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When we sin, His ministry of teaching us is hindered (John 16:8; 1 Cor. 2:12-14). 1 and 2 Timothy reveal another way we can hinder the work of the Holy Spirit in our life.
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Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed upon you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. (NASB) 1 Timothy 4:14
And for this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord . . . (NASB) 2 Timothy 21:6-8 |
In these passages, Paul encourages Timothy to not neglect the spiritual gift given to him during a commissioning service. By the time Paul writes 2 Timothy it appears that Timothy was not using this spiritual gift as much as he should. The ministry of the Spirit through him was hindered. These few examples reveal that we can hinder the ministry of the Spirit by 1) sinning and 2) not using the spiritual gifts given to us. We can also hinder the ministry by despising another's spiritual gift.
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And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you;” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary . . . (NASB) 1 Corinthians 12:21-22 |
Someone could have the gift of giving and despise the one with the gift of serving. Someone could be jealous of the one who can give.
Conclusion: We should seek to encourage others to use their spiritual gifts. We should help others find opportunity for ministry. We should encourage one another not to sin. We should submit to the Holy Spirit's desire to fill us and to control us. We are commanded to be filled with the Spirit. When we are not filled by His Spirit, we are not living under His control. His effectiveness through us is hindered.
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. . . understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit . . . (NASB) Eph. 5:17-18
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh . . . Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing . . . (NASB) Gal. 5:16-21 |
This is a wonderful command resulting in victory over sin and usefulness to God. When we are filled we are walking in His Spirit. As we are filled and as we constantly walk in His Spirit, we find increasing victory over sin. Not to yield to His Spirit hinders the Spirit's ministry in our life and through us. |
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