See: 1 Corinthians 12:1-31
Many Christians look at the study of the Holy Spirit out of a desire to “move in the gifts” – for any number of reasons. Not only have I observed this over the years, but I’ve done it myself.
In fact, 1 Corinthians 12:31 says “But earnestly desire the higher (best) gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.”
Q: What are some reasons we desire the gifts? (honor, recognition, respect, status, …..?)
As we study the gifts of the Holy Spirit, our goal is not merely to learn more about how the Holy Spirit works, but our goal is to know the nature of the Father that desires to work through us.
My desire is that we encounter the Holy Spirit.
In my history with the Lord, I often prayed for the next gift I would need in the moment. Prophecy, healing, faith, miracles – whatever it was – my eye was on the next tool I would need to complete a task.
Then, I encountered the Holy Spirit in a way where he showed me that he had given me himself, without measure, without condition.
God is not a tool shed.
Once you accept Yeshua as your Lord and Savior, you receive the Spirit without condition. When we are given the Holy Spirit, he is given without measure. And yet he will work in our lives and through our lives to the degree that we allow him to. He works within the boundaries we set. This amazing reality is a reflection of God’s sovereignty. The Creator places himself inside his creation…..! The All-powerful Creator of the universe places himself inside his human creation, by the indwelling Holy Spirit, and limits his workings to whatever we individually allow, and yet he is still able to accomplish his eternal purpose throughout the earth.
Q: Can we become more aware of the Holy Spirit? Are we truly hungry for him?
As I work to articulate my desire for more of the Holy Spirit, I’ve learned to ask to become more aware of his presence. I’m unsure if I received more or became more aware. People often talk about a hunger for the Lord, but our hunger doesn’t make God love us more; it makes us more aware of His presence.
The hungry man craves while the satisfied man critiques.
When we hunger, we create space within ourselves to seek and recognize what is already available. Hunger draws us closer to Him, not as a method to convince Him to come to us, but because He has already made provisions for us.
The Holy Spirit is sensitive and seeks those who long to know Him, meeting them where they are.
It’s not about convincing God to love us more through our hunger. Our hunger makes us more aware of His presence and encourages us to seek Him. When we desire Him, we start to become more aware of his presence and nearness. The Holy Spirit isn’t reluctant but sensitive and secure. He’s looking for those who truly want to know Him, and He will meet them.
Speaking of spiritual gifts, hunger for God is a spiritual gift. On our best days, we cry out for more of His presence. This desire is placed in our hearts by God Himself, as referenced in Jeremiah 33
Jeremiah 33:1-3
The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the guard: 2 “Thus says the Lord who made the earth,[a] the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name: 3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
Our longing for more of God is the Holy Spirit drawing us closer, urging us to surrender to this divine hunger. Yeshua taught that God gives good gifts, like the Holy Spirit, to those who ask (Luke 11:11). When we recognize and yield to this hunger, we express our desire for more of the Holy Spirit, and God is ready to fulfill it.
God instills a hunger in our hearts. When we acknowledge it and ask for “more of the Holy Spirit”, God responds, and makes us more aware of his presence. This desire prompts us to seek it, and God fulfills that longing.
As soon as we operate in any gift of the Holy Spirit, it becomes visible and significantly easier to celebrate and recognize. The deeper aspects of our character, however, are often hidden and lie beneath the surface and away from the spotlight, where they cannot be easily seen. These deep treasures in our walk with God are often unnoticed and unknown by others.
Perhaps you’re able to speak in tongues, but are you willing to apologize in your native tongue?
Operating in the gift of faith might make you the center of attention, but can you trust God when no one’s looking?
A gift is always for others.
As we continue into our journey of greater “giftedness” in the Holy Spirit, there’s one thing I want us to keep in mind. Before we continue studying the gifts of the Holy Spirit, there’s one crucial point we need to understand:
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are not ours to possess. We are simply messengers, a delivery person, so that God may give a gift to someone else.
When the Amazon driver comes to your door and drops off packages, do you honor and revere the driver?
Do you invite them into your home and give them special treatment? Do we even know his or her name?
Does he have the right to expect special treatment?
And yet in the church, we have adopted terminology that elevates the messenger and puts them in a place of reverence. With a tone of respect or esteem, we might say: “That person moves in the gift of healing.”
“She gets words of knowledge.” / “That person works in miracles.” / “That one can discern spirits.” ……………etc.
Do we think that somehow delivering a gift for the Holy Spirit makes us special? Yes, maybe a little, by association. And so, everybody wants to “move in the gifts.”
But we must be aware of the temptation to associate ourselves with a gift.
After all, It would be silly to hear our Amazon driver say something like, “I move in the gift of personal electronics.” Or “I often have the gift of kitchenware.” Or “I sometimes have the gift of home security cameras.”
Our identity is not in what we deliver, but it’s in WHO we deliver it for.
The Father is not as interested in your gifting or your ministry or you’re calling, as much as he is interested in your character. Character is built through surrendering to the purposes of God.
Darkness and chaos is where the Holy Spirit loves to create.
The Corinthian church, which was filled with baby Christians and ex-pagans, was moving so dramatically in the gifts of the Holy Spirit that they needed instruction as to how to do it correctly.
Throughout the gospels and the New Testament churches, the manifestations of the Spirit comes first and then the instruction comes second.
The chaos of Pentecost preceded an understanding of the Holy Spirit. The beauty of the outpouring was in the fact that man had not yet learned how to “manage” the manifestations of the Holy Spirit.
In the modern church, we think understanding and instruction comes first, and after we’re ready, then the Holy Spirit will show up. Then the leadership will manage and organize the move of God. Is this how God works? NO.
The quickest way to extinguish a revival is to “manage it” according to our expectations.
Directions and instructions are important, but not in how to control or manipulate or manage the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. The instructions are to teach us how to submit to and cooperate with the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is not afraid of confusion or chaos or mystery. We may be, but we cannot impose our fears or preferences upon God. He doesn’t see things the way we do.
Darkness and chaos is where the Holy Spirit loves to create.
Genesis 1
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
How then do we “operate in the gifts”?
None of the gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12 are for self-consumption or self-promotion. This is why chapter 13 talks about “the more excellent way” to operate fully in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Q: What is the more excellent way?
LOVE.
We’ll revisit this later.
Optional: Study Guide for 1 Corinthians 12
Spiritual Gifts / see David Guzik :: Study Guide for 1 Corinthians 12
https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/1-corinthians/1-corinthians-12.cfm?a=1074001
