Recap: Being filled with the Holy Spirit – like chocolate syrup in a glass of milk, needs to be stirred so that all of us looks like chocolate. Ephesians 5:18. The Spirit pilot-light can ignite a super-powered Spirit furnace in our lives. But we must possess what we have already been given.
Primary effect of the Holy Spirit is the experience of God’s love.
Key idea: The Holy Spirit manifests gifts in us; some of those gifts are overtly supernatural.
Charismatic Gifts – “charis” from the Greek word χαρις or χαρισμα, meaning graciousness or gift.
Pentecostal churches: Questions – what’s going on? Is it Biblical? If so, why don’t we do it?
If God lives inside us, where’s the evidence?
In Acts, the appearance of the Holy Spirit was often accompanied with signs and wonders. For example, Acts 2:4, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 19:1-6. Likewise, believers manifested supernatural gifts throughout the book of Acts.
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are the evidence of God-in-you. These come in several forms:
Invisible Visible
Common Fruits of the Spirit Praise
Specific Motivational or Ministry Gifts Manifestations (Charismatic)
Focus on manifestations of the Spirit, aka charismatic gifts.
See 1 Corinthians 12:1-11.
Name some of the charismatic gifts. Note – this is not an exhaustive list.
Examples of Charismatic gifts in the New Testament
Speaking in Tongues, or Glossolalia. Three manifestations
1. Speaking a human language of which one has no natural knowledge – Acts 2:4
2. Speaking in the tongues of angels – 1 Corinthians 13:1 – Acts 19:1-6
3. Interpreting a tongue – 1 Corinthians 12:10
Speaking in the tongues of angels is prayer – 1 Corinthians 14:4, 14:18-19.
Designed for corporate worship only when there is an interpreter – 1 Corinthians 14:27-28
Prophecy
1. Paul – Acts 10:22
2. Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen, and Saul – Acts 13:1-2
3. Judas and Silas – Acts 15:32
4. Agabus - Acts 11:28, 21:10-13
Healing and Exorcism
1. Peter and John – Acts 9:32-42
2. Paul – Acts 19:11-12
3. Phillip – Acts 8:6-7, 13
What about today? Are there still charismatic gifts today?
Three responses:
Cessationists – Apostolic Age has passed and charismatic gifts are gone. But – what about the experience of so many Christians?
Continuists – Scripture never suggests that the gifts will end before Jesus’ return (1 Cor 13:8-10). But, how then have they become so foreign to so much of the church?
Cautious-ists – The Bible does not suggest any kind of time limits on spiritual gifts, and we should pursue these gifts. However, these gifts can be faked, so great care must be given.
Must distinguish between miracles and answered prayer and this idea of charismatic gifts.
Homework/Discussion Topics
1. Have you ever experienced a charismatic gift in yourself, or someone around you? If yes, reflect on that experience; how did you feel, how did it affect your faith, etc. If no, what gift would you most like to experience, if possible?
2. Read 1 Corinthians 14. What do you learn about the role of charismatic gifts in worship, in personal prayer, etc? Does anything related to spiritual gifts surprise you in this chapter?
3. What do you think about the existence of charismatic gifts today? What factors influence your opinion? What factors might change your mind?
4. What evidence might you point to regarding the presence of the Spirit in your life? Don’t limit yourself to charismatic gifts in your answer.