The Gifts: Receiving and Operating
Wednesday Evening Bible Study
March 29, 2000
Introduction
We will wind up our series tonight on the Holy Spirit.
How the gifts are received
As with much of how God works, there doesn’t seem to be any single, pat formula for a person receiving the gifts. But there are some elements that are important to keep in mind.
God’s sovereignty
God is ultimately in control.
(1 Cor 12: 11 NASB) But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
It’s up to the Lord to decide what gift we are going to receive. We are not in a place to demand certain gifts, but we can certainly ask for them.
You may have struggled with a desire for certain gifts but have felt frustrated about not receiving them. I think there are some things we can do to make sure we’re doing our part, but ultimately, it’s up to God. Find rest in letting God give you what He wants to give you.
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
A key element we see through the book of Acts in the initial giving of gifts to people is the receiving of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
What is the "Baptism of the Holy Spirit"?
To "baptize" means to totally immerse something. To be baptized in the Holy Spirit means to be totally immersed in the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said,
(Acts 1:8 KJV) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
When each of us took a step to believe in the Lord Jesus to save us, God put His Holy Spirit inside of us (Rom. 8:9).
But the Holy Spirit is intended to be more than just a silent guest. He desires to give us ability, power to live the Christian life.
We receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit by asking Jesus for it, and trusting Him to do it.
(John 7:37-39 KJV) In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. {38} He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. {39} (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Are you hungry for more? Come to Jesus and ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit. He will do it.
Desire
God wants you to want His gifts.
If you have no desires at all for spiritual gifts, something is wrong. Most likely your lack of desire is due to how you’ve seen the gifts abused.
His gifts are good.
(James 1:17 KJV) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water. Just change the bath water.
As we are following the Lord, He puts His desires into our hearts.
(Psa 37:4 KJV) Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
We are commanded to have strong yearnings for spiritual gifts.
(1 Cor 12:31 KJV) But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.
(1 Cor 14:1 KJV) Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
(1 Cor 14:39 KJV) Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
Ask
Pray. Ask God for His gifts.
(Luke 11:9-13 KJV) And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. {10} For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. {11} If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? {12} Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? {13} If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
That’s where it all starts. You can ask for God’s gifts in your personal devotions. You can ask for prayer in your small groups. You can ask others to pray for you to receive the gifts.
Wait
Jesus told the disciples to "wait" for the promise of the Father, which meant the baptism of the Holy Spirit. With the baptism of the Holy Spirit came the gifts.
(Acts 1:4-8 KJV) And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. {5} For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. {6} When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? {7} And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. {8} But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
(Acts 1:12-14 KJV) Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. {13} And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. {14} These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
(Acts 2:1-4 KJV) And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. {2} And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. {3} And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. {4} And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Waiting on the Lord, letting Him move and do the things He wants to do WHEN He wants to do is just a good thing to do.
(Psa 27:14 KJV) Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
(Psa 37:7 KJV) Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
(Psa 37:34 KJV) Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
(Psa 123:2 KJV) Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.
I think some folks develop a problem thinking that if they wait on the Lord, then He’ll HAVE to give them gifts. NO! Waiting is a matter of letting Him do things His way. It’s not about "twisting" God’s arm.
Waiting requires patience. You have to let God do the giving when He’s ready to give.
Laying on of hands
Paul reminded Timothy how he had received his gifts:
(1 Tim 4:14 KJV) Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
The "presbytery" are the elders. Apparently Timothy received a gift when the elders laid their hands on Timothy, and a prophecy came along with the giving of a gift.
The apostles often laid hands on people to receive the power of the Holy Spirit.
(Acts 8:14-18 KJV) Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: {15} Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: {16} (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) {17} Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. {18} And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Apparently something visible was happening when the apostles laid hands on people. It is most likely that some form of the gifts was being shown.
(Acts 19:6 KJV) And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Paul lays hands on these folks, the Holy Spirit baptizes them, they are given the gifts of tongues and prophecy.
Note: The gifts were NOT always given through the laying on of hands.
On the day of Pentecost, NOBODY laid hands on the disciples (Acts 2).
At Cornelius’ house (Acts 10), Peter was in the middle of a Bible Study …
(Acts 10:44-47 KJV) While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. {45} And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. {46} For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, {47} Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Faith
(Gal 3:2 KJV) This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
It doesn’t take much faith, but it does take faith to receive. If you don’t receive a certain gift, I’d be a little reluctant to attack your faith. It’s more likely that God just doesn’t want to give you the gift. At least not yet.
Being in the right place
I personally wonder if the giving of gifts isn’t sometimes connected to the idea of being in the right place at the right time.
On one hand, we’ve been talking about how the gifts of the Holy Spirit are a "working of grace" (charismata). They do not come because we "deserve" them, but come simply because God wants to give them.
But on the other hand, I think there is a sense in which we need to be in a place where we’re willing to receive them. A person who is not staying connected with the Lord at all is going to have difficulty having a desire for the gifts, they’re not going to be asking, let alone "faith" to receive them.
Here’s the right place. It’s kind of a "catch-all" verse, but it describes the place to be:
(Rom 12:1-2 KJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. {2} And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
As we are living lives yielded to God, not conforming to the world, allowing God to change our hearts and minds, we’ll be watching God’s will work out in our lives. And that certainly includes the receiving of and operating of spiritual gifts.
There’s an old Pentecostal saying that goes, "Under the spout where the glory comes out". Be in the right place.
A word about "Inventories"
There are some churches that use what are called "Spiritual Gift Inventories". These are a type of questionnaire that you will fill out, answering all kinds of questions about things you like to do. The answers to your questions are tallied up and you receive as a result some type of a "score" telling you what your spiritual gifts are.
I’m not opposed to these Inventories as such. They can have value in pointing a person towards serving in a ministry in church.
But I struggle with the whole concept in relation to spiritual gifts. In my experience, most of these inventories come from a viewpoint in which the gifts are considered a bit less "supernatural". Usually these inventories are actually a type of personality test, showing you your natural strengths and weaknesses. There is value in this, but don’t confuse this with the supernatural spiritual gifts.
There’s only one question you can be asked to find out if you have the gift of "word of knowledge", that is, "Has God ever given you a special understanding of something you didn’t know anything about before?" Either you have the gift or you don’t.
With some of the less "supernatural" gifts, it’s a matter of simply trying. If you try teaching and those you teach are blessed by your teaching, you might have a gift of teaching. If you find great joy and fulfillment by helping others out, you may have the gift of helps.
Important elements in exercising gifts
Our will
With all the gifts, there is an element of using the gifts that require our human will.
We saw with tongues –
(1 Cor 14:15 KJV) What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
Paul chooses to use his gifts in a certain way.
With some of the gifts, much of the operation is dependent upon God.
He will choose whether to heal or not to heal an individual.
But even with these gifts, unless we choose to be open to God’s leading, we won’t step out and pray for those who need God’s touch.
Choose to operate your gifts.
Control
Along with the will comes the idea of control. We have a choice as to how and when we will operate the gifts. That’s the whole basis for Paul being able to say to the Corinthians:
(1 Cor 14:29-33 KJV) Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. {30} If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. {31} For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. {32} And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. {33} For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
If we were unable to exercise control during the operation of the gifts, then Paul would have no reason to give rules for their operation in the church.
With control comes the concern over the way in which we exercise our gifts. We have a choice. We can choose to become emotional (not always a bad thing) or we can also choose to operate the gifts in a very natural way. I prefer the latter. I would rather that people recognize that I’m speaking for the Lord by the power of the words rather than having to convince them through my emotional outbursts.
Faith
There is going to take some faith on your part to operate a spiritual gift.
You have to trust that God is at work in you and then act on it.
(Rom 12:6 KJV) Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
It takes faith to speak up and say what you believe is on your heart. You will sooner or later have to "step out" and try operating the gift.
Humility
It’s a pretty heady thing to be used by the Lord. It’s enough to give anyone a big head.
(1 Pet 5:5-6 KJV) Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. {6} Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
When we start doing things out of pride, looking for attention, thinking that we’re wonderful, we will find God working against us.
You’re not above being questioned.
(1 Cor 14:29 KJV) Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
This is part of what should help to keep us humble. I am regularly reminded of my faults by folks who don’t have a problem pointing them out. It often hurts. I want to insulate myself from some of the comments, but I think God tends to use them to keep me humble.
When you begin to think that you’re above the rules of operating the gifts "decently and in order", then your head has gotten too big. Be prepared for God’s pin to pop your balloon.
You no more important than any other part of the Body.
(1 Cor 12:21 KJV) And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
Your use of the gifts ought to be drawing attention to God, not yourself.
Jesus said,
(Mat 5:16 KJV) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Peter demonstrated it –
(Acts 3:6-8 KJV) Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. {7} And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. {8} And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
Warnings against comparison
It’s natural, we all want to know if we’re doing it correctly, if we’re okay, if we’re on track. But comparison with others is dangerous. There can be value from watching others operate with their gifts, but it’s VERY possible that if God were to give you the same gift, that He might actually give it to you in a different way.
We’ve seen:
(1 Cor 12:4-6 NASB) Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. {5} And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. {6} And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.
Your combination of gifts, ministries, and effects will most likely be different from everyone else in the church. God wants you to be unique. If you look too much at how others are working, you will begin to feel as if you don’t belong.
(1 Cor 12:15-17 KJV) If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? {16} And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? {17} If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
Love
As we’ve seen, we need to do everything in love.
(1 Cor 13:1-7 NASB) If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. {2} And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. {3} And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. {4} Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, {5} does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, {6} does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; {7} bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
God isn’t just concerned that you have the gifts of the Spirit, but God is concerned how you use them.
Growing
Don’t neglect your gifts.
(1 Tim 4:14 KJV) Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
Don’t let the fire grow cold. Sometimes you have to "stir up" the coals on the barbecue to get the fire hot again. That’s the picture of what Paul says here –
(2 Tim 1:6 KJV) Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
We talked about the possibility of "growing" in the use of our gifts.
(2 Pet 3:18 KJV) But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
"Grace" (charis) is a word that forms the basis of "spiritual gifts" (charismata). I have seen in my own life that I have grown in my understanding of the gifts and in knowing how to operate them.
Don’t be discouraged if your form of a gift doesn’t seem as mature as another person’s. It could be that God will help you grow in your gift the more you learn to exercise it.
Start small
I understand that it may be difficult to begin to operate the gifts in even our size of a study on Wednesday nights. I’d encourage you to learn to give time to waiting on the Lord in the small groups, even in your family.
Chuck writes,
"We begin to exercise our gift or ministry within the body by starting where we are in our small circle of fellowship. From there, the Lord may give us bigger things to do. If He doesn’t, we shouldn’t mind because we should be happy just to be serving Him."
Prepare for opposition
Satan would love to challenge what God is doing.
He’ll make you question and doubt if it’s real. Just like he said to Eve,
(Gen 3:1b KJV) …Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
He’ll discourage you by making life difficult so you want to give up.
(Eph 6:10-13 KJV) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. {11} Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. {12} For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. {13} Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Keep standing. Be prepared. Keep walking.