Led by the Spirit in Gifts and Ministry

The manifestation of the Spirit of God is given to the members of the Body of Christ so that all may be built up in the Head.

The emphasis is on diversity but all are members of the one Body of Christ.

There are many kinds of gifts but they are expressions of the one Spirit of God.

There are several kinds of ministry but they are from the same Lord Jesus.

The gifts and ministries work in different ways but they are of the same God.

Two facts must be kept in mind when approaching the subject of gifts and ministries. One is the need for presenting our body a living sacrifice in order to prove God's will. Apart from presenting our body a living sacrifice the talent that God has given us will probably never be used by us in the manner God intends.

The second fact is that gifts and ministries, as is true of every other aspect of our Christian life, must be directed by the Holy Spirit. It is not enough just to have a good idea or to be enthusiastic—or even to see a pressing need. We must be led by the Spirit in the area of gifts and ministry.

Presenting our body a living sacrifice in order to prove the will of God.

Being led by the Spirit.

Presenting our body a living sacrifice in order to prove the will of God.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)

There is no way in which we can prove the will of God for ourselves other than by presenting our body a living sacrifice. Personal prophesy, visions, dreams, words of knowledge and wisdom, the laying on of hands of the presbytery, all help us find God's will. But all of these aids will be ineffectual if we do not present our body a living sacrifice, taking up our cross and following after the Lord Jesus each day.

The author has seen several instances in which hands have been laid on people accompanied by prophecy in which the individuals were informed of the work they would do in the Kingdom of God. But more often than not the prophetic word did not come to pass. The believer lived an ordinary life without ever experiencing that which had been announced by the Spirit.

The reason for the lack of fulfillment is that the believer kept waiting for God to give some marvelous sign and to carry him out of himself until he was doing that which had been prophesied.

This is not how gifts and ministries come into effective use in the great majority of instances. The individual must seek God fervently as though he were the greatest apostle on earth even though there is no evidence that anything is happening.

In addition he must fervently covet the gifts of God according to the desires of his heart. God will steer him or her into the right ministry and gift once he or she begins to pray and seek God.

To be continued.