Sam Storms - Understanding Spiritual Gifts: A Comprehensive Guide

One drop of strength from the Divine Helper is better than a lifetime of committee meetings, strategy sessions, and building programs. Apart from the power of the Holy Spirit, we do not have what it takes to love people and lead them to Christ. Yet, because of the Spirits power, we have everything we need! Many Christians, however, are confused. We wonder how to have a relationship with the Spirit. Are the gifts of the Spirit for our time? For my life? If so, how do I access and use them? These are essential questions in these last days. For that reason, this book is a timely resource. Sam Storms writes with the heart of a pastor and the skill of a scholar. His preparation is impressively thorough and detailed. This book will serve as a go-to tool for all of us who seek to walk in the Spirit.

Max Lucado, pastor and bestselling author

Sam Storms has given the body of Christ a gift in Understanding Spiritual Gifts . This is, without doubt, the best book I have ever read on the subject. Sam brings clarity to this often-misunderstood subject, awakening us to the necessity of spiritual gifts in order to live the fruitful lives God has designed for us, and to fulfill the mission he has assigned to us. It is time for the body of Christ to function as a whole, healthy, and strong body, which is impossible without the operation of the spiritual gifts given to us by God. This is a book for this hour.

Christine Caine, founder of A21 and Propel Women

Sam Storms has written the most comprehensive book on spiritual gifts I have ever seen. I cant think of a question about the gifts that he does not address. And his answers are based on the simple statements of Scripture, not preconceived theories about the gifts. Although Sam is a scholar, this book is not a scholarly, theoretical examination of spiritual gifts. It is an eloquent, easy-to-read, practical explanation of each of the twenty-one spiritual gifts and why they are essential for the spiritual health of the church. Sam will help you discover your gift and learn how to use it effectively.

Jack Deere, author of Why I Am Still
Surprised by the Power of the Spirit

Thank you, Sam Storms; youve done it again. You have written an important book that addresses a crucially important and practical subject that the Holy Spirit is emphasizing today. With the mind of a scholar and the heart of a pastor and as a radical lover of Jesus, my dear friend Sam Storms has written a truly comprehensive guide to the subject of spiritual gifts. I cant think of a biblical text he doesnt explain or a controversial question he doesnt seek to answer. He is fearless and tireless in this because he wants to empower and equip people to walk in their full inheritance in the Holy Spirit. You may not agree with Sams view on everything pertaining to gifts of the Spirit, but I promise you will be challenged, encouraged, and informed by his book. And I assure you that you will get a lot of Bible! The people of God are desperately in need of a consistent experience of the power of God, and the primary way God has provided for this is through the many gifts the Spirit empowers. I cant recommend this book too highly.

Mike Bickle, International House of Prayer, Kansas City

When the opening sentence of the first chapter of this book is Christianity is inescapably supernatural , readers are immediately alerted to the necessitynot the luxury, not the optionof the presence, empowerment, and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Who better than Sam Storms to walk us through this essential subject? With constant reference to Scripture, Sam tackles such pressing matters as desiring and praying for spiritual gifts in the light of Gods sovereignty, and how to discover ones gift(s). And he does not shy away from controversial topics such as continuationism vs. cessationism, the nature of speaking in tongues and its related gift of interpretation, and whether there are still apostles today. From a continuationist, Calvinist perspective on spiritual gifts and in a way that shuns irresponsible (mis) representations of other viewpoints, Understanding Spiritual Gifts will certainly be the standard work for years to come.

Gregg R. Allison, professor of Christian Theology,
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

If you are wanting an introduction to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, this book is for you. If you are already knowledgeable in the gifts of the Spirit, this is the book for you as well. It is a source book for the seasoned Christian. You should secure extra copies to give away. No one is more able to produce a balanced book like this than Dr. Sam Storms. With a solid background in the Word and the Spirit, he has written a book that will be edifying and God-honoring.

R. T. Kendall, minister of Westminster Chapel (19772002)

ZONDERVAN REFLECTIVE

Understanding Spiritual Gifts

Copyright 2020 by Sam Storms

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

ePub Edition June 2020: ISBN 978-0-310-11151-1

Excerpt from The Beginners Guide to Spiritual Gifts by Sam Storms, copyright 2012. Used by permission of Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Material from The Language of Heaven by Sam Storms, copyright 2019. Used by permission of Charisma House Books.

Adapted material from Tough Topics: Biblical Answers to 25 Challenging Questions by Sam Storms, 2013. Used by permission of Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org.

Adapted material from Chosen for Life: The Case for Divine Election by Sam Storms, 2007. Used by permission of Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org.

Adapted material from Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? Four Views by Wayne A. Grudem and Stanley N. Gundry, eds., 2011. Used with permission of Zondervan.

Adapted material from Practicing the Power: Welcoming the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in Your Life by Sam Storms, 2017. Used with permission of Zondervan.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ). Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible . Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version , NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Any internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Cover design: Jesse Owen / 10AM Design

Cover photos: Daniel Levis Pelusi / Unsplas