Q: Why don't we see more spiritual gifts in the Church of God today?

It depends what is meant by "spiritual gifts."

Some equate "spiritual gifts" with magnificent spectacular miracles and wonders, such as public healings or the calling down of fire from heaven. It is true, of course, that Jesus Christ, when He was here on earth, performed many spectacular miracles (Acts 2:22), and that some of the early apostles of the New Testament Church were able to do likewise (Acts 2:43: 5:12). We read that Christ did many more miracles than have been recorded in the Bible (John 21:25). We are also informed that people were even healed when Peter's shadow fell on them (Acts 5:14-16). We are told that at the very end time, just prior to the "Day of the Lord" and Christ's return, His Church will be given the power to perform spectacular miracles (Joel 2:28-31), and the Two Witnesses will have the power to call down fire from heaven, when and if necessary (Revelation 11:3-6).

We should also realize, however, that God has wisely decided not to grant such spectacular powers to the Church or His disciples all the time, because of very important reasons. We read that John the Baptist, even though he was the greatest of all men born of a woman (Matthew 11:11), did not perform ANY sign or miracle (John 10:41). During His public ministry, Christ was at times very careful NOT to perform miracles in public, or to have made His miracles known (Matthew 8:1-4; 9:27-30; Mark 1:40-45; Mark 5:43; Mark 7:36; Mark 8:26). He even commanded the demons, as well as His disciples, not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah--the Son of God (Matthew 16:20; Mark 1:34; 3:11-12). He knew that once He was revealed as the Messiah, it would be difficult for Him to preach the gospel openly (Mark 1:45; Luke 5:15-16), and He said that the preaching of the gospel was one of the reasons for His First Coming (Luke 4:43).

He also stated that many of those who began to follow Him did not do so because they wanted to learn the truth from Him, or because of His signs which He performed, but because of the physical benefits which accompanied the signs (John 6:26). It is true that the signs and miracles which He did should have been enough evidence for the people, and for us today, that He was and is the Son of God (John 10:25, 37-38; 20:30-31). However, they were not sufficient in many cases (John 12:37; 15:24), and when they were, they did not provide a lasting basis for the people to stay loyal and committed. Even though His own disciples had seen His signs and wonders, many of them left when they became offended by His teachings (John 6:60-66). We also read, of course, that the public miracles of Christ and the early apostles brought about persecution (John 5:15-16; 11:45-53), preventing Him to "walk... openly among the Jews" (verse 54).

We should also consider the possibility that a lack of faith might prevent God from granting power to the Church to perform public miracles. Even Jesus could not do many miracles among those who did not believe in Him or God's Power (Matthew 13:53-58; Mark 6:4-6).

Most importantly, however, is the realization that God has a time table. He knows WHEN the time is right to give His end-time Church the power to perform public miracles, which will, in turn, invite persecution from Satan and those under his influence (Matthew 24:9; John 15:20). Right now, God is more interested in the Church's fulfillment of its ongoing commission to preach the gospel in all the world as a witness (Matthew 24:14). At the same time, He warns us that some will arise to perform miracles and signs, but they will DECEIVE many (Matthew 24:11, 24). Even a charismatic religious figure, soon to manifest himself on the world scene, will be able to perform public miracles, but he will do so with the power of Satan, not of God (Revelation 13:11-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-9).

Christ came to proclaim the gospel or the good news of the Kingdom of God to the people--mainly those in Judea. But He told His disciples that they would preach the gospel in all the world (Acts 1:8), and that He would give them the power of the Holy Spirit to be able to do that. He said that His Church would do greater WORKS (not necessarily public signs and wonders) than He did, as He would go to the Father (John 14:12). He poured out of the Holy Spirit from on high which He received from the Father (Luke 24:49). And we can safely say that Christ has already fulfilled His promise in these days--the gospel of the Kingdom of God is being proclaimed in all the world. This has been made possible through the marvelous technical inventions of the printing press, radio, television and the Internet. It was not Christ's purpose at His time to have the gospel proclaimed in many other countries, but He knew that in subsequent times, He would do so through His Church. Of course, we realize that the technological advances have also made it possible that big, powerful churches proclaim false gospel messages in all the world--hence Christ's warning to His disciples not to be deceived by such false churches and doctrines.

The fact, however, that we do not see God's Church perform spectacular public miracles today, which would attract worldwide attention, does not mean that God does not use His Church today to perform miracles; or that He has not bestowed spiritual gifts on His ministry and the Church as a whole. Every time God's ministers anoint sick persons with oil and pray for their healing, or send an anointed cloth to the sick person, and that such sick person is healed, God has performed a miracle. Every time God protects His children from physical or spiritual harm, God has performed a miracle. Every time God's disciples are obedient to His laws, even in situations which seemingly make it impossible to do so, God has performed a miracle. Every time a person understands the truth and responds to the gospel message, repents of his sins, believes in Christ and His sacrifice, becomes obedient to God's Word, and is baptized and receives the Holy Spirit, God has bestowed spiritual gifts on that person and has performed a miracle. Every time God's Church is receiving a better understanding of God's Word, thereby growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, God has performed a miracle and bestowed on His Church a priceless spiritual gift. And every time one of God's children overcomes the temptation of forsaking the truth, resisting false teachers and wrong doctrines, God has performed a miracle.

The greatest miracle of all is that both the Father and Jesus Christ are willing to live in true Christians, through the power of the Holy Spirit. And what a great miracle it will be when, at the return of Jesus Christ, true Christians will receive the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23) and the gift of the inheritance of the Kingdom of God (Luke 12:32)--when they will be changed from mortal to immortal; from flesh and blood to spirit; from a human being to a God being! Rather than looking for outward signs and wonders, let us concentrate on what God HAS BEEN giving to His true Church. Christ said that the greatest GIFT which God the Father is willing to bestow on us, is His Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13; John 4:10; Acts 2:38; Acts 10:45). God's Spirit in us enables us to develop the very MIND of God (2 Timothy 1:7), including His very characteristics, such as His love, His peace, His joy and His faith (Galatians 5:22-23).

Let us consider what spiritual GIFTS, in particular, God is referring to in His Word, which He gives to us today, and which we must deeply appreciate and value. We read in 1 Corinthians 12 about all kinds of spiritual gifts, such as gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, and different kinds of tongues or languages (verses 1, 9-10). Paul says that not everyone in the Church has the same identical gifts (verse 4), but all gifts are given "to each one for the profit of all"--the entire Church (verse 7). God gives individual spiritual gifts to some so that the entire Church can be built up. That is why He GIVES "some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints... for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man" (Ephesians 4:11-13). But, the greatest or best spiritual GIFTS of God to us are His love, His faith and His hope (1 Corinthians 12:31; 13:13).

Finally, let us never belittle God's awesome POWER which He gives to all of us if we are His children, through the indwelling Holy Spirit. God's power WILL change the world--in His due time. In the meantime, let us make sure that the spiritual GIFT of God's power changes US.

Lead Writer: Norbert Link