Read:
I am grieved beyond words when I see church services in which some so-called prophet is lining people up, laying hands on every one and saying "God wants to use you in the gift of prophecy." And "God is calling you to be an apostle. . ." ". . . prophet. . . " ". . . healing evangelist. . ." whatever. Even if the "prophet" is discerning this correctly--which most of the ones I've seen are not--it does incalculable damage to blurt this out to people. God will reveal these things to them directly Himself when He believes they are ready to know it. He doesn't need your help or mine. The Goodwins exercised great wisdom in this area. I had known Sister Goodwin for several years before she ever talked to me about what she knew God had called me to do. She eventually told me, "I've known since I first met you that God was going to give you a strong ministry, an anointed ministry. But I couldn't tell you this when I first met you because you would have been lifted up in pride. . . But I can tell you now. . . " Then she went ahead and told me things that have continued to slowly unfold in the 15+ years that have passed since that conversation. Many times the best thing you can do is just shut your mouth and let God do the work in His way and timing. Not long ago, I saw the Spirit of Prophecy beginning to move on a man in a church where I had been invited to minister. I said nothing to him. But later I pointed the man out to his pastor and told him, "Keep your eye on that one. God is beginning to move on him in spiritual gifts. You'll see it develop before much longer. Be sure to encourage him, and to help him to understand how to flow in that within the limitations of scripture and within the boundaries you set." The pastor--which is no surprise to me--said, "I know it. I see that too. I'll keep my eye on him and help him." You don't have to be a prophet to discern these things about others. Pastors see many more things than some people think they do. My friends, the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit come directly from God only and at His choosing. They develop best and to the fullest as individuals observe those same gifts operating through their leadership. If you desire to be used of God in spiritual gifts, then go to God about the matter. Humble yourself. Let Him know you are available for Him to use, and let Him also know that you will give Him all the Glory for any gift He manifests through you. Then trust Him to know what is best. He will make the decision, and let you know what His decision is, over time.
Comment by Keith Edwards:
I want us to ask the Lord to give us balance in the gifts of the spirit like never before. We are living in a time where some mixture has infiltrated the body of Christ concerning the prophetic and apostolic. Line up the gifts and manifestations of the Spirit with the word of God. The Holy Spirit will never violate scripture, and as you get rooted and grounded in the word of God you will know what is right and what is error. There are three ways you can judge what is right and wrong. 1st, watch out for a mixture of strong pride in their ministry. This can cause alot of problems in the church and in an indiviual as the temple of God. 2nd, line up what they teach or preach with the word of God. If you listen very carefully to some so called apostles and prophets, you will see error being spoken over the congregation. 3rd thing is greed. Make sure that there is not any greed in a minister. This can be very dangerous.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask for a powerful spiritual covering of Your Blood upon the ministry you have for each and every one of us, as we minister Your word. Bring a balance Lord to us so that we can discern what is truth and what is error. Let your word so fill our hearts so that we can operate in the right way concerning order in the spiritual gifts.
by Mel Montgomery and Keith Edwards
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