Did you encounter God the last time you went to church? If there is one place where we should expect to sense, know, or feel God, it’s in church!
Let’s See the Gifts in Action!
Church isn’t meant to be a dusty, drab, polite nod to God but a powerful place of encounter with His very presence, open to all nations—a presence that changes, transforms, renews, calls, and sends. When it comes to living and walking in step with the Spirit, a truly charismatic church doesn’t shy away from the gifts; it leans in wholeheartedly with faith and expectation.
Let’s be honest: a church that truly lives in the Spirit’s power should look a bit wild—not swinging on the chandeliers, but certainly full of life! We’re talking about tongues, prophecy, healing, discernment, and more—the full spectrum of God’s generous outpouring, all here, right now, and for our blessing.
These gifts, given directly and sovereignly by the Holy Spirit to the Church with intent and purpose, aren’t about a past event; they’re about today. In the face of calamity, hardship, discouragement, and heartache, the gifts come like a bulldozer, smashing through walls of despair, hopelessness, and despondency, bringing breakthrough and rescue and turning our hearts to God. They’re proof of a God who never stopped giving—a God who still gives what He has not taken away! Paul urged the church, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7).
Paul is adamant: every believer, without exception, has something to bring, say, and do; every gift has a purpose, and God intends each one for building up His church. Ignoring them means missing out on how God wants to make Himself known among us. Someone is missing out for sure—the person who could be used by God to bring blessing and, sadly, the one who counted on the gifts being used to encourage their weary heart or bring healing to them. So why the silence in many churches when it’s time to ‘bring out the gifts’? God’s at work—you can count on it…
Stepping into the Real Deal
If we’re serious about being a Spirit-led church (and most of us are), then here’s the truth: the gifts are not optional. God didn’t hand them over just for a select few or as a temporary fix for the early church’s needs. Much the opposite! Consider Acts 2 and the birth of the church when the Spirit descended in tongues of fire, and people were filled with His power in ways that stunned everyone around. The Spirit showed up, tongues rolled, prophecies flowed, and outsiders couldn’t help but pay attention.
It wasn’t a mere spectacle; it was God meeting people, inviting them to know Him in a way words alone could never achieve. At the height of it, Peter echoes the prophecy of Joel, “Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy… your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams” (Acts 2:17). And they will, and they do—and they are.
This was never meant to be a ‘slam-dunk’ “one and done” moment; it was a launch into the deep of something timeless, something we’re called to experience today—in our city, in our church, and at such a time as this.
When the church moves in the gifts of the Spirit, mobilising all its lovers-of-Jesus, it’s not about chasing emotion but bringing real transformation. Prophecy, tongues, and interpretation are as vital to the church’s health as teaching and fellowship. And while these gifts bring a sense of awe and wonder when done in a scripture-honouring way, their purpose is never about the dramatic; it’s about making God known. A charismatic church isn’t merely traditional in belief but radical and reformed in practice. Our role is to make space for the Spirit, to welcome His gifts—not with fear or a hint of nostalgia but with the expectation that God wants to work here and now. That’s a breath-taking concept. God—moving among us—in power…
Beyond a Label, It’s Our Calling
“Charismatic” isn’t just a label; it’s a call to live out what we believe about God’s presence with us. And who wouldn’t want to? Who really wants a God that has saved them but now stays silent? We’re called to welcome—really welcome—and let God’s Spirit move freely, to bring tongues, prophecy, healing, and wisdom from the side-lines, from the back rows of church as well as the front, to the heart of our gatherings. These gifts aren’t for show; they’re instruments of God’s grace, touching the here and now. The Corinthians were a lively bunch, sometimes using the gifts chaotically, but Paul doesn’t tell them to back down. Instead, he teaches them to steward these gifts maturely, urging them to “strive to excel in building up the church” (1 Corinthians 14:12). Gifts are meant to bring God’s tangible presence to us; they make Him known and felt in our lives in ways that can’t be faked or manufactured. They do something in, to, and for us that other things cannot.
The church—your church—isn’t meant to be a place where the supernatural is reserved for the few; rather, it’s where every believer, even the quietest mouse, is encouraged to step into their gifting. Prophecy should bring words of life and encouragement to hearts weighed down by despair. Tongues and their interpretations reveal mysteries of God that words alone can’t reach. Healing and miracles are not just for the hopeful; they’re demonstrations of a God who touches physical and spiritual lives alike. I hope I am getting to you! When we let the Spirit’s gifts move and stir us, we become part of God’s blessing to the Church and beyond—what a privilege! He didn’t have to do that, but He uses us to bless and encourage others, using our hands, lips, and actions as His own!
Stewarding the Gifts Together
Here’s a big point often missed: stewarding these gifts isn’t just the job of church leaders; it’s on all of us. The beauty of a charismatic community is that we all carry responsibility. 1 Corinthians 12:27 highlights that we’re each “individually members” of one body. In fact, we’re not called to be passive spectators but active participants in a shared mission. The gifts belong to the church as a whole. Leaders are there to guide, but we each carry the responsibility to steward what God has given us—to bring our gifts with humility, boldness, and readiness, not with reticence or cynicism.
Think about the early church: it wasn’t one person healing and another interpreting; everyone brought their gift. They depended on one another, and the gifts flowed in unity and power, showing the world something radically different—here comes the church! When we bring our gifts to the table, we embody a community that loves, treasures, and honours God’s Spirit by letting Him work through us all. Yes, it’s messy sometimes, sure, but God is seen not only in our triumphs but in our shared journey, our efforts to serve one another, stewarding what He’s given.
Honouring God with Bold Expectation
Let’s be clear: the gifts of the Spirit aren’t pristine, dust-free items to be admired from a distance. They’re dynamic, sometimes unpredictable, and always purposeful, “every good and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” God doesn’t hand out these gifts lightly, nor are they without purpose. And while the church’s history with the gifts may include some rather bizarre missteps, these should never scare us away. Instead, they call us to engage with greater love, understanding, and reverence. God’s gifts come not with a list of cautions but with a command to use them to build up the church. Use them! You—not someone else! Honouring Him with our gifts means stepping into the role He’s given us with faith and anticipation, expecting that He’ll use even our human efforts for His glory.
The world outside, tired of empty promises and cynicism, needs a church unafraid to step into the fullness of the Spirit’s power and show them God at work in a crushed, broken world. This isn’t about a show; it’s about putting God on display for real—throwing open the curtains that the world has pulled to cover up the sheer magnificence of the Cross, Christ, and the Church. A church moving in the Spirit is a church that’s alive, willing to bring the power of the Gospel not just in word but in deed, seeing lives changed, hearts healed, and hope restored.
When God Shows Up, We Show Up
Imagine a church unafraid to embrace the Spirit’s gifts—such places already exist, and you can be one. A place where prophecy, tongues, healing, and wisdom aren’t sporadic but part of the intentional, faith-led, and inspired fabric of our gatherings. This is the kind of church I want to be part of, and to some degree, I am—a place where we expect to see God show up in real, tangible ways, where His presence isn’t just a hope but a reality. As a charismatic church today, let’s take up the challenge to live in the Spirit’s fullness, making His gifts visible, accessible, and unmistakable. This isn’t about elevating ourselves; it’s about letting a broken world see that God is here, active and present, still speaking, still healing, still loving beyond measure. A God worth following, treasuring, and worshipping—wholeheartedly.
So let’s go, church! We’re here, Spirit-filled, and ready to be God’s vessels of grace and power in a world desperate for hope. The Spirit’s gifts are the heartbeat of a church alive with God, and when we put them to use, we don’t just encounter church—we encounter God Himself.
