“Go into all the world and preach the gospel,” Jesus commanded His disciples after His resurrection, but He enjoined them, “tarry in Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49) They waited, and when the day of Pentecost came, they were all empowered with the Holy Spirit; tongues of fire came upon them and they spoke with other languages, “as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4)

Visitors had come to Jerusalem from Rome, Asia Minor, Arabia and many other lands, and yet they heard “them declaring the wonders of God in [their] own tongues!” (Acts 2:8-11 NIV) That mighty baptism in the Holy Spirit not only transformed Peter and the other apostles into bold, powerful preachers of the gospel; it did much more. It forged the whole company of believers into a victorious common life – a continuing, vital, empowered union that the devil could not overthrow.

Satan soon tried to adulterate the church through a ruse that two people concocted. Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, agreed to sell some land and pretend they were dedicating all of the proceeds to the Lord’s work.

As Ananias presented the money, Peter discerned that satan was working and, using supernatural knowledge, exposed the lie of the scheming Ananias, who immediately fell dead. Three hours later, Peter questioned Sapphira about the matter. The apostle knew by supernatural means that the woman had conspired with her husband, but the extraordinary wisdom he used made it possible for her to escape death (by confessing her sin and repenting) or to seal her soul with her own words in the enemy’s plot. She chose the latter. Peter prophesied her death and she immediately died. Moreover, Peter needed special faith to meet this satanic challenge to the purity of the church, a matter so important that it meant the death of two people. It was an awesome example to all around that God was truly and powerfully in the midst of the church, so that no one dared to join them, except those the Lord added. (Acts 5:1-14)

The church also received the gift of healing, demonstrated at the Gate Beautiful when a crippled beggar leaped to his feet fully healed at Peter’s command, and on many other occasions recorded in the Book of Acts.

These gifts were an integral part of the church’s growth, ministry and maturity. Paul’s missionary journeys, for example, were begun as the result of the gift of prophecy. He, who had known his calling to the Gentiles from the time of his conversion, waited for supernatural confirmation in the church before setting forth. Acts 13:2 depicts the church assembled at Antioch: “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” (NIV) That word of prophecy set a sure supernatural foundation for extraordinary trials and triumphs to come.

In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul identified the gifts of the Holy Spirit as follows: the gift of the word of wisdom, the gift of the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, the working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, diversities of tongues and the interpretation of tongues. Gifts were given to “each” member of the church, not to a select few. They were given as the Holy Spirit willed, bestowing certain gifts on particular members. (1 Corinthians 12:11) They were an indispensable part of the life of the church.

When the church members gathered for worship, “everyone” had “a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.” (1 Corinthians 14:26 NIV) The key to their worship services lay in the fact that “everyone” actually participated and that the gifts were manifested.

The gifts were given for the edifying of the church and for the church’s ministry to the world. The church, therefore, is the proper setting for the gifts essential to empowered worship.

In order for them to have their full impact today, the gifts must be exercised in the way they were meant to be. At the same time, the believers who exercise the gifts need to be, first of all, in a church that is truly Scriptural and also functioning in their particular places in that church. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are manifested through human vessels. Water cannot run as it should through constricted, out of joint, or clogged pipes. Neither can the Holy Spirit minister to the church or to the unsaved as He would unless believers are in their places, in the will of God, and able to move in the gifts of the Spirit as the Lord leads.

In short, for God’s work to be done as He intends it, His people must find where they fit in the body of Christ.