Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- December 23, 2011
“Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.” 1 Corinthians 12:1
Spiritual gifts are given by God and for God. These divine manifestations are diverse in their application, but they all originate from the same Spirit. Hence, heavenly ordained abilities give God all the credit for their accomplishments for good on earth. Gifts of the Spirit generate an eternal energy that is able to administer grace and love to lonely hearts and confused minds. Understanding spiritual gifts gives confidence to Christ followers.
Godly gifts are not for the personal benefit of a man, but only in service to mankind. The aim of spiritual gifts is to build up the body of Christ—to be the eyes, ears and mouth of Jesus to the spiritually blind, to those tone-deaf to truth and to the morally mute. Today’s disciples of Jesus can do greater works. Why? Because, they are equipped with spiritual resources and are no longer bound up in sin, but rather they are freed up by God’s gifts.
“Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.” 1 Corinthians 14:12b
How has the Lord gifted you? Are you quick to see a need and then apply a solution? If so, service may be your gift. Is your heart moved with compassion over opportunities to pray for the sick? If this is the case, perhaps God has endowed you with the gift of faith and healing. Or, you may love the process of creating order out of chaos, if so your gift of administration is on display. Indeed, spiritual gifts profit the church and promote Christ.
Therefore, prayerfully use your Holy Spirit inspired gift not for show, but to serve. Be who the Lord has gifted you to be and your work will not feel painstakingly laborious, but freeing and glorious. Allocate the most time and energy around the gift in your spiritual portfolio that has the most potential to edify others. Celebrate your gift from God by giving it away for God. Spiritual gifts are evidence of our salvation in Jesus.
“This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” Hebrews 2:3b-4
How has the Holy Spirit gifted me? How can I steward best His gift for His glory?
Related Readings: Ecclesiastes 3:13; Proverbs 2:6; Luke 11:13; 1 Corinthians 14:1
Post/Tweet this today:
Prayerfully use your Holy Spirit inspired gift not for show, but to serve. #Giftedness
Support Wisdom Hunters: Learn how you can help us reach other Wisdom Hunters with your monthly donation… click here: http://wisdomhunters.com/support-wh/
Comments are closed.
have read wisdom hunters for a while now, wow what an impact on my walk.
I have a question that I would love you to put an answer to. I was an active part of my churches financial team for a year or so. Through that time I discover that the pastor and his wife had abused in many different ways the churches money, also a large land fund that was put together 7 years ago. They have not bought the land , but instead embezzled the money through the general fund to compensate for huge salary increases and credit card charges that range up to 50 k a year. I approached the pastor himself several times, with lies and disgust as a result, denial and an ointment by God being the motivating factor. The elders are fearful and are paralyzed to act. I brought it to the body of Christ with 6 men, some stayed some left . All were upset. Now the pastor has gotten up in front of the church and said there was a witch hunt lead from the DARKSIDE by me. He said my name !!! It is false, I have alll the documentation. Since then it has been turned into the police, IRS, and the media.
Question is : As a Christian, is It my duty to protect the church against its own leadership, when I have confirmed wrongdoing, at all costs? Is it wrong to pursue justice and accountibility for damages to the body of Christ when the body has really no idea what is happening whine closed doors?
Ps. The pastor has been approached several times about this kind of suspicion, I was the only one to have the evidence and NEVER back down. All the others nearly 50 over a 18 year span have been asked to leave , or put their head in the sand.
Mind you that there is alot of more details to the scenario, of I put them all down you woul throw up. All in all the pastor and elders are failing to be excellent in service to the body of Christ. They are actually failing themselves and committing biblical injustices and legal crimes.
Where in the bible, and in you fashion of teaching, can you direct me and my support to turn and head ?
Thank you
Shane
Sent from my iPhone
Let’s dig deeper. I’m still hunting the whole truth about this matter of spiritual gifts. Some theologians believe that gifts like tongues and prophecy have already ceased or passed away, as Paul says they will. When does that happen? I seem to remember the phrase, “… when the perfect comes.” That brings us to the question of what ‘the perfect’ will be. You are most likely aware of at least some of the interpretations of that phrase that drive the doctrines of quite a few denominations. What does that mean in terms of how we should live? Has the perfect come or should we wait for something else? What was it? Has knowledge passed away as well? Tell me what you think.