10 Most Common Abuses of Spiritual Gifts
Aug 25, 2013 15:54:09 GMT -5
Post by PrisonerOfHope on Aug 25, 2013 15:54:09 GMT -5
Comments are from Jeffrey Radt on Lookup Fellowship. (Excellent blog!)
10 Most Common Abuses of Spiritual Gifts
God wants to protect us from extremes.
It's often extremes in the Body of Christ that give people very negative experiences, turn them away from God, and often do major damage.
The subject of spiritual gifts has come up quite a bit here at Look Up Fellowship in recent months and for good reason too.
Today, I'd like us to prayerfully consider the 10 Most Common Abuses of Spiritual Gifts as identified by Chip Ingram. For those of you who aren't familiar with him, he's the lead Pastor for Living On The Edge Ministries where the goal is to help Christians live like Christians by way of a real relationship with Jesus Christ.
While I know that the most cynical within the Body of Christ have, at times, identified him as being "Joel Osteen-ish, But Without The Apostasy, Blasphemy, And Heresy," I don't know if that's quite fair. I haven't come across anything he's said or taught to be concerned about, and if I do (or if you do), then you can rest assured that I will address it properly in this forum and make you all aware of it.
Now on to that important list.
10 Most Common Abuses of Spiritual Gifts
10. Beware of viewing the discovery, development, and deployment of your spiritual gifts as either an optional exercise or interesting, but not a serious responsibility (Ephesians 4:7 ; 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 ).
9. Beware that apparent manifestations of the Spirit can be counterfeited by human schemes and demonic forces (Matthew 7:22; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ).
8. Beware of confusing spiritual gifts with spiritual fruit as the evidence of spiritual growth and maturity (Ephesians 4:13 [Open in Logos Bible Software; Galatians 5:22-23).
7. Beware of using spiritual gifts in the energy of the flesh to fulfill personal ego needs or impress other people (1 Corinthians 13).
6. Beware of any extreme position on spiritual exists (i.e., "The don't exist!" or "Real Christians would have all gifts mentioned!").
5. Beware of comparing your gifts with anyone else, because it always leads to carnality -- do not compare your gifts (1 Corinthians 12:11-20).
4. Beware when the focus of the church service, ministry, and/or religious event is on spiritual gifts and their manifestation rather than on the giver of those gifts and His agenda for the Church (Ephesians 4:11-12).
3. Beware when any particular gift is made "universal evidence" of one's spirituality, salvation, or other spiritual blessing (1 Corinthians 12:29-30).
2. Beware when anyone claims to have the ability to give or bestow any particular gift if you follow their formula (1 Corinthians 12:11).
1. Beware when spiritual gifts are used as a means of manipulation, power, or control in personal and/or church relationships (1 Corinthians 12:4-7).
link
10 Most Common Abuses of Spiritual Gifts
God wants to protect us from extremes.
It's often extremes in the Body of Christ that give people very negative experiences, turn them away from God, and often do major damage.
The subject of spiritual gifts has come up quite a bit here at Look Up Fellowship in recent months and for good reason too.
Today, I'd like us to prayerfully consider the 10 Most Common Abuses of Spiritual Gifts as identified by Chip Ingram. For those of you who aren't familiar with him, he's the lead Pastor for Living On The Edge Ministries where the goal is to help Christians live like Christians by way of a real relationship with Jesus Christ.
While I know that the most cynical within the Body of Christ have, at times, identified him as being "Joel Osteen-ish, But Without The Apostasy, Blasphemy, And Heresy," I don't know if that's quite fair. I haven't come across anything he's said or taught to be concerned about, and if I do (or if you do), then you can rest assured that I will address it properly in this forum and make you all aware of it.
Now on to that important list.
10 Most Common Abuses of Spiritual Gifts
10. Beware of viewing the discovery, development, and deployment of your spiritual gifts as either an optional exercise or interesting, but not a serious responsibility (Ephesians 4:7 ; 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 ).
9. Beware that apparent manifestations of the Spirit can be counterfeited by human schemes and demonic forces (Matthew 7:22; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ).
8. Beware of confusing spiritual gifts with spiritual fruit as the evidence of spiritual growth and maturity (Ephesians 4:13 [Open in Logos Bible Software; Galatians 5:22-23).
7. Beware of using spiritual gifts in the energy of the flesh to fulfill personal ego needs or impress other people (1 Corinthians 13).
6. Beware of any extreme position on spiritual exists (i.e., "The don't exist!" or "Real Christians would have all gifts mentioned!").
5. Beware of comparing your gifts with anyone else, because it always leads to carnality -- do not compare your gifts (1 Corinthians 12:11-20).
4. Beware when the focus of the church service, ministry, and/or religious event is on spiritual gifts and their manifestation rather than on the giver of those gifts and His agenda for the Church (Ephesians 4:11-12).
3. Beware when any particular gift is made "universal evidence" of one's spirituality, salvation, or other spiritual blessing (1 Corinthians 12:29-30).
2. Beware when anyone claims to have the ability to give or bestow any particular gift if you follow their formula (1 Corinthians 12:11).
1. Beware when spiritual gifts are used as a means of manipulation, power, or control in personal and/or church relationships (1 Corinthians 12:4-7).
link
