How to Receive Your Gift From the Holy Spirit
The God Within Us • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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I. PREPARATION FOR THE MINISTRY
A. Paul begins his chapter on ministries and gifts with a challenge to present our bodies to
God (Romans 12:1). This is the first step we must take to receive our gift.
B. Though the Holy Spirit is sovereign in giving gifts, Paul's command to "covet (desire)
earnestly" the best gifts suggests that we don't have to be passive.
1. We should actively seek our gift from the Spirit for our ministry within the Body.
2. If we wait upon God, put ourselves in a position to receive from Him, and be available for Him to use, He will begin to use us.
3. We will receive our gift from the Spirit (Galatians 3:2) by faith. II. EXERCISING OUR GIFT
A. Paul reminds Timothy in both his epistles to use the gift he had received "by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery (elders)" (1 Timothy 4:1) and "by the putting on of my hands" (2 Timothy 1:6).
4. It is quite scriptural to have others pray for us to receive our gift.
5. Timothy was apparently reticent or reluctant to use the gift he had received. We need to remember that God will do the work in us; we need only to be willing vessels.
B. We must be careful not to draw attention to ourselves as the vessel God uses. The vessel should not flavor the contents.
6. When Jesus performed miracles, the people glorified God (Luke 5:26 is one of many examples).
7. Paul said, "But I keep under my body (literally: `I beat myself black and blue') and bring it into subjection" (1 Corinthians 9:27).
C. When God begins to exercise a gift in our lives, Satan is always there to challenge the exercise of the gift.
D. We begin to exercise our gift or ministry within the body by starting where we are in our small circle of fellowship. From there, the Lord may give us bigger things to do. If He doesn't, we shouldn't mind because we should be happy just to be serving Him.
E. God has a specific ministry for each of us. When our hearts are completely open to whatever He may ask us to do, we have taken the first step toward beginning our ministry in the Body of Christ.
Used With Permission
© The Word For Today. We thank Chuck Smith, The Word For Today and Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa for their permission to utilize this work.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/smith_chuck/studyguides_spirit/spirit.cfm 21/21
