just having a good time singing but they were not focused on worshiping our creator/savior. It is a blessing that someone with your writing skills and spiritual insight took the time to provide your summary. Blessings to you and your loved ones. Bob
Good stuff, Frank.
I like what a visiting pastor told our congregation about the Holy Spirit and us…he asked…”How can you be sure that the Holy Spirit is at work in you?
… you’re still breathing aren’t you?”
amen! Thought I was all alone on this, what a great series. Thanks Frank.
Great Post Frank. Thanks for sharing.
Frank –
Great posting today. Very well said and right on.
The gifts (inputs) are given for the work that Father wills in order to bring about the Kingdom within us. The role of the Spirit is to seal the believer and do his amazing part that brings each of us into conformity with Jesus Christ (the process). We see the output in the ordinary, where the fruit shows itself in the character we bear that is genuine and real. All of this results in the fulfillment of the great commandments…to love our Lord and to love our neighbor.
It really is that simple.
Shalom and Grace to you today.
Am I the first? What can we say other than AMEN. Frank, I am so thankful for these posts. My spirit bears witness with each one. I pray more believers learn to focus on the ETERNAL CHRIST within as opposed to the external self exaltation which is temporary. The Holy Spirit will always testify of Christ’s finished work; this is why we must stay continually filled. Love and thanks. Ruth
Great thoughts on the subject, Frank. Thanks for sharing a balanced and biblical perspective.
Thanks for the biblical and experiential balance you bring to the matter of spiritual gifts. I guess a sense of history, wisdom, biblical acumen and wide experience all help!
I recall many years ago a fellow pastor of mine quoting the head of Prairie Bible Institute (where he had trained) as saying something like this, “The hardest thing in the world is to keep balanced!” I’ve never forgotten that and its always been a kind of lodestar in my life and ministry. Of course we are not referring here to some kind of Christian mediocrity or fence-sitting mentality. Its a great thing to get the balance of things right, e.g. the antinomy of God’s sovereignty
and the responsibility of evangelism (J.I. Packer was such a help to me on this as a young theolog years ago).
These days into ‘organic church’ with Jesus as Head… The gifts operate so naturally and biblically…
Grace and peace to all…
These have been excellent posts. Thanks so much
Excellent points! There came a time in my walk with the Lord that I began to question and ask myself why I did some of the things I did. I think you’re right, much of what we do is simply learned behavior that is better unlearned! There came a day when I decided to stop much of it because honestly a lot of it was down right strange, and I saw nothing in the bible that showed me Jesus or Paul or anyone else in scripture acted like I was acting. After I stopped, some of my friends became sad for me that I wasn’t doing those things anymore! I told them real revival is when God changes our character and that I needed that more than charismatic outbursts. They understood, but were still sad for me. Of course I still believed in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and His power- I had only discarded the manmade wrappings.
I also agree, there is no one gift that proves a Christian is “Spirit filled”. The most profound experience I ever had with the Holy Spirit occurred during an altar call where people were praying for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I was a new Christian and all I knew is that I wanted to know Jesus and be filled with the Spirit. I went forward and WOW! I was different after that day. Jesus was truly made clear to me(as was my sin)in a way I had never known before- and that experience was more than a temporary high, it lasted. Well, I was asked at that altar call if I had spoken in tongues, and was told if I had not, that I should keep praying for the gift! Trust me, I had the gift! Sadly, they wouldn’t believe me without “the evidence” of tongues.
Very good post today Frank- excellent and needed points. Thanks!
Wow! Excellent series Frank.
I agree with you regarding the centrality of Jesus Christ. I also agree with most of your comments regarding maturity – it is the daily openness and commitment to Christ in all things; my concern is narrowing the appropriate responses to the Holy Spirit and consequently limiting the genuine work and manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Put another way, controlling the way people manifest (respond) to the Holy Spirit in meetings. John Wimber also said the Holy Spirit bypasses our intellect to get to our heart (I am paraphrasing). Sometimes the Holy Spirit manifests thought prophesy, shaking, people falling down, strange cries, all of which we, in our humanistic minds, find very uncomfortable, yet opens a door to intimacy with Christ.
I, too had an encounter with the Lord through the Holy Spirit is the 1980’s (and many afterwards) leading to a long and solid intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit leads us to intimacy with Christ. Let’s not put Him in a box, but welcome both the Holy Spirit in His fullness and Jesus Christ in His wonderful person as well.
Jan F
Thanks Frank!
I totally agree. It’s gotta go deeper than external showbiz.
I have enjoyed your series on the gifts of the Spirit.
God Bless!
Thank you for putting the way I also feel into words!
Amen. Well put.
Love this series it lines up with what the Spirit has been showing me the last couple of years still learning alot by His grace:-)
This has all been deep in my heart and its comforting to know fellow believers are finding the words to convey it. Thanks so much brother Frank.