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57. Stir Up Your Gift

Tambien se dispone en: Español Indonesia

In Your Bible Read This Out Loud: 1 Corinthians 14:12

Memorise This Verse: 2 Timothy 1:6 ‘I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands’.

Afterwards Talk About This:  How can we best release our spiritual gifts – in particular the gift of giving.

Something To Do Before Next Time:  Seek God in prayer as to the best way to stir up your spiritual gifts.

Written Diploma Work:  What are the benefits to a believer when they fully utilise their spiritual gifts.

Meditate Word By Word On This Verse:  1 Timothy 4:14

It has been said previously that whilst the gift of giving is just as much a spiritual gift as prophecy or healing, clearly, not everyone will be called of God to operate in this gift. However, if you feel that the gift of giving is your primary spiritual gift then this section will be an encouragement to you to step out and release the gift of giving.

In both his letters to Timothy, the Apostle Paul exhorted the young Pastor Timothy to stir up his spiritual gifts, as the scriptures below show. Consequently, whatever your spiritual gifts are (including the gift of giving), then surely the scriptures below apply to you  – so lets consider the benefits of stirring up the gift of giving.

1 Timothy 4:14 ‘Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you’

2 Timothy 1:6 ‘For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands’

One of the most amazing mysteries that the bible reveals about our lives is that before God created us, and created the world, he already knew us and already had planned our lives, our ministries and our giftings – as the scriptures below show. Consequently if you have been bestowed with the gift of giving then before the creation of the world, and before you were in your mother’s womb God has ordained that you should operate in the gift of giving.

Moreover, God will put within your character and your nature the desire to be a giver such that you will find the highest level of joy and peace and fulfilment. By choosing to stir up the gift of giving you will enter into the calling, gifting and lifestyle that God ordained you should walk in before the creation of the world and there you will find the highest level of contentment.

Isaiah 49:1 ‘Before I was born the Lord called me’

Jeremiah 1:5 ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart’

Ephesians 2:10 ‘For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do’.

A further benefit to stirring up the gift of giving is the fact that spiritual gifts have been given to the church so that we as individuals have the ability to pass the blessing of God onto our brothers and sisters. By choosing not to exercise the gift of giving you are stealing away blessings from the brothers and sisters in Christ that God ordained you should give money to.

By choosing not to give you delay and hinder the purposes of God in the earth and through your selfishness you rob blessings away from your brothers and sisters. Finally in 1 Corinthians 14:12, Paul says to the believers at Corinth to use their gifts to bless their brothers and sisters

‘Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church’.

Furthermore one of the laws of the Kingdom of God is that the more faithful we are with our spiritual gifts – then God will release even more spiritual gifts into our lives. In Luke chapter 16 Jesus speaks all about money and he says in verse 10, ‘Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much’.

As you choose to be a good steward of your gift of giving and you prove yourself trustworthy then God will give you more gifts as he doesn’t want to release gifts to those who will neglect them. Sadly, many Christians are seeking ‘fresh anointings’ and ‘new giftings’ but they will never get them until they are faithful with their existing spiritual gifts.

The laws of sowing and reaping will also benefit you in two separate ways as you stir up the gift of giving – in the areas of finances and spiritual gifts. Firstly, as you stir up your gift of giving and sow finances you will release the many forms of God’s blessings with which to further use the gift of giving. Secondly, as you use your spiritual gift (of giving) to bless people’s lives with, you will reap spiritual gifts that people will sow into your life.

For example, suppose you obey God when he puts you across the path of someone who needs to be a recipient of your gift of giving and you obediently give a large financial gift to them. When it is your turn to be the recipient of someone’s gift of healing or prophecy or discernment, God will ensure that those who operate in these giftings with proficiency will be put across your path. Many Christians are upset that nobody ever ministers to them and nobody gives them a prophecy or word from the Lord – perhaps you need to start sowing your gift into other people’s lives and as you do, you will have spiritual gifts reaped back to you.

The final motive to mention as to the need to stir up the gift of giving is the fact of judgement day, and our accountability towards God for the gifts and talents that he has bestowed on each one of us. Due to the fact that God has sowed and invested his giftings into your life he is looking for a return on his investment and when you stand before God you will give an account to him for the way you have (or haven’t) used your giftings.

If having read these pages God has spoken to you about the gift of giving then step out and give, and give generously unless you want to look foolish on judgement day.

A House of Prayer for the Poorer Nations

Pray for North Korea

24,039,193 people.

Extreme repression and persecution – state of church largely unknown.


This study contains the personal beliefs and practices of of the author who recommends them to the reader. The author takes no credit for their success where applied and likewise takes no responsibility for any failure or disappointment.

The House of Prayer for the Poorer Nations at the end of each section is based on Operation World 21st Century Edition © Patrick Johnstone, Jason Mandryk. Published by Paternoster. All scriptures are NIV © Hodder & Stoughton.

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