Getting Hungry Enough To Receive

Getting Hungry Enough to Receive Text: I Corinthians 12:1-7, 31

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 31But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

In these verses Paul specially is speaking unto believers. He say’s in verse 1 stop being ignorant (badly informed or unaware) concerning Spiritual gifts. He then say’s, you once followed dumb idols however these things lead you because you were pagan or a sinner, but now Jesus Christ is Lord and you are speaking by the Spirit. There are many gifts, but the same Spirit. (In other words, If you say Jesus Christ is Lord you have to be speaking by the Spirit and that’s the same Spirit that gives you every other gift.)

Vs. 5-6 there are different gifts and different activities but God works all in all!

The manifestation or demonstration of the Spirit is given to individuals to profit all! (The gifts and callings of God are to help others!)

The key verse after understanding that God’s gifts are for you as well as others is verse 31a But earnestly (seriously and intently) desire the best gifts!

J. I. Packer wrote, “The church is not to be like a bus, where passengers sit quietly and let someone else do the driving, but like an anthill, where everybody is at work.”

Jesus said in Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

It’s time to pursue your miracle! What might seem to be a miracle for you might be the norm for me and vice-versa!

Be specific! Speak to your mountain! Your mountain isn’t a Spiritual gift you can’t seem to receive; your mountain is unbelief or some notion that you aren’t good enough! Guess what? You aren’t, but He is!

How hungry are you? Isaiah 64:1 Oh, that You would rend (split) the heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence— Psalm 42:1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God.

How can we see and have revival? Isaiah 65:8Thus says the LORD: “As the new wine is found in the cluster, And one says, ‘Do not destroy it, For a blessing is in it,’ So will I do for My servants’ sake, That I may not destroy them all.

God is telling Isaiah that blessings can’t come until they come together corporately. One grape can’t make the new wine it takes everyone coming together! (A cluster.)

We need 3 things to happen in our church to develop true Spiritual hunger: 1. Team work. We must care for one another! 2. The team must communicate. 3. ‘Your rights’ must take second place!

A farmer noticed a highway department truck pulling over on the shoulder of the road. A man got out and dug a hole, then got back into the truck. Then the other occupant got out, filled up the hole and got back in the truck. Every fifty yards this amazing process was repeated. “What are you doing?” the farmer asked. The driver replied, “We’re on a highway beautification project, and the guy who plants the trees is home sick today.”

What’s the bottom line? God blesses those who work together and help each other become hungry for God and His blessings!