We are told in scripture to earnestly seek after spiritual gifts, especially that we might prophesy.

And yet, I wonder if many are seeking after these things so much, that they don’t seek after Him?

“Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy,” 1 Corinthians 14:1.

There is so much of an influx of prophecy lately, that it is almost like spiritual candy.

One can quickly grab this morsel or that one thinking that this will surely satisfy my hunger, and yet I wonder…..

Truly, spiritual gifts are needed, and many of us are gifted with them in various ways. But they are in no way to replace the author or maker of them.

May we not follow after those who are gifted, but rather may we follow after Him who is the gift to all.

We are told to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and then all of these things will be added unto us, (Matthew 6:33).

It is the LORD Himself first whom we must seek and Him alone.

A tree can produce wonderful and beautiful fruit for us to eat, such as pears or apples.

And yet, without the tree itself, the fruit cannot be sustained. So likewise, we are nothing without our relationship to the Master.

His hands can mold and make the most exquisite vessel, just as a potter shapes the clay into a certain form.

And as we know, there are different uses for each of these forms or vessels, some for noble use and some for ignoble, (2 Timothy 2:20)

But if one wants to purchase a beautiful piece of pottery, they have to go to the artisan that created them.

We are told that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, and certainly this is true.

For He Himself embodies all truth, all prophecy, all knowledge, and all love. But it is the person of Jesus behind the testimony, beyond the prophecy, that we must seek, and then all things will be added unto us.

“And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy,” Revelation 19:10.

If we are to mature unto full manhood unto the stature of Christ, then we must put away those things that might distract us from following after Him.

In order to run the race that is set before us, we must throw-off any weight that might hinder us in that race.

Otherwise, we can become entangled by things that can throw us off from the road that is before us.

We must go onto perfection, and by saying that, I don’t mean that we would become perfect, for only He alone is that. But we must strive to be more and more like Him, and in that is maturity.

One might compare this to a mountain stream as it flows directly from its source. It cannot flow all by itself, for it is powered from where it has come from.

Likewise, we seek the source of all of these things that are given and dispensed unto His body.

The branches cannot be sustained unless they emanate and are a part of the vine itself.

The water that pours out in the various forms of the different manifestations of the Spirit can only be accessed through our fellowship with the Head.

So then, we don’t seek the manifestations, but we seek Him, who is above all things and through all things. He is the first and the last.

We are not to quit those things that we are called to do. We are not to throw away or to squander those gifts that He has given to us, but we must use them wisely.

We are to continue to prophesy, to speak words of wisdom and knowledge. If we are to govern then let us do it with all diligence and wisdom, not in a spirit of control, but one of servant hood.

If we teach, then let us do that in the foundation that was already laid, building upon it, as one would speak and write those things that would instruct and perhaps warn, but also to lend encouragement and compassion to all.

We are to continue to see through the eyes of discerning of spirits, and to use the gift of faith and to minister unto those who need to hear the truth.

Let us now allow petty arguments and divisive statements to bring about disunity, but rather, let us seek those things that are above, rather than below.

And then as we stand upon the threshold of time in these last days, we must grow up unto Him in order to be found worthy. And we must seek Him first above all else.

 

Selah,
~ Stephen Hanson

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Stephen Hanson of In His Truth Ministries came to the LORD is a special way in 1975 and has prophesied regularly since. In these end-time birthing pangs we are reminded that judgment must first begin with the household of God. Will we be prepared and ready?

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