When He Is Come - Media Sabda Org

however, we should desire the best spiritual gifts. Covet here means to be zealous for. People covet
health, wealth, fame, and beauty, and they put forth an effort to secure these. When the Spirit begets
a holy desire within us, we should not neglect or overlook this desire, but rather cherish and foster
it. Then as it increases (and it will, if it is of the Spirit), that desire will come to fruition as it matures.
It is right that we should desire to be deeply spiritual and to be highly useful. God delights in us
when we desire spiritual gifts. We should set our ideals high and qualify for the most useful life.
VII. Receiving Spiritual Gifts in Answer to Prayer
It has been expressed by some that it is perfectly right to desire spiritual gifts, but that we should
not ask for them, that it is not scriptural to ask for spiritual gifts. It would rather seem consistent with
other Scriptures that when we covet that which is holy and good, and desire that which is spiritual,
we should ask the Lord in prayer and faith for the same. An example of this is given from the life
of Dr. S. A. Keen, a great revivalist. He was a great pastor, evangelist, and camp meeting preacher.
The Lord greatly used him in the salvation and sanctification of many people. He observed in his
camp meeting work that many adults were saved, but that in the children's meeting the children were
not saved. This became a desire to him, that is, the salvation of the children, and this desire
developed into a burden. Dr. Keen had no gift in dealing with children or in leading them to the
Lord; however, he became greatly grieved that the children were not being reached. He went into the
woods and made it an object of prayer, praying something like this: "O Lord, save the children for
they are not being reached. I have no gift in leading children unto Thee. Dear Lord, if Thou canst
trust me with a gift of reaching the children and in leading them unto Thee in addition to the gift
which Thou hast given me, I will be careful to glorify Thee and not take any honor unto myself. I
ask this for Thy glory and for the sake of the children who are not saved." God, in answer to prayer,
gave Dr. Keen the desire of his heart in giving him the gift to lead the children to the Lord. From that
day to his death he was very successful in leading the children to the Lord. The Lord saw that it was
for His own glory and for the good of the children, and that Dr. Keen did not ask this for his glory;
therefore, the Lord gave him an additional gift, that of being a successful children's worker.
It is said that when Dr. McIntyre, another great preacher, heard that Dr. S. A. Keen had in answer
to prayer obtained a gift for leading children to Christ, he, too, became encouraged and inspired to
pray for a gift which he greatly desired, even that of leading seekers at an altar into a saving faith.
He had been greatly burdened concerning seekers who came to an altar and were not led into
appropriating faith. He took this desire to the Lord and prayed that he might receive the gift of
leading seekers into a saving faith and knowledge. God answered his prayer and gave him the desire
of his heart. Dr. McIntyre became qualified to deal with seekers in speaking to them the "word of
faith." After this he could begin at one end of an altar full of seekers and one by one lead them to
Christ, and in a little while have the entire altar cleared of seekers.
The great need of our times is for a host of people who will receive the Gift or Person of the
Spirit, and also the gifts of the Spirit to enable them first of all to live holy and humble lives, and
secondarily for an aggressive evangelistic ministry to profit other people.
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