new-gateway-fellowship

The Operation of Spiritual Gifts

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 17:32:22 GMT

Discovering and Using God’s Gifts in the Church

The Operation of Spiritual Gifts

“Now about gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed” (1 Corinthians 12:1, NIV). Nearly two thousand years ago, Paul wrote these words to the Corinthians, and they still speak directly to the Church today. Spiritual gifts are not a relic of the past. They are essential tools for God’s people in every generation.

What Are Spiritual Gifts?

Spiritual gifts are not the same as natural abilities. Natural talents often come from our upbringing, education, or experience. Spiritual gifts, however, are unique empowerments from the Holy Spirit, given to believers for the purpose of building up the body of Christ.

Paul makes this clear: “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7, NIV). Likewise, Peter writes, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10, NIV).

The gifts of the Spirit are not meant to make us look impressive—they are meant to glorify God and edify His people.

Who Receives Spiritual Gifts?

Every believer. No one is exempt. If the Spirit of God dwells in you, then you have been entrusted with at least one gift. Some gifts are highly visible (like preaching, healing, or prophecy), while others may be less noticeable but just as vital (like service, mercy, or administration).

Paul uses the example of the human body to describe the church. Just as the body needs every part to function, the Church needs every gift operating in harmony (1 Corinthians 12:12–27).

How Do I Recognize My Spiritual Gift?

Identifying your spiritual gift isn’t always instant. Sometimes it unfolds gradually as you grow in your walk with Christ. Here are a few indicators:

A new passion or ability that didn’t exist before.
A supernatural empowerment that doesn’t come from training, education, or copying others.
Affirmation from mature believers who recognize God’s work in you.
Fruitfulness in ministry —when you serve in a particular way, it consistently builds others up.

Spiritual gift assessments can sometimes help, but the most reliable way to discern your gifting is through prayer, service, and feedback from your church community.

Why Do We Have Spiritual Gifts?

The purpose of spiritual gifts is edification —to strengthen, encourage, and build up the people of God.

In the Old Testament, we see Bezalel and Oholiab filled with the Spirit to construct the tabernacle with skill and wisdom (Exodus 31:3–5). In the New Testament, Paul devotes entire chapters (like 1 Corinthians 12–14) to helping believers use their gifts properly, “so that the church may be built up” (1 Corinthians 14:5, NIV).

Gifts were never intended to be sidelined or hidden away. They are for the church gathered and for the church scattered. They help us worship faithfully, minister effectively, and reach the world with the gospel.

Order in the Gifts

While gifts are supernatural, they are never chaotic. Paul reminds us: “But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way” (1 Corinthians 14:40, NIV).

This means:

Prophecies must align with Scripture.
Tongues should be accompanied by interpretation when spoken publicly.
Leaders must discern between genuine gifts and counterfeit or fleshly distractions.
Gifts must reflect the God of peace, not disorder (1 Corinthians 14:33).

When exercised in humility and under biblical order, gifts strengthen the church rather than confuse it.

Spiritual Gifts and Revival

Church history shows that whenever God revives His people, He stirs up spiritual gifts. Early Pentecostals longed not only for the baptism in the Spirit but also for the gifts to flow in their churches. Leaders like A. J. Tomlinson urged believers to pray, seek, and weep before God until His Spirit manifested in power.

Over 100 years later, we still need this same hunger. A church without gifts is a church missing vital parts of its body. When believers neglect the operation of gifts, spiritual anemia sets in. But when gifts operate rightly, the church comes alive in power, holiness, and mission.

Moving Forward in the Gifts

Here’s the bottom line:

Every believer has a spiritual gift.
Gifts are given for the good of the church and the glory of God.
Gifts must operate in order, humility, and submission to Scripture.
The fullness of God’s work is seen when every gift is welcomed and exercised in love.

The Spirit has not stopped giving gifts. The question is: Will we step out in faith and use them?

As Paul urges, “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 14:1, NIV).

Repentance in the Christian Life

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 17:20:12 GMT

Beyond Conversion: Repentance as a Way of Life

Repentance in the Christian Life

For many Christians, the word repentance brings to mind a one-time event—the moment they turned from sin and put their faith in Christ. While that moment is central and life-changing, repentance is not meant to be left at the altar of conversion. Scripture and church history show us that repentance is not only the beginning of the Christian journey, but also a daily practice of walking with God.

Repentance Is More Than an Apology

Biblical repentance is not just feeling bad about sin or saying “I’m sorry.” The Greek word used in the New Testament, metanoia, literally means “a change of mind” that results in a change of direction. It is a turning away from sin and turning toward God.

When Jesus began His public ministry, His first message was simple and powerful: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17, NASB). Notice He was not addressing unbelievers only, but all who wanted to live under God’s reign. Repentance is not merely the doorway into faith—it is the pathway of discipleship.

Why Christians Still Need Repentance

Some may ask, “If I’ve already been forgiven, why do I still need to repent?” The answer lies in the nature of our relationship with God. Forgiveness at salvation cancels the debt of sin, but repentance keeps our fellowship with God alive and unhindered.

John wrote to believers:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, NASB)

Repentance is not about earning salvation—it’s about living in the light of grace. It’s a continual realignment of our hearts with God’s will. Just as we regularly clean our homes or recalibrate our tools, repentance clears away the clutter of sin that tries to creep back in.

Voices from Church History

Throughout church history, Christians have emphasized the importance of repentance after conversion. Martin Luther’s very first thesis nailed to the Wittenberg door declared: “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent,’ He intended that the entire life of believers should be repentance.”

For the early Pentecostals, repentance was also central—not just as an entry point to salvation but as part of Spirit-filled living. Testimonies from revival meetings often described believers confessing sins, seeking reconciliation, and experiencing renewed joy and power.

What Repentance Looks Like Daily

Living a life of repentance doesn’t mean living in constant guilt. It means walking in humility, honesty, and readiness to turn back to God whenever we drift. Here are some ways this looks in practice:

Self-Examination – Like David praying, “Search me, O God, and know my heart” (Psalm 139:23), we invite God to reveal where we need to change.
Confession – Speaking honestly to God (and sometimes to others) about our sins, without excuses.
Turning Away – Making deliberate choices to break with sinful patterns.
Turning Toward – Pursuing obedience, holiness, and the Spirit’s leading.

This rhythm of repentance leads not to despair, but to freedom. Repentance doesn’t chain us down—it releases us into deeper intimacy with Christ.

Repentance and Renewal

Repentance is at the heart of every true revival. Whenever God renews His people, He first calls them to repent. From the prophets of the Old Testament to the preaching of John Wesley and the Pentecostal awakenings of the 20th century, repentance has always been the spark that ignites renewal.

If we want fresh outpourings of the Spirit in our churches and communities today, we cannot skip repentance. It is the soil where holiness grows, and the doorway to revival power.

A Life of Turning Back

Repentance is not something we outgrow; it is something we grow into. Every time we stumble, every time pride creeps in, every time we drift from God’s presence, we have the opportunity to turn back. And every time we do, we find not condemnation, but grace.

As James 4:8 reminds us: “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” Repentance is the act of drawing near—again and again—until the day when sin is no more and we are fully with Christ.

So let us not see repentance as a burden, but as a gift. It is God’s invitation to stay close, to walk in His light, and to live in the freedom of ongoing renewal.

Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 15:44:27 GMT

Finding Faith When Life Doesn’t Make Sense

Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People? d

sdfd

It’s one of the most difficult questions anyone can ask: Why do bad things happen to good people?

This question has tripped up countless people in their faith. In fact, Walter Isaacson records in his biography of Steve Jobs how a young Jobs once confronted his Lutheran pastor with the July 1968 Life magazine cover showing starving children in Africa. Jobs asked whether God knew what would happen to those children. When the pastor admitted He did, Jobs walked away from church altogether.

And Steve Jobs is not alone. Many have struggled to reconcile suffering with a good and all-powerful God.

The Reality of Pain and Injustice

The truth is, we don’t always get neat, simple answers. Wonderful people are sometimes struck with cancer or taken in tragic accidents. Meanwhile, people who live selfish or destructive lives can appear to thrive. It’s confusing, and it can be discouraging.

But Scripture is not silent on this tension. The Bible does not ignore our suffering or sweep it under the rug. Instead, it gives us both honest examples of people who asked these same questions—and hope that God is still present in the midst of it all.

Learning from Habakkuk

The Old Testament prophet Habakkuk lived during a time of corruption, injustice, and rising violence. Judah’s leaders had abandoned God’s ways, and it seemed like evil was running unchecked.

Habakkuk’s cry to God is brutally honest:

“O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? … Why do You show me iniquity, and cause me to see trouble? … The law is powerless, and justice never goes forth.” (Habakkuk 1:2–4, NKJV)

He wondered if God had abandoned His people. And yet, after pouring out his frustration, Habakkuk chose to quiet his complaints, wait on God, and listen. What he discovered was not a quick fix, but a bigger perspective.

By the end of his book, Habakkuk was still trembling—but he was also trusting:

“Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail … yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:17–18, NKJV)

What This Means for Us

Like Habakkuk, we may not get all the answers. But there are some truths Scripture gives us to help us walk through these questions:

1. Be Honest with God

God doesn’t expect us to sugarcoat our prayers. Paul admitted he was “perplexed, but not in despair” (2 Corinthians 4:8). Even Jesus cried out on the cross, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46). Honesty before God can be the first step toward deeper trust.

2. Understand Free Will

When we say “God is in control,” it doesn’t mean He micromanages every human choice. From the beginning, God gave us free will. Much of the suffering in our world is the result of human decisions—sometimes our own, sometimes those of others. To blame every tragedy directly on God distorts His character.

3. Remember That God Is Not Finished

We live in the middle of the story, not the end. Revelation 21 paints a picture of the day when God will wipe away every tear, remove death and pain, and make all things new. Until then, we live in faith, knowing that what we see now is not the final word.

Trembling and Trusting

When we say, “God is good,” we’re not denying our pain. We’re choosing to trust Him even when circumstances don’t make sense. Like Habakkuk, we can tremble and trust at the same time.

Our hope isn’t in getting all the answers right now—it’s in knowing Jesus, who reveals the Father’s heart. As Hebrews 2:9 reminds us: “But we see Jesus…”

One day, every wrong will be made right. Until then, we hold on, knowing God is not finished being God.

new-gateway-fellowship

The Operation of Spiritual Gifts

Discovering and Using God’s Gifts in the Church

The Operation of Spiritual Gifts

What Are Spiritual Gifts?

Who Receives Spiritual Gifts?

How Do I Recognize My Spiritual Gift?

Why Do We Have Spiritual Gifts?

Order in the Gifts

Spiritual Gifts and Revival

﻿ Moving Forward in the Gifts

Repentance in the Christian Life

Beyond Conversion: Repentance as a Way of Life

Repentance in the Christian Life

Repentance Is More Than an Apology

Why Christians Still Need Repentance

Voices from Church History

What Repentance Looks Like Daily

Repentance and Renewal

A Life of Turning Back

Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?

Finding Faith When Life Doesn’t Make Sense

Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People? d

sdfd

It’s one of the most difficult questions anyone can ask: Why do bad things happen to good people?

The Reality of Pain and Injustice

Learning from Habakkuk

What This Means for Us

1. Be Honest with God

2. Understand Free Will

3. Remember That God Is Not Finished

Trembling and Trusting

Moving Forward in the Gifts