Devotions

“When [Jesus] ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men” (Ephesians 4:8, ESV).

Think of it! When we surrendered our lives to Jesus and to the work He did for us on the cross, He gave us gifts — every single one of us. So what is accessed at the cross is not just for our forgiveness or our righteousness or our acceptance into the family of God. These gifts from Jesus to His church are empowered gifts — amazing and powerful.

1 Corinthians 12:7 talks about the different manifestations of the Spirit:

“To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

Isn’t this a good verse? It says, “To each one.” He has given you personally the power to function in the gifts.

GIFTS THAT PROFIT

There is going to be a greater manifestation of the Holy Spirit “for the common good.” This means that these empowered gifts were given so that everyone who comes in contact with you will profit from them in your life.

Ephesians 4:8 said, “He gave” when speaking of the gifts, so it is past tense. You are to employ the gift He has put within you. You may not know what it is, but He is going to unfold it to you. This power is going to come in a greater fashion in your life and He will develop it and cause it to increase in you.

After a recent Tuesday night prayer meeting at Brooklyn Tabernacle, I was introduced to a pastor who was visiting with a small group of leaders from his church. I welcomed him and asked where he was from.

“Kentucky” he answered.

“That’s quite far from New York City,” I replied. “How long will you be here?”

“We are heading back tonight. I left at dawn this morning just to be in the prayer meeting.”

I was shocked. “Really? All that way for just one service?”

“Brother, I’m thirsty for God.” he said with all seriousness. “I can’t go on anymore. I’m worn out and burned out. I’m desperate for something from God’s Spirit.”

DON’T GIVE UP

As the pastor spoke, I couldn’t help but think of David’s plea:

You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
where there is no water.
(Psalm 63:1)

Have you ever felt dried out and run down in your Christian life? When that happens a lot of us just keep plugging away until we reach the point of spiritual exhaustion. Some folks give up and play the hypocrite, pretending to be someone they aren’t.

THERE IS REFRESHING

There is an old saying that is absolutely true: 

“If you run around, you run down, and then you want to run away.”

But there is a remedy to those dry periods when we have run around too much. It is found in what the apostle Peter called “times of refreshing” coming from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19).

Jim Cymbala began the Brooklyn Tabernacle with less than twenty members in a small, rundown building in a difficult part of the city. A native of Brooklyn, he is a longtime friend of both David and Gary Wilkerson. 

Some months after 9/11, a New York City newspaper ran this headline: “CITY OF JITTERS.” The Department of Homeland Security had warned that a planned terrorist strike had been uncovered, and the terror alert had been raised to code orange.

HIDDEN FEARS

That same day, a New York City police officer spoke to me about the uncertainty and alarm within the police force and fire departments. Their macho exteriors hid secret fears because most of them had lost friends during the 9/11 attacks.

Even now, years later, each time some New Yorkers travel through tunnels and over bridges they hold their breath and pray for protection. A stalled vehicle can cause panic. The greatest fear that haunts this city is a suitcase bomb, carrying nuclear or germ capabilities. Many people began carrying small gas masks. The citizenry seem to be resigned to the inevitable, believing an attack of major proportions will eventually strike. No one knows when, but the thought hangs heavily over the populace.

A SOURCE OF HELP

Yet there is not fear among true believers. Instead, we want to be available should an attack come, to help in the time of crisis. This is how our church has prepared our people. In the midst of these apprehensive times, the Spirit of God is moving in a marvelous way. Many are coming to Christ throughout New York City, and there is an increasing hunger for God among young people.

May this be the heart attitude of all God’s servants in these days of apprehension and fear. The Lord has removed all fear from His people, that they may be a source of help to the world in a time of trouble.

I know the Bible says Satan has come down in these last days with great wrath (see Revelation 12:12). But I can’t conceive of God allowing Satan and his forces to freely assault the church without the Holy Spirit coming in greater power and manifestation.

The Bible says:

Evil men will grow more and more wicked
There will be a great falling away
The love of many will grow cold
The faith of many will be shipwrecked
False preachers will come to deceive many
People will love pleasure more than God

But, beloved, none of these things can hinder the work of the Holy Spirit. Nothing can silence the shout of victory He brings. Nothing can hold back the great, swelling tide of triumphant praise that is coming. Nothing can put out His fire or stop His rain from falling.

BE READY TO TESTIFY

I urge you: Be ready for those in your workplace to come asking, “I know you’re a Christian. I’m so troubled by what’s going on in the world. Please, tell me what you believe.” To every humble pastor of a small church, and to every leader of an unseen prayer group, the Holy Spirit wants to come into your midst, touch you and revive you. Will you believe it?

The only thing those hundred and twenty disciples in the Upper Room had to hold on to was a promise from Jesus that He would come. And He did come — with power unseen in all of history! Likewise, today all we have to hold on to is a promise from our Lord. He pledged to all who would follow Him, “I appoint unto you a kingdom” (Luke 22:29).

When the Holy Spirit comes as a torrent of rain, He will awaken the Bride of Christ with a cry. What will be the Spirit’s cry? “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him” (Matthew 25:6).

Tragically, the message of Christ’s Second Coming has nearly disappeared from pulpits today.  Even on the Internet, where countless message boards are filled with talk about the church, there is not a sound about Christ’s coming. Yet John says the cry of the church in the last days will be:

“The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).

Tell me, where are the voices crying, “Come, Lord Jesus”? Christ warned His church:

“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (Matthew 24:42).

Where is the church that is watching, waiting, yearning for Jesus?

 “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man cometh” (24:44).

THE PARTY IS OVER

Jesus had strong words for those who would scoff at His soon return:

“[The] evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin . . . to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of” (Matthew 24:48–50).

I ask you, has there ever been a time when humankind was so wrapped up in covetousness? The party is over — the economics of the entire world are shaking — yet multitudes, including many in the church, are in denial about it. Right now, the Holy Spirit is being poured out to wake a slumbering church to prepare for His coming: “This world is not your home. Now, stir yourself. Get ready to meet your Bridegroom!”