Everything is available to us through faith. Thankfully we don’t have to work to get anything from God because He has made it available to us because of His grace. What we do need is a diligent heart that seeks the Lord. He promises that when we seek Him with the whole heart we will find Him. The lazy person will not receive anything. Although we don’t work for the things of God, if we don’t have a life that is hungry for Him we will not get very far.
Spiritual gifts are available for us as well. Clearly we are to not only hunger after God but to eagerly desire spiritual gifts. Why spiritual gifts The gifts of God enable us to be a blessing and encouragement to others. If someone is sick it is a blessing for someone to come with the gift of healing to the other person. It is the same with all these spiritual gifts. We really need them. We are not able to do the things that God desires us to do without His gifts in operation through us.
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
1 Corinthians 14:1
Again, thankfully we don’t have to wait to be “worthy” to receive these gifts. Just like salvation, we receive everything God has. We don’t have to go through 20 classes, read 30 books on healing or go to some special place in the world to receive. God will give us these gifts IF we will eagerly desire them knowing that He wants to use us for His glory. We desperately need the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
Luke 10:17-19
Jesus entrusted 12 growing disciples with His authority, many of which had some issues. One was a devil. That is a big issue! Then later He entrusted 70 with His authority. Who were these 70? We know the 12. The other 52 were not in the main team. They did not seem to be around very long, but Jesus entrusted them with power. Quite amazing! Maybe they just enjoyed the experience and they said, “Had a great time. See ya later!” Do people still do this? Probably in some way or another. One thing for sure, Jesus was not a control freak. He made himself vulnerable by having imperfect people represent Him. He still does!
He is the One who qualifies us. It does not mean we are perfect just because we are used by God. It just means He has trusted us. We are all stewards of His life, power and whatever else He has entrusted us with. We will still give account in whether or not we allowed Him to actually work in our hearts. Just because someone works a miracle, healing or has a great gift does not mean much. People will come to Jesus saying they did all these great works and he will say depart from me because I never knew you.
The Holy Spirit has a dual purpose in our lives. First He is Holy. If someone is enamored by the power of God but doesn’t care about character, integrity, bearing the fruit of the Spirit or being holy before God then they have a problem. The Holy Spirit brings us into that intimate relationship with God to form us into the image of Christ.
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Romans 8:29
Secondly, the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit flow and operate through us by faith. God will use someone because they have faith and He desires to bless others. It is about the person being ministered to, not the one who is ministering. That is why our life of intimacy with God cannot be overemphasized. It is still needed that we consider the goodness and severity of God. God entrusts us with His Holy Spirit, power and gifts because He sees us being such a part of who He is. As His own people He desires to fill us with His love that makes everything work in His fullness.