Title: THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE BIBLICAL ILLUMINATION..1
Content ND
THE BIBLICAL ILLUMINATION ABOUT
THE GIFTS OF SPIRIT
Chapter 1
Introduction
The problem of Abuse of the Spiritual Gifts
The church from the beginning has been plagued by two opposing extremes in its doctrine of spiritual gifts. From the first, as the Corinthian Epistles bear witness, this was abuse of spiritual gifts. In the course of the history of the church, excesses of the wildest kind are found in relation to this doctrine. On the other hand, there has been an appalling failure to appreciate the importance of spiritual gifts as determining the ministry of the church and as being essential to all its fruitfulness. The proper balance of doctrine is found in the Scriptures, and excesses have been noteworthy in their neglect of what the Scriptures actually teach.
One of the most noteworthy features of twentieth century Christianity is the rise of a strong charismatic movement within the church. Appearing in various forms, this species of revivalism has one common basic element. It highlights the baptism of the Spirit, which it construes as an experience of power, subsequent to salvation and maintains the evidence of this experience is speaking in tongues. It is apparent from 1 Corinthians that speaking with tongues by its very nature is peculiarly liable to abuse.
Background of the Study
On the viewpoint of the author's pastoral experience, it is very dangerous to put great emphasis on some spiritual gifts; speaking in tongues, miracles, healing, prophesy and mysterious experience.
Amazing claims abound that God is doing signs, wonders, and miracles.
These claims ate being broadcast by word of mouth, the printed page, television, and radio at a rate so prolific that they can hardly be catalogued, let alone verified.
Fantastic encounters with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are reported as commonplace. Healing of all kinds are reported. It is not unusual to hear of striking testimonies about how God has corrected spinal injuries, lengthened legs and removed cancerous tissue in response to faith.
Some of the miracles seem almost bizarre: puppies are raised from the dead; washing machines are fixed; empty gas tanks are supernaturally filled; people are slain by the Holy Spirit.
Amazing experiences like these seems to be the order of the day as God, in an apparent hyperkinetic outburst, put on a supernatural performance rivaled only by the six days in Creation and the Egyptian plagues.
Importance of this Study
The gift of the Holy Spirit gas been subjected to denial and neglect through the centuries of the Christian church and is seldom understood by twentieth-century Christians. There are so many people, so called Christians who stir up a rebellion against the Scriptural teaching concerning the person of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This is dangerous and prevailing misunderstanding about the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirits.
There are really evil spirits in the world around. Evil spirits try to intrude into the church though some of the subtle ways to destroy the word of God and the soul of men and women. The fact is that all their activities are intrusions into the spiritual, for that is the ultimate reality. The devil and his demons know that if one method of attack fails, they will just use another. They have patience, they have skill, and they have hatred-hatred of God and hatred of man because man is God?sheen crown of creation.
Today they gave come out into the open. They gave initiated an assault in ways that a generation ago would ago seemed unthinkable. The fact is a mysterious spiritual force is misusing some gifts of the Holy Spirit just like the occult from Eastern religions. All sorts of non-biblical practices through the misuse of the gifts of the Holy Spirit have increased tremendously in the churches throughout all of the denominations. This is true in the United States, South Korea, and the other countries. The spiritual battle is now out in the open even more, with evil forces daring to present themselves in bizarre activities around world.
Paul wrote ?the coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the works of Stan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing??(2 Thess. 2 :9 -10)
Statement of the Problem
As the author indicated in the previous section, the misuse and the misapplication of the spiritual gifts have been recognized as a serious problem in our churches today.
No counterfeit sticks. But people do counterfeit money, diamonds, and other jewelry. People counterfeit what is valuable because that?s the only point in doing the counterfeit what is valuable because that?s the only point in doing the counterfeiting spiritual gifts and the work of God.
Stan was counterfeiting the spiritual gifts in Paul's time, and he is still doing it today. We must see the difference. The tragedy in accepting the counterfeit is that we forfeit the genuine.
Purpose of the Study
Areas of Contribution
This study will contribute in the following areas:
1.This study will help pastors who have the responsibility of teaching those in their congregations and helping them come to maturity in Christ.
2.This study will guide church members into a new direction in fulfilling their responsibility by using their spiritual gifts correctly.
3.The total result sill be the building up of the body with the church functioning as it should.
4.This study will strengthen all of us as diligent believers to be absolutely sure we are committed to the teaching and learning of the Word of God.
Organization of the Study
The rest of this study is presented in the following manner. For and overview of the study, a table of contents is provided in front of this volume.
Chapter 2 presents a review of the biblical doctrine of the personality of the Holy Spirit.
Chapter 3 describes the biblical doctrine of the divinity of Holy Spirit.
Chapter 4 contains the attributes of Spiritual Gifts.
Chapter 5 contains the value of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Chapter 6 explains the permanent gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Chapter 7 explains the temporary gifts of the Holy Spirit.
At last, Chapter 8 summarizes the findings and draws the conclusions of the study.
The bibliography follows the final chapter.