SEEKING GIFTS
(March 1998)
We may wish to have certain gifts and even ask for them (I Cor 12:31 : "But eagerly desire the greater gifts"; Rom. 1:10-12, where Paul says he prays for the Roman congregation to have gifts, and in part to use them to build up Paul himself upon his arrival there). But if it is not the will of the Holy Spirit, we will not get what we ask for. When we pray for gifts, we ask, not demand, and we accept what gifts we are given and what gifts have/haven't been given as being what the Holy Spirit purposes.
The Holy Spirit is free to give and to take the gift back and to give it again; the Spirit is in full authority over the gift itself (I Cor 12:1 1). The Holy Spirit may come upon us to give healing to someone at a certain time. Then the gift may be gone. If we are working with the Spirit, the gift may come often, or be present at all times. Sometimes we are afraid and hold back from stepping out and this will stop the gift from benefitting anyone. The Spirit does not control our will as to whether we use the gift or not. There are ministers who are given the gift of preaching or teaching or pastoral care, but they spend their time on trips or meetings or on being a CEO instead. Their gift is not exercised as a matter of bad choice, hampering what the Spirit is trying to do with their lives.
Most Christian churches have a poor track record of encouraging each other to seek gifts and, once gifted, to encourage members to use that gift for the mission(s) of the Church. As a Christian, I must admit, we've talked a much better game than we've played. Church leaders need to tell the flock that these gifts are available to them. God not only commissions his followers by giving them a task or calling; God also empowers them with the spiritual gifts they need to carry out that calling. Indeed, church leaders are supposed to be those who manifest a Spirit-led life, individually and collectively. Some of the difficulties which plague modem-day church leaders, especially the rampant disconnection between leadership and members, may well be because of a collective unwillingness to use the gifts as they are given, a dependence on their own collective strength to run the Church instead of a more radical dependence upon God.
You want your life enriched, I would suggest that you begin to "Seek Gifts". Gifts of God are different than talents and do not depend on the natural talents or aptitudes or developed skills. God gives these gifts to encourage, channel, develop, enable, and empower others.These gifts are part of the benefits of God. Seek gifts.
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