"THE GIFT OF GOD WHICH IS IN YOU"

THE GIFT OF GOD WHICH IS IN YOU

(2 Tim. 1:6)

Pastor Carolyn Sissom

The Holy Spirit speaks to us multiple ways through dreams, visions, the voice of God, angels, signs, and people.

Our message today was inspired by two people-messengers: Sophia Mohammad and Sonya West.

Sophia came to visit me this past week for prayer concerning her personal affairs.  After we prayed, and the Holy Spirit had ministered, she said, “I know I have the gift of prophecy and the prophets have prophesied that to me.  I am aware of it at times, but I want to use it in all my speaking and communications in the work place and in all my relationships.”

Well, that request is scripture:

1.     1 Timothy 1:18-19: This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck.

2.     2 Timothy 1: 6: I put you in remembrance that you stir up the gift of God which is in you by the putting on of my hands. 

Sophia boldly proclaimed her right and expectation to operate fluently in her God-given gifting. 

This is where Sonya West comes into this message.  She has been studying with Darlene Goss and Lisa Enebeli a book written by Don and Katie Fortune, “Discover your God-Given Gifts.”

While in prayer in preparation for Sophia’s appointment, I picked up the book and was reading the above scripture.  Perhaps the Holy Spirit would have prompted me to remember the scripture had I not been reading the book, but the LORD chose to remind me through my prayer and meditation just prior to Sophia’s visit. 

For a certainty, we know the Holy Spirit heard her prayers and supernaturally answered her prayer. 

For those of you whom I have counseled over these many years, you know that I counsel by the Holy Spirit of Counsel.  I pray in tongues, then interpret whatever the Holy Spirit shows me whether by seeing in the Spirit or the hearing of the Spirit.

Yes, the Spirit spoke to me, but He quickened to me in answer to her prayer, the scripture I had just finished reading.

In obedience to the Holy Spirit, I laid hands on Sophia and released the gift of prophecy already given to her by GOD.  I expect the LORD to move with supernatural activation.  Due to her prayers, this was a God set-up.   “The manifestation gift of prophecy flowed through an elder who has the gift of prophecy.” (D.K.F.)

Today, as the Holy Spirit leads, at the close of the service, I will pray and lay hands on all who want to have their gift and or giftings stirred up and/or activated.

1 Peter 4:10: As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Everyone has a gift.  In Psalm 139:13-16, the gift of God and our physical body are formed together in the womb.  “You did form my inward parts…  We recognize the beautiful gifts of song, and musical instruments which are innate giftings of God.   Surely it is a manifold grace of God to be able to sing like an angel or play heaven’s chords. 

“Our giftedness was not an afterthought.  It was a part of God’s plan to shape us for our role in the building of His Kingdom.” (D.K.F.)

Rom. 12:4-6a: As we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us…

We are to be good stewards of our gifts, not just our resources. 

We will be held accountable to perfect our gifts and callings.  Saturday, I saw a post about the God-given gifts of Elon Musk and how he has faithfully developed and executed those gifts.  There were 10 categories of skills and exceptional exploits with at least five areas under each category.  Well, I am not intimidated, because I have long ago made peace with my Jesus as to my gifts and callings.  I surrendered and have yielded daily to “here I am, send me, use me.”  I am continually blessed.

All of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and all the five offices of Jesus’ Ascension gifts operate in this church as well as the motivational gifts.  If we are lacking, I bring in ministers who “fan into flame the gift of God.” (1 Ti. 1:6 NIV).

Katie Fortune (author) describes in her book the gifts in three categories:

1.      The Nine Manifestation Gifts - 1 Cor. 12: 7-10.  I have taught these as the power gifts and speaking gifts; but manifestation gifts work for me as it is written: 

Now to each one the manifestation of the spirit is given for the common good.  To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirt, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.  All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

2.     The Five Ministry Gifts – Eph. 4:8-13:   I have taught these as the Ascension gifts which are given by Jesus Christ – what is described as the five-fold.  

When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive and gave gifts to men…So, Christ 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 the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the son of God, to a perfect man to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. (just’ saying’ Eph. 4:13 is the commission to Eastgate Church.)

3.     The Seven Motivational Gifts – Ro. 12: 6-8: having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering, he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation, he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

In verses 1-4, Paul exhorts us to be faithful, diligent, to use our God-given gifts in reasonable service as unto the LORD.  How selfish and often greedy have the beautiful gifts of God been distorted to glorify flesh, name, fame and for filthy lucre.

1 Pe. 5:2: Feed the flock of God, which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly, nor for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.

Yes, we give to support God’s kingdom on earth, but Christ is both the supply and the supplier and as long as our eyes are upon Him, the supply and supplier will overtake one another.  It is through our giving heart that we are blessed and the motivational gift of “he who gives” is for all of us.  These love to give time, talent, energy and means to benefit others and advance the gospel.

Those who have been greatly endowed have a greater responsibility for using all they have to help others.  To neglect to use your gifting is to be irresponsible.  Don’t let that be a source of discouragement or guilt.  Just yield to the Holy Spirit and allow him to flow.

It wasn’t until the Charismatic Renewal that the gifts of the Holy Spirit were known and restored to the Body of Christ.  Until I was 33 years old, even though I had heard the voice of God on rare occasions, I still assumed only very separated and holy men and women of God could move and speak in the supernatural gifts of God.  I did believe in prayer and that God answers prayers because I had witnessed answered prayer.

There are obstacles that block the flow of motivational Gifts as well as the other Gifts.  I can’t go into a lot of detail today, but will do so in the evening service:

1.     Bondages – the most common bondage is fear.

2.     Anger – If the anger is not resolved, it is either expressed in rebellion, retaliation, resentment, hatred, violence, self-pity, bitterness, self-hatred, depression and even suicide.

3.     Trying to be someone other than yourself prevents the natural expression of your gift.  

4.     Poor self-image can hinder the operation of your gift.

5.     Irresponsibility can impede the flow of your gift.

6.     Sin can block or distort the working of your gift.  Sin pollutes the gifts.

“It is the Holy Spirit who empowers the Gifts. 

We may be doing everything else just right in our life, but if we are not in touch with the power of the Holy Spirit, we are missing the great dynamic of the third Person of the Trinity feely available to every believer.  Paul expressed it this way: But ever be filled and stimulated with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18). 

God the Holy Spirit wants to be released into our lives to become that well of living water ---the sap that flows as we abide in the vine.  We have observed that the ongoing flow of the Holy spirit in a person’s life invariably increases the pure and effective flow of that person’s motivational gifts.” (DKF).

I will comment that even though I stand in the Ministry Gifts Office of Teacher as well as Pastor, my motivational gift is teacher.

2 Ti. 2:15: Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Mett. 28: 19-20: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

I will also tell you that I have a poor self-image and confess it as sin.  Yes, I stand obediently and with boldness in the Office given to me by visitation of the Lord Jesus Christ, but the many years of scorn, abuse, rejection, and persecution have left their marks.  I am strong enough that none of the above have any power to touch me in my present walk serving the LORD.  By grace, I have supernatural courage to face all adversaries.  Perhaps the scars and marks have only served to keep me walking bent over before the LORD, trusting Him, being led by the Holy Spirit.  I count it all joy.  I have no regrets. 

“Joy is the byproduct of operating in your motivational gift.  Frustration is the byproduct of trying to operate outside it.  Joy is always a byproduct of doing the will of God.  Joy can never be sought as a goal or an end in itself, but as we function in the giftedness that God has given each of us, we will have joy.” (D.K.F.)

Ro. 12:3: For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

If you would like for me to lay hands on you to “fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of hands.” Please come up for prayer.

Honored to be an Elder in the Kingdom of God.

Carolyn Sissom, Pastor

Eastgate Ministries Church, 10115 West Hidden Lakes Lane, Richmond, TX.

Scripture from K.J.V. and N.K.J.V. – I entered into the labors of Don and Katie Fortune, “Discover Your God-Given Gifts.”  Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of Don and Katie Fortune