Pursuing Spiritual Gifts

One statement I find especially encouraging was from John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Movement. This was taken from numerous writings of Mr. Wesley and is contained in the 2008 UMC Book of Resolutions:

Guidelines: The United Methodist Church and the Charismatic Movement

Approved by 2008 General Conference for the 2008 United Methodist Book of Resolutions

Finally, Wesley himself has noted that the spiritual gifts were not generally exercised after the first two or three centuries after Christ. But the reason for this was not that these gifts were not available. Rather, as he noted, “The real cause was ‘the love of many,’ almost all Christians, was ‘waxed cold,’ because the Christians were turned Heathens again, and had only a dead form left.” (Sermon LXXXIX, “The More Excellent Way,” Works, Vol. 7, 26-27) And Wesley wrote, “I do not recollect any scripture wherein we are taught that miracles were to be confined within the limits either of the apostolic or the Cyprianic age, or of any period of time, longer or shorter, even till the restitution of all things.” (“Principles of a Methodist Farther Explained,” Works, Vol. 8, 465)

To read the full guideline, click here. I encourage you to desire a greater understanding of Spiritual gifts.