The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity

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Errors in doctrine or simple doctrinal immaturity are regarded as sufficient
reason for people to do nothing except listen. Has an enemy designed this church
structure?” 3
The training methods of Jesus are in stark contrast to what is common to our training
in church. Peter did not recognize Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, until he had been actively
involved in service for two-and-a-half years (Mt. 16:16). It is evident from the biblical
accounts that Peter had already been used by God in preaching, healing and casting out
demons. The abortive attempt of the disciples to heal a child with convulsions (Lk. 9:40)
probably suggests that they were experimenting beyond their ability.
Before we are tempted to criticize the disciples for their unsuccessful attempts at
healing or exorcism, let us be reminded that it is far better to try and fail than not to try at all.
Faith, after all, requires that we step out and take risks. Risk is part and parcel of what faith is
all about.
Fear is the greatest enemy of experimentation. Experimentation where there is an
opportunity for practicing and developing one’s gifts is crucial. Gifts, like talents, need to be
developed. They are not handed to us by God refined as though they can just automatically be
put into operation and produce effective results. People need various opportunities to hone
their gifts.
FEAR OF GOD
While Scripture is very clear that the proper attitude of a creature to a Creator is fear in
the sense of reverence and awe (Job 28:28; Ps. 111:10; Prov. 14:26-27; Jer. 32:40), it is not
right to have a kind of fear that sees God as a hard taskmaster who is virtually impossible to
please. The Parable of the Talents (Lk. 19:11-27 warns against burying our talents, abilities,
gifts, money) for fear they won’t be acceptable to God. Because the person with the one talent
viewed his master wrongly he was unable to function. So often we do the same with God. For
fear that God would never be pleased with our actions (ministry) we simply stay inactive and
play it safe.
The Bible is clear that it is better to try and fail than not to try at all. We believe that to
fail is to be a failure whereas God sees our attempts, even when we fail, as opportunities for
learning. In fact, it is usually when we fail at something that we learn our greatest lessons when
we do not give in to pessimism and defeat. We need to learn how not to do things as well as
how to do them. Failing, then, is not failure, nor defeat, but the backdoor to success.