God has granted every person a spiritual gift in order to edify and build up one another. As a believer in Christ we become a part of the body of Christ and a member of His body. Why is this significant? It is significant because every member of a body has a FUNCTION to perform and a DUTY to fulfill. “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In His grace, God has given us different gifts…So if God has given you the ability to PROPHESY, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is SERVING others, serve them well. If you are a TEACHER, teach well. If your gift is to ENCOURAGE others, be encouraging. If it is GIVING, give generously. If God has given you LEADERSHIP ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing KINDNESS to others, do it gladly.” (Rom. 12:4-8) We are strongly encouraged to have knowledge of the gifts and NOT TO IGNORE THEM or be unwilling to learn about them and practice them.
Paul says to Timothy, “I am reminded of YOUR SINCERE FAITH, which first lived in your grandmother…and in your mother Eunice…I am persuaded, NOW LIVES IN YOU ALSO. 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. For the Spirit God gave us DOES NOT MAKE US TIMID, but GIVES US POWER, LOVE AND SELF–DISCIPLINE.” (2 Tim. 1:5-7)
As I read this word this morning it made me think of my new hobby of smoking meat, I place charcoal in the smoker and light it, then place moist wood on the charcoal and begin to FAN IT INTO FLAME. Through this process the wood begins burning and produces awesome smelling and tasting, flavored meat. We are given gifts from God to enhance our ministry, these gifts will produce awesome results if we FAN THEM INTO FLAMES through our prayers…
“Another angel…was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people…THE SMOKE OF THE INCENSE, TOGETHER WITH THE PRAYERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE, WENT UP BEFORE GOD…” (Rev. 8:3-4)
OUR PRAYERS ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN THE WORK OF THE LORD…
-Bill Stockham