Last week we discussed the non-supernatural spiritual gifts listed in the Bible. This week, we will briefly discuss the more supernatural spiritual gifts. A details description of these gifts will be given during our Sunday morning series on spiritual gifts. Here, I will briefly share some reflections on the nature of the supernatural gifts and their purpose.
The Nature of Supernatural Gifts
Supernatural gifts are vastly different than their non-supernatural counterparts. This is because the non-supernatural gifts can be developed and used (in many ways) apart from faith in Jesus and connection to a Christian community. Supernatural gifts can’t be manufactured like teaching, administration, and service. They also cannot be controlled by human endeavors. For example, teaching can be manipulated to fit into any subject and defend any doctrine, even the errant ones. There are plenty of competent teachers in any number of Christian sects. Or take the gift of mercy. People with mercy gifts can be placed into secular organizations that give no credence to who Jesus is.
However, with supernatural gifts, most of humanity tends to be scared of or freaked out by them. Have a group of unbelievers witness a miraculous healing. What is the response? If they don’t know the person, they may excuse it as a hoax. If they do, they may react very differently. Have a group of believers hear a prophetic word. Imagine their response. I think one of the reasons many Christian sects refuse to acknowledge or allow the more supernatural gifts in their communities is because they can’t be controlled. Teachers can control their teaching. Evangelists can decide who to evangelize. Administrators can control parts of the organization. And a pastor can strongly influence or control people under him. Yet, none of them can control when someone gets healed, receives a prophetic utterance, or is able to perform miracles.
Another reason is that they haven’t personally experienced the supernatural. It does seem like many deniers of the supernatural gifts are building a doctrine on their subjective experiences, or the subjective experiences of older church leaders. Yet turning doctrine out of personal experience regarding the absence of supernatural gifts is just as fallacious as turning doctrine out of personal experience regarding our limited exposure to supernatural gifts. (Some people’s visions from Heaven are often not really from heaven).
In the end, the nature of the supernatural spiritual gifts serve a direct purpose in showing the eternal power that comes from the resurrection of Jesus and the promised Holy Spirit. They can’t be controlled any more than the Holy Spirit can be controlled, which means the supernatural healings, prophetic words, and miracles cannot be corrupted or manipulated. Sure those gifted with such can be manipulated, but the gifts have to come from an obviously supernatural source. Some Christian leaders have a problem with that. It is beyond their scope of influence, authority, and power.
The Purpose of the Supernatural Spiritual Gifts
God doesn’t just give supernatural gifts to people frivolously. There is a specific purpose for each gift and recipient that is related to fulfilling Jesus’ mission. It is easy for many people to get side-tracked with the supernatural gifts. Why? Because it is easy to neglect genuine relationship with God and relegate him to a concept or idea. When you remove the relational element to God, you end up with legalism and/or superstition.
The purpose of the Supernatural Spiritual gifts is directly related to God’s advancing the kingdom of heaven on earth. The Holy Spirit moves in supernatural ways to get people’s attention and convict them of sin. He also encourages the downcast believers with supernatural power. Gifts such as healing, miracles, and prophecy are there to get the attention of non-believers and build up believers. Since they can’t be controlled or manipulated by kings, rulers, or pastors, these gifts become a sovereign way for God to show himself to people in more direct ways. The non-spiritual gifts are great at building up Christian community and bringing people in. The spiritual gifts are great for convincing people that the power is real. That God is more than an idea, He is a person and He interacts with people He is in relationship with.
That is a brief account of the supernatural spiritual gifts. Like I said earlier, more of this will be discussed in the coming weeks (culminating on June 4th: Pentecost Sunday 2017).
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