Spiritual gifts.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Apostolic1ness

who qualifies? Holy Ghost filled people.

One thing I've noticed, and can even been seen to some extent on this thread, is that the gift of divine healing is truly welcomed and encouraged within the body. I believe this is wonderful and encouraging in so many ways.

But what about the other gifts? Are believers attending churches today strongly encouraged to seek those gifts and given wisdom and spiritual training with regards to how to properly use them?

[Apostolic1ness]

Originally Posted by Aquila

One thing I've noticed, and can even been seen to some extent on this thread, is that the gift of divine healing is truly welcomed and encouraged within the body. I believe this is wonderful and encouraging in so many ways.

But what about the other gifts? Are believers attending churches today strongly encouraged to seek those gifts and given wisdom and spiritual training with regards to how to properly use them?

I believe it would do us as the church better if we seek a relationship with God rather that seek a gift. if our relationship is right God will have the liberty to use whom he will in any of the gifts of the spirit. This will happen without seeking for them.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Apostolic1ness

I believe it would do us as the church better if we seek a relationship with God rather that seek a gift. if our relationship is right God will have the liberty to use whom he will in any of the gifts of the spirit. This will happen without seeking for them.

I agree. A relationship with God should be our focus. I guess what I'm saying is that the Scripture tells us that it is okay for mature believers to desire spiritual gifts...

I Corinthians 12:31 (KJV)
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

… and...

1 Corinthians 14:1 (KJV)
1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

I've noticed that the gifts are being seen less frequently in many churches. Could this be because they are not encouraged and little information and training is offered in regards to their use?

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Apostolic1ness

I believe it would do us as the church better if we seek a relationship with God rather that seek a gift. if our relationship is right God will have the liberty to use whom he will in any of the gifts of the spirit. This will happen without seeking for them.

Although Paul said to "covet the best gifts" I think you hit the nail on the head here. We covet or desire to be used by God as a result of our relationship with Him. The gifts ought to flow (super)naturally from our fellowship with Christ and one another.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I've noticed that the gifts are being seen less frequently in many churches. Could this be because they are not encouraged and little information and training is offered in regards to their use?

Warning! Warning! Mayday! Mayday! Sound the claxons!

Here is where you go off the rails, yet again. You are so preoccupied with this business of "information and TRAINING IN THE USE" of operations of God? They are just that - OPERATIONS or workings of the Spirit. The apostles offered no "training in the use of spiritual gifts" beyond what is written in Scripture. If you need "training" and "information" that goes beyond what is written, then you are not operating in the gifts, rather you are practicing the occult.

I have been around the Word-Faith charismatic movement, have sat in their pews, listened to their teachers, read their tracts and books and magazines, watched their DVDs. And I've done it long enough to know fully 100% that much of it is borderline witchcraft, and the rest is flat out naked occultism.

Before I was a Christian I was a trad Satanist and occultist. I guarantee you I've forgotten more about occultism than you will ever learn in a lifetime of googling. And I am telling you, ONCE AGAIN, you are being enticed into things that are not of God, not biblical, and dangerous to your soul. Furthermore, you are slyly ONCE AGAIN trying to entice others into this "quest for more training in the use of spiritual gifts", which is why quite honestly you come across to me like some wiccan evangelists I've known about, who lurk around churches and whisper in folks' ears trying to draw them into a "deeper walk" which ends at the local esbat.

[berkeley]

I bet he gets a lot of readings in the doll section of Walmart. .