Do Not Neglect The Gift

Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. (1 Timothy 4:14 NKJV)

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. (2 Timothy 1:6 NKJV)

The gift of God, given to a person through the prophetic word (and the laying on of hands), is a strong indication that God is not content to simply wait for the last person (whoever that is) to give their heart to Jesus (whenever that will be).

And he doesn’t orchestrate the actions of his church; thinking he has to settle for a tie with wickedness or anything else the devil throws at him or us.

No!

God goes for the win. He is always planning his invitations, preparing his messengers, and pursuing his loved ones; all seven billion of us.

Three things strike me strongly, in the two verses posted above..

1. The gift (charisma) is a special endowment from God. A spiritual gift, in that it’s spiritual in nature, yet it is to be used in the natural. Out where people, hurting and broken, live. A gift of God, yet given to a man to impart to someone else.

2. Speaking prophetically is speaking in God’s stead; as his mouthpiece. Laying on of hands, therefore, is touching someone in God’s stead; on his behalf.

3. Though the gift comes from God, and the words and hands represent God’s words and hands, still we have the responsibility to stir up the gift. We have the duty of not neglecting the gift. God won’t operate it for us, and neither will the ones who prophesied over us while laying hands upon us.

If God is going to be honored as he should be, we must use the gifts he’s given, as he prescribes.

If people are going to be helped as God has planned and prepared, we must not hold back using what we have; even though we may not think we have very much.

If the gift isn’t used, then there isn’t any reason for the prophetic word, or the laying on of hands. None of the gifts are meant just to be displayed, as a Christian version of Show and Tell.

God doesn’t have to anoint or impart gifts to any one of us. But it’s a sure thing he is going to enable and endow someone. He needs people to do the work of the ministry. He needs folks yielded to him so he can flow through them. So, since he’s looking for someone who will partner with him, it might as well be me.

And you.

Do not neglect God. Do not neglect God’s gift. Do not neglect God’s purpose. Do not neglect God’s prophetic word.

And do not neglect God’s people. They just may be someone who has something of God’s to impart to you.

Or, to receive from you.