The second way we know we have received the gift of the Holy Spirit, there will be release, instant or more gradual, of certain of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is true that Scripture demonstrates that the filling of the Holy Spirit was often ac companied by the gift of tongues, and I believe this occurs validly today. However, the record in Acts reveals that many other gifts of the Spirit were displayed after His coming, and these are overlooked in our heated discussions concerning the pros and cons of the gift of tongues.
For example, the believers shared all things in common (true hospitality); they gave to those in need; they spoke of the Lord with boldness (Acts 2:4, 43; 4:31).
In just these short passages we can detect not only these gifts but also a description of such examples as administration, miracles, healings, acts of mercy, prophecy, exhortation.
Some of the gifts were instantaneous, like tongues; others came gradually. Paul’s teaching on gifts in I Corinthians 12 indicates that the gifts were uniquely distributed.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one (vs. 4-6).
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? (vs. 29)
Accordingly, we must be careful not to insist that the manifestation of the Spirit is always centralized in the demonstration of one of the gifts—speaking in tongues. Rather we can more safely say that one test of whether we have been filled with His Spirit is whether we have experienced a release in our life of any of His gifts.
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Karen Mains has long had an interest in Christian hospitality and is the author of the best-selling book, Open Heart, Open Home.
An award-winning author of several other books, Karen continues to write content for her Christian blog, “Thoughts-by-Karen-Mains.” In so doing, she desires to touch the lives of Christian women and men and help them find ways to walk closer with the Lord Jesus Christ. In addition, through silent retreats, spiritual teaching, women’s retreats, Christian vacation opportunities, and other ministry activities, Karen helps each Christian woman and man receive vital spiritual food.
For decades, Karen Mains and her husband, David, have served God through religious communications—radio, television, and print publication. The are the co-authors of the Kingdom Tales Trilogy: Tales of the Kingdom, Tales of the Resistance, and Tales of the Restoration. To find many valuable resources for pastors and churches at the Mainstay Ministries main website, please click here.
In addition, pastors will find special resources to help them create effective, life-transforming Sunday sermons by visiting David Mains’ website by clicking here.
Through her Hungry Souls ministry, Karen serves as a spiritual coach to many Christian women and men, and teaches a mentor-writing class. And, through the Global Bag Project, she is working to develop a network of African women who sew exquisite cloth reusable shopping bags. This micro-finance women opportunity helps provide a much-needed sustainable income for struggling African families. For more information on this critically important project, please click here.