The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity

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Donald Bridge and David Phypers in their book, Spiritual Gifts & the Church put it:
"Indeed, as the century towards its close, the church would seem to need the benefits
of spiritual gifts more than ever before. For at a time when Christians of all traditions
realize deeply the imperfections of the church, Christ has given gifts 'for the perfecting
of the saints'” (Eph. 4:12). 35
At a time when the continued existence of the Christian ministry is at stake, with panic, uncertainty
and surrender on every hand there are gifts “for the work of ministry” (Eph. 4:12).
At a time when Christians are ashamed at their divisions but embarrassed by misdirected
efforts to heal them, gifts are available “until we all attain to the unity of the faith” (Eph. 4:13).
At a time when heresy and half truths and doctrines of men bewilder Christians, God has given
His gifts, 'so that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with
every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness in deceitful wiles. Rather,
speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ'
(Eph. 4:14-15).
In the darkness and gloom so characteristic of much of the present day Western church,
spiritual gifts and the miraculous in general are being claimed by Christians in many different
traditions, sometimes in the most unusual of places. Can this be an indication that God has not
abandoned His people in these bewildering and depressing days?
"The God Who Was"
In jettisoning the miraculous to the distant past, much of evangelical Christianity has come to
worship and serve the "God who was" rather than the "God who is" (Ex. 3:15).
Even evangelicals who pray, "If it be Your will, please heal so-and-so," would probably be in
shock if God actually answered their prayer. The God of evangelicalism is a God that can help us
in ordinary situations, but is not much help when we "really" need help. In such circumstances we
quickly head for the medical profession.
The Faith Movement (The Gospel of Health, Wealth and Prosperity), like any movement, has
kernels of truth. Its stubborn insistence on believing a God who still can be trusted for the
supernatural, as well as the natural, is biblically correct. Its emphasis on faith, though skewed, is
helpful. Although they overbelieve, the rest of evangelicalism, for the most part, underbelieve.