Notice that the Apostle Paul didn’t say, "…I long to see you that we may pray together and ask God to impart you with some spiritual gifts"; no. Rather, he said, "…I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift…." Paul knew he had something to give, contrary to what some people might think about themselves; they don’t believe they have the gifts of the Spirit. "Nobody has any gift; only God has a gift, so stop saying you have a gift," they’d say, thinking they’re being humble.
However, that’s ignorance, not humility; and God doesn’t want us to be ignorant about the gifts or manifestations of the Spirit. He said in 1 Corinthians 12:1, "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant," because the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7). 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 further highlights for us several gifts and manifestations of the Spirit given to each one of us as the Spirit wills.
Paul had something to give, therefore, he longed for the meeting between him and the believers in Rome, because of the effect it was going to produce in their lives and in his as well. He said, "...That I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me" (Romans 1:12). In other words, he’d be comforted by the results of this spiritual impartation in the lives of these saints in Rome.
We need this in the Church today more than ever. Part of the reasons some Christians are lukewarm and seem to be weak is that they’ve never received such impartation of the Spirit. The Bible tells us how the apostles went about confirming or strengthening the saints in the early Church (Acts 14:22). How did they do it? It was through preaching and teaching of the Word, and the demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit.
It’s not enough for people to believe; they must also be confirmed, that is, strengthened through the impartation of the gifts of the Spirit. We have something to give; we’re not ordinary. Bless others with the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit in your life.
Prayer
Dear Father, I thank you for the blessings of your Spirit in my life. Like never before, I’m spreading the fragrance of Christ to my world, that they may partake of your grace, and be blessed by the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit in me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
further study: Acts 14:21-23; Matthew 10:7-8
: Acts 15:22-35 Esther 5-7
: 2 Corinthians 11:10-33 Isaiah 20
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