Shepherd the Flock

Recently, the issue of Spiritual Gifts came up in a discussion list that I periodically participate in. The question at hand was something along the lines of “is it possible to possess your spiritual gift before conversion?”. That is, a brother had commented that he believed that his spiritual gift was the gift of teaching, but that he seemed to have this gift even before his conversion/salvation. Similar examples were also discussed in regards to the gift of administration, etc.

Now, please go easy on me if you disagree with me, for I am still growing, learning, and slightly changing my view on ‘Spiritual Gifts’ as time goes on. It should be noted, however, that I believe that the gift of speaking in tongues, the gift of prophecy (new revelation), and the gift of healing are no longer normative in the church, but ended with the death of the Apostles and the close of the canon of scripture.

Nevertheless, I am going to post my answer to the question: “Is it possible to possess your spiritual gift before conversion, and if so, why are many (both continuationists and cessationists) so resistant to this idea?”

I think people are so opposed to this view because they want to see something supernatural when the Spirit is given to us. ‘If your gift of teaching was given to you before the Holy Spirit, then what is so miraculous about it?‘ –so to speak.

This, I believe, is because there is a widespread misunderstanding in our culture about spiritual gifts and/or the miraculous gifts. Personally, I agree with Martyn Lloyd-Jones in that I believe the book of Acts teaches that there was a baptism of the Spirit that was different and distinct from the indwelling of the Spirit, but I would disagree with him in that it clearly hasn’t continued since the Apostolic times.

But clearly, a teaching ability before conversion isn’t a ‘miracle’, but we *should* see it as a miracle of the Spirit if this one teaches with love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control, Godly wisdom, etc. That is, it is the *fruit* of the Spirit is the *evidence* of the Spirit and the miraculous nature of the Spirit.

People today are just too hung up on seeing something that defies nature. They are so misinformed as to what is true *evidence* of the Spirit, that the *miss* the evidence of the Spirit when it is right in front of them!

Paul, out of that famous passage in 1 Cor, said that speaking with the most beautiful of tongues, prophesying the deepest secrets of the universe, and doing such miraculous wonders as moving mountains is nothing compared to being patient, kind, humble, loving, etc. Our sinful nature is disposed to ‘ooh’ and ‘awe’ at things that defy nature, but if we are truly looking for the moving of the Spirit, there is no clearer picture given to us than love on display.

Thus, the gifts are supernatural in the fruit displayed in the lives of those who teach, preach, administer, etc., but the actual ability to do those things in the physical realm –and do them well, is a matter of God’s normal providence, and could easily show up before salvation.

I’d love to hear your thoughts.