Pneumatology: Spiritual Gifts

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Pneumatology: Spiritual Gifts Having an old friend get in touch with me is exciting; I like to catch up with people all the time. When they send me a message asking about my faith and spiritual gifts, it gives me the best opportunity to witness to them. When it comes to the question of spiritual gifts, Walter Elwell (2001) tells us that they are “gifts of God enabling the Christian to perform his or her services.” These gifts are given to believers that can serve God. “Spiritual Gifts were unusual manifestations of God’s grace under normal and abnormal forms,” (Elwell, p. 1135). The purposes of Spiritual Gifts are “always the edification of believers and implied service in the church” (p.1135). As our discussion progresses, my old friend ask me what the difference is between spiritual gifts and the fruit of the spirit? Elmer Towns (2008) describes spiritual gifts as “an ability to be used in service, whereas spiritual fruits relates to a Christian’s character” (p.317). Character is “the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual” (Google.com). Fruit of the Spirit is someone who has strong faith and follows God. They may have talents or spiritual gifts and choose to use those gifts for God, but they are not the same. Elmer Towns gives a list of the way you can tell the difference between these to specific topics. Spiritual gifts are external and spiritual fruit is internal (p.318). Spiritual gifts do not last forever, but the fruit of the spirit will live on in a person so long as they believe (p. 318). My old friend is starting to show more interest and goes on to ask about speaking in tongues. What is it and what is the purpose of speaking in tongues? Walter Elmer (2011) tells us that speaking in tongues is just one of the nine charismas (p.1206). Charisma is “a spiritual power or personal quality that gives an individual influenceor

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