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Leading in the Gifts of the Spirit

By Carolyn Tennant, Ph.D.

As a Pentecostal Fellowship, the Assemblies of God has always appreciated and encouraged the gifts of the Spirit in our midst.

Having come from a non-Assemblies of God background, I grew up in a church that knew little of the workings of the Holy Spirit. Frankly, it was a wonder that I was ever saved, but a Billy Graham crusade affected me profoundly. My husband attended a seminary which taught that speaking in tongues was of the devil, so when this happened to me one night while I was praying in my own home, I got scared. Shortly after that, my husband developed a brain tumor. The pastor of our church refused to pray for him because that pastor did not believe in healing for today. My husband was in severe pain, but the doctors could only send him home since the tumor’s location and size meant it was inoperable at that time. However, a group of deacons from a Full Gospel church heard about this. They all piled into 2 cars one night and came to our home instead of having their deacons meeting. They laid hands on Ray, and he was healed of that brain tumor. After that we decided to find a church that believed in healing for today and this led us to the Assemblies of God.

I highly treasure our heritage which was founded on the belief that the gifts of the Spirit should be for today. I never want us to lose that! This is why I become troubled when some of our churches appear to be operating without the gifts of the Spirit evident for weeks at a time. It is for this reason I become worried if we are not teaching about the baptism in the Spirit and giving opportunities for people to experience this for themselves. It is also why I am distressed if we lose those times of waiting on God like we used to in our Sunday night services. I actually don’t care when we have this time of waiting on God; I simply feel strongly that we must make time for this some time during our weekly church schedule.

In order for the gifts of the Spirit to be in operation, the leader must give time. This means allowing space for the gifts to operate. It also means having times when the people can minister to one another and pray for each other around the altars. They also need time to learn to wait on God and listen to His voice. Without this, people do not tend to gain the sensitivity in the Spirit to move out in the gifts. We need to teach the people, both by instruction and modeling, how to be still in God’s presence.

Developing a Learning Environment

As leaders, we should work at developing a learning environment where our parishioners can grow in the operation of spiritual gifts. A good approach is to teach about the gifts of the Spirit and then allow time for a prayer laboratory. Make sure to allow opportunity to discuss and explain what happens, and let people talk about what they were sensing. This is usually very encouraging since others can provide affirmation and helpful feedback.

Such a lab also furnishes opportunity for correction and instruction. If an open environment of learning is established, then correction does not seem so ominous or debilitating. It is expected since we are “all learning.” This encourages others to step forward and be used in the gifts.

In some churches, the gifts of the Spirit have been tolerated, but only certain people participate, and sometimes they have a wrong tone, attitude, or spirit. It is important to become proactive in teaching others to take part and to discern the proper working of the Spirit. The operation of the gifts was never meant to be in the hands of just a few; but rather, God’s design was for each member of the church body to be involved in some way, just as each is gifted.

Sometimes those who are misusing the operation of the gifts simply have not been properly instructed. Occasionally one may encounter those who do not listen to instruction or correction when it is needed. This is a challenge to any leader. The first approach, ideally, should be a one-on-one chat that supports them as individuals and offers sound advice. If this does not work, take another person along and try again, perhaps from another angle. Finally, if still necessary, the deacon board or other church leadership may need to exercise discipline. When done in love, proper correction will edify the body and assist the church in its journey of effectively operating in spiritual gifts.

Discernment

Thankfully, God gives wisdom and discernment to the leader. Pray for this and expect to receive it. If you feel something needs to be corrected in a service, go with your instinct. I have found that what “my gut” is telling me is invariably accurate—a result of that “discernment” I so need as a leader. God will give the leader wisdom in handling a situation, even the touchy ones.

When I preach and minister at the altars, I have come across numerous situations which require spiritual leadership. For example, there have been times when God has warned me there is a witch or two in the service, and that I must stay vigilant. As a result, leaders must always be “prayed up” and ready.

I do not let a strange person who strikes me wrong in my discernment meter to touch me or “pray” for me. I am careful whom I lay hands on and do not do so rapidly. I am prepared in the Spirit to cast out demons and to do spiritual battle. This does not need to be a shouting match, but rather it can happen quietly. The devil does not need to be yelled at to hear. What he must respond to is authority provided to us from God. Don’t back down; stay strong; pray in the Spirit.

Once I started to preach following an altar call connected to a worship service. I was introduced, but a person who was still at the altars would not stop laughing. It was a sort of cackling laugh, and someone told me later that it seemed to mock me. I opened the sermon in prayer to try to stop it. I made some comments; nothing worked. Finally, I asked that some people help her outside. We must be ready for anything.

Sometimes as the Spirit is moving in a service, someone will do something to bring attention to himself/herself. It can be anything, but it seems designed to stop people from moving closer into the presence of God. Quick action and direction is necessary. Don’t be afraid to assign people to do what needs to be done and then direct everyone back to the Lord.

The Encouragement of the Gifts of the Spirit

One problem in the leadership of the spiritual gifts is the tendency to think immediately– and only–of certain of the gifts such as prophecy, tongues, and interpretation. But there are many more gifts, and these need to be taught, encouraged, pointed out, and esteemed. This will help put all the gifts in their proper places and allow many more people to participate.

When a word of wisdom or word of knowledge is given, it should be noted. When the gift of helps or hospitality is in action, the pastor should remark about it. When the gift of administration or of faith is evidenced, this should not be passed off. These are just a few examples of the many strong gifts of the Spirit that a leader should foster.

Also, the 5 ministry giftings (offices) of the church need to be understood, noted, and supported. These can all function in many positive ways to provide the checks and balances and the mutual support needed in strong leadership.

All the gifts can function outside a church service. They should come anywhere and any time the Church is in operation in our world. Many people do not know or understand the natural functioning of the various gifts, and consequently, use them too narrowly.

For example, when talking about prophecy, many think of “Thus saith the Lord,” uttered in a loud voice in a church service. However, the prophetic can just as effectively operate when, in a natural voice, a Sunday School teacher says just the right thing, at just the right time in a meeting, and moves the whole educational branch of the church closer to what God wants for it.

Or a person can use a word of knowledge in a simple one-on-one conversation over a cup of coffee. Or a deacon may have a word of wisdom on how to handle a sensitive situation that is being discussed in a deacons meeting. Or an individual may evidence a gift of faith related to a particular need in the congregation.

In the early Church when adults were baptized in water, there was an expectation that they would simultaneously be baptized in the Holy Spirit and receive the ability to move in the gifts of the Spirit. We need to continue to lead new converts into these experiences.

A leader should recognize all of the spiritual gifts when they are operating, point them out for the purpose of instruction, and encourage a wide variety of the use of the gifts in many different settings. This takes a leader who is personally astute and prepared; and nothing does this better than knowing God’s voice. As you sit in the presence of the Lord, His workings and desires all become more clear. May God bless you as you seek His face.

 

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