There is an essential relationship between a spiritual gift and the role of the Spirit when the spiritual gift is in use. Spiritual gifts need to be used in harmony with the Holy Spirit, and always with love.
You mean, it’s possible to use my spiritual gift independently of the Spirit? Yes. Left to our own devices, we can do a lot of things independently of the Spirit. Gifts are no different.
If I run into the street decided to sing a ten minute rock-opera in tongues (which, theoretically, I suppose, I could do) it would be fruitless. Yet, if I take that same gift and, when prompted by the Spirit, exercise it at His perfect pleasure, it will bear fruit.
Once a spiritual gift is revealed it does not guarantee spiritual nirvana. Many people have been loaded with gifts and filled with the Spirit and – in spite of such magnificent graces – will be turned away from entering heaven when Jesus returns at the end of the Day. While spiritual gifts are wonderful tools in the toolbox they are just wonderful tools in the toolbox . The do not automatically assure a “greater spirituality” nor even assurance to heaven.
And, for those of you who have neglected or even forgotten about your gifts – perhaps, for example, you used to be in a place where you used your spiritual gifts all the time but, today, those days are long gone – I have great news for you: You haven’t lost it!
Perhaps you’ve been a very naughty fellow and think that you deserve to loose the good things God has given (and you probably do). But God doesn’t play it that way. I’m here to tell you that you can’t out-sin your gifts. God has promised that he will never take away your gift.
Isn’t that wonderful?
Many older saints are now in places where circumstances have left them on the banks of the river. They have been watered-down into thinking that the glory days are over for them or, even worse, that God is no longer doing the same exciting things anymore. But that’s not true - he is - and you can reenter the rapids and minister in the same wonderful ways you used to, you so many years ago!
Oh, sure – you may need to blow out the cobwebs and re-sharpen your sword a bit. But, when the dust settles and you reengage your gifts in the glory of God, you will find they are still there like never before; still fruitful, still glorious, and still evangelizing and edifying people of all ages in the all-consuming love of the Father.
Again - and it bears repeating - why is that? It’s because the Holy Spirit lives within you. If he still lives in you then, by default, you still have your gifts.
So, in summary, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are once given and never revoked. They are as good for as long as the world needs to be evangelized and the church needs to be edified. Additionally, we need to demythologize the “possessors” of the gifts. We sometimes yearn for gifts (and to use gifts) believing they assure some sort of spiritual nirvana. They do not. We sometimes believe, if we can be operating in the gifts of the Spirit, we will have finally arrived and all our cares will vanish - or, worse yet, that spiritual gifts assure us of an eternal future.
They do not. While it’s true that God gives the gifts, the gifts are tools in the toolbox and are also - and can be abused - by very broken people. Like all things fruitful, they are to be used in living concert with the love and will of the Father as revealed in the Holy Spirit.
You mean, it’s possible to use my spiritual gift independently of the Spirit? Yes. Left to our own devices, we can do a lot of things independently of the Spirit. Gifts are no different.
If I run into the street decided to sing a ten minute rock-opera in tongues (which, theoretically, I suppose, I could do) it would be fruitless. Yet, if I take that same gift and, when prompted by the Spirit, exercise it at His perfect pleasure, it will bear fruit.
Once a spiritual gift is revealed it does not guarantee spiritual nirvana. Many people have been loaded with gifts and filled with the Spirit and – in spite of such magnificent graces – will be turned away from entering heaven when Jesus returns at the end of the Day. While spiritual gifts are wonderful tools in the toolbox they are just wonderful tools in the toolbox . The do not automatically assure a “greater spirituality” nor even assurance to heaven.
And, for those of you who have neglected or even forgotten about your gifts – perhaps, for example, you used to be in a place where you used your spiritual gifts all the time but, today, those days are long gone – I have great news for you: You haven’t lost it!
Perhaps you’ve been a very naughty fellow and think that you deserve to loose the good things God has given (and you probably do). But God doesn’t play it that way. I’m here to tell you that you can’t out-sin your gifts. God has promised that he will never take away your gift.
Isn’t that wonderful?
Many older saints are now in places where circumstances have left them on the banks of the river. They have been watered-down into thinking that the glory days are over for them or, even worse, that God is no longer doing the same exciting things anymore. But that’s not true - he is - and you can reenter the rapids and minister in the same wonderful ways you used to, you so many years ago!
Oh, sure – you may need to blow out the cobwebs and re-sharpen your sword a bit. But, when the dust settles and you reengage your gifts in the glory of God, you will find they are still there like never before; still fruitful, still glorious, and still evangelizing and edifying people of all ages in the all-consuming love of the Father.
Again - and it bears repeating - why is that? It’s because the Holy Spirit lives within you. If he still lives in you then, by default, you still have your gifts.
So, in summary, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are once given and never revoked. They are as good for as long as the world needs to be evangelized and the church needs to be edified. Additionally, we need to demythologize the “possessors” of the gifts. We sometimes yearn for gifts (and to use gifts) believing they assure some sort of spiritual nirvana. They do not. We sometimes believe, if we can be operating in the gifts of the Spirit, we will have finally arrived and all our cares will vanish - or, worse yet, that spiritual gifts assure us of an eternal future.
They do not. While it’s true that God gives the gifts, the gifts are tools in the toolbox and are also - and can be abused - by very broken people. Like all things fruitful, they are to be used in living concert with the love and will of the Father as revealed in the Holy Spirit.
