“When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you . . . Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”
2 TIMOTHY 1:5, 6
The gifts of the Spirit are not natural talents. One’s natural abilities cannot be called “spiritual gifts.” Spiritual gifts are Divinely activated. God can work through anyone. He does not give tongues to linguists only, wisdom only to trained counselors or healing gifts just to doctors. He does not need us to be brilliant to use us.
CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, MAN IS ENDOWED WITH natural talents that allow him to work, be focused and participate in God’s redemptive purpose. But beyond that, God also gives additional gifts through the Holy Spirit to the regenerated man (1 Corinthians 12:1-11). These are not natural talents; they are spiritual gifts that enhance our ability to participate in God’s redemptive work. Through the gifts of the Spirit, we can bypass natural excuses, deficiencies and inadequacies. His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9), and we can do all things through Him who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).
The gifts of the Spirit operate by faith in God not faith in a specific theory. They are not channeled through any doctrine except that of redemption. The Holy Spirit only glorifies the crucified Christ.
GOD GIVES NO MARVELS FOR THE SAKE OF MARVELS. HE IS NOT a showman. He is not in the business of supplying sensations to bring acclaim to any strutting egotist. The Holy Spirit is in league with the crucified Christ—even linked in name, the Spirit of Christ. They have one mind—to defeat the devil through the Gospel. The Spirit finds fulfillment only in the Gospel. The Gospel is so big; it is totally comprehensive, leaving nothing untouched—visible or invisible, in earth, heaven or hell.
The gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) are not medals of honor to be worn on Sunday morning at church. “I have five, how many do you have?” THEY ARE TOOLS FOR THE JOB and are handed out the moment you report for God’s work. He won’t give you a hammer when you need a chisel. The Lord will give you daily the perfect tool for the assigned job. If the tools are applied, you will see miracles.
THE WORD “POWER” IN ACTS 1:8 (DUNAMIS), IS POTENTIAL, power in reserve, like a stick of dynamite. It will just lie there, like stone, until activated. People pray for “the power” and no doubt receive it. The dunamis potency is directed to human need. We can be like spiritual bodybuilders, developing for the sake of being strong. What is the use of a man being able to lift 500 pounds above his head in a show if he cannot lift a finger to help his wife in the kitchen? What is the use of all our boasts of power if we don’t do the jobs that need to be done? The release of the power of the Spirit is never possible until we are active.
Jesus admonishes us not to lay up our treasures on earth, where they are exposed to the elements and vulnerable to thieves, but instead to lay them up in heaven, where they are kept secure (Matthew 6:19-21). To that end, we must take heed not to enrich our intellect or emotions at the expense of our spirit.
THE HEATHENS HAD BEEN “CARRIED AWAY” BY THEIR PREVIOUS knowledge, which was similar, but belonged to “dumb idols” (1 Corinthians 12:2). The Greeks were famous for worldly learning, but the things of the Holy Spirit are different. A university doctorate in social sciences or physics does not make us wise in the things of God. These latter are learned by getting fire into one’s spirit not just cold facts into one’s head. If we want to grow spiritually, we must feed our spirit with the Word of God and pray in the Spirit.
Why always doubt the Word of God? Why not doubt the lies of the devil? Today, choose to doubt your doubts, and decide to believe the Word of God. If you do, you’ll soon receive heavenly assistance from the Holy Spirit.
WHY IS IT SO EASY TO BELIEVE THE LIES OF THE DEVIL? WHAT if Eve had chosen to doubt the words of the serpent instead? The outcome would definitely have been different for all of us (Genesis 3). Once you make the decision to trust God more than you trust your doubts, you can access Divine help. Holy Spirit assistance will help to build your faith, and it is faith that moves the mountains which doubt creates.