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Spiritual Gifts Today: What Should We Expect?Introduction – Are We Expecting Too Much, or Too Little?
Suppose someone says to you, “God has given me a message for you.” What would you do? Or someone claims, “If you have enough faith, you will be healed.” Should you believe that straight away? Or do you think, “Those extraordinary gifts were only for the time of the apostles”?
Today, we’re diving into one of the most controversial questions among Christians: what can we genuinely expect from spiritual gifts today, and how do we distinguish God’s work from human emotion?
Why Does God Give Spiritual Gifts?
Let’s begin with a simple question: why does God give spiritual gifts? In 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12, Paul explains that the Holy Spirit distributes different gifts to believers. He speaks of the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, the working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues, the interpretation of tongues, service, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and showing mercy.
In 1 Corinthians 12:7, Paul makes it clear that the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of others. That is an important starting point. Spiritual gifts are not meant to put you on the spiritual map. They are not meant to prove that you are a special Christian. And they certainly are not meant to make others believe that you have a higher spiritual status. The gifts are given for the good of the church.
Paul compares the church to a body. A body consists of different members. Not every member has the same function, but every member is needed. It is the same with the church of Christ. One person receives a particular gift, another receives a different one. But ultimately, they all serve the same purpose: the building up of the body of Christ. That also means we must not use spiritual gifts to distinguish between first- and second-class Christians.
That was precisely a problem in Corinth. Some believers attached so much importance to certain gifts that division arose. Paul corrects this. In 1 Corinthians 12:29–30, he asks a series of questions. Are all believers apostles? Are they all prophets? Do they all have the same gifts? The answer is clear: no. Not everyone receives the same gift. And that matters when we think about the Holy Spirit. The presence of the Holy Spirit in your life is not proven by possessing one particular spiritual gift. The Spirit works in every believer, but He distributes His gifts as He wills.
Have Spiritual Gifts Ceased?
Now we come to the question on which Christians disagree. Are the extraordinary spiritual gifts still active today? Broadly speaking, there are two positions within Christianity.
The first position is called cessationism. The word refers to the doctrine that the extraordinary spiritual gifts have ceased.
Cessationists believe that certain miraculous gifts—such as prophecy, tongues, and signs and wonders—served a temporary purpose in the early church. They primarily served to lay the foundation and confirm the apostolic testimony. Now that foundation has been laid, those gifts have ceased in their original form.
This does not mean that cessationists believe God can no longer perform miracles. Many believe that God certainly can heal in response to prayer. The difference is that they do not believe individual believers still regularly possess those gifts today.
The second position is called continuationism. The term means that God continues His work. Continuationists believe that the gifts we see in the New Testament can, in principle, still be active today. This applies to teaching and mercy, but also to prophecy, tongues, and healing.
Both groups base their views on the Bible. A cessationist often points to Ephesians 2:20, which says that the church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. A foundation is laid only once; that unique work is complete.
A continuationist, on the other hand, points to 1 Corinthians 13, which says that prophecies will cease when “that which is perfect” comes. Many understand this to refer to the return of Christ, when we will truly see Him face to face.
There are differences within both camps. Not every cessationist thinks the same way about miracles, and not every continuationist expects all the gifts to function in the same way as they did in the time of the apostles.
My point is this: the apostolic ministry was unique, but that does not automatically prove that every gift disappeared with the apostles. At the same time, nowhere does the Bible teach that every Christian must have the same spectacular experiences as the apostles. We need to distinguish between what God can do, what He has promised, and what He calls us to expect.
Prophecy: Does God Still Speak Today?
Let’s begin with prophecy. When we hear the word prophecy, we often think of someone predicting the future. But in the Bible, prophecy has a broader meaning. In 1 Corinthians 14:3, Paul explains that prophecy is directed toward the edification, exhortation, and comfort of people. Paul is not saying that they receive new biblical revelation or that their words have the same authority as Scripture. He means that God can use people to encourage others, admonish them, give direction, or provide confirmation.
But not every spiritual impression is automatically a message from God. And not every statement that begins with “God told me” or “Thus saith the Lord” carries divine authority. Paul therefore calls the church to test prophecies. In 1 Thessalonians 5:20–21, he gives two commands that belong together: do not despise prophecies, but prove all things and hold fast that which is good.
That calls for balance: we must not despise prophecy beforehand, but neither should we accept everything uncritically. Anyone who claims to have received a prophetic message is not above the church’s scrutiny. Such a statement must be carefully examined, because God speaks the truth.
But even if a statement does not directly contradict the Bible, that is not the end of the matter. It may sound biblical and yet arise from human thoughts, emotions, or wrong interpretations. That is why we look at its content, context, fruit, and the way the person handles the message. Personal impressions must never replace the authority of Scripture.
I have often met well-meaning Christians who had a word from the Lord for me. More than once, it was something general and open to several interpretations. It was not something that contradicted God’s Word, but neither was it something that made you think, “Wow, he couldn’t have known that. It must have been from the Lord!” We do not need to immediately say that someone has been deceived, because usually they mean well. But it shows that we can also look at what is said in a sober-minded way. You thank the brother or sister and simply keep their words in the back of your mind.
Tongues: What Does the Bible Say?
Then we come to another controversial gift: tongues. In Acts 2, we read that on the Day of Pentecost the disciples began to speak in other languages. People from different countries heard them speaking in their own languages. That was a remarkable sign of God’s work. But in 1 Corinthians 12–14, Paul discusses the use of tongues in the church in greater detail. And there we see that speaking in tongues is not an experience everyone must have.
As we have already seen, in 1 Corinthians 12:30 Paul asks whether all believers speak in tongues. The answer is no. That is important. Some Christians teach that every believer should speak in tongues as evidence that he or she has been baptized with the Holy Spirit. Others say that tongues can be learned or developed through practice. But that is not what Paul teaches here. He makes it clear that the Spirit distributes different gifts.
Paul also lays down clear conditions in 1 Corinthians 14 for speaking in tongues during a gathering. If someone speaks in an unknown tongue, there must be an interpretation so that the church can be edified. Without an interpretation, the church gains little from it. Paul even says that in such a case the person should remain silent in the church. That is striking. It means that even when someone has received a gift, he or she may not use it just any way they please. The church must be edified.
Tongues must not be used to claim spiritual status, put people under pressure, or justify an uncontrolled gathering. Paul concludes 1 Corinthians 14 with the instruction that everything should be done decently and in order.
If you want to learn more about the gift of tongues, take a look at the description after this video. I’ll put links there to two earlier videos on this subject.
Healing: Does God Still Heal Today?
Then there is the gift of healing. This is a much-discussed subject in the Netherlands. Healing services create a great deal of controversy among Christians and also in the secular media. That controversy often has much more to do with the personalities of the people leading those services. So the issue is not always whether healing is still possible today. The Bible teaches that there certainly have been people who received the gift of healing. But that does not mean they are holier than you and me. We cannot accept them using this gift to gain status.
God heals. We also see God healing in the Old Testament. In the Gospels, we see Jesus healing the sick. And in Acts, we see God performing signs and wonders through the apostles as well. But does that mean every believer can expect to be healed today? Or that someone who has enough faith will always be healed? No. That is an important qualification.
Great believers throughout history have faced illness and physical suffering. The first British missionaries in Madagascar lost their lives to malaria. Did they lack faith? It would be too easy to say so from the comfort of our armchairs.
In 1 Timothy 5:23, Paul advises Timothy to use a little wine for the sake of his stomach and his frequent infirmities. And in 2 Timothy 4:20, Paul writes that he left Trophimus sick at Miletus. These are remarkable passages, because they show that illness also affected believers who had a significant ministry.
That does not mean we should stop praying for the sick. Quite the opposite. James 5:14–16 calls believers to pray for the sick. We may ask God for healing. We may trust in His power. But we must not promise what God has not promised. And we must not automatically accuse those who are not healed of having insufficient faith. God is sovereign. And sometimes He heals in ways we do not understand.
Gifts and Roles in the Church
Alongside these manifestations of the Spirit, Paul also mentions in Ephesians 4 people who are themselves given as gifts to the church: apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers.
Their purpose? Not to stand on a pedestal, but to equip the believers for service and to bring the church to spiritual maturity.
Apostles are people sent by Christ to proclaim the gospel and establish churches. The original apostles had a unique role as witnesses of Christ and as the foundation of the church (Ephesians 2:20).
Prophets serve the church through prophetic words that may be directed toward edification, encouragement, admonition, and comfort (1 Corinthians 14:3). Prophetic words must always be tested against the Bible (1 Thessalonians 5:20–21).
Evangelists are equipped to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and call people to faith. Philip is called an evangelist in Acts 21:8.
Shepherds provide spiritual care for the church. They guide, protect, encourage, and help believers grow spiritually (1 Peter 5:2–3).
Teachers explain God’s Word and help believers understand and apply the Bible. In this way, the church is built up and protected from false teaching (Ephesians 4:13–14).
The Purpose of These Ministries
Christ has given these ministries to the church to equip believers, build up the church, and help it grow in spiritual maturity (Ephesians 4:12–13).
In my view, it is too simplistic to say that the ministry of, for example, an apostle or prophet completely ceased after the first apostles. What we can learn from the Bible, however, is that the first apostles had a unique task. As mentioned, they were appointed to lay the foundation upon which the whole church of Christ would be built.
You could see modern apostles as missionaries actively involved in church-planting work in distant regions. Whether we should call such people apostles is a matter on which Christians disagree. What is clear, at any rate, is that modern apostles do not have the same unique role as the first apostles, because the foundation has already been laid. Today’s apostles build upon it.
To be honest, I think people are simply a little uncomfortable using the titles “apostle” or “prophet.” We all sense that those titles carry considerable weight. By contrast, the terms “evangelist” or “teacher” feel much less intimidating.
But even when it comes to the ministry of an evangelist, we are quick to push back: “Every Christian should simply be an evangelist,” people say. My answer is simple. Everyone should be a witness, but it will not come as easily to everyone as it does to someone who has received the ministry of an evangelist. I need very little encouragement to start a good conversation about faith, while my friend may struggle to find an opening at all. Yet he, too, is a witness for Jesus; he is simply better suited to other tasks than I am.
How Do We Test Spiritual Claims?
So how should we deal with all the claims we encounter today? Someone claims to have received a prophetic message. Another says he has a gift of healing. Someone else claims that a particular spiritual experience proves he has a special relationship with God. How do we test these things? I believe we should apply a number of biblical principles.
- Test everything against Scripture. The Bible is our ultimate authority. No dream, impression, or prophecy may be placed above God’s Word. Does it contradict the Bible? Reject it immediately.
- Look at the fruit. Jesus said that we know a tree by its fruit. Do we see humility, service, and self-control? Is Christ being honored? Or is it about power, money, and spiritual manipulation?
- Pay attention to how the claim is handled. Someone who truly speaks on God’s behalf is not afraid of being tested. 1 Corinthians 14:29 says that words must be judged. No one can hide behind the statement, “You may not judge me, because this comes from God.” It can be difficult to test a claim when someone emphatically says, “Thus saith the Lord,” or speaks as though God Himself were speaking: “I see you, My child, and I have a great plan for your life.” Yet it would be unbiblical not to question such words, whether or not the messenger likes it.
- Distinguish an experience from a promise. A remarkable healing or experience is wonderful, but it does not make it a general rule for everyone. Do not turn a personal blessing into a universal theological law.
Are We Afraid of the Work of the Holy Spirit?
With all the deception and abuse, wouldn’t it be safer to simply ignore these gifts altogether?
I understand that feeling. A great deal of harm has been done through spiritual manipulation. But the Bible warns us just as strongly against the other extreme.
Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5: “Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
We must avoid two extremes:
- Rigidly rejecting God’s work out of fear of abuse.
- Blindly accepting everything that calls itself “spiritual” out of a hunger for sensational experiences.
Neither cessationism nor continuationism is what saves us. Christ must be central, not our theological frameworks. We must also be careful not to put our interpretations—however carefully constructed—first and measure everything against our theology. That may feel very safe, but our experiences must not be central; Christ must.
My Own Conviction
Let me make clear where I stand. I believe spiritual gifts are still active. Perhaps not always to the same extent or in the same way as in the time of the apostles, but I am convinced that God still works through His Spirit today and gives people spiritual gifts. When I read the Bible, I come to the conclusion that God fully equips the church.
For me, this is not just theory; it is practical experience. I have personally experienced miraculous healing when the Lord delivered me from asthma from one day to the next, and later from acute lower-back pain—each time without sensationalism, but very tangibly. I have seen with my own eyes how a girl with a curved spine suddenly stood upright in the church before the prayer had even begun.
I also believe that God still speaks through people. Not to add new biblical revelation, as though Scripture were incomplete. The Bible is our firm and authoritative guide.
Years before we went to the mission field, a sister shared a dream: she saw my wife waving in a rice field. We thought of Africa, but there were no rice fields there. Eventually, we came to Madagascar. Later, when I saw my wife waving from a rice field and took a picture of her, the pieces of the puzzle fell into place.
God can use people to encourage others, admonish them, give direction, provide confirmation, or teach.
And that is precisely why we must test such words against Scripture. We must not simply accept everything because someone says, “God told me…” But neither should we rule out in advance the possibility that God may use someone today to build another person up.
I do not believe that everything people present as a spiritual gift today truly comes from God. But I am equally unwilling to close the door on what the Holy Spirit is still doing. My conviction is that spiritual gifts have not disappeared, and that we should assess them biblically, soberly, and with discernment.
Conclusion – Expect Everything God Has Promised, but Do Not Claim What He Has Not Promised
So, can we still expect prophecy, tongues, and healing through prayer today? I do not think we should answer that question lightly. We need to distinguish between the unique apostolic ministry of the first disciples and the broader work of the Holy Spirit throughout the ages.
When I read the Bible and see what the Lord is doing in practice today, I cannot reach any other conclusion than that spiritual gifts and special ministries are still active within the church of Christ.
We must recognize that God is mighty to do whatever He wills. At the same time, we must recognize that not every spiritual experience comes from God.
Perhaps that is the most important lesson: the Holy Spirit was not given to keep us occupied with extraordinary experiences. He points us to Christ, transforms us into His image, and equips us to serve Him.
That is why I want to end with a call. Let us not be afraid of the work of the Holy Spirit. But let us not be naïve either. Let us test everything by God’s Word. And above all, let us not forget that the greatest gift we have received is not a special experience, but the grace of God in Jesus Christ.
