So far, we’ve talked about what spiritual gifts are and how we can know God still works through them today. Now, let’s talk about how to experience these gifts in your life.
1. Don’t scoff at or forbid them.
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. (1 Corinthians 14:39)
Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:19)
The Bible teaches us not to make fun of the gifts, have a cynical attitude towards them, or forbid their practice. You can refer back to our previous conversation for a more in-depth chat, but some believers are understandably leery of the supernatural gifts of the Spirit because some people have misused them or tried to fabricate a work of God. However, God’s solution to that problem, as we see in 1 Corinthians 12-14, is for us to teach and use the gifts properly, not to ignore or forbid them entirely.
2. Eagerly desire and use them.
Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. (1 Corinthians 14:1)
Contrary to scoffing and forbidding their practice, the Bible actually exhorts us to pursue and exercise the spiritual gifts. God’s Word calls us not to have a passive or casual attitude towards being used by God in the gifts of the Spirit, but rather a proactive one.
I heard the guys at Remnant Radio explain it this way, and I found their perspective helpful: “Whatever eagerly desiring the spiritual gifts looks like, it doesn’t look like sitting around just waiting for them to happen.” A lot of believers may be challenged by that thought, but I believe the statement is a truthful and healthy challenge for us to grow.
We’re encouraged to desire the gifts, to ask God for them, and to make room for their expression in our lives–in evangelistic conversations, in conversations with fellow Christians, in our gatherings as believers–just like we see in the Bible (1 Corinthians 12:31 // 1 Corinthians 14:1 // Acts 4:29-31). The Spirit of God is always ready to minister to people through you and me.
God’s Word calls us not to have a passive or casual attitude towards being used by God in the gifts of the Spirit, but rather a proactive one.Click To TweetFeel freedom to actually want the gifts of the Spirit to be active in your life; it’s a good and godly desire. Intentionally pray and ask God to stir up His gifts in you and use you as He ministers to others–in a general sense but even in specific moments of prayer or ministry or fellowship with others.
When I’m praying with students at our college ministry gatherings or listening to a friend share about a struggle they’re going through, I often ask God if He has a prophetic word of encouragement to share with them through me, and I pay attention to see if He puts anything on my heart.
When you sense Him prompting something in you, be willing to step out in faith. When teaching about how to walk in the gifts of the Spirit, I’ve often heard Bible teachers say we should “give expression to the subtle impressions” and see what God does. (Read this to learn some ways that God speaks.) You can learn more about how to practically step out and use the gifts of the Spirit in this message by Pastor Dennis Rouse and this one by Pastor Robert Morris.
You always want to be kind, humble and self-controlled. You also want to always have a person’s permission to share a word with them or pray for them, or permission from your spiritual leadership if you’re in a church gathering before you step out to share a gift with a congregation. Remember, God desires our use of the gifts to be orderly, motivated by and expressed in attitude of love, and to be edifying to others.
3. Discern and evaluate them.
Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22)
Instead of being suspicious of spiritual gifts, 1 Thessalonians 5 teaches us to evaluate the gifts. Weigh everything against God’s Word, the confirmation of the Holy Spirit in your heart, and godly counsel as needed. Is Jesus being represented truthfully? (1 John 4:1-6) Is there godly fruit in the life of the believer exercising a gift, and as a result of the gift of the Spirit being ministered? (Matthew 7:15-20)
Note that I didn’t say perfect fruit or perfect spiritual maturity. None of us is perfect in our conduct or ministry. Mistakes are to be expected while we’re growing in learning to use the gifts of the Spirit and as we grow in becoming like Jesus. Sincere mistakes don’t automatically delegitimize the genuine work of God through someone in spiritual gifts.
Ask for the Empowering of God’s Spirit
As we start to wrap up, here’s a thought for you to consider. Every Christian gets to ask God for the empowering of His Spirit in our lives. That includes you and me. It’s one of the spiritual blessings Jesus has made available to us because we we believe in Him.
Every Christian gets to ask God for the empowering of His Spirit in our lives. That includes you and me. It's one of the spiritual blessings Jesus has made available to us because we believe in Him.Click To TweetThe term “baptism in the Holy Spirit” may be less familiar to you if you haven’t had experience with Pentecostal/Charismatic denominations of Christianity or it may have a negative connotation for you, and that’s okay. We’re going to demystify how this concept fits into our discussion of spiritual gifts. Biblically, it seems to be a first step, if you will, to these gifts we’re discussing becoming more a part of our lives.
“Baptized” or “filled” with the Spirit is language that Jesus Himself used and that all four Gospel writers used in speaking about Jesus and what His ministry would be. (Matthew 3:11 // Mark 1:7-8 // Luke 3:16 // John 1:32-34 // Acts 1:4-5 // Acts 2:33)
From looking at teaching and the example of Scripture, the baptism of the Holy Spirit seems to be an experience in which God empowers us to function in His supernatural power, empowering us with gifts for life and ministry as a Christian. (Acts 1:4-8 // Acts 2:1-11 // Acts 4:29-31 // Acts 8:14-18 // Acts 10:44-46 // Acts 19:1-7)
Based on the approach of the early church leaders in Scripture, I believe the baptism in the Holy Spirit is an experience that’s available to every follower of Jesus (Acts 2:38-39). I believe it’s a separate event from salvation, when the Holy Spirit indwells every believer (Ephesians 1:13-14 // 2 Corinthians 1:22, and from the believer being baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). Pastor Robert Morris breaks down the different baptisms in his book The God I Never Knew and in this sermon.
In Acts, we see the apostles intentionally asking whether new converts have been filled with the Holy Spirit and intentionally praying for believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit after they have already professed faith in Christ. (Acts 8:14-18 // Acts 19:1-7) Three common results are talked about in the Bible when it comes to believers being baptized or filled with the Holy Spirit, and I can attest to these things in my own experience as well. Pastor Dennis Rouse points them out in this message.
They are:
1) boldness and power in preaching the gospel and being a witness for Jesus
2) supernatural spiritual gifts to minister to others
3) a supernatural prayer language to communicate with God (speaking in tongues)
In the Bible, believers were baptized with the Holy Spirit when other believers simply laid hands on them and prayed for them to be filled. (Acts 9:14-17 // Acts 19:1-7) It’s also possible that the Holy Spirit may fill a believer in their own time with God, even in a moment when he or she is not being prayed for by someone else. (Acts 10:44-46)
I wouldn’t get caught up in the technicality of how this experience happens for you or others. I think every person’s experience is different and God knows just how to meet with each of His kids. It may be a distinct moment you can identify clearly with a tangible experience right away. That’s how it was for me and for several groups of people in Scripture. Or, it may be more subtle and something you notice the effects of over time.
The bottom line is this: Are you noticing in your life the fruit of God empowering you by His Spirit in one or several of those ways we’ve talked about? If the answer is yes, thank God for the work of His Spirit in you and ask Him to use you even more to bring glory to His name. Have you not experienced those things yet, but you desire them? I encourage you to ask God for them. Here’s how.
Resources:
- Caitlyn Lutz’s blogs on tongues: Part 1 and Part 2
- Message series and book :The God I Never Knew by Robert Morris
- The Holy Spirit: An Introduction by John Bevere
- Receiving The Holy Spirit and His Gifts by Terry Virgo and Phil Rogers
Let’s Talk: Have you experienced God using you in a spiritual gift to minister to someone? Which of the gifts of the Spirit are you praying for God to use you in more frequently? Discuss this post in the comments below.
