Desire And Faith

 AND  IN OPERATING SPIRITUAL GIFTS 

By Rodney W Francis 

• “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” (Jesus in Mark 11:24, NKJV)

YOUR PRAYING will be idle chatter if desire is lacking. Faith will not function if there is not a strong desire. Desire brings emotion and feeling to the heart and is the atmosphere in which faith will act.

 We are as holy as we desire to be. We are accomplishing about all that we desire to accomplish. One of our basic problems is a weak desire. Desire is more than idle wishing. It is a passion that grips the heart in a way that we feel we must see that desire fulfilled.

 Men accomplish great things because of great desire. Desire brings vision, and then faith and works that bring vision to reality. The Bible has much to say about desire:

• “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).

• “. . . the desire of the righteous will be granted” (Proverbs 10:24, b).

• “The desire of the righteous is only good . . .” (Proverbs 11:23, a).

• “He will fulfil the desire of those who fear Him . . .” (Psalm 145:19).

• “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked (“desired”) of Him” (1 John 5:14-15).

Revivals come to the Church when God’s people desire revivals. In many of our revival efforts today there is evidence of weak desire. Poor attendance, little personal work, reluctance of the church people to move up; these are all signs that there is little desire for revival. We desire other things more. Because of weak desire, there is little vision and little faith. Because of little faith there is little accomplished.

Paul was a man of deep desires. He said, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved” (Romans 10:1). This explains the secret of his success as a missionary and a soul-winner. This explains his great faith and his willingness to sacrifice.

A child does not become a good student by accident. There has to be a desire for knowledge. This develops into a faith that he can and will be a good student and this produces the necessary action and efforts.

A strong desire and a great faith go together. They affect not only the one that has them but those whom he contacts. They are manifested in an enthusiastic confidence that is radiated through the personality. When a salesman has these qualities it draws and persuades his customer. When a minister or teacher has them it makes his preaching and teaching effective. He gets through to the minds and hearts with his message.

Zacchaeus, the publican, had a strong desire to see Jesus. It was more than idle curiosity. It gave him faith that he could see Jesus and brought about the necessary actions to surmount his difficulty. Desire, faith and action brought Jesus into the home of Zacchaeus and Zacchaeus into the Kingdom (Luke 19). ~ reprinted from “Revival” magazine 1976 (India).

 DESIRE AND FAITH IN OPERATING SPIRITUAL GIFTS

By Rodney W. Francis 

The words “earnestly” and “desire” are both strong words. They represent a seriousness, and earnestness, a strong longing ~ even a craving ~ to make sure these Gifts are functioning within us. The motivation for these strong yearnings to function is found in 1 Corinthians 13. It is called LOVE! Love for God and love for people is the motivation ~ the reason why ~ that we are to “earnestly desire” to flow in the Spiritual Gifts. An earnest desiring with the right motivation of love means that Spiritual Gifts are going to be released out of us to bless, build, comfort and encourage others.

• “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy” (1 Corinthians 14:1).

The teaching, focus and motivation of 1 Corinthians 12 and 13 are then neatly “packaged” in this first verse of 1 Corinthians 14:1. We put those teachings into practice by prophesying! Some will immediately ask, “Why prophecy? Why is prophesying so important?” The answer simply is that prophesying (when understood) is one of God’s key ways of building up the Church. Prophesying produces “edification and exhortation and comfort” in the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 14:3). No wonder, then, that Paul teaches:

•   “For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged” (1 Corinthians 14:31).

Learning and encouragement are key essentials to growing in God and producing that fruit which glorifies Him. Prophesying is the bringing forth of anointed “love messages” from the heart of Jesus to the hearts of His people. It is “Spirit to spirit” ministry, and it feeds us where we need to be fed. This does not happen if we do not cultivate a strong “earnest desire” to exercise Spiritual Gifts! Prophesying is more than preaching. While it can include preaching, it is the bringing forth of inspired messages under the anointing of the Holy Spirit through ordinary Spirit-filled believers bringing forth utterances from the heart of Jesus to His people. Should we be surprised, then, when Paul further emphasized and encouraged through these words:

•   “Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues” (1 Corinthians 14:39)?

In considering these Scriptures we can see just how important “earnest desire” is, to be able to effectively function in the Spiritual Gifts. Who does the desiring? We do! Who has to be earnest about it? We do! How strong does that “earnest desire” have to be? Strong enough to cause us to rise above all and every reason and excuse that we Christians love to hide behind, as we have (generally speaking) become so careful and cautious that we are afraid to speak out even the wonderful blessings of God that are released to us when we function in Spiritual Gifts.

Desire puts us into the position of being willing and available to the Holy Spirit for His Gifts to function through us. Once we receive the witness of the Spirit as to what we are to say and do, then it takes faith to release it out from our innermost being to speaking it out into the public domain of the people being able to hear and receive what we have to give. Faith is our obedience to the voice and prompting of God!

•   “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21).

   
There is a faith unmixed with doubt, 
A love all free from fear; 
A walk with Jesus, where is felt 
His presence always near. 
  
There is a rest that God bestows, 
Transcending pardon’s peace; A lowly, sweet simplicity, 
Where inward conflicts cease. 
  
There is a service, God-inspired, 
A zeal that tireless grows; 
Where self is crucified with Christ, 
And joy unceasing flows. 
  
There is a “being right with God,” That yields to His commands; 
Unswerving, true fidelity; 
A loyalty that stands. 
  
There is a meekness free from pride, 
That feels no anger rise; 
At slights or hate or ridicule, 
But crosses ~ counts a prize. 
  
There is a patience that endures, 
Without a fret or care; 
But joyful sings, “His will be done,” My Lord’s sweet grace I share.   
There is a purity of heart, 
A cleanness of desire; 
Wrought by the Holy Comforter, 
With purifying fire. 
  
There is a glory that awaits, 
Each blood-stained soul on high; 
As Christ returns to take His bride, 
With Him beyond the sky! 

- Author of this Poem Unknown.