Skip to content Warning: Beware of Spiritual Gift Abuse - Part 1 May 28 · 25 min ...more
Warning: Beware of Spiritual Gift Abuse - Part 1
May 28, 2026 · 25 min
Chip begins a discussion about spiritual gift abuse. What is it? How can you avoid it? And what to do if you are facing it.
Series You Were Made For More May 28, 2026 · 25 min · You Were Made For More
Chip begins a discussion about spiritual gift abuse. What is it? How can you avoid it? And what to do if you are facing it. ...more Show the full description Show less Chip begins a discussion about spiritual gift abuse. What is it? How can you avoid it? And what to do if you are facing it.
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Chip Ingram is an American Christian pastor, author, and teacher. He is the founder, teaching pastor and CEO of Living on the Edge, an international teaching and discipleship ministry.
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Beware Warnings 1-3: Manipulation, False Bestowal, and Misplaced Evidence 0:11 Today on Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram.0:14 Today's program comes with a caution, red lights flashing. It's a serious program. We've been talking about spiritual gifts, but in the arena of spiritual gifts, at times they0:26 are abused. We're going to talk about spiritual gift abuse, and how at times your gift can be leveraged in ways that God never intended it, and you0:38 need to be aware of when that is, where that is, and how to prevent it.0:44 Welcome to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. Spiritual gifts are powerful, but power, when it's misapplied or driven by the wrong motives, can do real damage. Today, Chip turns to first0:56 Corinthians 12 and walks us through the first 5 of 10 warning signs that spiritual gifts are being abused. If you've ever been hurt by gift abuse or wondered if you might be guilty of it1:08 yourself, today's message is exactly what you need. Well, now here's Chip Ingram with a message titled warning, beware of spiritual gift abuse.1:17 If you are indeed the spiritual paintbrush in God's hand by your gift, and he wants to dip it into the palette and the colors of his grace so that your life could literally begin to1:29 make imprints of grace and change another person's life for all eternity. Something that powerful usually has a dark side. In other words, if gifts do that much good, if they're abused, if1:41 they're misused, if they're misapplied, they can have a very, very dark side. And the title of this session is we're going to talk about beware of spiritual gift abuse. I'd like you to open1:53 your teaching handout if you will and I wanna go over what I think are the 10 most common abuses of spiritual gifts. Number 1. Beware when spiritual gifts are used as a means of2:04 manipulation, power, or control in personal and or church relationships. And notice they're all gonna start with beware. That's a warning sign. Beware when spiritual gifts are used2:16 as a means of manipulation, power or control in personal and or church relationships. If you have your bibles, open them if you will to first Corinthians chapter 12. And in2:28 first Corinthians chapter 12 verse 4, it's a common thing we've talked about. In fact, keep your finger in first Corinthians 12. A lot of the abuses were happening in the Corinthian church and so a lot of the corrections2:38 are gonna be there. Pick it up at verse 4. There are different kinds of gifts but the same spirit. There are different kinds of service but the same Lord. There are different kinds of workings, but the same god who works2:50 all of them and all men. Now to each 1, the manifestation of the spirit is given for the common good. For the common good.3:02 Did you notice the repetition of the word same, same, same. There's unity. When God is working and the Lord Jesus is exalted and the spirit of God is3:14 bestowing gifts and operating in the body of Christ. It's for the common good. It builds people up. The focus is on the Godhead, not on the gifts. The focus is3:26 on what God is doing in the group, not on people's particular passions or bents. Personal control, manipulation, and use by gifts are always3:37 a sign that abuse is occurring. Anytime someone comes to you or someone you know and says, God revealed to me that you're supposed to do this or do that, a big red3:49 light ought to flash on the dashboard. I don't care who they are. Now it doesn't mean that God never reveals through other people, but but you know I came to the conclusion that on a major life decision about who to4:00 marry, where to work, what job to take, what to do with 1 of your kids, you would just think that God might want to tell you rather than tell someone else, right? I mean I got a phone.4:12 And that doesn't mean that God might not bring someone into your life to say, you know, I'm concerned about this, and here's 4 or 5 reasons why, you know, I've watched this relationship. That's a little different story.4:23 But this thus says the Lord, and people end up in real high power, you know, I'm very important and, often this happens in the leadership of churches. Second.4:35 Warning. Beware when anyone claims to have the ability to give or bestow any particular gift if you follow their formula. Notice what it says in first Corinthians4:47 chapter 12 verse 11. He goes on to say, all these gifts are of the same spirit and he gives to each 1 just as4:58 he determines. He's speaking of the spiritual gifts. He says, God gives or bestows gifts. Literally, it's as he wills. The Greek5:10 word is a very interesting 1. It means as he chooses after careful deliberation. Remember we said, we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained5:22 that we should walk in them. If God has a plan for your life and he's going to gift you to fulfill the plan for your life, then the gifts that he gives you are not going to be given through some other5:34 person somewhere, sometime, some way. What have we learned? Is that when the ascended Christ, he gave gifts to men and he chooses to give you the gifts that He wants5:46 you to have so you can fulfill the purpose that you're called to. And so when someone comes up and basically says, Hey, I have the power to distribute the gifts. He's taking the role of the5:58 Holy Spirit or she's taking the role of the Holy Spirit. Beware whenever anyone claims to have the ability to give or bestow any particular gift if you follow their formula.6:10 Third warning. Beware when any particular gift is made universal evidence of spirituality, salvation, or other spiritual blessing. Skip down to, verses 29 and6:21 30. Chapter 12. By the way, as I read this too, in in English we can't quite do it, but he's gonna ask questions, but grammatically you can ask a question and and you6:33 can, you know, you can use just a 1 little word that automatically tells you that it's a rhetorical question and the answer is no and that's this case. So it's not these are not just questions are all apostles, it's are6:44 all apostles emphatically? No. Okay. So notice what it says. Verse 29. Are all apostles? No. Are all prophets? No. Are all teachers? No. Do all work miracles? No. Do all have gifts of6:56 healing? No. Do all speak in tongues? No. Do all interpret? He's making the point in first Corinthians 12 29 and 30 that no 1 has all the gifts.7:08 Now this is where I'm gonna this is gentle, but you know, let me say this because I've kind of been through. Both my parents came to Christ through the charismatic movement. Alright? My personal experience, I've been in7:20 very, very word centered ministries, but I've had the privilege of traveling all around the world and just teamed up with Pentecostal and charismatic brothers and sisters, and I'm gonna tell you about 90 percent,7:32 you know, very balanced great teaching. But there is some teaching in pockets, especially, I guess what I'd call some older school, Pentecostalism or charismatic groups, that7:44 will teach that if you don't speak in tongues, you are not saved or you don't have salvation. Others will teach, if you don't speak in tongues, you don't have the Holy Spirit. Somehow you have part of Christ,7:56 and the only way you know for sure if you have the Holy Spirit is if you speak in another language. And here's my point. Study the gifts carefully. Tongues are a what? We8:08 looked at it. It is a ability to speak in another language for the glory of God, for the common good, in a language you haven't learned. Now what you'll find is people will go to the book of Acts and say, well look what8:19 happened in the early church. I would suggest that is descriptive not prescriptive. Yes, that is what happened and can God give a known, an unknown language to evidence the working? He did. When the Jews came to8:31 Christ, unknown language. When the Samaritans, Happorees came to Christ, unknown language. When the Gentiles came to Christ, unknown language. But Paul would say it's an outward evidence assigned for unbelievers. And and8:42 all I'm saying is your view on the gift of tongues should have nothing to do with sanctification or your walk in holiness. Okay. It's a spiritual gift, but it is not a spiritual gift that needs to be tied8:54 with evidence of salvation or evidence of your spiritual state. There are people, and I've been down this road, there are people that feel like, you know, I don't have all of God because I don't have this gift. And by9:06 the way, in some groups it's tongues, in other groups it's other gifts. And so anytime anyone says there's some universal gift that's a sign that really makes you a a a salvation or a spiritual blessing,9:19 always have that red light go off and say, wait a second. Spiritual abuse number 4. Beware when the focus of a church service ministry or religious event is on spiritual gifts and their manifestation rather than onWarnings 4-5: Right Focus and No Comparisons 9:30 the giver of the gifts and his agenda for the church. This is where you hear about the miracle service as advertised. When the focus gets on, come see the show. Here's what you can get. Beware.9:43 You know what? Just read the gospels and ask yourself, is this how Jesus did ministry? In fact, look at Ephesians chapter 4 verses 11 and 12. It's very, very clear. Just9:55 just flip back a a couple of books. Right? He gave gifts. Why why did he give spiritual gifts? Did he give spiritual gifts so people could, you know, make a lot of money, put on a show, tell people how awesome,10:07 miraculous, and wonderful their deal is? He gave some as apostles. He gave some as prophets. He gave some as evangelists. He gave some as pastors and teachers. Why? For the work of service, to10:19 build up the body for the work of service. Spiritually gifted people are to equip us, regular believers and saints, so that we can do the work of service until every single Christian grows up into10:30 maturity, to all the measure of the fullness of Christ. The goal and the role of gifting men and women is to help other believers mature in Christ. And so anytime the focus is off the giver of the10:42 gifts and onto the show, anytime it's about showmanship instead of Christ likeness, you better have that flashing red light and say, you know something? It may be electric in the10:54 air, and people may make all kind of claims, but it doesn't pass the test of New Testament Biblical Christianity.11:03 You're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram, and part 2 of our message is coming up next. Remember, the place to go for all of these daily messages is over on our website, living on the edge11:14 dot org. There you'll find Chip's full teaching library along with even more content like Chip's free daily discipleship tool to help you grow all week long. You can also download the Chip11:26 Ingram app absolutely free through any app store on your smart device. Now let's get back to today's message from Chip Ingram.11:34 Warning number 5. Beware of comparing your gifts with anyone else. It always leads to carnality. Do not compare your gifts. And even as I say that, I'd11:46 like to say that I never do. See, I I I'm there. But you will because you're human. Right? I'm gonna read a passage that's a little extended, but it's so important.11:58 I think it's worth reading. And have you noticed that we're still in first Corinthians 12? Will you go back a couple books? Some of you may be thinking, you know, I think this Corinthian church sorta had some struggles12:09 with gifts, because all the directives about how to do it right are in first Corinthians 12, you know, part of 13 and 14. He goes on to say first Corinthians 12, beginning at verse 11, all12:21 these are the work of 1 and the same Spirit, and he gives them the Spirit gifts to each 1. How? Just as he determines. The body is a unit. He's going to make a metaphor. Though it is made up of many parts and though it's12:33 all its parts are many, they form 1 body. Given the human body, we have a hand, we have a head, we have eyes, we have ears, we have feet. And and so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by 1 spirit into 112:45 body, whether Jew or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given 1 spirit to drink. Now the body's made up of not 1 part, but many. And then here's where he goes through the analogy.12:57 If the foot should say, because I'm not a hand, I don't belong to the body, would it not for that reason cease to be any part of the body? I mean, less? No. And if the ear should say because I'm not an eye, I don't13:09 belong to the body, it would not for that reason cease to be a part of the body. Kind of would it? Well no. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? And if the whole body were an ear, where13:18 would the sense of smell be? But in fact, God has arranged the parts in the body, every 1 of them, just as He wanted them to be. Don't compare your13:30 gift to someone else's. Don't get thinking. And by the way, it's human nature. Certain churches and certain backgrounds will gravitate to honor certain gifts more than other gifts. I was in 1 parachurch organization, but13:41 I'll tell you what, if you had the gift of exhortation, man, you were a winner. If you had the gift of service, it was kind of like, well, you know someone does need to pick up the chairs and that would be nice. If you13:50 had the gift of teaching or leadership, actually it was threatening to the group because they had a real cookie cutter formula about how they were going to raise up leaders. What they wanted was facilitators to lead14:00 these small groups. And anyone that kind of wanted, hey why are we doing it this way? Hey, rebellious Ingram would you just shut up and sit over there and lead your group? I had some pretty strong leadership gifts and I14:10 was saying, hey you know, basically this seems kind of dumb. If you want to get this job done, we ought to go this way. And it you know, and I was dealing with the pride issues in my life. Now, I had a lot of pride14:22 issues in my life, so it wasn't wasted. You know? But I've been in other churches where it's this visible gift. You know? And if you can ever get up in front of the stage and so, boy, you know, the little kids by the14:33 time they're 7, 8, 9, 10 or if a if a kid in junior high or high school has any speaking ability, he's been called of God. And you know they put it out in front of the group and the poor kids don't know what they're14:43 saying. It all goes back to comparing our gifts rather than realizing God's got a perfect plan. And you know something? I don't know that I want to say to my eye or to my ear or14:55 to my knee that one's more important. They're all important. They're all interdependent. And I just want to say, I think you'll wrestle with this. There's there's a passage that's been helpful. Second Corinthians 10 12.15:07 You might jot that in the corner of your notes. Where the apostle Paul will say, when we compare ourselves with ourselves and measure ourselves by ourselves, we are without understanding. And15:19 I just want to say for your encouragement, I think you'll struggle with this your whole life because I do believe that all of us are desperately insecure. Even as believers. I mean, I know we're going to grow, but we're15:28 desperately insecure. Don't compare yourself with other people. Don't compare your gift with other people. God made you unique. Warning number 6. Beware ofWarnings 6-8: Extremes, Ego, Fruit vs. Gifts, and Review 15:40 any extreme position on spiritual gifts. I. E. They do not exist at all to a spirit filled Christian will have all the gifts. I've15:52 heard both. I've been in places where gifts don't exist. I'll tell you what, you find gifts, you find disunity and division and people arguing about them. There aren't any gifts. All the gifts are gone after the first16:03 century. I've heard people teach that. And on the other hand, I felt if you're spirit filled I mean, if you're really spirit filled, whatever spirit filled means, no 1 really knows. I mean, I think the bible has a pretty16:14 good definition, but depending on what group, what background, that could mean you've been to Mars and back, or it could mean that you're really walking with the Lord in the spirit. I don't know. But if you're spirit16:23 filled, you'll have all the gifts. And then usually they have someone in the church who's an example of it. Brother Bob, he's got all the gifts. Go, Bob. Go. I can prophesy. I can teach. You know what I mean? You can do16:33 it all. Anytime you feel those extremes, notice what it says in first Corinthians 12 verse 1. Now about spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want16:45 you to be ignorant. You need to you need to have understanding. Everyone has 1 primary gift. We know that he will give you ministry gifts. We understand they're for the common good. When16:57 you know those 10 basic principles, it guards against this kind of thing. Number 7. Warning light. Beware of using spiritual gifts and the energy of the flesh to fulfill personal ego needs or impress other people.17:09 This is another 1 that I don't think you grow out of. Beware. Beware. Be on your guard. Watch over your heart with all diligence. When you have a spiritual gift, you can take a gift.17:21 It's like a tool. God doesn't take away the tool. You can be in the flesh. God will honor his word and he will honor the tool or the gift that he's placed in your hand. But I can use my gift, and you17:33 can use your gift not in submission to the Spirit, but in the energy of the flesh, and it produces not good things. And boy I think this is 1 of those really gut check times where you have to ask and I have to17:44 ask, Is this about me using my gift to get attention, affirmation, strokes from people? Is this about impressing people? And let me just let me apply this down17:56 to where we live. If you happen to have visible gifts, okay? There's some gifts that are upfront gifts. It might be teaching, it might be exhortation, might be prophecy, it might be leadership, but you find yourself18:08 where people are looking to you or you are speaking and you have a visible role, the temptation is to begin to get a little carried away with yourself and really like the position. And you know what? What does knowledge18:20 do? It puffs up. And I think we all struggle with that. Any time you have to do something and you find yourself ego needs,18:32 then I think that's a warning light. You need to say, Wait a second here. Notice what it says in first Corinthians 13. Sandwiched between chapter 12, this is how to use the gifts,18:44 and be and then chapter 14, eagerly desire spiritual gifts. 12 says don't be ignorant about them. 14 says really desire and focus. Right in18:56 between is first Corinthians 13, and it says, If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, there's a spiritual gift, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have19:08 the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith so that I can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all my possessions to the poor and surrender my body to19:19 the flames, literally be a martyr, but have not love, I gain nothing. I have nothing, I gain nothing. If I have this gift of tongues, if I have this gift of prophecy, if I have this gift19:31 of faith, if I have this gift of martyrdom and be willing, but you can do what's that passage say? You can do all those things and I can do all those things. Not about love, which is what?19:43 Focusing on other people, giving other people what they need the most when they deserve it the least as your gift to God. I can do my gifts that way, or it can really be a subtle way to set Chip Ingram19:55 up, to get Chip Ingram the strokes and the ego needs and the unresolved issues in his life taken care of. And so it's a warning light. Be on your guard. Beware. Number 8.20:07 Beware of confusing spiritual gifts with spiritual fruit as the evidence of spiritual growth and maturity. In some circles, the development and impact and the use of your gifts becomes kind of the20:19 test for spiritual maturity. But gifts, remember, are a means, not an end. In other words, when you have these gifts, when God is using you, God's using you, God's using my land, God's using you. That's20:31 wonderful, that's great, God is using you. In some circles what that becomes, that's the goal. God using you, God using you. I got news for you, that is not the goal. Gifts are what? They're a paintbrush. They're a20:42 means. The goal is that you are becoming more and more like Christ. Spiritual fruit is about spiritual maturity. Christ likeness. Spiritual gifts are about the means God20:54 uses in your life to help others become more like Christ. Let's look at a couple passages. Ephesians 4 13. Until we all reach to the unity and the faith and the knowledge of the son of God and become mature21:06 attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. The goal is maturity. Or notice Galatians 5 22 and 23. But the fruit of the spirit In other words, what is it that God's after? The fruit of the spirit is21:18 love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Against such things there is no law. In fact, Jesus, John 15. You might21:30 just jot it. John fifteen:eight. By this is my father glorified, that you have many gifts and are very impressive. I think I I misquoted that. By this is my father glorified, what? That you21:42 bear much fruit.21:47 You've been listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram, and a message titled Warning, Beware of Spiritual Gift Abuse. We're nearing the end of our series called You Were Made for More, How to Discover God's21:58 Purpose for Your Life, and you can revisit this lesson or any message in this series by going online to living on the edge dot org. Today, Chip walked us through the first 5 warning signs22:10 of spiritual gift abuse, from manipulation and control to using gifts to feed the ego rather than serve others. Unfortunately, these aren't fringe issues. They show up in churches22:22 of every size and tradition, and the people most at risk are often the ones with the most genuine passion for God. Knowing the warning signs isn't cynicism. It's wisdom. And that kind of wisdom is22:34 exactly what this ministry exists to give people. Now if you give regularly to Living on the Edge, thank you. It's because of you that messages like today's are reaching people who genuinely need them.22:46 If you're listening today and you've never given to this ministry before, now is a great time to start. We've made it quick and easy to partner with us by going online to living on the edge dot org or give us a call22:58 at triple 8 3 3 3 6 0 0 3. And as you think about your own gifts, we wanna help make sure you're building on solid ground. That's why we created our free online23:10 assessment called The Real You, built to help you understand your god given personality, strengths, and spiritual design. It's a simple practical way to better understanding your gifting, so23:21 take it today absolutely free at the real you dot org. Well, now here's Chip.23:28 As we close today's program, I can only imagine that some of you had pictures go through your mind, and you you thought back to experiences that you've had and things that were happening in the23:40 past and you never thought, oh, that's spiritual gift abuse. You probably assumed you did something wrong or you were a bad person. So let me just go through in the end of today's program and review.23:52 Number 1, beware when spiritual gifts are used as a means of manipulation, power, or control in personal or church relationships. Number 2, warning. Beware24:04 whenever anyone claims to have the ability to give or bestow any particular gift if you follow their formula. Third warning, beware when any particular gift is made universal evidence24:16 of spirituality, salvation or other spiritual blessing. Warning number 4, beware when the focus of a church service, ministry or religious event is on spiritual gifts and their24:28 manifestation rather on the giver of the gifts and his agenda for his church. Finally, beware of comparing your gifts with anyone else's. It always leads to24:39 carnality.24:40 The final 5 warning signs of spiritual gift abuse are up next, and you won't wanna miss a single 1. I'm Dave Drewy, and Chip Ingram has more for you next time on Living on the Edge.24:55 Today's program is produced and sponsored by Living on the Edge.In this video 0:00 Beware Warnings 1-3: Manipulation, False Bestowal, and Misplaced Evidence9:22 Warnings 4-5: Right Focus and No Comparisons15:37 Warnings 6-8: Extremes, Ego, Fruit vs. Gifts, and Review
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