Many of us seemed to have stumbled onto our spiritual gifts and callings, not realizing how the Lord was surfacing them through extreme pressure, like diamonds unearthed. How the Lord works in our lives remains a mystery, especially when it comes to revealing His gifts through these earthen vessels.
I released this word back in 2007 and I believe it will be needed in 2019 and beyond to release the powerful gifts that still lie dormant in our lives. (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
How God Unwraps Our Spiritual Gifts
Genesis 50:20 in the Message Bible says, "Don't you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you now—life for many people."
God used Joseph's hateful brothers, Potiphar's wife's false accusations and an unfair prison sentence to unwrap his dream. Then there was King Saul's spirit of jealousy and rage, which was used to unwrap David's crown for kingship. Also God used Judas' betrayal to unwrap Jesus' destiny to be King of kings and Lord of lords! Who is God using in your life to unwrap your destiny?
I sense many of God's people are frustrated by not being able to unwrap their spiritual gifts and callings. I am discovering that it takes all kinds of people around us to unwrap the gifts that God has placed inside of us. Can a gift unwrap itself? Neither can we. When it comes to unwrapping your spiritual gifts, you don't get to open them. God uses other people to do that, for your gift is not for you—it's for others!
How God Unwrapped the Prophetic Gift in My Life
Many years ago in our church as I led worship, I would experience God's powerful anointing. I loved leading worship and the church seemed to love it too. Let me caution you. When you fall in love with your gift and others begin to fall in love with it—be careful. That's when God usually brings people into your life to unwrap you from that gift that you got wrapped up in.
Shortly thereafter, a new elder came on the scene and was given the privilege and authority to call on people to lead worship. I noticed something—he wasn't calling on me. So I began to pray for him. As I prayed for him, nothing happened. I had to sit in the congregation and die in my seat as I longed to be up in the pulpit leading worship. Every time I would look at him up front, I felt a knife going in me. During this time, I would actually get physically sick going to church. (Photo via Unsplash)
Finally, the Lord walked me through Matthew 5:23-24, "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift."
It took me many months to walk through forgiving this elder and asking God to bless him and then being able to bless him myself by taking him out to lunch. I then realized why God says to feed your enemies. When we do, Jesus pulls a chair up to that same table and knocks the walls down between you and the person you don't like. He causes you to have communion as you eat together!
Shortly after this, we were totally reconciled as though he had never hurt me. Right after we were reconciled, I will never forget the very next Sunday morning in our church. During worship, a Spirit of prophecy came upon me for the first time, and I gave a powerful prophetic word that went outside the walls of our church to other places.
After the service was over, God spoke to me. He said, "Bill, it wasn't that elder that moved you out of the pulpit from leading worship. I used that brother to move you, for you loved leading worship so much, you wouldn't have stepped down on your own. I used him to move you, for I had a better gift to give you, and you wouldn't have been able to receive this prophetic gift in the pulpit since you were all wrapped up in leading worship!"
Getting Past the 'Wrapping Paper' to Find the True Gift in Others
Many times in my life, I have not...(continue reading)
