A preacher in the South asks: “If the miraculous spiritual gifts of 1 Corinthians 12-14 are still available, has anyone in your congregation received them, and how do we verify whether they are genuinely from God?”
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As the sovereign of heaven and earth, God bestows grace-gifts and performs miracles as he sees fit (1 Cor. 12:4-11; Gal. 3:5). Has anyone in my home congregation received spiritual gifts? If it is a church of God, they have — although its worship style is not what people generally refer to as “charismatic.” God graces and enriches his people, so that we are “not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:4-9). When Jesus Christ is revealed, the “perfect” will arrive. Then we will know fully and the gifts will cease (1 Cor. 13:8-12).
Yes, we receive ministry through a wide variety of spiritual gifts, including several which you would likely call “miraculous.” The latter usually are exercised in quiet, private ways. It is not constructive to say more here than that. God’s grace-gifts (charismata) are not for spectacle or for speculation but for service. The gifted man does not need to advertise, but to minister in love. The gifted woman is not called to “prove” anything, but humbly to use God’s gifts to build up others.
What evidence can one offer to verify such gifts? Those who serve, those who are served, and those who observe will probably recognize their authenticity. Although we are to “examine everything” (1 Thess. 5:21) and to “test the spirits” (1 John 4:1), the proof is in the pudding, so to speak, not in abstract logical arguments (Matt. 7:16-23). The Spirit of God is manifest by the ministry (exercise of gifts) and the character (fruit) of those through whom he works. Christ is preached, God is glorified, sinners are saved, mourners are comforted, sick are healed, Satan’s strongholds are broken, lives are transformed into likeness with Jesus, joy abounds and praise results. What better evidence that Christ is present through his Spirit? And what Christian could possibly object to such effects?
