John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
Today, many Christians read about the Gifts of the Spirit in 1Corinthians 12, and because not everyone possesses these Gifts, they've given up on being used by God. The Gifts, favors, Spiritual Blessings and Graces that John 1:16-17 lists, are separate from the ministerial Gifts in 1Cor.12. John 1:16-17 says that "we've all been supplied with these things."
We've always seen ourselves individually as being "just one flock" and insignificant, as far as being used by the Master, because of traditional teachings. Nothing is farther from the Truth. As an individual in the Body, you're able to go into places that your pastor cannot go, meet people your pastor doesn't meet and minister with people your pastor doesn't get a change to minister too.
Your pastor can't go into your home and train up your children. Nor can your pastor read and pray for you, like you would pray for yourself, because your pastor doesn't know what your needs and desires are. Your pastor is only one person and can only teach what the Holy Spirit gives him/her to teach. Your pastor can teach you how to understand and use your faith in God, to reach your nuclear family and those who are part of your extended family.
Your pastor's task in the Church, isn't to rule over the people, but to feed and train them to be Laborers in the Harvest. Many feel like they don't need a pastor to feed and train them and do so for themselves. We decide we know more than others and become blind in our use. We've all been supplied with the same Gifts, favors, Graces, Spiritual Blessings. These are all unearned and undeserved and were given out of Love and Grace, through Jesus. The Father never left anyone out, but made us to be fellow heirs with Christ Jesus.
We have the Anointing living in us, to do whatever the Holy Spirit bids us to do. We're instructed to lay hands on the sick, but this doesn't mean that we have the Gift of Healing. The One Who gives these Gifts, can do as He wills. We've all received God's Wisdom through Jesus, but this doesn't mean we all have the Gift of Wisdom. It means that we all have the One Who gives us Wisdom, living inside us.
When we just see the Gifts of the Spirit in 1Cor.12, it seems like some are left out, but this isn't true for those who will listen to the Voice of the Spirit. Those who are sent into foreign lands as prophets and apostles, need the Gift of the Spirit for their ministry. Many times, the Gift of Tongues is given to speak to people in their own language, because they don't know the language of the people they're sent to minister to.
There's no longer any distinction between the child of God. We have all received the Gifts, Graces, favors and Spiritual Blessings that came through Jesus. Whatever Gift the Lord choose to use you in, it will be anointed and will minister Grace to the hearer. Just because the Lord should choose to use you in certain things, doesn't mean that is your ministry. There's only one ministry and that is the ministry of setting the captives free and bringing them into salvation. Whatever is needed to do this, has been made available to you by the Holy Spirit.
I knew some people years ago, who were given a certain Word to preach by God and believed that was all there was too their ministry. Years ago, the Father had men and women moving in the "Faith Message," the "Healing Message" and the "Confession of the Mouth Message." God had to emphasize these particular ministries, because the Church had lost sight of them. These ministers were referred to as, "The Word people" and congregations marveled that these people "actually took God at His Word." Until that move of the Word people, the Church believed the things of the Spirit were for after we die and leave this earth.
The Father is beginning to bring back faith and Word, to His people again. The day of the Superstars is limited and the entire Body of Christ is beginning to get involved once again. People you've never heard of before, will be raising the dead, healing the sick and working miracles on a daily basis. Miracles will be done in the workplace and the marketplace, that will astonish the world and the Church. Our children in public schools, will bring forth a young army of youth, who aren't inhibited by the old religious traditions, but who simply believe God and His Word.
We're living in the greatest time the Church has ever known and it's getting better every day. The Gifts that have come to us through Jesus, are going to be made manifest to the entire world. You haven't been left out and you haven't come in too late. Some have forgotten the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, but this is where the Power of God resides. When was the last time you heard the Baptism of the Holy Spirit taught to the Church or seen the Holy Spirit move upon the people?
Those who are hungering and thirsting after righteousness, will be filled. Jesus said this to the people of His day and it's still True for us today. Are you still hungry and thirsty? If you are, then the time of fulfillment awaits you. John 10:10 (Amplified) says, "We shall have Life in abundance, to the full, till it overflows." This is what I'm seeking and believing my Heavenly Father for. Paul writes to the Church in Philippians 3:10 (Amplified), "For my determined purpose is that I may know Him, that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly, and that I may in that same way come to know the Power of His Resurrection which it exerts over believers, and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed in spirit into His Likeness even to His death."
This is why Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20 (Amplified), "I have been crucified with Christ, in Him I have shared His crucifixion." Paul identified so deeply with Jesus, that he likened his mortal body to be already dead and the only Life that truly mattered to Paul, was the Life he lived in faith by the Son of God.
We don't seem to understand that the Very Presence of the Holy Spirit should be as natural to us as breathing. We've become so close to Him, that Jesus said to the Father in John 17:21 (Amplified), "That they all may be one, just as You Father are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us." Even when we don't know it, it's still True. When we begin to see ourselves the way God sees us, it's easy to walk in the Truth of His Word.
God is now making a plea to the world through us, to be reconciled back to Him. He is making Himself known through the Church. As His ambassadors, we've been equipped to do everything God needs done, by and through the Holy Spirit.
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