ICS Daily Devotions
Sharing Your Gifts
There is a story of how four friends brought their paralytic friend and lowered him from the roof in front of Jesus to receive his healing, because they loved him and wanted him to profit from Jesus’ visit. Just like the friends, we would also want the best for our family, friends, loved ones, colleagues and fellow church members, and want them to benefit from all that God has given us, including the gifts among us.
We are the body of Christ that represents God on this earth. The gifts are given to the body so that we can be edified from the diversities of activities under the same Holy Spirit. We want to discover the gifts that God has given us so that we can be blessings to others. Most importantly, we need to be good stewards of the gifts because we are accountable for them and the rest of the body is dependent on the gifts that we have.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
The Holy Spirit is God and He wants to minister to His people, including the ones who are lost. Although God is able to do whatever He wants, He chooses to minister through us. Therefore, we must not quench the Holy Spirit if He prompts us to speak, reveal or do something by using the gifts that He has given us.
Often when God reveals a matter or a need of a particular person to us, the Holy Spirit will prompt or stir us to do something for Him, like a fire burning inside of us. When we know that it is the Spirit of God who spoke into our hearts, but let our fear of men and the comfort level of moving in the gifts hinder us from acting on what we have heard, we quench Him.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.
God expects us to use the gifts that He has given us and to minister to one another with them. He will move in and through us with the diverse activities so that people will profit, benefit and be edified by the gifts. God does it because He is the God of mercy, compassion, grace and love.
Sermon Series: CG Campaign – Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow
