Have the Gifts of the Spirit, as listed in 1st Corinthians 12:8-10, ceased to operate in the Church? Are we still seeing and experiencing these powerful sign gifts in action?
As a former Charismatic Word of Faith preacher, I taught on these gifts for many years. Most of my doctrine I learned from Kenneth Hagin, and his definitions of these gifts. In class, and on CD, I have heard him tell innumerable testimonies of miracles, healings and other manifestations of these gifts. But I never saw any of them. All of his stories were from decades ago.
Let's just look at these gifts and see if we can understand what they mean, and then ask ourselves if we have seen these manifestations.
1) The Word of Knowledge. In Haginology, this means the ability to know something past or present about an individual or situation. Every single time that I have been around someone that flowed in this gift, they always knew something ahead of time, or it was possible to have dug up some information.
In other translations, this is simply the ability to understand Scripture. Which is it? I think it was the ability to understand the counsel of God prior to having New Testament Scripture.
2) Word of Wisdom. In Haginolgy, this meant to know something future. In other translations, it means to be able to give Godly advice.
3) Faith. Is this the faith to move mountains, or the faith that comes from God to receive Jesus? I'm sure faith exist today. In Haginology it meant to be able to stop the sun or something beyond ordinary faith.
4} Gifts of Healings. Well this one is definitely gone. I have never seen anyone in my life and ministry that could genuinely heal someone like Jesus and the Apostles did. They could heal anything. Let me know if you ever see an amputee get his limbs back, or a severely retarded child made normal.
5) Miracles. Another one that is definitely out with the Apostles. This gift would be like turning water into wine, raising the dead, parting the Red Sea, etc. I have heard that these things happen on the mission field everyday but I do not believe it. I have been to the remote places of the Earth, and never saw any of this.
6} Prophesy. Does this mean to predict the future, or to preach? In Haginolgy it meant to tell the future. This one is definitely out. I have heard hundreds of false ones, many from Kenneth Hagin. I was there the night he said he would live to be 135 years old.
7) Discerning of Spirits. In Haginology this means that you can see demons or angels. I don't know about this one. I have heard many testimonies along these lines, mostly from people on medications or having come from a drug past. But I have heard a tiny few that I believe.
8 & 9) Speaking in tongues and interpreting tongues. I believe this one has passed on also, although it might could happen. The word for tongues means a KNOWN language unknown to the speaker. For instance, if I started witnessing in French (which I do not speak) and someone could interpret it in Japanese to a guy in Tokyo. I suppose this could happen.
It appears to me through proper Bible interpretation, that most of these gifts are no longer functioning in the Church today.
Something I learned as a Law Enforcement Officer and a Pastor for twenty years, is that people will lie and exaggerate about spiritual experiences. I also know that church people will believe just about any tall tale or testimony that they see or hear on television or in church. I am proof. I fell for Kenneth Hagin's visions.
Having done a thorough and investigation into many of the teachings and experiences of the gifts of the Spirit, I would conclude that most of what is seen today is a total fraud, or in the least, the power of suggestion. I simply do not believe 99% of what I hear.
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