Are Spiritual Gifts for Today?

Have you ever noticed how displays of intrigue draw people to stop what they are doing and watch the object of interest? From television to stage shows, in every community around the world, people are stopping to watch when their interests are captured.

Advertisers depend on finding the latest marvel in hopes people will buy their products, come to their business, or buy their goods. When they have captured their audience, they decrease their spending on the entertainment and increase their spending to find the next gimmick to keep the audience and build upon it. They want new people to accept their brand.

This is how our economies survive; it's all about branding and having people recognize your brand as the best brand.

In Corinth, the cities commerce involved, shipping and tourism. Of the two highly successful endeavors, tourism brought people from all around as the fame of the Corinthian temples grew and thus tourism could arguably be the most lucrative.

So what was the draw which brought in the tourists? What were people coming to see? The draw was food, alcohol, promiscuity, music, and mystical charming. When a person would leave Corinth, they would have their imaginations and faith in the gods increased, having seen things they could not explain.

The Christians of the city had a faith founded on much the same. The stories in scriptures of the miracle of the one true God were taught. The church also told the stories of Jesus, the Messiah, and of the miracles He did. The church could even compete in the mystical, having miracles occur in their own church. However, there was no telling when a miracle would happen and no way to produce it upon command, to compete with the temples of the gods.

In the temple of the Gods, the miracles were trickery; enhancing illusions with mind altering drugs.

However within the Corinthian church, the Holy Spirit was busy shaping, teaching, comforting, and encouraging Christians in their service to God. This often led to the miraculous occurring; yet the miraculous was not for show or proof, but of need, compassion, and in the wisdom of God.

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 1 Corinthians 12:1(NKJV)

Paul used the word "ignorant" to explain a person can literally be out of the will of God and missing the mark of God for their life if they do not seek spiritual gifts.

Did you know if we do not seek spiritual gifts it is sin? God wants us to know He is able to change our life and do the unexplainable. From this you can see why there is such a cloud of darkness surrounding spiritual gifts for the enemy does not want the Kingdom of God built and does not want you to reach the potential God has for you.

Thus we must realize God has saved us from our sinful nature to create in us a new life; one different than before. He wants us to be mighty through Him and busy doing His work. We have the opportunity to be His hands, His feet, and to be examples of His power to save. Thus He grants to us spiritual gifts to do His work.

You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:2-3 (NKJV)

God has designed each and every one of us to meet Jesus and receive a new life. The old life, it's thoughts, it's ways, and it's passions, are no longer to be our focus and the new life of joy, worship, prayer, and service is. This is not a manufactured illusion; it is a reality which comes by receiving power from the Holy Spirit.

There are people who call themselves Christians who do not believe in the power of the Holy Spirit or do they believe in the gifts we are encouraged to seek and use. They feel their worship is to understand the scripture, attend church, and live a nominal life.

However, the scriptures tell us Jesus, Himself, sent the Holy Spirit and told His disciple they would do greater works than He, through the awesome power to come. Therefore, to deny spiritual gifts is to say the work of the spirit in our life is a an illusion created by those who use them. The very denial is to say it is accursed.

Yet to say Jesus is Lord is to accept everything He preached, shared, and does to help us. People using spiritual gifts are committing to Christ as Lord, thus it is only through the Holy Spirit this can be said.

How could one say Jesus is Lord and not seek spiritual gifts?

There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 1 Corinthians 12:5-7 (NKJV)

The church has been so confused about spiritual gifts that many churches have said that spiritual gifts are not for this age. These churches found some people were seeking gifts so hard, they were focused on speaking in tongues, healings - which never occurred, and words of knowledge which made the person a stand out in the crowd. Thus they created doctrines saying gifts were not for today's church.

However, these churches seeing abuse were and are right; there are those who manufacture illusions and have whole denominations devoted to drawing attention to themselves. Some churches are abusing the scriptures and the intent of God for spiritual gifts. They preach faith, but are not faithful to God's use of spiritual gifts in the church.

Paul tells the Corinthians gifts enable people to do different ministries within the church and all are to allow God to enable them to minister. Gifts are used to minister to others.

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 individually as He wills.1 Corinthians 12:8-11 (NKJV)

It is important to understand Paul is speaking in general terms. When Paul says, "one is given the word of wisdom," it is important to understand this may not be a lifelong ministry and a gift one is to grandstand on. This may be only one word, one sentence, and one instance, where God enables a person to understand and guide another person. It is not to be thought of as "their ministry" in the church.

A Christian and the church is told to go into all the world and preach the gospel. Thus it takes much work and many people who are willing to let God use them where they are at, to do the work need. Thus today a person may need wisdom, the next day a miracle, and perhaps even being able to overcome language barriers at times which is not a sign or wonder, but something necessary to continue to minister.

“What do I do today, Lord?” This is a question which can only be asked by the person who expects God will give direction and ability to build the kingdom.

Paul was encouraging the Corinthian Christians to think beyond their knowledge, beyond their ability, and become a person of God used in great ways.

Paul was teach them, God will give those miracles of discernment, prophesies, and even other languages to lead people to Christ when needed. But Paul had concerns they did not manufacture magical, mystical, displays of nonsense to compete with the temple of the gods.

The greatest of all spiritual gifts is the gift of God making himself know to us in love through His son, Jesus. Therefore, we should believe in gifts.

The Dangers of Communion.

Paul had received very terrible news in letters sent from those who were concern for their church in Corinth. Paul found the information so disturbing he wrote back marking his text with pop out statement in hopes of saving many from falling backward from Christ and into the cultic worship of the Greeks.

Their church was in great trouble, plagued by the enemy, as is any church who forms in the name of Christ; yet, the Corinthians were so complacent they did not see it.

In today's church we find many of the same attitudes these, whom Paul wrote to, were displaying. In today's church there are many who are board with their church experience; in order for these to stay awake they need grandeur, noise, and have itching ears for message with charisma.

Also in today's churches you have many who are becoming callused to being hurt by others in the church. They did not like the way they were spoken to or felt rejected. They wanted to fit in and gave up when things got tough. Expecting saints they found sinners and it made their church experience less than fulfilling. These focused on the shortcomings of people and took their eyes of the calling of God.

Paul had words of warning to these people and the same apply to us today. Thus we explore "the dangers of communion."

Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 (NKJV)

Weak, sick, and asleep... This is the condition of many in our churches. Pastors struggle with how to wake people up to cause them to take the mission of redemption serious. Pastors see people come through the doors with a smile and leave with a smile, yet these never get involved beyond that. This means only one thing; these parishioners are sleep walking when they should be awake and active.

Everyone in the church takes communion when it is passed out; yet beyond hearing the words, what are people doing with the message? Do they not feel compelled to give their entire life to God as did Christ for the church?

Churches have a responsibility to communion. Done right, communion becomes a life changing power that Christ intended it to be. Done wrong it becomes a dangerous life condemning mistake and is as if taking the Lord's name in vain.

From these words of Paul’s it is obvious that God will hold people accountable for not letting communion become part of their life transformation in becoming a servant of God.

Some churches suffer needlessly and their pastors are busy putting bandages on wounds to large to heal on their own. They may bandage wounds, yet the infection spreads throughout the body. This is why Paul is taking medicine to the cause of the infection.

Many churches wonder why attendance is low, why contributions are low. They wonder why they have trouble finding teachers to help in the youth ministry. The truth is the people are not truly repenting from their old life and want to have a new life without becoming like Christ who was a servant.

When taking the communion bread, not only should be remember Christ's suffering, but why He suffered. Jesus was obedient in every aspect of His life so we might have a way to be saved from the way we were, lost in sin.

Reflecting on this, every Christians is to look inside their heart to see if they have let Christ fix every broken part and the measurement of restoration of our heart is Jesus Christ Himself.

The name Christian means "To be like Christ." Thus as we measure the restoration of our lives, looking to see if we are like Christ, we will see the areas which need healing.

Paul taught we are to let Christ's attitude, to serve, be in us. If we are like Christ, it should be all consuming and where it is not, we identify for healing. This is the analysis we are to perform in communion.

For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:31-32 (NKJV)

Judgment has to begin in the house of God and communion is the tool. Thus if a person takes communion only to eat the bread and drink the wine without this analysis, they are asleep to the fact they are not being saved from their sin. They are missing their calling to be like Christ.

The wine or juice served in communion has purpose to. It is to remind us Jesus' blood was shed to cover our sins. Yet do not let the phrase, "cover our sins" lead you to think they are swept like dirt under a rug. Jesus spilled His blood that we may be forgiven and the measure of forgiveness is repentance.

Repentance occurs when we identify areas we fall short of and allow God to heal them, so they do not cause us to sin again. Repentance is turning away from the undesirable and restoring the desirable. Repentance is allowing God to change your life.

All of this is in communion. Identification of sin, identification of the need to change, a model of the way we should be, and a way to be forgiven. Coupled with the power to change, the church should be a unified servant, like multiple Jesus walking, serving, and ministering throughout the church.

Yet, the church is not like this. Like Paul says, people are a sleep. People are taking communion without seeing the importance it has for our salvation and that is as eating and drinking damnation to their souls.

Where many churches put communion up front in their services, it would be better if communion were put it last. If the service begins with worship and prayer, then the pastor delivered the word given to him from God, the hearts of the people will be ready for communion.

Then if the people are led to reflect on what salvation cost Jesus and led to reflect on their own response to God, every person attending that service will be powerfully touched, powerfully transformed, and the church would be awake!

Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 1 Corinthians 11:33 (NKJV)

So we had a good church service, what then? Paul says to wait for one another. We have had communion with God and now this communion needs to be shared with each other. When people talk about God's work in their life, others are encouraged to continue. Would it not be terrible to know a person left church brokenhearted, with a wounded spirit, to give up on themselves as if they failed the Lord?

It is our responsibility as servants - "like Christ," to fellowship, talk, discuss, and pray for each other. Though the church doors are open, the church service does not end there. Fellowship with each other is also a measurement of our understanding of our mission. This is where true ministry begins.

As Paul did here, people need to be reminded their ministry begins when they walk out the door of the church. Together in unity we build strong lives. We reach out to the needy, and we make plans to continue in fellowship throughout the week.

Some need help in their home ministries, others their work ministries. Then there are those who need assistance with life's demands. The palsied, the orphaned, the widower, and the parent, these we pray with, encourage, and find opportunities to help.

Every church needs to think about how their church is made and utilize areas to congregate in after the service. A court yard, a grassed area, and make it pleasant to tarry; for fellowship is a place where the change of our hearts after communion can be solidified.

However, in Corinth there were particular social problems to deal with; even as each of our churches have different problems. In Corinth, some came only for the food and the little bread with juice was not enough for them. These wanted a feast and Paul felt the only way to deal with them was direct and sternly. If they will not respect the reverence of the work of Jesus Christ then they will be judged and their soul in jeopardy.

But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come. 1 Corinthians 11:34 (NKJV)

We must teach our churches the importance of communion with God and with each other. We want to avoid people developing wrong understandings about what we are at church for. When we do, our people will become strong and our churches will be able to do more to further the gospel.

Communion Misunderstood.

Early Christianity faced many social problems related to their societies' mass worship of Greek mythological gods. Aphrodite, Apollo, Artemis, Athena,  Demeter, Dionysus,  Hephaestus, Hera, Hermes, Poseidon, and Zeus were all mythological gods steeped in folklore and defined by the worship directed towards them.

Great orators spoke telling of the battles these gods fought and entwined in a massive falsehood were the lives of people who gave themselves to idolatry. This was the cult of "The Twelve Olympian gods."

To these gods were held great ceremonies sacrificing animals as pigs, goats, oxen,  bulls, and lambs. Maidens would carry in baskets of grain or cakes hiding sacrificial knifes. The procession would be accompanied by musicians playing flutes and horns.

Animals which resisted their death march to the alter would be set free; those who did not were looked to for a favorable nod, obliging to be sacrificed. Often water was given to drink to procure a shaking of the head gesture of a nod. These who sacrificed had a skewed ideology of the sacredness of life.

When the knife was produced the animal would be lifted above the alter, its throat slit and the pouring blood would be smeared around the alter.

Butchering the animal the heart and liver with inner organ meat would be placed on skewers to be cooked over the fire. This meat was reserved for the important participants at the ritual feast to the gods.

The bones would be laid out upon the alter in honor of the life of the animal sacrificed and alcohol poured upon them. The intense flames were believed to be the acceptance of the god they worshiped.

The remaining meat was roasted or boiled and ate by the rest of the participants. During these ceremonies drugs and alcohol would be consumed initiating a release of inhibitions to worship life by sexual promiscuity.

Each city in Greece had its own large temple dedicated to these gods and goddesses. In Corinth, Aphrodite, the god of procreation, pleasure and love was served day and night.

Many in the Corinthian church could not understand how they could compete for the hearts of the people when such elaborate myths filled their intellect . These of the Christian church believed more ceremony, more adulation, and more outspoken distain of cultic practices was their only option.

How would the ritual of communion, eating a piece of bread and having a drink from a juice cup, compete with such an elaborate, out of control, society engulfing sacrificial feast? These Christians of Corinth felt fenced in by cultic worshipers who may one day turn violent against them.

Was this Paul leading the church down a path of being slaughtered in the name of the Greek god's and goddesses?

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.". 1 Corinthians 11:23-24 (NKJV)

Paul was the one who first taught the Corinthian church about communion and yet it became a very small part of their church service. It became such a no meaning ritual that some wanted to change it to a larger, more elaborate, feast.

Because the significance was not often taught, the Corinthians did not fully understand what Communion was about; instead these wanted a festival with food and wine.

The church must remember communion is to be a privatized focal point for the church and never should it be a display to the world proving our faith. Jesus waited until the disciples were gathered into an upper room, out of sight and alone with Him to teach communion to them.

This first communion was instituted by Jesus in the face of danger. Jesus knew He would give His own life up to be crucified. Yet, Jesus wanted the church to understand He was not afraid of people and neither should they be afraid.

Communion is to be a remembrance of the significance of Jesus death and the power over sin delivered to people because of it.

Jesus did not want the church to ever forget, nor did Jesus mean communion to become a ritual misunderstood.

The death of Christ, the breaking of His' body and the spilling of His' blood has a power to change a person's life. In communion we remember His body was broken to heal us from sin. Because Jesus was tortured and died faithful to God, Jesus was resurrected again.

In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.. 1 Corinthians 11:25-26 (NKJV)

Jesus' blood was spilled to forgive our transgressions. Animal blood could not guarantee eternal life; yet, human blood by the sacrifice of God's own son was once and forever the only sacrifice we would need. Our sins are forgiven forever if we will believe Jesus saves us from them.

How could this not be the most special moment in anyone person's heart? Though it is a private moment between a person and the Lord, it is the most significant, life changing, life revitalizing, event they could partake in.

If communion does not change your life, the communion with God was in vain. Thus a feast, a precession, the distraction of the crowd, can cause a person to take communion without effect to the soul which God wants to deliver.

We received from the Lord, through Jesus' sacrificial life, a release from our sin. We no longer need the acceptance of God; for we already have it. Christians need only to be obedient to remembering what our salvation cost God, cost Christ, and how free it is and we are in Him.

Thus the feasts of the Greek temples were not to a God, had no meaning, and were steeped in lies which could not save.

The Corinthian church need only to teach of the perfect one time sacrifice of Christ and to those who will believe in Jesus will be saved.

Communion is to be our special time to recount the salvation we have. Christians are healed by the breaking of Jesus body and his blood covers our sins. In this there is the greatest power; for the same power which raised Jesus from the dead is available to all Christian to raise them out of the grave caused by sin.

A Church at Odds with itself

What some may consider commitment to an end, is often considered, by some, contention at its full capacity. This leaves us with a rational understanding in the church, all must be committed to the means or a person is contentious at best. There is no room for contention in the church.

"Contentious," the word means to quarrel and describes someone who is fond of strife. The problem with contentious people is that they want a matter handled their own way. These also often play favorites; if they like you, you are on one side of their emotions and if they do not like you, then you are one they contend with. Are you contentious towards people?

In the Corinthian church, Paul found there were members who carried their own agenda developed from mythology, their community, and their cultural background. Some were Greeks, others Jews, and a few were Romans; as if splitting into their own factions, these struggled in many areas of contention.

The Greeks had a large cultural background rich in mythology. They knew their people were a majority in the city and these saw the church needing to be more like the Greek culture, putting on grand displays of spirituality to draw people to join them in worship. These wanted the church to compete with the supposed spirituality of the temples erected to mythical gods.

The Romans were the rulers of all civilization and they viewed a changing Corinth. The Roman intent for the world was to unify their cultures into a single culture. Therefore, these saw the church needing to be ready to change from their cultural roots.

Then there were the Jews, and many of the Jews were staunch about traditions which were initiated by the one true God and passed down through centuries of intervention by Him. God obviously chose the Jews to be His people and these felt the Greeks and the Romans should choose their ways also.

Paul knew these contended with each other and because of their contention no clear leader was guiding their church. Where there should be a pastor, elders, and deacons, there were contentious people who contended until one could dominate a decision.

But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God. 1 Corinthians 11:16 (NKJV)

The problem with contentious people in the church is they want their views to be accepted and are forceful to persuade and defiant to consider they may be mistaken.

Contention breeds strife; and strife breeds ill feelings, often ending in ill will. Thus we can see contention is the opposite of unity. Thus Paul says, there is no room for this in the church.

Today we know and should recognize, there is no perfect church because all the members are sinners. Yet because we are sinners, we must accept God’s grace for ourselves and be ready to extend it towards others when they error. For even the sweetest of people can become contentious when they firmly believe in a direction and are opposed by their own.

Churches are ran with deep passion and should passion become unbridled, it opens the door for contention. Some even close their mouths and walk away harboring ill feelings.

These do not become outwardly contentious with what others do; these are more passive. They grumble under their breath and they find others in the church they confide in. Quietly they tell of the faults of others and without making a commotion they try to persuade others to be with them in their contention. These seek groundswell movements to change the direction of the church. This is wrong also.

Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 1 Corinthians 11:17 (NKJV)

The Corinthian church was in disarray. Many churches are in similar disarray and then again some more than others. It is the enemy which tries to disrupt God's church from within.

The enemy whispers into the ears of those who will listen. He talks down the pastor, the elders, the teachers, and anyone who can be used to cause the church member to become dissatisfied and contentious.

For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 1 Corinthians 11:18 (NKJV)

Of course Paul partly believed it, because you never want to take one persons word for anything. Paul wanted to believe contention was not that much of a problem in Corinth; Paul wanted to let it go, in hopes the congregation would get hold of themselves and listen to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. He desired them to end strife before it became an issue that needed to be dealt with.

For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 1 Corinthians 11:19 (NKJV)

The word "faction" is the act of capturing. A group of people follow their own desires and capture their objective. Not by prayers and supplications to God, but by force and might, overcoming of the wills of others.

A "faction" is an act of taking over; storming a city would be a group of people acting together following their own tenets. This type of action is derived by dissensions arising from diversity of opinions and aims.

There were those in the Corinthian church so dissatisfied with the leadership that they were plotting to take over the church and many wanted Paul's influence vacated.

They attempted to get a groundswell of people behind them to come against the leadership; and vice versa, the leadership was trying to lobby people onto their own faction. Even writing to Paul about their problems was evidence of this.

This sounds very non-appropriate; yet it has happened throughout the history of the church and is happening at many churches around the world today.

However, the situation in Corinth had disagreements about excess. Drinking in excess, eating in excess; people wanted the communion services turned into full blown parties like the temples had.

Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper. For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you. 1 Corinthians 11:20-22 (NKJV)

The problem with being contentious is, contention is missing the mark that God has set for His people. When a person gives in to the sin of contention, it becomes a breeding ground for other sin to enter our lives.

God wants His church unified; one body, one mind, one heart. This heart forgives others and becomes structured; being led by God Himself through His Holy Spirit.

God does not want the church  to compete in drawing people by acting like the rest of the world. He wants the simple gospel to be preached and the church to be a house of worship and prayer. In reverence to God we meet. In the love of God we worship and in love for each other we submit to God's will over our own.

There is no room for political posturing. There should be no popularity polls to be won. A leader is only a leader because of his submission and willingness to seek God.

Therefore the people of the church should avoid sub structures which are not welcoming to all. Such as groups who intrinsically stay to themselves and have no desire to interact with the rest of the church.

As the body of Christ we are one body, one church. We are not our own, for He had purchased us with His own blood. Therefore, we act as one body; living in unity with all saints.

The church of God may not please everyone, but we have a frame work set for us in the scriptures. To those who contend may they understand and be taught that we must all be unified to the mind of Christ; handling our disagreements according to the teachings of our Lord.