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Subject: Gifts of the Holy Spirit (spiritual gifts), and Other Relevant Questions Category: The Bible in everyday life Asked by: Chris	Posted: 30 Dec 2009 05:58 AM Question ID: 20626

I think I'll have to start with some background
and some thoughts before I get to my questions, if
this is okay. I think it might help get me better
answers from those with scriptural/spiritual
knowledge. Constructive criticism is appreciated,
even if it's blunt :/ I am by no means an expert,
hence why I am asking questions.

I have always had an "urge" to learn as much as
possible about spiritual truths and growing more
mature in terms of my relationship with Christ. I
have read countless books, have studied the bible
along with various concordances including Strong's
for clarification, and have overall grown pretty
spiritually mature (in my own mind comparatively)
for my age in a lot of the deeper spiritual truths
and scriptural teachings that just don't get
covered in an everyday church service. I have also
encountered a lot of experiences in my life that
most sheltered individuals (in my area) have not,
which include serving in the military, seeing the
world, death, life, and all those things in
between. I only say this for clarification of my
experiences in life only. Anyway...

I am quite aware that every Christian has a
different maturity level (spiritually speaking),
and some never grow past infancy stage. A few
people grow in years, but never grow beyond the
basic knowledge that Christ died on the cross,
resurrected 3 days later, and is their savior
(messiah). This is fine, but for me, I have always
had the urge to soak in every Truth that I can,
because my walk with Christ is a very progressive
one that started at a very early age. A few times
in my life, I have considered going to Theology
school for the purpose of doing some type of
profession for Christ, as I feel I have a lot to
give as much as learn, but I am also not confident
enough in what I know (moreso, don't know) to take
that leap. I know God has a purpose in my life,
but I am unable to grasp what it is. I realize the
Lord usually takes the approach of the still small
voice, and listening to it is far harder than
asking for the guidance, but I just cannot seem to
hear.

I'll put it in perspective. My family has always
had a very strong relationship with troubling
issues that brings everyone closer to the Lord. It
has a strong foundation in any case. My great
grandmother was a missionary in Honduras her whole
life, as is my great aunt still to this day. I
have ministers in my family, avid church goers,
musicians (who use it toward worshiping) and even
a cousin who lives in a monestary (Eastern
Orthodox). The list goes on and on. One of my
biggest problems is actually hearing the Holy
Spirit and talking to God in more than just a one
way conversation in prayer. Also, I am unable to
fully grasp what gifts the Holy Spirit has given
me, or how to use them effectively within the body
of Christ to a better degree. No one in my family
seems to have an answer for me specifically. Every
one has a different calling that they fulfill, but
none can give me answers that I need for myself to
fulfill my own.

Anyway, my grandmother was a Pentacostal for a
long time in her life. She is since become non
denominational as is the rest of my family and I
(albiet, I have gone to many different
denominational services to experience all that the
Lord has to offer, and I have taken something from
all of them), but the point remains for a reason.
Pentacostals have a very firm foundation with the
"gifts" of the Holy Spirit. Speaking in tongues,
prophesy, interpetations of both, etc are a few
examples. She has spoken in tongues herself, and
has had them interpreted by others. She has been
"overcome" by the Holy Spirit in ways that I can't
fully comprehend, honestly. She even relates
stories how God has spoken to her through actual
miracles and His voice, which always pointed her
back to scripture for real answers. A few times
she even related how she knew it wasn't God, but
those stories don't need to be said except for
that I believe based on her spiritual discernment.
My mother saw an angel when she gave birth to me,
my father had the near death experience as a
child, and the list goes on.

What I'm trying to say is, my family has always
had some type of direct "physical" (better defined
as spiritual, but something concrete to look back
on nonetheless) type connection with God that I've
never had. My faith has always been strong to the
point where I've never once had doubts, albiet
troubled times have led me astray from being the
perfect Christian many times in my life (Christ's
blood washes away the sin, but I still sin
nonetheless with a heavy heart). I know this is
partially a reason why God has never had to appear
to me in those ways (my faith is already strong).
I dont need to see an angel or a burning bush to
know the Lord is with me. This is all fine, except
I would still LOVE to be hear God's voice when I
pray to have a two way conversation like so many
others are able to do. I have never been able to
hear Him, and it isn't from a lack of trying.

I guess my questions are this: How do I know what
gifts I have through the Holy Spirit, and how do I
get a two way conversation with God like so many
other Christians have?

I know God hears me, and I have personally seen
every one of my prayers answered (all of them that
were the same with God's will anyway), but I have
never been able to hear Him speak back to me. I
realize he speaks in many ways, including
scripture, ministry, and many many other ways, but
I would like nothing more than to be able to pray
and be able to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying
back to me. I wish I could hear the still small
voice, but I do not.

Anyway, as far as gifts go:

There are Paul's spiritual gifts (charasmata):

wisdom
knowledge
faith
healing
miracle-working
prophesy
distinguishing of spirits
tongues
interpretation of tongues


1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (New International Version)


4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same
Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but
the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of
working, but the same God works all of them in all
men.
7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for the common good. 8To one there is
given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to
another the message of knowledge by means of the
same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit,
to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
10to another miraculous powers, to another
prophecy, to another distinguishing between
spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of
tongues, and to still another the interpretation
of tongues. 11All these are the work of one and
the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one,
just as he determines.


Romans 12:1-10 (New International Version)

1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's
mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,
holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual
act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the
pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to
test and approve what God's will is—his good,
pleasing and perfect will. 3For by the grace given
me I say to every one of you: Do not think of
yourself more highly than you ought, but rather
think of yourself with sober judgment, in
accordance with the measure of faith God has given
you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many
members, and these members do not all have the
same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form
one body, and each member belongs to all the
others. 6We have different gifts, according to the
grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying,
let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7If it
is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let
him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him
encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of
others, let him give generously; if it is
leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is
showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.


Also, Thomas Aquinas (Roman Catholic Definition)
defined them as 7 specific gifts (I believe this
is taken from Isiah, correct me if I'm wrong):

   1. Wisdom - desire for the things of God, and
to direct our whole life and all our actions to
His honor and glory
   2. Understanding - enable us to know more
clearly the mysteries of faith
   3. Counsel - warn us of the deceits of the
devil, and of the dangers to salvation
   4. Fortitude - strengthen us to do the will of
God in all things
   5. Knowledge - enable us to discover the will
of God in all things
   6. Piety - love God as a Father, and obey Him
because we love Him
   7. Fear of the Lord - have a dread of sin and
fear of offending God

http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/faith/holygift.htm


I don't believe Aquinas was wrong at all, although
I do believe he left out the ones he did not
experience (such as prophesy, tongues, etc from
scripture).

I know that there are so many different gifts,
that not a single one defines the Christian
lifestyle or sets anyone apart in any specific way
except to contribute in the body of Christ. What I
can't put my finger on is how to use whatever
gifts I have TOWARD that goal, and also what the
Lord's will is for me. I have no idea what it is
that I should be striving for, because I don't
know what He wants out of me. Growing spiritually
knowledgable and mature is a very good thing, and
works do not save, but it is every Christian's
obligation to produce fruits of the spirit. I am
already saved , and that won't change in my life,
but I want to be able to produce fruit in ways
that so many others seem to be able.

This brings me back to my Theology aspirations. I
would find it a great joy to be something along
the lines of a minister, preacher, or something
"official" within the church, but I am far too
uncertain about far too many things to want to go
down that road at this point in my life. I don't
understand how a preacher can go up to the pulpit
every Sunday and teach the same things over and
over to spiritually immature Christians. People
are present, but they don't hear, or at least
don't apply the teaching's to their life. I also
don't understand how a
minister/preacher/pastor/whatever you want to call
them can teach more "advanced" spiritual things so
confidently without worrying that their
interpretation could be slightly off. I think it
can be far too easy to be a wolf in sheep's
clothing unintentionally. The only way to avoid
this is to be able to hear God and only teach what
Holy Spirit puts forth, but since I cannot hear
God in the ways that I "think" I know how, I would
never be without worry. Also, I am by no means a
perfect Christian, and I believe you lead by
example. What I'm saying is, such a position of
authority in the Church should never be taken
lightly. Maybe this isn't my calling, but then
what IS my calling? How does one know if they
cannot directly hear from the Lord no matter how
much they pray?

This is what I know: I know I have (at all times)
the gifts of discernment, faith, knowledge, and
helps... I also know that the Lord can give any
gift he sees fit based on any situation. I also
know not to focus too much on this issue, because
just because someone has the gift of healing
doesn't mean that is ALL they should be focusing
on. I still wonder what exactly the reason is I
have the specific gifts that I do, and why at
times I am able to teach/evangelize unbelievers
(it has worked, remarkably) at specific times, but
am completely incapable of being confident in that
issue enough to take a step into theology. One day
I would like to write a book about things I've
learned, but I am also far too worried about
touching on subjects I don't have full
understanding of. I DO NOT want to be a wolf in
sheep's clothing, or do anything other than the
Lord's will. This leaves me at a huge standstill
in my life for what exactly I should be doing in
my life (spiritual and physical), and what exactly
I am doing wrong (spiritual, I know what I do
wrong physically).  I'm sure the Lord could
provide a means to the end, but I'm not sure what
end I should choose, as I am so unsure.


I know this is a very long post, but hopefully I
can get some good responses from anyone that found
it worth reading. I find that I need to finally be
able to listen to God before I can spiritually
grow further and apply the things He reveals to
me. I apologize for such a long email!!! I know I
am being far too selfish with a lot of things in
this, but I find myself unable to help others if I
can't help myself first.

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