ICS Daily Devotions
We Are Empowered By The Holy Spirit To Serve
Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
This is the third part in the series on laying the foundation. The baptism of the Holy Spirit, evidenced by speaking in tongues, is a gateway into the supernatural. It will help us to understand the work of the Holy Spirit and the operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
We are limited to helping others with our natural abilities. There will be no need of the Holy Spirit or the gifts of the Holy Spirit if we are able to fulfil the work that Christ has given us purely based on our natural abilities.
The gifts from God are always for the good of other people, so that they will benefit through our ministry to them by operating in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
1 Cor 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
The preaching of the gospel will also have signs that follow. However, we need to be empowered to do it. We also need to believe it can be done through the power of the resurrected Christ who lives in us.
2 Timothy 1:6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
Starting with the baptism of the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues through the laying on of hands, there are impartations of the gifts through the laying on of hands by the fivefold ministry ministers. It is the Holy Spirit who distributes the gifts as He wills. We can desire the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The laying on of hands is just a means or a channel for God to flow into the person. Thereafter, we are instructed to stir up the gift of God in us. How do we stir up the gift? It is the same notion as stoking the fire. It can be done by speaking or praying. Therefore, we can prepare ourselves by praying in the understanding and the spirit to stir up the gift. It will help us to tune into the Holy Spirit regarding what He wants us to do. It is being led by the Holy Spirit.
1 Cor 14:2,15,39 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.15. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding….. 39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.
What the Apostle Paul was trying to address was orderliness and the proper use of the gifts in the church. He also emphasized everything had to be done out of love regardless of the situation. There is a time and place for everything, including the use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, it is important to teach and lay the right foundation!! At the end of the day, the people coming to church must understand that those who are ministered to are edified, but it doesn’t mean that we should stop speaking in tongues.
Sermon Series: Laying the Foundation
