1 Corinthians 14:1, “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.”

As a pastor I hear the excuses people make all the time to not be used in the spiritual gifts.  The most popular one I always hear is, “I don’t have any spiritual gifts because God hasn’t given me any.”  While it may be true that they have yet to operate in the gifts of the Spirit the fact of the matter is its not because God hasn’t given them any- its because they haven’t been eagerly desiring to be given them!

Take for example salvation; God has made salvation available to everyone, 1 John 4:14.  However, only those who believe and accept the gift of salvation are saved.  The same is true with the spiritual gifts- God has made them available to everyone, but only those who believe and accept the gifts will be used in them.

Hence the reason for Paul stating what he did in the above passage.  He clearly says to “follow love” and “eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit.”  He couldn’t have been clearer concerning his command towards believers and the gifts- go after them!

It has always been the heart of God to have a people filled with His Spirit.  In the time of Moses the Israelites saw others receive the gifts and they asked Moses if they should stop them but he responded in Numbers 11:29, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”

Plus, when the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost the main passage Peter preached from was an Old Testament promise to all of God’s people.  Joel 2:28-29 reads, “28 And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.”

Therefore, rid yourself of all your excuses and jump in the rivers of God!  Eagerly desire the spiritual gifts and get ready to be used by God!

Reflection

Are you eagerly desiring the gifts of the Spirit?

Action

  1. Ask God daily to use you in the gifts of the Spirit.
  2. Always come to church ready to be used by God.
  3. Wherever you go in life ask God to bless others through you via the gifts of the Spirit!