How to activate the gift or grace of God in you.
By Pastors Steve and Karina Maile
1- Our main passage will be from 1 Corinthians 12
A- I Corinthians 12:1-2 NKJV
“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.”
When you are not born again filled with the Spirit of God you have idols in your life, this nullifies the grace of God in you, because God cannot share his heart with an idol. Christ must be number one! So make sure every idol has been put away.
B- I Corinthians 12:3 NKJV
“Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.”
Until Jesus is Lord you are not saved.
C- I Corinthians 12:4-5 NKJV
“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.”
The same Holy Spirit distributes many different varieties of gifts to the believers, and He is the one who apportions to believers different varieties of ministries. The 5 main apostolic ministries given to the Church are: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. The Apostolic ministry have been given to activate certain graces in us. See what Romans 1:11 says, “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established.” Also see Ephesians 4:11-12, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” They are servants that equip the saints to serve.
D- I Corinthians 12:27 NKJV
“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”
First of all you must be in the Body of Christ, the Church. Christians that don’t belong to a local Church are outside God’s will. Unfortunately many believers and even some believers who are doing evangelism are not in Church today, they need to be under authority planted in a local Church being under authority. There can’t be authority in you unless you are under authority.
E- I Corinthians 12:28 NKJV
“And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles…
The fact that Apostles are first doesn’t make them any greater, but God uses the Apostle to lay foundations, impart gifts, stir up and activate the graces that are in you so you can operate in the ministry. Every believer has been called, appointed and anointed for the ministry. Apostle also includes Apostolic couples such as we find in the Bible, Aquila and Priscilla. (“Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,” Romans 16:3) notice here in this verse, Priscilla is mentioned first.
It is wrong to say, “my ministry,” because it’s our ministry given by God to us all. Or to say, “my gift,” the gift has been given by God for service and we are to steward all God has given us. We cannot exalt people, they are just servants.
F- I Corinthians 12:6-7 NKJV
“And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:”
the Apostolic ministry will equip you. Equip means: Encourage Qualities Undeveloped In People. So many Christians are seating on precious gifts that have not been activated. They are dormant gifts.
2- Let’s mention some gifts that some believers have not activate yet:
1- According to II Corinthians 5:20 NKJV
We have received the ministry of reconciliation, the sharing of the Gospel to others. Many have not activated this great grace.
II Corinthians 5:20 NKJV
“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”
2- According to I Corinthians 12:8-10 NKJV
Various gifts that can be activated:
the word of wisdom
the word of knowledge
faith
gifts of healings
the working of miracles,
prophecy,
discerning of spirits,
different kinds of tongues,
interpretation of tongues.”
I Corinthians 12:8-10 NKJV
“for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.”
3- According to Deuteronomy 8:18 NKJV
The gift of wealth needs to be activated as well, by working to earn finances and giving.
Deuteronomy 8:18 NKJV
“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”
4- According to Ephesians 6:12 NKJV
Spiritual authority is a gift and needs to be activated in spiritual warfare through prayer. Attending the Prayer meetings will help you activate it and of course having your personal prayer time.
Ephesians 6:12 NKJV
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
3- Important:
Attending church occasionally will not activate your gift. But you must be actively involved, see what II Timothy 1:6 NKJV says, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” Timothy received an impartation by apostolic laying of on hands.
If you really understood the richest of glory imparted to you by Christ, you could never seat in Church still. You would not excuse your shy personality but you will be bold in Christ. Many have accepted psychology more than what God’s Word says who you are. Many personalities are frozen and need to be freed by the Holy Spirit. We need to renew our mind and begin to think like God wants us to think.
Ways to activate the gift in you
1- Take responsibility and play your part. Step out by faith.
2- Get under a good Apostolic ministry.
3- Let the zeal of God consume you.
John 2:15-17 NKJV
“When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.””
The time is short, Christ is coming back soon, activate the gift given to you by serving and get busy serving God and serving others.
Karina Maile