Romans 1:11-12

11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 12 that is, that I with you may be comforted in you, each of us by the other's faith, both yours and mine.

Here we see that Paul is telling us something very important; by imparting Spiritual Gifts we can see a comfort coming to all. Those who move in the prophetic or preaching need comfort just as much as those who we minister to. The free operation of spiritual gifts in the congregation enables the various members of the body to comfort, to encourage, and to strengthen each other. This allows all to minister to each other.

1 Corinthians 12:7

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

1 Corinthians 14:4b

he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

Paul speaks of imparting spiritual gifts in Rome when he sees the believer. This can be done in this day and age through laying on of hands, imparting the gift and speaking a prophetic word calling forth the gift.

1 Timothy 4:14

Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

God wants the operation of, and the effect of, the gifts given by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ. These are to be used so the total of all that God has for His people can help bring about the victorious Church. To put the Church on the offensive, we must move forward in the anointing, the power of God. God want us not to come behind in any gift.

Here are a few more scriptures:

Romans 1:4-8

4 I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus; 5 that in everything ye were enriched in him, in all utterance and all knowledge; 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7 so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ; 8 who shall also confirm you unto the end, [that ye be] unreproveable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now God wants us to use that which has been given to each one of us.

1 Peter 4:10-11

10 according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God; 11 if any man speaketh, [speaking] as it were oracles of God; if any man ministereth, [ministering] as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

This is why Paul tells Timothy two times:

1 Timothy 4:14-15

14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 15 Be diligent in these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress may be manifest unto all.

Also in:

2 Timothy 1:6-9

6 For which cause I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline. 8 Be not ashamed therefore of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but suffer hardship with the gospel according to the power of God; 9 who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,

What do we see here?

1. Each has received, if not you can. Get someone full of the Holy Spirit to pray for you and lay hands on you.
2. We are to be diligent in using the gift., it must be used in order for it to grow.
3. Do it in Gods strength not our own.
4. Remember you have a holy calling.

So what is taking place?

1. We receive the gift or gifts.
2. We use the gift or gifts.
3. We grow spiritually.
4. We must use it for Gods glory not ours, and it must be used in love.

These gifts can be used in and out of the church. Jesus has sent us to carry His word to the world and the prophetic gift along with others show the world the power of the gospel.

Here are some examples: We were in North Wales in Penmaenmawr holding evening tent meetings. During the afternoon we would go to the beach area where we spoke to the people on the beach. There were many young people there. One group of young men drinking alcoholic beverages were watching us. My son received a prophetic word for one of these men. The word was that he was going to give his life to Jesus and become a preacher of the gospel. Two days later he received the Lord at tent meeting.

We, my wife and I, were in India ministering. One evening we were walking down a narrow street to hold a meeting in a believers home. As we were walking a woman called to us and asked if we would come and pray for her son who had been injured in an auto accident. For six months he had not talked nor taken food by mouth, he was fed through a tube. These were Hindu people. We laid hands on him and spoke and imparted healing in the name of Jesus. The man spoke for the first time in six months.

Many prophetic words were spoken over people, one example is a young man that had a word that he was going to pastor a church soon. He was praising God for this was what God had spoken to him. It happened that very year.

We must use what God has given to us. Remember one thing, after Jesus spoke to the disciples Mark 16:17,18,19; it said this in verse 20: And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with [them], and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

A friend or someone you just meet anywhere may need a word from God. So let the prophetic gift rise up and be used.

The Lord will work with you, and the Holy Spirit will give you the anointing to carry out the special purpose of using the gifts given to you.

Discussion Questions

• Do I need someone to lay hands on me to impart a gift to me?
• Am I using the gift I have to the fullest?
• If I use it what should I know?

Things to Consider:

1. Laying on of hands for the impartation of the gifts should always be in a spirit of humility and prayer, it's not a light thing. Don't be careless.
2. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you; Who, When, How to Pray?
3. Continually claim on behalf of yourself the continual purifying, protecting power of the blood of Jesus Christ.
4. As a believer who lays on hands you must be full of the power of the Holy Spirit to be able to overcome anything the evil spiritual influences that may be seeking to work through the one you are laying hands on.

The next lesson is on the practice of commissioning for ministry. In this lesson we will see what takes place in this area of ministry; impartation of the anointing for ministry; flowing in the anointing and accepting it, just what God has given us.