Releasing Spiritual Gifts Today预览

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the 1995 New American Standard Bible.

Manifestations of God’s Grace

I have intentionally titled this devotional Releasing Spiritual Gifts Today rather than “Receiving Spiritual Gifts” because I believe we should do something with spiritual gifts—not just study them in order to learn what they are and how to obtain them.

Not long ago, “the gifts of the Holy Spirit” was a hot topic, and most of the books about spiritual gifts that are available were published in the recent past. Yet even though you will not hear as much preaching and teaching about them these days, God has not rescinded His gifts or His commissioning. He has not lifted these special manifestations of His grace. God not only wants you to learn about His gifts, but He also wants you to experience the great wonder of moving in and through His grace on a daily basis. Experience, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, will be your best tutor; and you can expect to keep learning as you keep on doing—today, tomorrow, and the next day. Practice does make perfect! 

My three main purposes for this devotional are information, inspiration, and impartation.

First, that the information presented here will bring you into a greater awareness of biblical truth about spiritual gifts.

Second, that you will be inspired, through biblical and personal stories, to greater levels of hope and faith regarding the tremendous potential of the gifts God has given to you.

Third, that you will be imparted by the Spirit with the courage to step forward and use them.

Touching the World with God’s Kingdom

God’s gifts are operational, not “optional,” and all of His children should be using them. You and I—every single believer—are supposed to have at least one manifestation of the Spirit functioning in our lives. We are not to be ignorant of our gifts; we are expected to learn about them. (See, for example, 1 Corinthians 12:1, 4–11; 1 Peter 4:10–11.)

The gifts of the Spirit are meant to be used by believers to touch the world with the kingdom of God. I believe that the gifts are as expansive as God Himself. The exciting thing is that, in our lifetimes, we can expect to see the darkness overcome by unprecedented, brilliant displays of God’s grace and power—through His gifted people, as we preach the salvation message of Jesus Christ. May God be magnified in our lives as we serve as His hands and feet and voice in the world around us.

Nothing will happen if you don’t step out in faith. Remember, faith is spelled R-I-S-K, and the best fruit is always way out there on the end of the limb! Let the words you are about to read stir you to respond anew to His direction so that you can use the spiritual gifts that God gives you—every day of your life. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are alive and well in countless Christians today. If you are not yet one of them, I hope you will be by the time you finish this devotional.