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Your Gifts |
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All of the spiritual gifts, which God has conferred upon His children, endow them to fulfill His commands and live the Christian life. The gifts of faith, hope and love perfectly equip the children of God to accomplish His will in their lives. They are in absolute unity and operate in unison, harmony and dependency upon one another. Faith is believing God, and trusting Him. But if there is little trust there will be little love and hope in the life of those of little faith. As faith is allowed to mature so also will hope and love flourish. And as they flourish so also will the fruits of the Spirit be produced.
These are the tools given enabling the Christian to succeed and have the victory in every aspect of life, both now and in the future. The full measures of these gifts have been given. No one will stand before God and claim to have fallen behind in them and thus have excuse for sin and failure. When the disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith, they were met with rebuke and told that with faith even as small as a mustard seed they could move mountains. Their problem was not that of lacking faith and needing more, but that they had to use what they already possessed (Luke 17:3-10).
But as with any tool it must be used to be of any benefit. The more they are used the more the child of God becomes skillful in their use and becomes more dependant upon them. Experience is the key. With experience comes the growth of faith, hope and love in our lives. They will increasingly develop and permeate our heart, thoughts and attitudes. They are the essence of our new nature, our new man, the spiritual man, as opposed to the old carnal nature. If it is easier to grasp, it can be said that we grow into the gifts.
Finally, remember that these gifts are supernatural. They operate in a natural world with supernatural power in supernatural ways. The world cannot understand them for they are foreign and alien. They represent the wisdom of God. They operate in the realm of the unseen. When there is no reason, they give reason. Why and how can a person love his enemy? There is no reason for this in the natural, carnal mind. But there is every reason for this to happen with the gift of love. The same can be said of faith, when there is no reason for believing, and hope when there is no reason for hope. The gift of faith believes all things and hope hopes for all things.
If you want the power of God, begin by knowing you already have it. All that is required is that you simply use it. But use it with the knowledge of the Word of God. Love His word. Immerse yourself in it. Let it teach you. Make it a part of you and the gifts will explode in you. They will conquer every obstacle and make you spiritually victorious in every trial. This is the Spirit filling life with fruits of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth).
God bless you in your Christian growth.
Wm. Bekgaard
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This page last updated November 11, 2004 at 10:21am
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