50 Days of Wisdom

Charismatics are taught that spiritual gifts make you spiritual. What does Scripture have to say about that? Well, in 1 Corinthians 1:7, Paul says to the Corinthian church, "You're not lacking in any spiritual gift." They had the gifts of prophecy, knowledge, miracles, healing, tongues, and interpretations of tongues—they had them all. Yet, they also had every imaginable spiritual problem. They were spiritual in terms of their gifts. They had spiritual gifts. And the true Christians were spiritual in terms of their position. But their actions were carnal, and the church was in carnal chaos. You see, spirituality isn't related to your gifts or even to some supernatural kind of manifestation through those gifts of miracles, healing, tongues, and interpretation. And the Corinthian believers of the first century were not unique. Christians today face similar problems. We are saved. We have the Holy Spirit. We have certain spiritual gifts, but we still struggle with the flesh. Here's the point: your spiritual gift doesn't change your struggle with the flesh at all. If speaking in tongues is a spiritual gift, how would that change your spiritual struggle? It won't. Therefore, even having the gift of tongues has no relationship to your spirituality. Look, no spiritual gift will guarantee that you're going to win the struggle and live on a supernatural, spiritual plane, as charismatics claim. The only way you can win the spiritual battle and live according to your position as a spiritual being, having been transformed, is to walk in the Spirit. Did Paul say in Galatians 5:16, "Speak in tongues, and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh"? No, Paul says, "Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." You overcome the flesh by a daily step-by-step obedience to the Spirit of God. Listen, any discerning charismatic who speaks in tongues will confess that they struggle just as much with the flesh and its appetites, lusts, and desires as anyone else. So enthusiasm, euphoria, fervor, excitement, emotion—everything charismatics tend to equate with spiritual intensity—has no power to restrain lust, conquer pride, overcome selfishness, or deal with greed—none at all. In fact, any charismatic whose only strength is drawn from the last experiential high is more likely to be spiritually weak and immature. And to compound the difficulty, when they do stumble into sin, they're not even likely to take the responsibility for it. They're going to blame demonic power rather than examining their theology, or their fleshly will, or their biblical ignorance. And with all their claims of new power and a new level of spirituality, the charismatics have no guarantee that any of their ecstatic experiences will put them in any kind of lasting spiritual condition. Listen, no matter how many times they fall over backwards after being "slain in the Spirit," they still face the same challenge given to every Christian: they have to walk in the power of the Spirit in obedience to the Word, which they understand, and die to self and sin every day. There isn't any shortcut. It all begins with the mind and not the emotion. It begins with an understanding of truth, Scripture, God, Christ, man, sin, and the Holy Spirit. It starts with the mind. How many people join the charismatic movement because they've been promised an easy answer to problems and a quick and easy path to instant godliness? It's tragic. Repent and believe! GTY.org (90-62) – What Is True Spirituality?

Today's Wisdom

Day: 957

June 27, 2026

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My name is Mark Paul from Wauchula, Florida, and like the Apostle Peter said in 2 Peter 1:14, "I know that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent." Consequently, my goal is to leave a legacy that will continue to advance the kingdom of God long after I have departed. In other words, bear fruit for eternity. And by simply reading and sharing my free eBooks, you too become contributors to the advancement of His kingdom. Thank you for partaking in this endeavor, and I look forward to greeting you on heaven's shore.

The Truth in Love,

Mark Paul - Servant of God

Now grant, O Lord, that when the souls who read these books cast their eyes upon these lines, their minds may be illuminated and their consciences convinced and awakened, that they may see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and be converted so that You may heal them. Amen