Stir Up the Gifts Within You

While at Bethel Firestarters, we were instructed to provoke laughter as a means of stirring up the gifts within us. After the whole room is chuckling and hoho'ing (and believe me, watching it is enough to trigger a giggle in me, too), some start to speak out in tongues, while the leader exhorts us on toward good works. I'm mean, it is what were here for, right? Good works, that is. And here's the scriptural proof:  Ephesians 2:10 (NIV), "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." So, how do you stir up the gifts within yourself?

We are told in 2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NKJV), "...to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." As a point of discussion, how are we to do that? How do you do that? Charisma Magazine says the Greek meaning of the word "stirring" is likened to kindling a fire, or to rekindle one; it also means to resuscitate something in context to a fire. They go on to give four points on how to do that: 1) By looking back to what God has done before, by remembering, 2) By sharing the gospel and sometimes, for the suffering of it, 3) By studying the Word of God, and 4) By guarding the gift by using it joyfully as it was intended. Whala, the laughter. Laughter is keenly tied to Joy. (https://www.charismamag.com/spirit/spiritual-growth/26587-4-ways-to-stir-up-your-spiritual-gift)

My thought is this:
It's hard to share the gospel. Do I stand on a ladder? Maybe I should use a loud speaker and preach at the park. I mean, I study the word and I remember what God has done. I even guard my gift, but as a means of stirring it up, how do I go about sharing it? The other day, I noticed a homeless man with a sign saying, 'Anything.' As I got out of my truck, I asked him if he wanted something to eat. (Of course he wants food, but asking is a good ice breaker.) He said, "Yes." So I responded by inviting him in the store so he could pick out his own food. With a happy look on his face, he jumps up, all ready to go.

As we walk around the store shopping (I forgot what I went for), I started asking him questions about his situation. He said he lost everything in a divorce, but it was after a vehicle accident when he lost the full use of his leg, he could no longer work. So now the guy is alone, without any means, and semi crippled. I would imagine there is more to the story, but I'm not there to judge him. I choose to buy him a meal and get to know him so that I could share the gospel. We finished shopping and settled up at the check out stand. The food was put in a reusable bag I brought. We left the store and sat down to divvy up the goods.

I asked him if I could pray for him. He was happy, again, and said, "Yes." I asked the Lord to shift his season and to light his path. I asked him to be his provision and to bring him a greater sense of joy for life. I added, "Lord, hold him in the warmth of your arms and keep him safe in the night." I actually forgot to pray for his healing (duh), but he was touched by my prayers and now I am feeling the joy, too. I left his stuff in the bag and took out my own. I handed him the bag and told him to take it. That way he wouldn't have to carry around each item, possibly dropping them on his way. He said, "Oh, no. I can't take your bag." "Why not?" I asked. I mean, "It's just a bag. Please, take it." He smiles and thanks me, but noticeably, his demeanor changes, as if he is remembering.

He tells me, hours before I showed up, while he was standing there with his sign, someone drove up to him and handed him a bag. He took it with a smile and said, "Thank you." They then drive off leaving him to discover the contents. He opens it to look inside only to find it full of garbage. That's right. Garbage! Seriously, some people lack so much compassion today, they would help a man out by giving him garbage, as if to gift him in mockery. I can't imagine how that must have made him feel. Maybe he, too, felt like garbage. Like he was thrown away as refuge, waiting for the dump truck. But God!

God saw this man and knew the potential curse that could have landed on him, possibly causing him to give up on life completely. When a person is out on the streets and they don't have hope, what do they have? Nothing. But God saw this man and sent this simple woman, who finds simple conversation and simple food as a means of promoting the gospel. Did I convert him? It wasn't my intention. I only intended to simply show him the love of God. Anything I did, I would have done for a friend. But God knows the power in a simple act, powerful enough to reverse a curse, and clearly, set a soul on a path toward life. I pray he finds it in abundance. In Jesus name. 

Maybe stirring up the gifts isn't as complicated as I thought. In fact, I'm feeling kinda fiery right now. Can't wait to do it again. 
How about you?