The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
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Desire for a gift may well point out <strong>the</strong> existence <strong>of</strong> that gift. C. Peter Wagner put it,<br />
"It is <strong>the</strong> same God who gives spiritual gifts who also oversees <strong>the</strong> way each one <strong>of</strong> us<br />
is made up in our total being. God knows every detail <strong>of</strong> our psychological condition,<br />
our glands and hormones, our metabolism, our total personality. He understands our<br />
feelings perfectly. And He knows that if we enjoy doing a task we do a better job at<br />
than if we do not enjoy it. So part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> plan <strong>of</strong> God, as I understand it, is to match<br />
<strong>the</strong> spiritual gift He gives us without feelings in such a way that if we really have a<br />
gift we will feel good using it. This may well be why God reserves <strong>the</strong> assigning <strong>of</strong><br />
spiritual gifts to Himself. All <strong>the</strong> computers in IBM wouldn't be equipped to do that<br />
for <strong>the</strong> hundreds <strong>of</strong> millions <strong>of</strong> Christians around <strong>the</strong> world, but it is no problem to<br />
God Almighty." 4<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is no conflict between pleasing God and enjoying yourself. <strong>The</strong> psalmist testified,<br />
"Delight yourself in <strong>the</strong> Lord and He will give you <strong>the</strong> desires <strong>of</strong> your heart" (Ps. 37:4). <strong>The</strong>n Paul<br />
adds, "It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose" (Phil. 2:13).<br />
God enables us to want, to will and to carry out God's good purpose. When we do God's will we<br />
will be doing what we want to do.<br />
Why is it so important that we enjoy doing God's will, using His gfits? Because when a person<br />
exercises a ministry, that individual subconsciously communicates <strong>the</strong> motivation behind <strong>the</strong><br />
ministry. If <strong>the</strong> motivation or attitude is negative, those to whome we minister will perceive that<br />
negative message, and if <strong>the</strong> attitude is positive, <strong>the</strong> message that comes across will be positive<br />
and <strong>the</strong>refore effective.<br />
To examine our feelings, <strong>the</strong>refore, is important when we experiment with <strong>the</strong> gifts.<br />
It should be kept in mind however, that <strong>the</strong> desire for a certain gift does not automatically<br />
guarantee it. <strong>The</strong> overriding factor is <strong>the</strong> will <strong>of</strong> God. <strong>The</strong> final decision belongs to God who gives<br />
gifts as He chooses (I Cor. 12:11; Heb. 2:4). Strong desire for a certain gift we never discover in<br />
ourselves should make us examine our motives for wanting such a gift. It is <strong>of</strong> utmost importance<br />
that we place ourselves under <strong>the</strong> sovereign care and will <strong>of</strong> God, trusting Him to entrust to us<br />
that gift He desires us to use. For <strong>the</strong>n His desire becomes our desire. <strong>The</strong> perfect blending <strong>of</strong><br />
God's desire with our desire is what God wants.