How can my church grow in the gifts of the spirit? Who can receive the gifts and how does that work?
Many pastors are afraid to teach clearly about the gifts of the spirit and the use of them in their congregation. I saw some youth leaders who flowed in some gifts themselves, but not a single person of their group has ever received any of the gifts. Why is that? It was because the leaders did not know how to teach their group and also because they were afraid that if they pray nothing would happen.
It is easy to comfort someone and to encourage a person. You don't even need much faith for that. It is different though if you pray and something spiritual should happen. Suddenly the pressure comes on you. What will happen if nothing happens? If I'm going to pray that Peter would receive the gift of diverse tongues, and just nothing happens? I will lose my face! They will no longer look up to me as their leader!
But fortunately it is not about you! It is about all those that the Lord has given you! He wants to equip them and give them everything they need to walk in their calling! He wants to come and take them by His hand and make them into mighty vessels for His Kingdom. And you can help them to grow into their calling and to get the necessary equipment.
So you see, the first step is to turn your eyes away from yourself, to put your doubts away and to belive the truth. But what is the truth anyway?
Does God still give the gifts of the spirit?
In Mt 7:11 it says:"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those that ask him? "
And in Lk 11:10 it says:"For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it will be opened. "
The Lord made this gifts and He gladly gives them to whoever asks for it. At the same time this is the key. The person who would like to receive must believe with an open heart and ask the Lord for it. Then he or she will receive them. You cannot force someone to receive a gift of the spirit. Everyone is free to receive these wonderful gifts of God or also to reject them. God does never force himself on you. He waits until you come to him and ask him from your heart.
Wasn't it the same with your salvation? At the time when you asked Him to save you, you really got saved! You streched out in faith and you received the salvation. It works exactly the same with the gifts of the spirit. You cannot receive the gifts by works or by being holy enough or by anything else. As it says, these are GIFTS of the spirit. It is impossible to earn a gift. If you would earn it, it's no longer a gift but a reward.
He or she just can't speak in tongues!
Must everyone speak in tongues? Can everyone speak in tongues? What is the benefit of it?
Oh Lord, I remember a couple of situations in pentecostal churches, when a somebody was only considered spirit filled when the person was speaking in tongues. So there was always a pressure on everyone to reveive this gift because otherwise they thought they don't have the holy spirit living inside of them. When the leaders prayed for someone, they usually screamed louder and louder and hoped that way the poor person they prayed for would receive the gift of diverse tongues.
To say it right away, pressure doesn't help to receive the gifts. And just to mention it quickly, the Holy Spirit starts dwelling inside of us as soon as we give our lifes to God and are born again by the spirit. That has nothing to do with the gifts of the spirit, which are an equipment for the ministry.
Not everyone has to speak in tongues, but everyone can receive all the nine gifts of the spirit. More about gifts and ministries in the body you can read in Gifts, Ministries and Ministry Offices.
Often is the gift of diverse tongues only the beginning and it opens the way for the other gifts. Apostle Paul speaks about this in 1 Cor 14:5. There it says:
"I want you all to speak with tongues, but I would prefer it if you prophesied: for he that prophesies is greater than he that speaks with tongues, unless he interprets, that the church might be built up."
The "but I would prefer" [mallon] means "rather, much, by far, more willingly". As you can see, Apostle Paul did not say we should prophecy instead of speaking in tongues. He rather said that if we are speaking in tongues, we should go further and also prophecy.
The bible says in 1 Cor 14:14:
"For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit is praying, but my mind is unfruitful."
Your spirit is praying and speaks about things that not even you yourself can understand. And yes, concerning the public meeting, it is of no use to just speak in tongues from the pulpit unless someone interprets. But in your personal prayer time it will build you up (1 Cor 14:4)
If someone does not receive the gift of speaking in tongues, do not despair! It has nothing to do with the "holiness" of the person, nor is he or she not filled with the spirit because of that. The gifts of the spirit are received the same way you received your salvation - by and act of faith. If you doubt that the Lord likes to give you this gift just as a gift is very likely a much bigger hindrance to receive it. So, if you can replace this doubts with the truth of the word, you will see how the Lord will answer your faith and give out his gifts freely.
Now, if you got this conviction for yourself, you can go ahead and teach others - and the Lord will do His part! |
