Key Takeaways
1. Spiritual Gifts Are Diverse and Empowered by the Holy Spirit
"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant."
Divine Distribution of Gifts. Spiritual gifts are supernatural abilities distributed by the Holy Spirit to believers for the purpose of building up the church and advancing God's kingdom. These gifts are not based on human merit but on God's grace and purpose.
Types of Spiritual Gifts:
- Word of wisdom
- Word of knowledge
- Faith
- Gifts of healing
- Prophecy
- Discerning of spirits
- Speaking in tongues
- Interpretation of tongues
Purposeful Empowerment. Each gift is strategically given to equip believers for specific ministry tasks. The Holy Spirit chooses how to distribute these gifts, ensuring that the body of Christ functions effectively and glorifies God.
2. Love Is the Foundation of Spiritual Manifestations
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal."
Love Supersedes Gifts. Spiritual gifts without love are meaningless and ineffective. The apostle Paul emphasizes that genuine love is the essential foundation for any spiritual manifestation.
Characteristics of Spiritual Love:
- Patient
- Kind
- Not envious
- Not boastful
- Not proud
- Not self-seeking
- Not easily angered
- Keeps no record of wrongs
Transformative Power. True spiritual love transforms gifts from mere performances into powerful, life-changing demonstrations of God's character and purpose.
3. Discernment Protects Against Spiritual Deception
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God."
Spiritual Vigilance. Discernment is a critical spiritual gift that helps believers distinguish between divine inspiration and satanic deception. It requires spiritual sensitivity and a deep understanding of God's Word.
Testing Spiritual Sources:
- Examine the source's confession of Jesus Christ
- Evaluate the fruit of the message
- Seek Holy Spirit's guidance
- Maintain humility
- Avoid judgment, seek understanding
Protection from Deception. Discernment prevents believers from being led astray by false prophets, misleading teachings, and spiritual counterfeits.
4. Tongues and Interpretation Serve a Divine Purpose
"For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries."
Spiritual Communication. Tongues are a supernatural language that enables direct communication with God, transcending human linguistic limitations.
Purposes of Tongues:
- Personal spiritual edification
- Prophetic revelation
- Intercession
- Spiritual warfare
- Demonstration of Holy Spirit's power
Interpretive Function. The gift of interpretation provides understanding and corporate edification when tongues are spoken in a congregational setting.
5. Faith Transcends Human Limitations
"The faith of Christ never wavers. When you have His faith, the thing is finished."
Supernatural Belief. Authentic faith goes beyond human reasoning and circumstances, drawing power directly from God's promises and character.
Faith Characteristics:
- Sees beyond natural circumstances
- Believes before seeing manifestation
- Rests in God's sovereignty
- Overcomes fear
- Produces miraculous results
Transformative Power. Faith enables believers to access supernatural resources and experience God's intervention in seemingly impossible situations.
6. Healing Comes Through Compassion and Spiritual Power
"Healing power flows from a heart of compassion and divine authority."
Holistic Healing. Divine healing involves more than physical restoration; it encompasses emotional, spiritual, and relational wholeness.
Healing Principles:
- Requires faith
- Manifests through compassion
- Confronts spiritual oppression
- Depends on Holy Spirit's power
- Glorifies God
Ministerial Approach. Effective healing ministry combines spiritual authority, genuine compassion, and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit's leading.
7. Prophecy Reveals God's Heart and Intention
"The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
Prophetic Revelation. Prophecy is more than prediction; it's a divine communication that reveals God's heart, purpose, and current work.
Prophetic Dimensions:
- Personal testimony
- Spiritual encouragement
- Corporate guidance
- Revealing divine mysteries
- Bringing spiritual transformation
Spiritual Edification. Prophecy serves to build up, comfort, and exhort believers, providing direct insight into God's intentions.
8. Personal Transformation Requires Complete Surrender
"To be filled with the Spirit, you must be emptied of self."
Spiritual Emptying. True spiritual growth happens when believers completely surrender their own agendas, desires, and limitations to God's purposes.
Surrender Processes:
- Dying to self
- Embracing brokenness
- Cultivating humility
- Pursuing holiness
- Remaining teachable
Divine Empowerment. Surrender creates space for God's transformative power to work unhindered in a believer's life.
9. The Holy Spirit Guides and Empowers Believers
"The Holy Spirit has all power and all language."
Divine Guidance. The Holy Spirit provides supernatural wisdom, direction, and empowerment for believers navigating life's challenges.
Spirit-Led Living:
- Continuous spiritual filling
- Responsive to divine promptings
- Embracing spiritual gifts
- Walking in spiritual authority
- Maintaining intimate communion
Supernatural Enablement. The Holy Spirit equips believers with power beyond human capability to fulfill God's purposes.
10. Spiritual Warfare Requires Spiritual Weapons
"He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."
Spiritual Battle Strategy. Effective spiritual warfare involves recognizing and confronting spiritual opposition through divine power and authority.
Warfare Principles:
- Recognize spiritual forces
- Use biblical authority
- Maintain spiritual purity
- Rely on God's power
- Operate in love and compassion
Victorious Living. Believers can overcome spiritual challenges by staying connected to God and operating in His delegated authority.
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FAQ
1. What is "Smith Wigglesworth on Spiritual Gifts" by Smith Wigglesworth about?
- Focus on Spiritual Gifts: The book explores the biblical concept of spiritual gifts, especially as outlined in 1 Corinthians 12–14, and their operation in the life of the believer and the church.
- Wigglesworth’s Teachings: It presents Smith Wigglesworth’s sermons, teachings, and personal experiences regarding the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including healing, prophecy, tongues, and more.
- Practical Guidance: The book offers practical advice on how to receive, use, and discern spiritual gifts, emphasizing the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
- Faith and Power: Central themes include faith, the necessity of the Holy Spirit’s power, and the believer’s role as a vessel for God’s supernatural work.
2. Why should I read "Smith Wigglesworth on Spiritual Gifts" by Smith Wigglesworth?
- Firsthand Pentecostal Insights: The book provides direct access to the teachings of one of the most influential Pentecostal leaders, known for his healing and faith ministry.
- Deepens Understanding: It helps readers understand the biblical foundation and practical application of spiritual gifts in the modern church.
- Encourages Spiritual Growth: Wigglesworth’s emphasis on faith, holiness, and the pursuit of God’s power inspires readers to seek a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit.
- Addresses Common Questions: The book tackles common misconceptions, challenges, and errors related to spiritual gifts, offering clarity and scriptural balance.
3. What are the key takeaways from "Smith Wigglesworth on Spiritual Gifts"?
- Hunger for More of God: Wigglesworth stresses the importance of continually seeking more of God and never becoming spiritually stagnant.
- Gifts Are for Edification: Spiritual gifts are given for the building up of the church, not for personal glory or attention.
- The Holy Spirit’s Central Role: Being filled with the Holy Spirit is essential for the operation of spiritual gifts and victorious Christian living.
- Discernment and Order: Proper use and discernment of gifts are necessary to avoid confusion, error, and misuse within the church.
4. How does Smith Wigglesworth define and describe spiritual gifts in his book?
- Nine Gifts Outlined: Wigglesworth discusses the nine gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12—wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues, and interpretation of tongues.
- Gifts vs. Fruit: He emphasizes the need for the gifts to be balanced with the fruit of the Spirit, such as love, joy, and peace.
- Manifestation, Not Possession: Wigglesworth teaches that the gifts are manifestations of the Spirit, not personal possessions, and can operate through any believer as the Spirit wills.
- Purpose of Gifts: The gifts are meant to glorify Jesus, edify the church, and demonstrate God’s power to the world.
5. What practical advice does Smith Wigglesworth give for receiving spiritual gifts?
- Ask and Believe: Wigglesworth encourages believers to ask God for spiritual gifts with faith, believing they will receive as promised in Scripture.
- Don’t Seek Feelings: He warns against waiting for feelings or repeated asking; instead, act in faith once you have asked.
- Yield to the Spirit: Complete surrender and willingness to be used by God are essential for receiving and operating in the gifts.
- Avoid Selfish Motives: The motive for seeking gifts should be to glorify Christ and serve others, not personal gain or recognition.
6. How does "Smith Wigglesworth on Spiritual Gifts" address the use and misuse of spiritual gifts?
- Gifts Must Edify: Wigglesworth insists that all gifts must be used for the edification, comfort, and encouragement of the church.
- Avoiding Excess and Disorder: He cautions against using gifts out of order, for personal attention, or without the Spirit’s leading, as this can cause confusion and harm.
- Testing Prophecy and Tongues: The book provides guidelines for testing prophecies and tongues, ensuring they align with Scripture and the character of Christ.
- Correction and Balance: Wigglesworth advocates for humility, correction, and accountability in the use of gifts, always prioritizing love and unity.
7. What does Smith Wigglesworth teach about the relationship between the fruit and the gifts of the Spirit?
- Gifts and Fruit Must Align: He teaches that every gift should be accompanied by its corresponding fruit (e.g., wisdom with love, faith with peace).
- Character Over Charisma: The fruit of the Spirit is essential for the proper operation of the gifts; gifts without fruit can lead to pride and error.
- Love as the Balancer: 1 Corinthians 13 is highlighted as the “governor” that keeps the gifts in balance and prevents misuse.
- Lasting Impact: Only when gifts are exercised in love and humility do they have lasting spiritual value.
8. How does Smith Wigglesworth explain the gift of tongues and interpretation in his book?
- Three Types of Tongues: He distinguishes between tongues as initial evidence of the Spirit’s baptism, tongues for personal prayer, and tongues for public interpretation.
- Interpretation Required: In public settings, tongues should be accompanied by interpretation for the edification of the church.
- Not for Guidance: Wigglesworth clarifies that tongues and interpretation are not to be used for personal guidance but for corporate encouragement.
- Order in Operation: He emphasizes following biblical order—no more than three utterances in a meeting, and the interpreter should speak as the Spirit gives utterance, not from their own mind.
9. What guidance does "Smith Wigglesworth on Spiritual Gifts" give on discerning spirits and testing voices?
- Discernment Is Essential: The gift of discerning spirits is for identifying evil influences, not for judging people.
- Test Every Spirit: Wigglesworth teaches to test spirits by asking if they confess Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, as outlined in 1 John 4.
- Avoid Deception: He warns against being led by impressions, voices, or prophecies that do not align with Scripture or produce peace and edification.
- Stay in the Word: The Bible and the inner witness of the Holy Spirit are the believer’s safeguards against deception.
10. What are some of the most important methods or principles for operating in spiritual gifts, according to Smith Wigglesworth?
- Be Filled Continually: Constant infilling of the Holy Spirit is necessary for effective operation in the gifts.
- Act in Faith, Not Fear: Step out in faith when prompted by the Spirit, trusting God for the results.
- Maintain Humility: Always give glory to God, not to oneself, and remain teachable and correctable.
- Seek Edification, Not Sensation: The goal is to build up the church, not to create spectacle or draw attention to oneself.
11. What are the best quotes from "Smith Wigglesworth on Spiritual Gifts" and what do they mean?
- “Only believe!” – Wigglesworth’s signature phrase, emphasizing simple, unwavering faith in God’s promises.
- “To live two days in succession on the same spiritual plane is a tragedy.” – Encourages continual spiritual growth and hunger for more of God.
- “The gifts are for the profit of all.” – Reminds readers that spiritual gifts are for the benefit of the whole church, not individuals.
- “We prefer the Spirit of God to any gift.” – Stresses the importance of valuing the Giver (the Holy Spirit) above the gifts themselves.
12. How does "Smith Wigglesworth on Spiritual Gifts" address common errors, dangers, and challenges in the pursuit of spiritual gifts?
- Warns Against Pride: Wigglesworth cautions that pride and self-exaltation can lead to spiritual downfall and misuse of gifts.
- Dangers of Deception: He addresses the risk of being misled by false voices, prophecies, or impressions, urging believers to test everything by Scripture.
- Avoiding Stagnation: The book warns against spiritual complacency and encourages ongoing pursuit of God’s fullness.
- Emphasizes Repentance and Correction: When mistakes are made, Wigglesworth advocates for repentance, humility, and a return to biblical order and love.
Review Summary
Smith Wigglesworth on Spiritual Gifts receives mostly positive reviews, with readers praising its inspirational and instructional content. Many appreciate Wigglesworth's strong faith and teachings on spiritual gifts, finding the book enlightening and faith-building. Some readers note the book's disorganized structure, as it's compiled from sermon transcripts. While most find value in Wigglesworth's experiences and teachings, a few critics question the biblical accuracy of some interpretations. Overall, readers recommend it for those interested in exploring spiritual gifts and seeking to deepen their faith.
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