Pneumatology: Spiritual Gifts

While on Facebook the other night I received a message from a friend

I hadn't seen since high school. He said he notices that one of my

interests is systematic theology. He asks me what I think about spiritual

gifts, especially the issue of speaking in tongues that is being debated in

his home church. I tell him sure then I go into it.

Spiritual Gifts are gifts that are given to believers by

God that enable them to complete the jobs that He has called them to

perform. Spiritual gifts differ from the Fruit of the Spirit in that

everyone can possesses each Fruit of the Spirit but God gives Spiritual

Gifts according to your service in the church and in the body of Christ.

You need to possess specific Spiritual Gifts in order to operate in

specific ministries. Spiritual Gifts reflect your maturity level in the

things of Christ. Spiritual gifts are not without purpose. Spiritual gifts

are divinely given by God to Christians (those who already have the

indwelling of the Spirit within them) to bring about edification. They are

also a corroborating force to the claims made by the Apostles and Christ

Himself (Elewell, 2001).

The gifts of the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit are both bestowed by

God, yet they are distinct in their purpose and presentation. The gifts of

the Spirit have a specific purpose; to prove a claim and to offer evidence

of the Holy Spirits' presence. The fruits of the Spirit are not for proof,

but rather are evidence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God in the

believer. The fruits of the Spirit are reflective of the character of God;

the gifts are reflective of the power and presence of God. Both of these

ultimately provide the same outcome, they are for edification and the

glory of God.