Challenges in Learning to Move in the Gifts, Part 2

Personal Immaturity in the Use of the Supernatural Gifts: Just because someone is immature (aren’t we all?) doesn’t give any of us justification either to ignore the results of their gifts or to neglect their operation in our own lives. Being Hypocritical: Does the life and ministry (in the broad sense) of the person line up with the giving character of God? Being Controlling: Control is just another word for flesh, or getting our needs met our way, without God. So we can use the gifts to gain recognition or to prevent rejection. Either way it is the flesh, and is ultimately an attempt to control not only our own circumstances, others and our selves, but God Himself. Since He knows this very well, and hates our flesh, He’s not going to let it come between Him and His purposes for us (healing, freedom, dependence on Him). It is likely that He will arrange circumstances to show us the failure of our own resources and provide us with the knowledge and opportunity to turn to the gifts of the Spirit in order to address the circumstance. This could be an external circumstance, such as a crisis or urgent need, where we need to hear from Him and He brings us into contact with someone who gives us an undeniable word from God, or He could give us such a hunger for Him that we become willing to set aside every hindrance and belief that keep