Lately I have heard God repeatedly say, “Continue to ask for the spiritual gifts.” I have felt such a stirring of the Spirit at this time and I have felt the heart of God is for the body of Christ to pray to receive more spiritual gifts. I believe the Holy Spirit is going to release new spiritual gifts to people this month who have hungered and asked for them. Gifts will be given to those who will use them to advance His kingdom. Gifts will be given in preparation for the plans and purposes God has in store for the coming months as many will be stepping into greater assignments and their area of influence and impact will be greater.

 

The Lord gave me the same vision twice this week. When I receive the same vision, I take particular notice of what the Lord is showing me. In the vision I saw people lying face down before God. These people had such a deep hunger for more of God and a deep hunger to be used in a greater way. They had surrendered all to God and lived to bring glory to His name. They were operating in the gifts and had been obedient to stepping out when led by the Holy Spirit. They had been faithful in stepping out to fulfil the assignments they had been given.

 

I saw the Holy Spirit moving among these people. He was handing each one a gift box. I saw people open the gift box and inside was the name of a spiritual gift. People were receiving different gifts. The gift they were given was the gift they would need in the future assignment the Lord had for them. I noticed that inside the lid of each box was written the word ‘Go’. Each person who received a gift also had an obligation to put the gift to use and to step out in obedience and use the gift to impact others and bring glory to God. They were to use their gifts to display the love of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. I also saw angels being released and assigned to the people. The angels were being sent to bring assignments and opportunities to pass in which people would put their gifts to use.

 

There are many spiritual gifts outlined in scripture. The word of God tells us that the gifts are given by the Spirit as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:11 – But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 lists spiritual gifts including word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues. Romans 12:6-8 also speaks of gifts including prophecy, serving, teaching, encouragement, giving, leadership and mercy. 1 Corinthians 12:28 speaks of the gifts of healing, helps, administration and diversities of tongues.

 

Paul expressed that the church should have a desire for spiritual gifts, but it should foremost follow the pursuit of love – Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 14:1). Since the gifts of the Spirit are gifts of grace, they must be used in love with a pure motive of love (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). The gifts of the Spirit are never an end in themselves. They are tools with which we can articulate the love of God to others. God has chosen to minister to people through us. The gifts we have been given are not for our own purposes but to serve others and use them for His purposes and plans. 1 Peter 4:10-11 – As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen

 

The Holy Spirit distributes and activates spiritual gifts as He chooses for each believer. The spiritual gifts we are given relate to the calling on our lives. God equips us with all we need to fulfil the assignments He has for us. Ephesians 2:10 – For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. God has a plan for each of us and wants us to use the gifts He has given. We will experience more of the Spirit’s power and will be used in more of a powerful way if we focus on others and their needs. Manifestations of the Spirit come when we extend ourselves and step out to minister to others. We develop in our gifts as we step out in them and use them.

 

The greater our gifts from the Spirit, the greater our responsibility to use them diligently. Luke 12:48 – From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more. Each person in the body of Christ is needed and each person’s gifts are needed. God gives more gifts to those who faithfully use the ones they have been given. We see this in the parable of the talents. Matthew 25:29 – For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. God is releasing more to those who have faithfully stewarded that which they have been entrusted with. The Lord is also reminding us that with the increase also comes a greater level of responsibility and accountability.

 

This is an exciting time as God is releasing new gifts in preparation for the new assignments that are coming to many. The Lord has seen your surrender to Him, your hunger for more and your faithfulness and obedience. The Lord wants you to continue to desire and ask for the spiritual gifts. The Spirit is giving spiritual gifts to those that will use them to advance the kingdom of God and impact others with the love and power of God.