― Henry T. Blackaby, Experiencing the Spirit: The Power of Pentecost Every Day
There are stages of growth in life and in relationship. You cannot have a relationship without a level of trust. To survive a betrayal of trust is an awesome thing that I am not equipped for. My past has limited the amount of trust I have in my bucket. Trust me. Ha. In life and relationship with people there is a stage we all come to when we realize people are not perfect. We keep hoping that there is one person out there who we can look up to and trust to always be a good example, but we are all human. What I have found is that it isn't the person who does everything right that I trust, it is the person who is constantly seeking God, His will for their life and following His instruction. Whether they fail or not does not matter, it's that they pursue Him first and with that His will.
I keep getting this picture of a potter at his wheel. As he shapes his creation, he constantly adds water. He has a bowl near him and with a sponge or by dipping his hands in the bowl as he works his masterpiece he constantly adds water. If he didn't the clay would dry out and crack. I would say the potter is Jesus, the clay is us and the water is living.
Lately I have heard so much talk about Spiritual gifts. The gifts given by God
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
New International Version (NIV)
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
These are called Spiritual gifts and repeatedly it says these gifts are given through the Spirit. It is only through the Spirit these gifts give glory to God. A teacher may have the gift of teaching, but if the teacher does not allow the Holy Spirit to guide him in this gift, it is not a teaching from God. Teaching is a gift given to nonbelievers too, so it can be used without the Spirit.
Believers connect through the Holy Spirit in them. We are drawn to each other because the same Spirit lives in us. These gifts are not to be worshipped, nor the person who was given the gift. The Lord has made it clear to me that He is looking for a people He can trust. People He can trust to listen to the details. For instance, if He were to tell me to deliver groceries to the house on the corner, but I decided to deliver the groceries one house down, I'm out of His will, i am not obeying. Maybe I decided that the house I chose was in a deeper need for groceries. I do not know the whole plan of God. I do not know all the details of the story He is writing in these lives. We can do good things for people without the Lord instructing us, but we still need to listen because He might be stopping us for a reason we don't understand. Maybe the people in the house I chose would be offended and turn even more against believers. True obedience brings blessings.
I have seen too many people run with first instructions. If God says, I want you to fill somebody's gas tank" it is likely that he has a specific person in mind. Now, the lesson or blessing may be for us and He may not care who we choose, but we are really missing it if it we don't ask and listen. It's the same with the gifts. If you are given a word of knowledge for someone there is a chance you are not supposed to repeat it to them. He may be telling you only so you can understand them and see clearer how to treat them.
They are called Spiritual gifts because they are to be used through the Holy Spirit in you. There is a responsibility that comes with the gifts to listen. We all have a responsibility to listen to the holy Spirit, whether we are gifted or not. Anyone, no matter how long they have been active in their gift can hear the wrong spirit or can all together stop listening to the Holy Spirit, because of pride. Maybe they are just too busy to stop and really listen. Maybe their own will gets in the way. We have to worship God, not the teacher, the prophet, or the healer. We have to remember it is the Holy Spirit in them that teaches, prophecies, and heals, not the person themselves. It doesn't say in the Bible to seek these gifts, it says to desire them. We are only to seek God. Our hunger is for Him, not the people or the gifts.
Francis Chan is good example. He stepped down from pastoring a church because he felt he was getting more credit than God there. That's a disciple.
“I want to live so that I am truly submitted to the Spirit's leading on a daily basis. Christ said its better for us that the Spirit came and I want to live like that is true. I don't want to keep crawling when I have the ability to fly.”
― Francis Chan, Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit
