Spiritual Gifts

It seems that a number of Christians are being very quick to suggest that certain gifts of the Holy Spirit have ceased.

Why do we have the Holy Spirit? John 16:7-16 describes in detail. Jesus our savior said (KJV):

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you. A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.

Jesus was talking about the time when he would "go away." But he decided it was very important to show that he will be sending a helper/counselor/intercessor called the Holy Spirit. This was fulfilled at Pentecost. He also finds it very important to explain the role of the Holy Spirit. "(H)e will guide you into all truth" and "(H)e will show you things to come" was amongst the attributes.

These are the promises of the Holy Spirit. These promises wouldn't be so important if they were temporary, but they are as permanent as the Holy Spirit's role on earth.

Acts 2:17-21 shows that the receiving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was a fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel 2. Let's look at that:

And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am Jehovah your God, and there is none else; and my people shall never be put to shame. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of Jehovah cometh. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of Jehovah shall be delivered; for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those that escape, as Jehovah hath said, and among the remnant those whom Jehovah doth call.

Acts 2:17 says "And it shall be in the last days...".

So, in the last days we will receive the Holy Spirit (therefore we must be in the last days now as much as the church was at Pentecost as we still receive the Holy Spirit). The consequence of everyone receiving the Holy Spirit is everyone is open to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. There is no time limit on these Gifts. Because we have the Holy Spirit in these last days, these things will happen.

When will they stop? Not before the battle in the valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3). Looking at the chronology. The Church will receive the Holy Spirit, consequently people will prophesy. Then Judah and Jerusalem will be brought back (Joel 3:1, fulfilled 1967) and then there will be a great battle between Israel and the nations gathered against her. Notice at no point is the Holy Spirit or the gifts removed.

Let's look at 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 (KJV):

Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known. But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

Right now we see in a mirror darkly. We have the Bible, which is just a partial reflection of God. (To suggest it is a full reflection of God would be putting God into a box, for you cannot squeeze God into the confines of the Bible). Until we are with God in heaven, we do not know everything there is to know about God.

Put this another way. Imagine corresponding with a betrothed whom you have never met. You only have as much information about your betrothed as is written down, and there is no way of knowing your betrothed fully until you have lived your whole lives together. Until that time, the letters are just a small and not very clear reflection.

When we are in full fellowship with God - in heaven - we no longer need a helper. Until then we do. And while we have a helper, we have the full promise of the helper including the Gifts. That is the point where we no longer need Prophecy!

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