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I was just wondering how many people on these forms now there own spiritual gift? I am just asking to share what your gift is and tell us how you came to find it out.

I discovered my gift of speaking tounges at a Christian summer camp in California called "Hume Lake". This camp opened my heart to Jesus and made me feel what I hadn't felt since I was a child. Anyway at this camp a friend and I ended up one night helping a girl that had come down with our church. She was struggling with excepting Christ. My friend and I talking to her about Jesus opened up my eyes to God also. So back in our cabin that night everyone in our cabin prayed for her. Then when we were all done I just sort of sat on my bunk silent basking in the warmth of the holy spirit inside me I could feel it growing. Everyone else was playing and running around the cabin while I remained on my bunk then I began to shake wondering what was wrong with me I sort of stretched then my jaw begin to shake. Then the most joyice feeling ever came over me as the mumbles uttered from my mouth I could not stop them nor did I want to. When I tried to stop and tell everyone, what happened, I just kept babbling. When I was finally done I told everyone what I did none of them heard me speaking this language of the holy spirit because I was pretty quite when I did and on top of it they were all running around the being loud. But I automatically knew what had happened I had spoken in tounges. That night I prayed for who knows how long just giving praise to the lord and that was also the day that I was saved PRAISE BE TO GOD. I spoke with my pastor the next morning he thought it was awesome (he also can speak tounges) I found out many things about tounges from him and study more when I got home. Thank you for listening to my story I encourage all of you to share yours I am interested.

The Gifts

All right – tongues – easy if you take the Bible as it stands and understand how God deals with Israel as a nation. Most make issue of prayer languages, interpreter or not and never cover what tongues are really for.  Let’s get down to the basics.  Remember, God deals with Israel as a nation differently than he deals with the body of Christ today.  

According to the Bible tongues are for a sign (1 Cor 14:22  Wherefore tongues are for a sign,…).  The verse didn’t say tongues were for your personal edification, prayer time, public worship service, etc.  Tongues are for a sign.  Now, who require signs in the Bible?  The Jews require a sign (1 Cor 1:22  For the Jews require a sign,….).  Why did the Jews require a sign?  It was a part of their history.  When God and Moses had their conversation at the burning bush Moses said (and I paraphrase), “They are not going to believe me.”  The Lord said, “I will give you some signs to authenticate your ministry.”  Moses went to them and did signs and wonders and they believed.  When the Lord came to Israel in the gospels he came with signs to authenticate his ministry and some believed. In fact the Pharisees came seeking a sign - Mat 12:38  “Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.”  After Christ arose he gave the apostles the signs to authenticate their ministries they went about doing signs and wonders.

Next, tongues were not for believers but for unbelievers – “not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: - I Cor. 14:22.  This is the clincher.  Moses went to Jews who were unbelievers of his ministry.  Jesus went to an unbelieving Israel with signs.  Paul went to unbelieving Israel with signs.  Also, the Jews were “unbelievers” in the sense that they did not believe that God would not bless the Gentiles.  In Acts 2 where the signs and wonders took place Peter preached to thousands of “unbelieving Jews” and they believed after the message with signs and wonders (Acts 2:43).  

Today tongues are used in churches for believers – in other words done for the edification of the speaker or hearer, which is contrary to I Cor. 1:22 and 14:22 (note both verses are 22 – can’t beat the book!)

Now, when you use your “tongues” in your church service are there any unbelieving Jews there?  Maybe and maybe not but most likely not.  When you are using “tongues” in your private prayer closet are there any unbelieving Jews there?  

Let’s wrap it up – When God deals with Israel as a nation he uses signs and wonders as authentication.  God is not dealing with Israel as a nation today – God is dealing with individuals.  Tongues are for a sign and to unbelievers, not believers.  Tongues are a sign of judgment to the unbelieving Jews.   Also, unbelievers are “believing “ Jews in Acts who were didn’t believe the Gentiles could get in on the blessings.

Tongue speakers are not following this today one bit.  I really don’t care about how good tongues feel to you and how excited you get when you utter your “tongues”.  When you pray and speak in tongues are you doing it as a sign to unbelieving Jews?  I don’t care if you saw millions at once speaking in tongues.  What you saw were millions of deceived people led by an unclean spirit.  They may be nice, polite, Bible-quoting people but they were deceived while they were nice, polite and quoting scripture.

I know you have a lot of verses you get from I Cor 14 but remember Paul is rebuking a carnal church of a misuse of a doctrine to the point where he calls them children in malice.  Why you think you can find anything positive there to support your tongues beats the fire out of me.

Don’t judge tongues by your experience – judge your experience by the Bible.  Anybody can think they speak in tongues.  I’ve even seen people “practicing” their tongues so they wouldn’t lose them!  Please, people!  The great men of God of old wouldn’t and didn’t mess with that stuff for a minute and God used any one of them more then 10,000 tongue speakers today.
But you say, “Yes, but I still know what I know and I speak in tongues and others do so that proves it!”  Fine, base your doctrine on feelings and experience and ignore the plain teaching of scripture.
Again, one last time with feeling – UNTILL YOU UNDERSTAND THAT GOD DEALS WITH ISRAEL AS A NATION DIFFERENTLY THAN HE DOES WITH THE BODY OF CHRIST TODAY THEN YOU CAN FORGET UNDERSTANDING THE GIFTS!

May God bless

To tell the truth The_8th_Person, I really don't know, what my gift is........  

In reply to your false doctrines it is not I who speak by an unclean spirit but you whose heart is hardened by one. Also no matter how much you would like to discredit 1 Cor. 14 it is still part of the word of God and is truth.

1 Cor. 14:27-28 "If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God."

This obviously states that tongues is meant to be used for personnel prayer. Tongues strengthens your spirit and helps better your relationship with Christ.

1 Cor. 14:23-25 right after 1 Cor. 14:22 (which you quoted) it states

"Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you." 1 Cor. 14:23-25

These verses state that prophecy should be used for unbelievers but it is used also to strengthen believers just as tongues are. Also to correct an earlier statement by you; I do not think it is good to speak tongues in church that is why I speak it with God and myself as the word says. I ask that we take this no further so that it will not become a debate. In closing I shall pray that God softens your heart and opens your eyes to the truth and possably even gives you the experience of speaking these tongues you speak out against.

Sorry DW I was posting right when you were. But back to the point  I don't know if this is your spiritual gift but I know that I hold in high regard your words for you speak the truth and are straight forward I know I respect your words very much and I'm sure others do to. I'll pray that you find the spiritual gift you've more than likely been searching for.

1. Don't worry - I will certainly honor your request - wasn't planning on a debate here.  Based upon your reponse you have no understanding of my initial post so I would think of carrying it any further - dealt with you folks to long to this issue.  Most of you folks need to get justification settle first anyway.

2. Thanks but don't bother - the Lord answers prayer based upon  truth.

You have a nice day now  :)

AVBunyan thank you for that and I urge everyone to post there spiritual gifts here thanks bye.

AV Bunyan,
   PRAISE THE LORD!!!!  You cannot know how much your post blessed me.  You have a total handle on the entire tongues issue.  
   Every time tongues was given in Acts, it was for witnessing the gospel to unbelivers [Jews, possibly gentiles or else why would the Corinthians be doing it? - just thinking]
   Anyway, I would like to thank you so much.  I am keeping your post to refer to.  I have tried myself so many times to help others see the deception, but they will not.
   This is a topic that is SO close to my heart.  I have been free from this unclean spirit for over a year and a half now.  I was a tongue talker for 8 years.
    I was also caught up in the Word of Faith/charismatic /pentecostal/fullgospel movement.  So I was under a tremendous amount of deception.  I was a fullblown prosperity, divine healing, demon casting out, confessing the Word, tongue spewing chrisitian.  God slowly showed me the truth, but it was a very long arduous process.  I had to be deprogrammed, because I had been brainwashed by teachers, pastors, and leaders to believe a lie.
     Thankfully God sent someone in for me who spent 3 months with me almost day and nite.  I never met him, we talked via email and IMing.  But I praise God for sending this friend into my life to show me the truth of His Word.
      Tongues was the last part to go and it really hurt, until I realized that what I had been babbling all those years were junk words given to me by an unclean spirit.  Praise God for His forgiveness and mercy.   I had believed it improved my relationship with God, that God was working through my prayers, and that I was praying for people around the globe.  I was also taught that by praying constantly in tongues I was fulfilling a Biblical mandate to pray continually cause I could blab away no matter what I was doing. I thought I was SO spiritual. And caused God to "bring things up out of my Spirit that He had placed there".
      None of what I believed is Scriptural.  None of it.
      Which brings me to another problem - the point of this thread.  God wills who is empowered by His Spirit.  Those gifts are not ours.  We cannot do with them what we choose or what pleases us.  They are gifts that do not become part of us, they belong to God. They may come and go.  You may have a gift for one moment in time and never again.  Gifts of healing, miracles, tongues, interpretation, prophecy, and the like are overused, misused, and downright perverted by satan who has come masquerading as angel of light.
      The problem with listing your spiritual giftings is that it becomes a boasting session.  Jesus said, do not let your right hand know what your left is doing/giving and do not seek for the glory of man, cause that is all you will get.
      I think that walking in the Spirit is walking in love, letting God bring forth His fruit of the Spirit, and reaching out to others as He instructs - being His hands and feet however He has chosen for you to accomplish it.  We are just the pile of dirt  ;D  [Heb 6:7]

Shalom, Nana

8th ,
Thank you for sharing. :)
May I ask you, at what point in your experience do you think you were saved?
Did your pastor tell you that not all people speak in tongues? (1Cor.12:29-31) (Acts2:41,) 3000 believers were saved, they didn't speak in tongues. Also in (Acts4:4) 5000 more were added, no tongues.
1Cor.12:13 reads, "For we are all baptized by one Spirit into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we are all given one Spirit to drink."
One more question, who is the Holy Spirit?

God bless you,
bluelake

Everything that I am and everything that I am able to do is a spiritual gift from God.

Hello Nana,
Thank you so much for your testimony. It's an example of how folks can be so easily lead into despair when they want something for themselves. We are called to worship the Lord.
Praying in tongues edifies the person, but they don't understand what they're saying. I would rather praise God with my own understanding than be babbling away in tongues, which are repititious and vain.
A more excellent way is found in 1Cor.13, It begins with, "if I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. Please read verse 8 "Love never fails...I'll let you be blessed as you finish the passage. :)

May the love of God bless you,
bluelake

Thank you and Silver also for those kind words and I'm glad you see what the scriptues say.  I don' normally stir this up but it goes much deeper than tongues for the majority of tongue-speakers believe one can lose their salvation and this is a very serious issue.  

I trust you are settled on the issue of justification - if not please let me know if there is anything you think I might assist in.

I firmly believe that if one vehemently believes, teaches, and defends this doctriine of "lossing one's salvation" then I believe they are not truly resting in the rightesouness of Christ alone.

They need to get justification settled first and then the gifts will fall by the way side.

May God bless

May God bless :)

Thank you bluelake and to answer your questions I knew I was saved right before I began to speak in tongues because I had silentley, in my heart, asked Jesus to come into my life. But believe me I prayed about it out loud also. My pastor did tell me that not everyone speaks in tongues and that it is a unique gift which I pretty much already knew. But I never used to think people could speak in tongues and thought they were lying. The Holy Spirit dwells in all christians who except Jesus and is our concious are reason and are way to eternal life. I hope I answered all your questions and I have to also say thank you to Pastor Rodger for the great post.

OK...here's my two cents in answer to the original question. I do have spiritual gifts. I have the gift of teaching, preaching, counseling, leadership, pastoring, and caring. I do not have the gift of tongues...i have never spoken in tongues and I do not feel the Lord has bestowed upon me that gift. I have prayed about my gifts and I am quite certain what I have listed above are my gifts according to Scripture...again I do not have the gift of tongue...and I never have spoken in tongues...so I am still a Child of God...and am still saved for those who believe if you do not speak in tongues you are not saved. Anywho...just answering the question...i got something i got to work on typing up. God Bless

Joshua

My spiritual gifts?  Hmmmmm...lemme just say that I think we tend to limit the gifts God has given us via the passages He uses to explain them to us.  I think we tend to focus so much on the gift that we forget the purpose of those gifts.

I personally don't think that the gifts the Holy Spirit bestows upon us can be limited to the passages listing the gifts that we find.  That is to say, I think there are far more gifts given than we give God credit for.  The passages that list gifts are very general in nature.  Some gifts are no more (sorry 8th, not trying to debate just simply express  :)) for example.  I believe that God gives us special gifts upon salvation, and that He takes the abilities and skills He has also given us prior to that point and uses them as well.  I have the gift of teaching I'm most certain.  At times, I have the gift of giving.  But I also have abilities that I can't take credit for that God uses as well.  Regardless of the gift, it's not the "our" in the phrase "our spiritual gifts" that's the focus.  The focus is on how those gifts are used:


Interesting, isn't it?  How Paul puts this most familiar passage right smack dab in the middle of his dissertation on the gifts God gives us.  It doesn't matter what we have, if we fail to use what we've been given in love to the edifying of one another in Christ.

So, if you have the gift of teaching, or the gift of serving, or the gift of giving, but you fail to use these gifts in love for each other...what have you got?  You have noisy nothingness that does you, and everyone around you, no good.
 :)
Just a thought...

If I remember correctly Paul says all who are in Christ are complete and lacking nothing now that the perfect man has been reveales:

Col 2:10  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Also in - Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

The gifts were in the early Acts period while the body of Christ was forming - the body has been formed and revealed by Paul after Acts 29.  The perfect man has been presented (Christ in Ephesians) so the gifts and gifted men are no longer needed.

The good news - all the saints are equal when it come to what God has for them - all have the Holy Spirit available.

So, this discussing of what gift each has or hasn't is irrevelant - if you are saved you are complete in Christ - no excuses for not doing something because you don't have the gift - and no pride for thinking your gift is better than the next guy or for one who does not have a gift!

Quit being concerned what you have or don't have and get to work - you have been equipped - bless God!

I just read about gifts today in Rom.12:3-21 v.6 says that we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us.

Peace,
bluelake

silver wrote:
Christians have an obligation to understand and use the gifts that God has given them; it is how we can become complete lacking nothing.  I wish more Christians today would seek guidance from the Lord about their gifts and then use them, so that we wouldn’t have so much complacency in the church today.  


nana:
Amen to that!  Too often people are either pew sitters or the other extreme, running around involved in everything under this heavy guilt complex that they are not doing enough for God.  Their gifts are truly not used, as they are heading towards burn out.

also, just because someone is not involved in church - ie serving, does not mean they are not using their gifts in another way and in another venue - one of the reasons I stopped going.  if you do not "support" the church by getting involved, you are shunned as a non-christian who does not love the Lord because you are not serving the flock in the brick building.

shalom, nana

Just to clear up something, that Jemidon2004 posted about, incase anyone is wondering. I don't think you have to speak tongues to be saved. Also in respond to an earlier comment I don't think you can lose your salvation.

Thanks for sharing brothers and sisters.

To answer the question: at one point God gave me the grace to give. I believe that God gave me the gift of teaching the day I was born.

When I was a child I told God that I wanted the truth no matter what cost.  As a child I've always known that knowledge, science,  and nature expressed the works of God. I've always found people debating topics involving science vs religion slightly amusing because people were misunderstanding a simple truth. But I knew why, "What may be known to them may be plain, because God has made it plain to them." My perspective of science has always been man's attempt to discover the work of God. This has been going on for thousands of years and we still don't understand, nor have we discovered, everything. But God made everything in far less than a thousand years! In this way, man's understanding and wisdom is foolish in the eye's of God.

About spiritual gifts
Gifts were meant for a ministry. A ministry is a service to others. God gave each one a gift according to his will to serve others. These gifts are not of our own ability but God's. Sometimes people are too focused on themselves and how well THEY can perform under their gifts when we should be focusing on God and how well we can serve God (for when you serve others then you are serving Jesus). That is why paul tells us to serve with Love. If it is not in Love then it is useless and unfruitful. When you serve, are you trying to please men or God?

I see the posts on speaking in tongues. I see the decadence of abusing such spiritual gift. But I also see how prophesy, teaching, and other spiritual gifts are abused in like manner. However, speaking in tongues is certainly misused more frequently. Why? Because Satan would like to see more people misusing a gift from God but also doing it with a gift that will have the least chance of affecting others! Satan would also like to make people think that they are serving God when they are actually serving something completely different.

Paul talked about this but he did say "do not forbid speaking in tongues." If there are no interpreters then the person should refrain from speaking in tongues. However, it is good for the person to speak in tongues to edify himself. God intends us to use the gifts given to us. If someone speaks in tongues it is obstructing to God's purpose to forbid the person to speak in tongues. Of course, if the speaking in tongues is not from God (and we know when it happens) then the person should be admonished.


The very reason we need gifts is because we are imperfect and the only way we can hope to be perfect now is through one body- where each person can serve each other where each is lacking. Two people can work better than one; if one has brawns and the other has brains, you can see how working alone is unfruitful. If the two combine then it is perfect. Likewise, this is what we must do now. One day though, we will be made perfect and these gifts will no longer be necessary.

oh i understood what you wrote 8th person, but i've come across quite a few who have fallen into the error of theology where it is mandatory that you speak in tongues in order to be saved...that's why i wrote what i did...lol. God Bless

Joshua

Here are the gifts i have. I have the gift of listening,encouragement,counseling,tongues,teaching scriptures while witnessing,writing poems on Christ.

Michael

Thank you felix102 for the great post complete truth God has blessed you greatley just as he has all of us. Also I thank Sulfurdolphin you answered my question just as I asked it lol. Jemidon2004 I understood what you ment I was just making sure no one thought those were my feelings no harm done. God Bless all of you and good night I'm tired.

There are different kinds of tongues .The tongue you have is ?YOUR SPIRIT praying to GOD for YOUR NEEDS .You see ?We do not know how or what to pray for ?But our spirit ,which is who JESUS CHRIST died for ,knows our needs .
As far as gifts .They are all with in every born again person ,all the gifts .Because the HOLY SPIRIT has them and dwells with in us .
But whatever the church is in need of ?These will be revealed with in the body of CHRIST .HE gives or reveals ,to whom ,or what person will let HIM .As we control this ?We do not decide ,what we recieve ,But only make our selves willing .But all things are possiable in CHRIST JESUS .We are given certain gifts ,but any gift can be used ,at a given time if needed .The problem as I see it is ?The inner being does not have control over the flesh .Most live in the flesh ,and not in or by our spirit .Whom we are 1st .They do not understand .The order we are .SPIRIT 1st soul 2nd last the weak flesh .GOD deals with the spirit 1st the soul[mind ]2nd the flesh last .Everything is in this order always .
That is why ?We should fast ,once in a while ,to give the inner man ,HIS place in ruling .Then we will see our mind changing into the mind of JESUS CHRIST and do HIS WORKS

Thanks, Brother Love - seems clear to me - I'm blessed that you see it also.  

I have a post called "The Characteristics of the Modern Charasmatic Church"...but I'll refrain.  

To be fair I have "The Characteristics of the Modern Baptist Church" also - and I'm an Independent Batptist!

May God bless you my brother!

Well 1st off .we have everything with in us ?Because we have the very SPIRIT OF GOD ,if BORN AGAIN ?But we are not all at the same place spiritually .We will not all understand everything now ?But we should at lest understand ?Who we are .And we should know ?We live in FAITH .Our problem as a people .Not of this earth !is understanding TRUTH .We do not get reborn and know everything !We grow slowly in the LIVING WORD .Some faster .You have plainly see .HOW the 1st followers of CHRIST grew .They walked with JESUS CHRIST ,3 years and new very little ?Having recieving the TEACHER ?They grew rather fast .But even then ?You see paul at the start ,different than at the begin as well as others .We JUDGE too quickly the things we do not understand .I think of us ?as ME teaching my little childern .They can only see so much .And when I have not finished talking .They say ,I know .But they do not .We are like that very much .That is why ?our LORD says ?oUR minds MUST be renewed .Only the HOLY SPIRIT can fully reveal ,The things from HIM .And this is the real teaching we need .As BORN AGAIN is a work of the HOLY SPIRIT .We can not SEE this ?Only the results .
THIS is only the start .HE HAS MUCH WORK to do in uS .But we must be willing to learn .OR we will be in this same place in CHRIST ,if JESUS tarrys ]10 years from now .This is MY THOUGHT ?.

Well after alot of praying last night. The Lord hit me with a 2x4, along side the head. I do have a gift, Prophecy[/b] now I need to find out what it is.........

While I was praying, eyes closed in a white, so bright I saw prophecy. I didn't see it, it was like in my brain.

Is this how most of you found your gifts?

Somewhat similar, brother. Before being saved the Bible was like any other book to me. It was history, geography, many such things as that. After being saved it was like a light that came on. I was able to understand the reason behind all those words and the purpose was so much more than just history and geography.

This gift does not always work. It works when it serves a purpose for Him. Scripture that I have read a thousand times over and nothing until it serves His purpose, to straighten out something in my life or to bring another person to Him.

The gift of preaching. I will work hard to put a sermon together, study, write notes, cross reference. Then as I am about to give that sermon it is all gone and another sermon is given to me to preach instead with none of the words being mine and verses popping into my head that I would otherwise have to search a long time for.

All of these gifts that He gives us are for His work. To further His work through us. He will meet out our portion as it suits His purpose and when it suits His purpose.





Rom 12:4  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
Rom 12:5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Rom 12:6  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Rom 12:7  Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Rom 12:8  Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Rom 12:9  Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.


Co 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.


 Rom 14:19  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

1Co 10:24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.

 

Soooo true.  I am a speaker by nature.  I have the ability to be logical, and to present points in a logical, and persuasive  fashion.  I see that as a gift.  But like you were saying, I've been preaching before and found myself drifting away from the notes I'd prepared as God showed me the message from another angle I'd never thought of.  In obedience, I've followed and seen people changed from the message He gave, not the one I'd studied and prepared.  To boot, had I not studied, I'd never have been in that position.  At the same time, I've seen myself use that ability when I should have said what God had given me to say and left it at that.  I've beaten the proverbial dead horse, trying my best to persuade men in my power.  Point being, I've never persuaded anyone that I know of in my power.  All changes in the lives of those I've ever ministered to came from God's plan, His Spirit and His word working in their lives.  God just allowed me to be the mouth piece.

It's amazing.  If we'd just shut up, people'd hear so much more at times.  That is a gift given by God, to be used in Him, for Him and His church.  God didn't make this church and leave it be.  He gave gifts to the members, so that the foot could walk, the ear could hear, the eye could see, and the body could, does, and will continue to grow.   :)

You know in all truth ?I do not not my gifts .I have done most everything in the new testasment at one time or another .But i have neverv walked on water nor been take from one city to another .But have gone to NEW JERUSALEM and back [city in space ] But I have been ables to lead a few to the LORD .and most other things .Some things I have experianced ,I do not understand WHY ?as the rivers of living water and GODS new REST .