A gift or a present is any tangible item given to somebody without the hope of exchange or payment. Such an object is never a monetary gift, even if that particular one to whom it’s given owns it already. Even though the gift-giving may involve only an expectation of compensation, a gift is always intended to be totally free.
Gifts are everywhere, including in the prophetic. In fact, you’ve probably encountered most of the gifts which we come across in our lives: money, clothes, houses, cars, big-time hotels, fancy holidays, vacations, and so on. Many people think of God’s gifts in terms of presents for the festive season, such as Christmas or Halloween. They think of Him as giving us “things” to enjoy. But the truth is that He has many more resources for our enjoyment than just gift ideas.
The term “gifts from heaven” is the perfect complement to the idea of spiritual gifts we get from God. Spiritual gifts come from the Holy Spirit and the office of Jesus Christ, and they’re given by the Gift Seeker, which is also known as the Apostle to the Gentiles. Spiritual gifts manifest themselves in prophecy, revelation, healing, and ministry among the people. Gifts come from the Holy Ghost, and they’re given by the laying on of hands.
It’s not wrong to talk about the gift giving and gifting process in social media. I’ve talked about it at length in other articles. One thing I’d like to emphasize is that there is a difference between giving and receiving. Giving is something you do to give while receiving is something you do to receive. Givers don’t expect anything in return for their gifts, but recipients expect something in return-whether monetary, friendship, support, etc.
The messengers, or apostles, of the Gospel have certain tasks to perform. They go out into the world, speak and teach to people in all the regions, naming the tongue and nation according to the Jews who are scattered throughout the world. They also bear witness to those who are bound under the law of Moses and others who have received the gospel. Sometimes they are also called by the president of a territory or district and tend to perform extra-ordinary tasks to deliver the gospel. In the Book of Acts, we read of certain apostles who were appointed by Paul and Peter to fulfill the commission given to them.
Most Christians have no concept of giving or receiving in the kingdom of God. It’s an alien concept to them. Even the idea of sharing something is foreign to them. But if you’ve been blessed with a holy spirit, you’ve been given the responsibility to share the riches of God with strangers and fellow Christians-gifts, which are unique gifts that can be given to anyone. You’re not supposed to keep them all to yourself but rather to share and distribute them to everyone.
One of the greatest challenges for the church is how to identify genuine gifts among people who don’t know the Bible or don’t accept Christ. For this reason, the elders of the church often encourage the preaching of prophecy (epistle) to the people, especially to those who do not accept Christ. If you’re wondering why a prophecy should be given to the lost, the elders of the church have an answer for you. The elders of the church to recognize that the majority of people who are denied the right to receive the Gospel will never accept it because of their spiritual downfall. In other words, if you’re not with them, they won’t have you!
A good way to start sharing your spiritual gifts is to speak about them. Make sure you’re not speaking about your gifts as a means to gain attention or for your own selfish needs. Share what you have to offer and make others aware. There’s a saying that says, “The power of God is in hearing who declareeth the truth.” If you truly want to share the gifts of prophecy, then use it for the love of God and for the joy of serving others.