Free gifts – no joke.

Have you ever received a bad gift? Or re-gifted a gift that you didn’t want?
Sometimes people can be hard to buy for but when someone gets a gift for you that is just spot on, well, it doesn’t get much better! 
The Holy Spirit is a great gift from God. Not only does He never leave us or forsake us, but He also lives in ​us, guides us and ensures we have everything we 

need to achieve and undertake what God has called us to do.
There is something else though that’s even better. The Holy Spirit gives us spiritual gifts that are more than just what we can do or what we are good at, they are special gifts that are to benefit the others in church.
Paul writes:
7 The point of the spirit being revealed in each one is so that all may benefit.  (1 Corinthians 12:7).
We are all made to be interdependent upon one another, and the spiritual giftings is another way in which God enables us to have unity and glorify Him. Within a church we would expect to have as a broad of a range of gifts as we have people. When one works in teaching all benefit. When another uses their gift of exhortation all in the church benefit. When one prays for healing, that person benefits but all see God do the work and give glory to Him. Not one person has all the giftings, and rightly so, for if we did possess all the gifts who would need each other?
God in His wisdom knows what gifts He will give to each of us so that we may minister to one another. It makes sense that our creator who knows us most intimately also knows what gifts would complement our personality and other natural traits He has endowed us with. We are gifted with what we most need to accomplish what He has planned for us to do.
When we come to a saving faith in Jesus it’s because the Holy Spirit has revealed the truth of Jesus to us in our hearts. This is when the Holy Spirit comes into hearts and sets up shop. He moves into a room of our hearts and begins a programme of renovation and expansion. With Him He brings a uniquely chosen collection of spiritual gifts, things that only God can give that is tailor made for you.
Maybe, like a present we open them and use them, or a present we’ve opened and remain unsure of. Perhaps fear or a misunderstanding of what this means from God can leave us confused so we think the best option maybe just to ignore or overlook this gift. This is a mistake we don’t want to make. God is the giver of good gifts and wants us to be a blessing to others. Some gifts can also be for a season in life, a particular need we may have had to meet. Whatever it is they are there not to make us prideful, but to be a blessing to others, to encourage and support the church, His bride.
Is it time to investigate all that God has given you?
 
Dave Maharey