Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Do the gifts still exist?

Church history tells us that charismata or the gifts of the Spirit always exist in the Church. The second part of last century, charismata was very much seen in almost all churches. In the beginning of the Charismatic Revival, churches that opposed to the gifts reacted strongly against them. But later on, they started to accomodate and even accept them. After several decades the gifts seemingly diminished. Prophetic movement, music revival, etc., come and the Church were tossed here and there to follow the trends. Do the gifts come and go like fashion, dependant upon the willingness of the Church to exercise them or they are inherent in the Church ready to be released anytime? If the gifts are the outcome of the blessings from the Cross, then the Church must treasure them and exercise them. If the gifts are residing in the Church, then we need to explore and exercise them for the expansion of His Kingdom.