When most believers think about spiritual gifts, they think about the more “spectacular” gifts such as prophecy or healing. While these are important, other gifts are just as vital to the life of a Christian.
Part of the problem is simple ignorance. There is a lack of solid Bible teaching on the subject. This lack has led to many false teachers teaching about the gifts in ways that do not reflect the heart of God. It’s not a 21st Century problem, as the Early Church dealt with false teachings surrounding the gifts in the first century.
Hosea 4:6 (NKJV) “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”
Listen, ignorance is nothing to celebrate. A lack of the knowledge of God leads to so many problems.
2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV) “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
On four different occasions, Paul the apostle warns us as believers to not be ignorant about an essential topic in the economy of God.
1. God’s Heart for Israel
Romans 11:25–27 (NKJV) “For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them When I take away their sins.”
2. Spiritual Gifts
1 Corinthians 12:1 (NKJV) “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:”
3. Satan’s Plans and Strategies
2 Corinthians 2:10–11 (NKJV) “Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
4. The Rapture of the Church
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 (NKJV) “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
The Bible is clear that ignorance is not something to be celebrated. As Christians, we are commanded to study God’s Word and be diligent in our pursuit of knowledge. When we do, we will be better equipped to serve God and others. We will also be able to avoid false teaching and the many problems that come with it. So let’s not be ignorant about the things of God. Let’s celebrate His Word and His truth!
Dive into the Word and study to show yourself approved
