"Don't Desire the GIFTS, Desire the GIVER" ... Really?

Recently, due to my challenge with cancer and my decision to hold off indefinitely, on any plans to pioneer another church, my family and I have found ourselves in the rather unfamiliar situation of looking for a church where we can simply fellowship and be used, not as a pastor, but as any other member---in any way the Lord chooses to use us.  I would have thought that would be a relatively easy quest...  After all, we are not novices.  We have been around a while and we know what we're looking for.  We just want a church where the Word of God is taught, line-upon-line/precept-upon-precept in an uncompromising and loving fashion---and, where Jesus Christ is exalted as the Chief Shepherd and Lord of the church.  We also simply desire a church where the Holy Spirit is free to move and the people of the congregation are free to worship in Spirit and Truth and flow in the gifts of the Spirit, according to the Bible and a proper teaching of the Word, concerning those things.  We're just looking to fellowship in a good, New Testament church.  Why are we discovering that such a church is so difficult to find?... And how many others are 'out there' looking for the same and becoming discouraged, to the point of staying home and joining the ever-growing television congregation?

The problem seems to surface when we get around to asking a pastor or church leader to describe how their church stands concerning the Holy Spirit---His gifts, tangible presence, and freedom to move in and through the congregation, etc.  This is the kind of answer  we usually receive...

"Oh yes, Brother... We definitely 'believe' in those things.  We 'believe' in the gifts of the Spirit,  (even tongues).  We 'believe' in divine healing, miracles, etc., and we most definitely consider our church a 'Spirit-filled' church, 'cause we certainly 'believe' in being 'filled with the Holy Spirit'...etc."

If we get far enough in conversation to ask why all those things they 'believe' in are not manifest in worship services, this is the kind of response we receive...

"Well Brother...  We are a 'Christ-centered' church and our emphasis is on Him.  And though we 'believe' in all the 'gifts of the Spirit', for example; and we even 'believe' those gifts are for today---we do not emphasize those things (especially 'tongues'), nor do we encourage the pursuit of those things.  We don't want to confuse anyone, you see, and since we are 'seeker sensitive' we don't want to engage in any such worship practices that might confuse or 'offend' our first time visitors or those of our congregation who are less knowledgeable about those things.  Now, we do allow some of those things like prophecy, tongues & interpretation, laying on of hands, etc., to be practiced in some of our more private settings, i.e., home cell groups  or Bible studies."

The bottom line, summary explanation we usually hear goes like this...

"After all, Brother...  Since we are "Christ centered" we teach and encourage our members 'not to seek the gifts, but rather to seek the Giver'."

Seems like I always come away wondering... Don't they realize how cliché  they have become?  And please, pray tell, from what chapter and verse came the way over-used, worn out admonishment to "Seek the Giver, NOT the gifts"?

Before you waste your time looking for your concordance while saying under your breath... "Where IS that verse... I KNOW it's in there somewhere?"

Maybe I can help you...  It's not.  On the contrary, the Bible addresses that subject like this...

"Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts..." (1 Cor. 14:1)

We are told 'emphatically' to "desire" not only the 'Giver', but the 'gifts'.  And two chapters previous to that, we read... 

"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant" (1 Cor. 12:1)

It was obviously important to the Holy Spirit that the church be taught concerning His gifts.  And may I say, I am not referring to some kind of substitute 'gifts' that are not listed in the rest of that chapter (or anywhere else in the Bible).  It's appalling to me how certain 'Bible teachers' have added 'gifts' to the Bible, and fail to even mention the gifts of the Spirit expounded on in three chapters by the apostle Paul.  One particular, well-known pastor/author said, (to quote as exactly as I can remember), "I know there is no such gift listed in the Bible, as the 'gift of intercession', but I HAVE ADDED IT"...

My question to that person is, "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?"... You have "ADDED IT"?

Sometimes just a word or two is changed, but in so doing, the true definition is totally distorted... For example... There is no such gift as "spiritual discernment".  The correct terminology is "discerning of spirits" and there is a big difference in how the two would be defined.  There is no gift listed, such as the 'gift of wisdom' or the 'gift of knowledge'... It's the "word of wisdom" or the "word of knowledge".  Again, there's a big difference.

If it is indeed important to the Holy Spirit that His people are not 'ignorant' concerning these gifts, why are the saints so ignorant?  Why aren't all these pastors who say they definitely 'believe' in the gifts, teaching on them?  And how can the church really believe they are 'Christ-centered' and seeking a deeper relationship with the 'Giver' when they know nothing, nor want anything to do with the 'gifts' He has given?

Let me make it clear concerning the 'desire' of 'me and my house'...  I want the Giver... And I want His gifts.  I want His presence manifested and His power demonstrated in the place where I choose to worship.  And I hope I speak on behalf of a multitude of unchurched believers.  I believe I do, and I pray for a major awakening among our pastors.