Pastor Brian McDaniel | 10-19-25
Every believer has been given supernatural abilities by God to serve others and advance His kingdom. These spiritual gifts aren’t meant to remain dormant – they need to be actively stirred up and put into action. When we fan into flame the gifts God has placed in us, we ignite personal revival and fuel the mission of Christ.
What Are Spiritual Gifts?
Spiritual gifts are supernatural abilities Christ gives believers according to His grace to build the body of Christ. These gifts are not earned – they’re grace distributed by the Holy Spirit. Romans 12:6 tells us we have “gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us.”
Does Everyone Really Have Spiritual Gifts?
The answer is absolutely yes. First Peter 4:10 makes this clear: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” Every single believer has been equipped with spiritual gifts at the moment of salvation.
If you’ve ever thought “I’m not gifted,” you need to dispel that myth right now. God’s Word is straightforward – everyone bears a spiritual gift that was divinely deposited at salvation. The question isn’t whether you have gifts, but whether you’ll pursue and activate them.
Why Are Spiritual Gifts Given?
Gifts Are Given for Service
Spiritual gifts aren’t given for personal glory or self-promotion. They’re given to serve one another, to serve the body of Christ, and to serve the lost and broken world around us. These gifts equip us to be good stewards of God’s varied grace.
Unity Comes Through Active Gifts
When spiritual gifts are operating in a church body, something beautiful happens. Ephesians 4:11-16 shows us that when gifts are active, unity develops. The apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers work together “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for the building of the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith.”
This unity isn’t uniformity – it’s diversity of gifts working in harmony under one Lord. Like an orchestra where each instrument has practiced separately but comes together to create beautiful music, our individual gifts create something magnificent when unified.
How Do I Fan My Gifts Into Flame?
Paul told Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God which is in you” (2 Timothy 1:6). The phrase literally means to rekindle, stir up, and reignite. Just like a campfire needs tending to keep burning, our spiritual gifts need intentional stirring.
Stir Up Through Prayer
Prayer isn’t just asking God for things – it’s the breath that keeps the flame alive. When you pray in the Spirit, your heart begins to heat up. Spending time in God’s presence through conversation with Him fans the flame of your giftings.
Stir Up Through Fasting
Fasting clears the clutter that chokes out the passion of your gifting. When you say no to the flesh and make room for God’s fire to grow hotter, you create space for your gifts to emerge more clearly.
Stir Up Through Obedience
Every time you step out in faith, even when you’re concerned or fearful, the Holy Spirit fans the flame higher. Obedience is the oxygen of revival. Don’t wait for someone else to light your fire – fan it yourself through faithful obedience to God’s promptings.
What Happens When Gifts Are Active?
Personal Transformation
When you mobilize your gifts, your atmosphere shifts. You change your family, influence your workplace, and spark renewal in your community. Operating in your gifting brings joy rather than drain because you’re functioning in the way God designed you.
Gospel Advancement
Your spiritual gifts have an ultimate purpose – to reach the lost. When gifts are fanned into flame, believers become charged and excited to step out by faith and share the gospel message. The gifts work together to fulfill the Great Commission.
How Do I Discover My Gifts?
Explore the Possibilities
Start by reading, praying, and learning about spiritual gifts from Scripture. Study passages like Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4 to understand the variety of gifts available.
Experiment and Serve
Try serving in different capacities and stretch yourself. Your local church is a safe place to experiment with various gifts and see where God moves through you most powerfully.
Examine Your Emotions
Pay attention to where you feel joy and fulfillment in service. Your calling often aligns with what breaks your heart for others – where your heart burns is where your calling lies.
Expect Confirmation
Others will see what God has placed inside of you. The people around you will confirm those gifts as you step out in faith and begin operating in them.
Life Application
This week, commit to fanning into flame the gifts God has placed within you. Don’t keep them buried any longer – it’s time to suit up and get in the game. Your gifts aren’t meant to operate only within church walls but should be active in your workplace, neighborhood, and everyday interactions.
Consider what your church and community would look like if every believer stepped out in their spiritual gifts. The impact would be transformational, bringing unity to the body and advancing the gospel message to those who desperately need to hear it.
Ask yourself these questions:
- What breaks my heart that might reveal God’s calling on my life?
- Where do I experience joy and fulfillment when serving others?
- How can I create more space through prayer and fasting for God’s gifts to emerge?
- What step of obedience is God asking me to take this week to fan my gifts into flame?
- How can I encourage others in my church to discover and use their spiritual gifts?
What breaks my heart that might reveal God’s calling on my life?Where do I experience joy and fulfillment when serving others?How can I create more space through prayer and fasting for God’s gifts to emerge?What step of obedience is God asking me to take this week to fan my gifts into flame?How can I encourage others in my church to discover and use their spiritual gifts?
Remember, the same fire that fell on Pentecost is still burning today in the hearts of believers. The question isn’t whether God will move – it’s whether we’ll move with Him. Fan your gifts into flame and watch as God uses you to ignite revival and fuel His mission in your sphere of influence.