Desiring spiritual gifts is good as God can use them through you to help others. But the believer must first be prepared so that the gifts would not cause them to become prideful. Whenever we think anything of ourselves as we operate in a spiritual gift, we are being a hindrance to what God is trying to do.
We need the presence of the Holy Spirit before we flow in the power of the Holy Spirit.
If the Holy Spirit reigns in you, it will show. “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…” (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT).
God will rarely give you a spiritual gift you are not ready for or you are not in need of. Give your life to Him and let Him give you what you need, when you need it, and when you are ready.
After the Apostle Paul taught on spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians chapter 12, he wrote the next chapter teaching on the greatest gift which is love. Love is the first and foremost fruit that comes from the Holy Spirit. Spiritual gifts and love are inseparable. You cannot take hold of a gift from the Holy Spirit and let go of love. Paul taught, “But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31).
Seek the fruit of the Spirit first and let the spiritual gifts come after. “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy” (1 Corinthians 14:1).
Desire the gifts but hold onto the better way of love while you are waiting. Paul taught, “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2).
We are but the violin in the Hands of God, and the music that comes is only by His power and to His glory. Once the song is over the violin must then be set down. Until you learn to be nothing for Him, He cannot be everything through you. Unless you are willing to serve in obscurity, your flesh still reigns in your ministry.
Spiritual gifts are not for you but to be through you. “Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel” (1 Corinthians 14:12).
What we desire has us.
Stop seeking the gifts of the Spirit thinking you might serve God with them. Instead serve God as you are, and He will provide what you need in the midst of your serving. “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit…the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all” (1 Corinthians 12:4,7).
When we are happily married all that we want is to be with our spouse. We are not with them to gain gifts, as we see them as our greatest gift. That is how we are to be with our heavenly Father. If we ever seek the gift over the Giver, we are in error. Seek Him and just be thankful for all He gives you.
The reason many do not operate in spiritual gifts is they want to be seen more than to serve.
Spiritual gifts are not to turn men’s eyes towards you, but men’s eyes towards God. They are not meant to replace God in your life, but to reflect God in your life. “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).
I would rather walk in a lower gifting that is right, than to have a higher gifting with errors. Nobody stumbles on their knees.
Spiritual gifts are for producing heavenly outcomes. Whenever we try to use them for natural gains or self-promotion, we violate the foundation of holiness from which they came from. It would be better to not have a gift than to corrupt the gift by handling it wrongly. We will be judged for how well we stewarded each gift we were given.
Never let the things you do for God become more important to you than God. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5).
Your greatest barrier to the higher calling is your wrong desire for it.
The Holy Spirit is not for sale and not for your promotion. “And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!’” (Acts 8:18-20).
If you ever lay hands on someone that they may receive the Holy Spirit, check yourself that you understand you are nothing more than a utensil in the Hands of God.
If you want to serve God rightly with spiritual gifts, it will always promote Him and demote you. See to it that you either get this right, or sit down.
Blessings to you,
Paul Balius
All Scripture is quoted from the New King James Version unless otherwise noted. Please use the version you prefer to review the verses shown here. The best version is the one you read. An even better version is the one you live.
The spiritual gifts I have at the moment are very private. I am not seen by anyone when I am used. I like it that way I know myself and am always in fear it will go to my head.
I think that God will help us to grow in our spiritual gifts in private first such that anything we do publicly will first be refined in the prayer closet. When we surrender all to Him we can walk in His giftings giving Him all the glory and keeping ourselves humble before Him and before others.