Expert: Tom Smith - 7/13/2009

Question
Can you please explain how the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit should operate in the church today.

Answer
They should operate the way that they did in the 1st century. I see a few problems with the way in which the gifts are used in many churches today, and some of these are:

1) The focus on the supernatural appearing gifts while de-emphasizing the natural appearing gifts. Often people today don't seem to think that the ability is a gift of the Spirit unless it appears supernatural (i.e. healing).

1 Cor 12:28-29
28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
NKJV

We are not to value one gift over another.

2) The gifts are giving for the purpose of ministry, and are not given to endorse the person to whom the gift is given.

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
NKJV

In fact the gifts are given to the body of Christ for ministry and are not the personal possession of one person.

3) Often I see churches trying to force experiences, or indeed I have seen some claims healings that did not happen. We too often fail to realize that in the early church, miracles were not a daily thing, but rather if you add up the number of miracles recorded in the Bible in the early church, divide it by the number of years over which they occurred, per person, and compare it to what we find today, the rate is pretty much the same. We should not be trying to foce things to happen - it discredits the witness if anything.

4) Most churches do not follow the procedures given in scripture to avoid excesses or manipulation of what appear to be gifts. For example:

1 Cor 14:26-33
26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
NKJV

I don't think that I have yet seen a church follow what scripture teaches in this regard.

CONCLUSION

The gifts are alive and well in the church today, but there appears to be more abuse in the church than there is the real operation of the gifts.