God Has Given You a Gift

The first charismatic church I attended was called the Lord’s Chapel. It was the first charismatic church in the city. People had their hands raised and their faces were radiant with joy as they worshiped God.  Other people spoke in a language I had never heard! One second, they sang in English then the next it was in another language. Later, a man spoke out a word from God to the people about what He was doing in the congregation. Next, Brother Moore got on stage and said someone suffered from a certain disease and God was healing them.

I had never experienced this type of church service and was totally amazed, and in my heart, it felt so right. I later learned that in 1 Corinthians 12:4, Paul explains what I saw and heard that day:

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit ... the same God who works all things in all persons. To one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, ... to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues...the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

Paul also said, "you are Christ’s body (v.27).”  As Christ lives in us, He expresses Himself through us; and one of the ways He does this is through these spiritual gifts.

Here Paul reveals that God has given spiritual gifts to each of us to use as He chooses and we are to ask for these gifts. While they may vary, each gift has great value and are equally important to the entire body of Christ.

For example, have you ever known something with certainty but didn’t exactly know how you knew, you just knew? I talked to a church member recently who wanted to know God’s will about something. She felt He had given her an answer but she wanted to be sure. My response to her was that “your Knower (the Spirit in you) knows.” This is a phrase I’ve heard but had never spoken, yet, it was the perfect answer. She said her mother used to tell her that, and it’s a lesson she taught her children. I had no idea this was the right response, but the Holy Spirit gave me this word of wisdom, and it was exactly what she needed.

Also, a friend’s daughter was learning to hear God’s voice. When she was at the grocery store deli, she felt impressed to tell a lady there that she was a good mother. While it was out of the ordinary, she stepped out in faith to share this and the lady began crying. As it turned out, that very morning the lady had asked God if He thought she was a good mother. 

I discovered that as we grow in Christ, He will use us in a variety of ways and places. God will prompt you to exercise your faith and speak the word of knowledge and wisdom He gives you in any situation where it is needed. We often see Him move as we pray for others. As we are yielded, He will use us.

In 1 Corinthians 12:31 Paul says we should “desire the greater gifts ... and I will show you a still more excellent way.” We wonder, what is greater than miracles? In 1 Corinthians 13:13, the Word of God says, “the greatest of these is love.” God is love and we are being conformed to His image, 1 Corinthians 14:1 says to “Pursue love.” Colossians 3:14 says to “Put on love.” That, my friends, is our destiny!

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Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New American Standard Bible, copyright 1995.  Used with permission from Foundation Publications, Inc. Anaheim, CA 92816