1 Timothy 4:13
Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to
exhortation and teaching. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within
you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the
laying on of hands by the presbytery. 15 Take pains with these
things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to
all.
2 Timothy 1:6 For
this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in
you through the laying on of my hands.
Hebrews 2:4 God
also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various
miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own
will.
I suppose I could have
grouped these passages with those from Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 14
and Ephesians 4. I think, though, it's a fitting conclusion to my
survey of New Testament teaching about the gift of the Holy Spirit
and the gifts of the Spirit, with particular focus on speaking in
tongues and prophecy. Spiritual gifts are not toys, they aren't a
personal power base, and they aren't badges of maturity. Spiritual
gifts are given by God, the Holy Spirit, to strengthen believers –
individuals and churches – and often does so by working through gifted believers (re-read Acts 13:2-3 in light of 1
Timothy 4:13 and 2 Timothy 1:6). Spiritual gifts can be neglected,
ignored, despised, and abused. When that is done, harm is done, and
God is hindered from working in believers as He might. When believers
use their spiritual gifts – all believers, all the various gifts –
the Body of Christ is built up.
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