1 Cor 12v 7 'But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:...'
1 Cor 14v26: '...When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.'
v31: For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
Joel 2v28“And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
29Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
John 14v12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater worksthan these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask[c] anything in My name, I will do it.
1 Cor 12v31 But earnestly desire the best[d] gifts.
Gal 3v5: 'Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?--'
There are peculiar times when the Lord pours out His Spirit in a way that is so evident and so large in effect, that all those that are His are caught up in it in some fashion, and in such a way that is directly manifested by a powerful moving in the gifts of the Spirit, in order to testify to the truth of the Gospel and the love of Christ for mankind and His call for their repentance. In one sense this seems unusual, but in another, we should not be at all surprised by it because all the family of God have been given the Spirit, and have the ability to move in the gifts of God at any time and in any circumstance and era, according to those imparted to them (1 Cor 12v7), and to those they desire and have been given (John 14v13-14). However, for whatever reason, His people do not always desire to strongly move in the gifts of the Spirit, or not in the ways that are available to us. But the Lord does (He doesn't change). And, while at times the Lord allows the ebbs and flows for His purposes and His own reasons, there are times when He chooses to move in such a way that is irresistible to His people, as His Spirit moves so strongly over the waters of our hearts (Gen 1v2) that He creates in us an incredible desire to take hold of that for which He is taking hold of us at that time (Phil 3v12).
When the Spirit was first poured out at pentecost, those that received it were suddenly thrust into direct ministry with the gifts they were given (which were gifts that were quite similar); the Apostles moving in signs, wonders and miracles, all while testifying to the Gospel, and thus teaching and evangelising which ultimately led to preaching to the saved, and building up the family of God through prophesy. Most, if not all of the gifts were utilised at a time when God moved to shine forth the Gospel in way that created a dramatic expansion of the Kingdom of God. The upper room of God saw the fire of God land upon every head, and all concerned became 'a flame of fire' for His Kingdom. This began to fulfil what was spoken of in Joel, that God would pour out His Spirit on all people and that everyone would be involved in the work of God, whether small or great (people forget that the Apostles were unlearned men! and were, at first, fisherman!). By the simple hearing of faith, and nothing else, God began to work great miracles through these simple servants of God, because they believed in Christ. By faith they began to do what Jesus had done, because they simply believed what He had said; John 14v12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater worksthan these he will do, because I go to My Father. When the Spirit was poured out, they didn't try and get all their theological ducks in a row about the gifts of the Spirit (though there is nothing wrong with that!), they simply did what Jesus had done, believing that they had been equipped, even as Jesus said they would be: Acts 1v8: 'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."' We have received that same power, and so can do even what Jesus did, for His sake, and for the sake of the Gospel and those He will save. They didn't try and say that the work of God was just for some, but not for them; the mandate of the Lord was crystal clear, and they were going to serve in just the way that Jesus had said they would.
Though this applies just as much in a time when the move of God isn't evident in a comprehensive way (although the Spirit is always moving, whether we see it or not), there are also particular times when the Lord chooses to move through His people in a very evident, emphatic and even spectacular manner. When the Spirit was given at pentecost, it was to a world desperately in need of it, for they were in desperate need for their eyes to be opened and in desperate need of the Gospel. A light then shined at a time when no-one had expected it, and in a time when truth seemed very scarce, and the hope of Israel far away. Then just as suddenly, the Churches of God seemed to move in the gifts of God in an extraordinary manner as well; nearly everyone wanted to prophesy in the Church of Corinth, and Paul wrote to the Galatians, explaining to them that the miracles they were seeing were a result, purely of the grace of God. Those of the Church of Corinth seemed to all have something to contribute when they came together to encourage each other in the faith (1 Cor 14v26), and Paul told them that each of them had been given an impartation of the Spirit. We each have already been given a gift or gifts of the Spirit, and have already been endued with power from the Lord; we all, at the time of Salvation especially, have been given a pentecost! (as He filled us with His Spirit when we were saved, and fills us in times after as well- Eph 5v18). We can all choose to do those things that Jesus did, if we simply believe the words that He spoke to the disciples. 'Those that believe' is the only qualification (those that are saved). It is exciting to think that such a day is coming again, for, as long as the Lord sits on the throne, it is inevitable that another time like the Apostles saw and that many men, since that time, have themselves seen, will come again. The book of Joel and the beginning of the book of Acts makes that very clear. But since we don't know when that day will be, why not live like it is already here? Since we have been given what we need, why not walk like the Lord and like the Apostles did, today? For who knows whether, if more and more of the body of Christ believed and walked in this manner, we would suddenly see that great day! It is God who works in us for such a thing, and if we will agree with the willing that is inside of us (the Spirit's desire) and the 'doing' which is the intended result, then He is always willing to fulfil and be true to His Word- Phil 2v13: '...for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.'
Is 55v10-11:
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Saturday 25 January 2014
Thursday 23 January 2014
A GOOD PLACE TO START: DISSATISFACTION WITH THE WORLD
The best place that one can start in terms of being used by the Lord and useful for His work, is to have a beneficial dissatisfaction with the world. While His people are obviously in this world and need to live in it in a useful and practical way, we often go far beyond that, become entangled in it so that our desires are predominantly fleshly and so become enthralled with the world and dissatisfied, to some extent, with our God (which only ever leaves a frustration in our hearts). Our focus becomes whatever the world says we should be focused on and concerned with, and we lose our centre in God and our passion becomes whatever has to do with sense rather than what has to do with the Spirit; our goals become purely about our lives, and our concern for the Kingdom becomes secondary or evaporates completely. However, if we are getting to the place where we are becoming dissatisfied with the world, then we are becoming more fit for His service. If we have spent any time as a Christian in this life, trying to be satisfied with the world, it won't be long before this dissatisfaction arises and colours all which we once thought held the answer to the calling and hunger inside of us. The Spirit will never leave us satisfied in the world for long, as it is never any good for us, and if what once satisfied us yesterday, doesn't today, we know we are, by the grace of God, becoming more spiritual than we once were. The more this dissatisfaction with the world takes over, and the more we seek the Lord via all the means available to us and those prescribed in the Word, the more we are, essentially, setting the Lord and His will in front of us, and the more we are allowing the Holy Spirit to stir us up and to move within and through us, to work out that which He is working in us. This is the place God desires for us, for it is here and from here that we become more useful and more used by the Lord.
Unfortunately, a lot of the time, we are only satisfied with the image of the Lord and ourselves, and so live according to a service of our God, plus the idolatry of our own thinking and our own wisdom (which is really no wisdom at all). We set the Lord before us, but we also set Him up in our image; believing that His ways are very much like ours, and His thoughts like our thoughts, but they are far from them. Only a regular immersion in truth will continually be renewing our thinking, and filtering out all that is fleshly wisdom- which often masquerades as spiritual wisdom according to what seems good to us (remember, fleshly wisdom is death, only spiritual wisdom gives life). The lies of the enemy and the fallen wisdom of the world is constantly around us and bombarding us through all of its means, and we will go along with it, willingly or no, if we are not putting ourselves in the way of truth, and gazing upon the Lord and His life through His Word, through prayer and through the support of those around us, and the gifts they operate in in order to strengthen us and keep the body of Christ healthy and not lame. But the wisdom of the world only brings death, and so will we constantly find dead ends in our hearts and emptiness in the place where our hunger for His calling is if we seek our ultimate satisfaction through the loves of the world. And thus will we always know if we are on the wrong track, via those very things we wrongly pursue Many Christians are always looking for the next thing to answer that longing inside of them, and that is why. They justify their constant search under a spiritual guise, but really they are searching to satisfy their flesh in a spiritual way, and that will never work. Just like the loaves and fishes; the physical will always run out, while the spiritual principle and the life that supports it, will always remain in Christ. We must align ourselves with His desires, and then we'll find the dissatisfaction with the world that we should have, and the will of the Lord for exactly what He wants us to do with the gifts and calling He has given us.
THE GREAT DAY: TODAY & THE ONE OF TOMORROW
1 Cor 12v 7 'But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:...'
v31: For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
John 14v12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater worksthan these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask[c] anything in My name, I will do it.
1 Cor 12v31 But earnestly desire the best[d] gifts.
Gal 3v5: 'Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?--'
There are peculiar times when the Lord pours out His Spirit in a way that is so evident and so large in effect, that all those that are His are caught up in it in some fashion, and in such a way that is directly manifested by a powerful moving in the gifts of the Spirit, in order to testify to the truth of the Gospel and the love of Christ for mankind and His call for their repentance. In one sense this seems unusual, but in another, we should not be at all surprised by it because all the family of God have been given the Spirit, and have the ability to move in the gifts of God at any time and in any circumstance and era, according to those imparted to them (1 Cor 12v7), and to those they desire and have been given (John 14v13-14). However, for whatever reason, His people do not always desire to strongly move in the gifts of the Spirit, or not in the ways that are available to us. But the Lord does (He doesn't change). And, while at times the Lord allows the ebbs and flows for His purposes and His own reasons, there are times when He chooses to move in such a way that is irresistible to His people, as His Spirit moves so strongly over the waters of our hearts (Gen 1v2) that He creates in us an incredible desire to take hold of that for which He is taking hold of us at that time (Phil 3v12).
When the Spirit was first poured out at pentecost, those that received it were suddenly thrust into direct ministry with the gifts they were given (which were gifts that were quite similar); the Apostles moving in signs, wonders and miracles, all while testifying to the Gospel, and thus teaching and evangelising which ultimately led to preaching to the saved, and building up the family of God through prophesy. Most, if not all of the gifts were utilised at a time when God moved to shine forth the Gospel in way that created a dramatic expansion of the Kingdom of God. The upper room of God saw the fire of God land upon every head, and all concerned became 'a flame of fire' for His Kingdom. This began to fulfil what was spoken of in Joel, that God would pour out His Spirit on all people and that everyone would be involved in the work of God, whether small or great (people forget that the Apostles were unlearned men! and were, at first, fisherman!). By the simple hearing of faith, and nothing else, God began to work great miracles through these simple servants of God, because they believed in Christ. By faith they began to do what Jesus had done, because they simply believed what He had said; John 14v12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater worksthan these he will do, because I go to My Father. When the Spirit was poured out, they didn't try and get all their theological ducks in a row about the gifts of the Spirit (though there is nothing wrong with that!), they simply did what Jesus had done, believing that they had been equipped, even as Jesus said they would be: Acts 1v8: 'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."' We have received that same power, and so can do even what Jesus did, for His sake, and for the sake of the Gospel and those He will save. They didn't try and say that the work of God was just for some, but not for them; the mandate of the Lord was crystal clear, and they were going to serve in just the way that Jesus had said they would.
Though this applies just as much in a time when the move of God isn't evident in a comprehensive way (although the Spirit is always moving, whether we see it or not), there are also particular times when the Lord chooses to move through His people in a very evident, emphatic and even spectacular manner. When the Spirit was given at pentecost, it was to a world desperately in need of it, for they were in desperate need for their eyes to be opened and in desperate need of the Gospel. A light then shined at a time when no-one had expected it, and in a time when truth seemed very scarce, and the hope of Israel far away. Then just as suddenly, the Churches of God seemed to move in the gifts of God in an extraordinary manner as well; nearly everyone wanted to prophesy in the Church of Corinth, and Paul wrote to the Galatians, explaining to them that the miracles they were seeing were a result, purely of the grace of God. Those of the Church of Corinth seemed to all have something to contribute when they came together to encourage each other in the faith (1 Cor 14v26), and Paul told them that each of them had been given an impartation of the Spirit. We each have already been given a gift or gifts of the Spirit, and have already been endued with power from the Lord; we all have been given a pentecost! We can all choose to do those things that Jesus did, if we simply believe the words that He spoke to the disciples. Those that believe is the only qualification (those that are saved). It is exciting to think that such a day is coming again, for, as long as the Lord sits on the throne, it is inevitable that another time like the Apostles saw and that many men, since that time, have themselves seen, will come again. The book of Joel and the beginning of the book of Acts makes that very clear. But since we don't know when that day will be, why not live like it is already here? Since we have been given what we need, why not walk like the Lord and like the Apostles did, today? For who knows whether, if more and more of the body of Christ believed and walked in this manner, we would suddenly that great day! It is God who works in us for such a thing, and if we will agree with the willing that is inside of us (the Spirit's desire) and 'doing', then He is always willing to fulfil and be true to His Word- Phil 2v13: '...for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.'
Wednesday 22 January 2014
ALREADY EQUIPPED
2 Tim 1v6: For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
1 Peter 4v10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Eph 4v8: This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people."
If we belong to the body of Christ, Jesus has already gifted us with what He wants us to use for His Kingdom. The scriptures above show us that this is the case. So all that is needed is for us to fan into flame that gift or gifts. It is a sad fact that all of us have experienced times where we have put down those gifts, for whatever reason, and become unfruitful, either in the main of our lives, or in at least some area of our lives. Life hits hard and we either lose our focus, lose our interest in the Kingdom, or suffer in whatever way and start to live selfishly or lives that become characterised more by the flesh than by the Spirit. We make excuses and explain away even the very notion that God has given us these gifts for His Kingdom, and that the body of Christ needs those very things, that they are in fact 'necessary', like His Word says they are. In these times, not only do the people of God suffer because of our failure, but the work of God also suffers in a sense, lacking in the very area where God designed to sow and reap through us, through what He has gave us, and so also the glory of God is not seen in the way it should be, neither is glory to God given in the way it could have been. we also miss out, losing the chance to see God move, to see lives touched and changed for God, and to see His Kingdom advance. We also lose the chance to continue to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven, and in one sense we alienate ourselves from the Lord, and knowing Him and His ways as we should. But this doesn't need to be the case.
Far from wanting to condemn us, the Lord is wanting to encourage us and excite us towards His work. For this very reason, the Apostle Paul once wrote, 'But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.' (Phil 3v13). The Lord wants us to forget yesterday, to forget whatever was won or lost, or whatever was or wasn't done in the past, and to press on toward the goal! Yesterday is covered by the blood of Jesus, and only His grace remains, and tomorrow new mercies and grace is stored up for His people! The power of God is with us all in order to accomplish what the Lord has set before us and laid upon our hearts, and He is calling us today to realise what that is, to hold it fast, and to carry out His will with boldness and with rejoicing. We should not be discouraged in any way. If we are God's people, He is already at work inside of us to will and to do for His good pleasure. The scripture says that He beforehand destined us to live where we live and predestined us for the works that are before us, so all that is left is to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus has taken hold of us! Each day is an opportunity, and although we will always fall short of the glory of God while in this body, His grace is sufficient for us! For His strength is made perfect in our weakness!
Tomorrow we will go forth in both the power of the Spirit and the weakness of our body, and God will work true to His own holiness and power (He cannot forsake Himself the Bible says), and inspite of our sinfulness and weakness (when we are faithless, He is faithful the Bible says). Our insufficiency will never mean that God will not accomplish what He intends, for He knew beforehand our weakness, and chose such a setting for the greatness of His power. Today He has gifted us, and it is likely that if we have spent any time in the body of Christ and any time following Jesus, we will know exactly in what way we are called to support the body of Christ, reach the world for Jesus and to show the truth, love and grace that is in Christ. To shut ourselves away from our gifting is cowardly, selfish and fleshly and any wisdom that justifies such a thing is worldly and its fruit is the evidence of its worthlessness, vanity and evil. But if we have Christ, none of us will want such a thing while we have the Spirit's will actively at work within us. This calling we have is such a high calling, despite whatever appearances it may have while in this body, and the glory of it is seen in the fruit it produces.
We must fan into flame the gift of the Spirit and we must encourage each in this way. If we are so involved in the world that we do not have time for such a focus, then we are too involved in the world! If our love is not with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, our love is misplaced; and the heart of it is somewhere where it should not be. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word; if we don't believe the gifts should have prominence, we do not know the Word of God, neither do we understand its intent. As the disciples walked, talked and watched Jesus, they began to do what He did, and so will we, if we are doing the same thing. Jesus said that His Father had been working up until the very day He said those words, and then He said, 'and I too, am working' (John 5v17). The Father is always working, and so should we be! His word is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, but we must combine faith with works to see the work that He has in mind and that He is desiring to accomplish through us.
God is wanting us to fan into flame the gift of the Holy Spirit, for His ministers are supposed to be 'a fan of flame'. The flame of the Spirit has alighted on the people of God; it is over each one of us. The impartation of the same Spirit has been given to each one; so there are no excuses! The same gifts the disciples at one time didn't move in (pre-cross), the Apostles did move in, because of the cross and the outpouring of the Spirit; and that same day of grace has been given to us! There is no measure of the Spirit, only the measure of faith that we choose to operate in. Jesus watched His Father and did whatever His Father did (John 5v19). So will we watch our Lord and do what He did? Christians have made ministry and service complex when it should be simple; walk out what Jesus did, for Jesus said that we would do the works that He did:
John 14v12: 'Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.' And so will we walk as Jesus walked and do what He did, and so will we walk as the Apostles walk and do what they did, simply believing Jesus' words simply, and being bold enough to believe the Words of God, as those words that are living, active and true. Let us fan into flame the gift of God, and do what we are all called to do.
1 Peter 4v10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Eph 4v8: This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people."
If we belong to the body of Christ, Jesus has already gifted us with what He wants us to use for His Kingdom. The scriptures above show us that this is the case. So all that is needed is for us to fan into flame that gift or gifts. It is a sad fact that all of us have experienced times where we have put down those gifts, for whatever reason, and become unfruitful, either in the main of our lives, or in at least some area of our lives. Life hits hard and we either lose our focus, lose our interest in the Kingdom, or suffer in whatever way and start to live selfishly or lives that become characterised more by the flesh than by the Spirit. We make excuses and explain away even the very notion that God has given us these gifts for His Kingdom, and that the body of Christ needs those very things, that they are in fact 'necessary', like His Word says they are. In these times, not only do the people of God suffer because of our failure, but the work of God also suffers in a sense, lacking in the very area where God designed to sow and reap through us, through what He has gave us, and so also the glory of God is not seen in the way it should be, neither is glory to God given in the way it could have been. we also miss out, losing the chance to see God move, to see lives touched and changed for God, and to see His Kingdom advance. We also lose the chance to continue to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven, and in one sense we alienate ourselves from the Lord, and knowing Him and His ways as we should. But this doesn't need to be the case.
Far from wanting to condemn us, the Lord is wanting to encourage us and excite us towards His work. For this very reason, the Apostle Paul once wrote, 'But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.' (Phil 3v13). The Lord wants us to forget yesterday, to forget whatever was won or lost, or whatever was or wasn't done in the past, and to press on toward the goal! Yesterday is covered by the blood of Jesus, and only His grace remains, and tomorrow new mercies and grace is stored up for His people! The power of God is with us all in order to accomplish what the Lord has set before us and laid upon our hearts, and He is calling us today to realise what that is, to hold it fast, and to carry out His will with boldness and with rejoicing. We should not be discouraged in any way. If we are God's people, He is already at work inside of us to will and to do for His good pleasure. The scripture says that He beforehand destined us to live where we live and predestined us for the works that are before us, so all that is left is to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus has taken hold of us! Each day is an opportunity, and although we will always fall short of the glory of God while in this body, His grace is sufficient for us! For His strength is made perfect in our weakness!
Tomorrow we will go forth in both the power of the Spirit and the weakness of our body, and God will work true to His own holiness and power (He cannot forsake Himself the Bible says), and inspite of our sinfulness and weakness (when we are faithless, He is faithful the Bible says). Our insufficiency will never mean that God will not accomplish what He intends, for He knew beforehand our weakness, and chose such a setting for the greatness of His power. Today He has gifted us, and it is likely that if we have spent any time in the body of Christ and any time following Jesus, we will know exactly in what way we are called to support the body of Christ, reach the world for Jesus and to show the truth, love and grace that is in Christ. To shut ourselves away from our gifting is cowardly, selfish and fleshly and any wisdom that justifies such a thing is worldly and its fruit is the evidence of its worthlessness, vanity and evil. But if we have Christ, none of us will want such a thing while we have the Spirit's will actively at work within us. This calling we have is such a high calling, despite whatever appearances it may have while in this body, and the glory of it is seen in the fruit it produces.
We must fan into flame the gift of the Spirit and we must encourage each in this way. If we are so involved in the world that we do not have time for such a focus, then we are too involved in the world! If our love is not with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, our love is misplaced; and the heart of it is somewhere where it should not be. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word; if we don't believe the gifts should have prominence, we do not know the Word of God, neither do we understand its intent. As the disciples walked, talked and watched Jesus, they began to do what He did, and so will we, if we are doing the same thing. Jesus said that His Father had been working up until the very day He said those words, and then He said, 'and I too, am working' (John 5v17). The Father is always working, and so should we be! His word is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, but we must combine faith with works to see the work that He has in mind and that He is desiring to accomplish through us.
God is wanting us to fan into flame the gift of the Holy Spirit, for His ministers are supposed to be 'a fan of flame'. The flame of the Spirit has alighted on the people of God; it is over each one of us. The impartation of the same Spirit has been given to each one; so there are no excuses! The same gifts the disciples at one time didn't move in (pre-cross), the Apostles did move in, because of the cross and the outpouring of the Spirit; and that same day of grace has been given to us! There is no measure of the Spirit, only the measure of faith that we choose to operate in. Jesus watched His Father and did whatever His Father did (John 5v19). So will we watch our Lord and do what He did? Christians have made ministry and service complex when it should be simple; walk out what Jesus did, for Jesus said that we would do the works that He did:
John 14v12: 'Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.' And so will we walk as Jesus walked and do what He did, and so will we walk as the Apostles walk and do what they did, simply believing Jesus' words simply, and being bold enough to believe the Words of God, as those words that are living, active and true. Let us fan into flame the gift of God, and do what we are all called to do.
Monday 13 January 2014
DO ALL? YET EARNESTLY DESIRE
1 Cor 12v27: Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best[d] gifts.
It is true that the body of Christ has many members and each member, like the members of our physical body, does its part and has its role- the writer, Paul, makes that very clear in this chapter. However, he also makes it very clear that we should earnestly desire the best gifts. Paul does not say, 'Because we each have our role, choose a gift and stick to only that gift.' He does not simply say, 'Be happy with the gift you have and settle with that.' No, quite the opposite. He says, 'earnestly desire the best gifts'! The King James version, for verse 31, says 'covet earnestly' which is given from the Greek word 'Zeloo', meaning 'to have warmth of feeling for', 'desire', 'move with envy', 'be jealous over', 'be zealously affected'. God wants His people to have this warmth of feeling and this zealousness for any of the gifts and the best gifts. And of course, the 'best gifts' are all the gifts, because Paul has already made it clear that each gift is indispensable and necessary. But he says, 'best gifts' in order for us to realise that the best gift is whatever is most helpful and most beneficial for the body of Christ at any point in time, and for any situation. If we desire that the Church be helped, strengthen, encouraged, equipped and made to know Christ more, we will desire the gifts of the Spirit, because this is how the Father has chosen to do these very things for His people. How incredible that we get to be part of this! How amazing that these gifts are available for us to receive and operate in!
Yes, it is true that we all have different roles to play, but we shouldn't let that discourage us from earnestly desiring the best gifts (because who knows what the Lord will have us do, and what our roles can be, until we seek for the gifts we desire to operate in?), otherwise Paul's words would've been contradictory. Who is to say that at some point we all, as the body of Christ, will have different roles to play and operate in different gifts according to the wisdom of the Spirit, according to what we ask the Lord for, and according to what God knows is most needed for His body at any time for any kind of situation? After all, we see that, at times, while Paul was an Apostle, he was also a worker of miracles. Furthermore, while he was a teacher at times, he was also an evangelist when it was needed. Act 6 shows us that Stephen waited on tables, but he also did great wonders and miracles amongst the people (v8) and he also operated in the role of a teacher, an evangelist and a prophet all at the same time when he was suddenly thrust into being brought before and talk to the council of elders and scribes. At some times some of us may operate in some gifts and not others; the ones we don't operate in, others will, and the ones we do operate in, others may not at that time. No doubt there are callings and giftings that are constant and never change, after all, Paul would always be an Apostle to the body of Christ, as would the other Apostles, and yet this didn't mean they were limited to only working in that one area. So it is with us, if we want the gifts of the Spirit, in order to benefit the body of Christ, and glorify the Lord.
The Lord strongly desires for His people to earnestly desire the best gifts, because He always wants His Church to be built up, encouraged, strengthened, equipped and to know Him more, in love and truth. He doesn't want us to earnestly desire the best gifts so that we'll make something of ourselves, or so that we'll be proud or so that we can use those things for ourselves (or so that we'll take advantage or fleece the flock in any way). Jesus came and died for us so that we should no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who raised us (2 Cor 5v15). The reason we should desire the best gifts should be solely that we love the body of Christ and want what Jesus wants for His people (and obviously to glorify Him and to advance His work). That is why Paul goes on to say, after verse 31, 'and yet I show you a more excellent way.' Paul was not discounting the need for gifts here, he already established in this Chapter of scripture that each part of the body, and so each gifting is not only beneficial, but necessary (1 Cor 12v22). However, he was saying that the means by which these gifts must operate and what must motivate their operation, is love. Without love, any gift or its operation will be absolutely meaningless, and completely ineffectual. Love must be the starting and ending point of any operation of any gift. However, it is also true that Paul was saying that if there be love, that would cover 'all bases' so to speak; because if we love others, we will automatically want to benefit them in some way, all the time. The gifts are really just an extension and expression of the very love Jesus wants us to have for others. Via the gifts, the Lord has given different avenues for us to benefit and love others. So just as our goal should be to love others, so should it be to love others according to the gifts God has given us, and wants us to desire to have and operate in, for the sake of His people and for the sake of His own glory and work. If we are truly loving others and loving God as we should (in truth), this should be one of the ultimate aim of our lives.
It is true that the body of Christ has many members and each member, like the members of our physical body, does its part and has its role- the writer, Paul, makes that very clear in this chapter. However, he also makes it very clear that we should earnestly desire the best gifts. Paul does not say, 'Because we each have our role, choose a gift and stick to only that gift.' He does not simply say, 'Be happy with the gift you have and settle with that.' No, quite the opposite. He says, 'earnestly desire the best gifts'! The King James version, for verse 31, says 'covet earnestly' which is given from the Greek word 'Zeloo', meaning 'to have warmth of feeling for', 'desire', 'move with envy', 'be jealous over', 'be zealously affected'. God wants His people to have this warmth of feeling and this zealousness for any of the gifts and the best gifts. And of course, the 'best gifts' are all the gifts, because Paul has already made it clear that each gift is indispensable and necessary. But he says, 'best gifts' in order for us to realise that the best gift is whatever is most helpful and most beneficial for the body of Christ at any point in time, and for any situation. If we desire that the Church be helped, strengthen, encouraged, equipped and made to know Christ more, we will desire the gifts of the Spirit, because this is how the Father has chosen to do these very things for His people. How incredible that we get to be part of this! How amazing that these gifts are available for us to receive and operate in!
Yes, it is true that we all have different roles to play, but we shouldn't let that discourage us from earnestly desiring the best gifts (because who knows what the Lord will have us do, and what our roles can be, until we seek for the gifts we desire to operate in?), otherwise Paul's words would've been contradictory. Who is to say that at some point we all, as the body of Christ, will have different roles to play and operate in different gifts according to the wisdom of the Spirit, according to what we ask the Lord for, and according to what God knows is most needed for His body at any time for any kind of situation? After all, we see that, at times, while Paul was an Apostle, he was also a worker of miracles. Furthermore, while he was a teacher at times, he was also an evangelist when it was needed. Act 6 shows us that Stephen waited on tables, but he also did great wonders and miracles amongst the people (v8) and he also operated in the role of a teacher, an evangelist and a prophet all at the same time when he was suddenly thrust into being brought before and talk to the council of elders and scribes. At some times some of us may operate in some gifts and not others; the ones we don't operate in, others will, and the ones we do operate in, others may not at that time. No doubt there are callings and giftings that are constant and never change, after all, Paul would always be an Apostle to the body of Christ, as would the other Apostles, and yet this didn't mean they were limited to only working in that one area. So it is with us, if we want the gifts of the Spirit, in order to benefit the body of Christ, and glorify the Lord.
The Lord strongly desires for His people to earnestly desire the best gifts, because He always wants His Church to be built up, encouraged, strengthened, equipped and to know Him more, in love and truth. He doesn't want us to earnestly desire the best gifts so that we'll make something of ourselves, or so that we'll be proud or so that we can use those things for ourselves (or so that we'll take advantage or fleece the flock in any way). Jesus came and died for us so that we should no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who raised us (2 Cor 5v15). The reason we should desire the best gifts should be solely that we love the body of Christ and want what Jesus wants for His people (and obviously to glorify Him and to advance His work). That is why Paul goes on to say, after verse 31, 'and yet I show you a more excellent way.' Paul was not discounting the need for gifts here, he already established in this Chapter of scripture that each part of the body, and so each gifting is not only beneficial, but necessary (1 Cor 12v22). However, he was saying that the means by which these gifts must operate and what must motivate their operation, is love. Without love, any gift or its operation will be absolutely meaningless, and completely ineffectual. Love must be the starting and ending point of any operation of any gift. However, it is also true that Paul was saying that if there be love, that would cover 'all bases' so to speak; because if we love others, we will automatically want to benefit them in some way, all the time. The gifts are really just an extension and expression of the very love Jesus wants us to have for others. Via the gifts, the Lord has given different avenues for us to benefit and love others. So just as our goal should be to love others, so should it be to love others according to the gifts God has given us, and wants us to desire to have and operate in, for the sake of His people and for the sake of His own glory and work. If we are truly loving others and loving God as we should (in truth), this should be one of the ultimate aim of our lives.
Sunday 12 January 2014
OUR GREAT CALLING
In life, we all have a calling. This calling is singular in its nature, yet can have multiple facets to it. It's singularity is seen very simply and very clearly in the following scripture:
Colossians 3v23: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3v17: And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by him.
These two scriptures makes it very clear that whatever we say or do, we do as unto the Lord. Whatever we say, do or work at, we do because we are working for Jesus and serving Him. This is the most important calling we have because it encompasses anything and everything that might come from it, and encompasses any form that that 'work' (or service) and that 'saying or doing' may take. This is extremely important to understand because it is incredibly encouraging. Whether we are a garbage man or woman, janitor, lawyer, teacher, Pastor, missionary or anything else, the Lord sees the service from each as being equally important, and equally worthy, by His grace, of being rewarded, equally. The Lord and His grace do not measure the reward each will get according to how valuable man thinks each job or work is (or service), but only according to whether the person did it earnestly as unto the Lord.
Similarly, 'work' and 'service' doesn't just have to be the job we have, or the role the Church may recognise us as having, but the Bible tells us that a simple cup of water in Jesus' name won't lose it's reward in heaven! (Matt 10v42). The smallest and most meagre thing done in love and truth, whether done in a job, a role in a Church, or in a simple act of kindness or in the role of a friend (or anything else according to truth) is our 'work' and our 'service' for Him. What is said or done, if done in His name, is done for the Lord, and the Lord sees that life as a living sacrifice. And that is both the greatness and the great singularity of our calling. The life that is laid down for Jesus, and lived for Him in whatever way, is our greatest calling because it encompasses the whole scope of our life and whatever we say or do, and thus whatever form our service and work for Him will take at any point of our lives. This therefore means that no matter what form our work, service or sacrifice for Him may take, it is equally valuable and will be rewarded equally according to His grace.
Colossians 3v23: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3v17: And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by him.
These two scriptures makes it very clear that whatever we say or do, we do as unto the Lord. Whatever we say, do or work at, we do because we are working for Jesus and serving Him. This is the most important calling we have because it encompasses anything and everything that might come from it, and encompasses any form that that 'work' (or service) and that 'saying or doing' may take. This is extremely important to understand because it is incredibly encouraging. Whether we are a garbage man or woman, janitor, lawyer, teacher, Pastor, missionary or anything else, the Lord sees the service from each as being equally important, and equally worthy, by His grace, of being rewarded, equally. The Lord and His grace do not measure the reward each will get according to how valuable man thinks each job or work is (or service), but only according to whether the person did it earnestly as unto the Lord.
Similarly, 'work' and 'service' doesn't just have to be the job we have, or the role the Church may recognise us as having, but the Bible tells us that a simple cup of water in Jesus' name won't lose it's reward in heaven! (Matt 10v42). The smallest and most meagre thing done in love and truth, whether done in a job, a role in a Church, or in a simple act of kindness or in the role of a friend (or anything else according to truth) is our 'work' and our 'service' for Him. What is said or done, if done in His name, is done for the Lord, and the Lord sees that life as a living sacrifice. And that is both the greatness and the great singularity of our calling. The life that is laid down for Jesus, and lived for Him in whatever way, is our greatest calling because it encompasses the whole scope of our life and whatever we say or do, and thus whatever form our service and work for Him will take at any point of our lives. This therefore means that no matter what form our work, service or sacrifice for Him may take, it is equally valuable and will be rewarded equally according to His grace.
EQUALLY VALUABLE, EQUALLY NECESSARY
1 Cor 12v4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: ...
20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
At times, in the body of Christ, there has been a false notion that only some are gifted in order to benefit other members of the Church. This has often bread lax, lazy and selfish attitudes, jealousies, discouragement, and the glorification and idolisation of men, as the Church has often thought that some in the body of Christ are better or more important and valuable than others. The Church often recognises the members of the body of Christ that take the form of Pastor, Teacher and even at times, Prophet, and those that work miracles and healings, but the scriptures below outline that there are many more giftings and manifestations of the Spirit, and also that no one is left out of being given a role of service. Verse 7 says; 'But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.' This clearly shows us that the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each and every member of the body of Christ, so that each member may spiritually benefit and build up their brothers and sisters in Christ in some way, shape or form. Those forms are outlined in the scriptures below. There are no members of the body that have been left out of this! Therefore, there are none that should be needlessly discouraged, thinking that they don't have a role to play and that their lives don't hold the importance that others' lives do. Each should feel, by His grace and love, as special in the body as the other. Conversely, there are none that should feel that they have the right to sit and watch on the sidelines when it comes to the areas mentioned above v4-6; giftings, ministries and activities. Make no mistake about it, the Word is clear that everyone in the body of Christ has been given a manifestation of the Spirit, and so in some manner, you will operate in a gift and therefore have a ministry that is made up of a kind of activity to go along with it (the practical outworking of that gift). This is a glorious thing; we have been gifted in order to benefit our brothers and sisters in Christ in some way shape or form, and this should excite us to use what we have been given: 2 Tim 1v6 'For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.' Christ has laid His hands on us, and given us His Spirit, and so we have been gifted with what He intended us to have, as the Spirit willed it. We all have a purpose to fulfil! We all have a role to play!
If we don't know what impartation of the Spirit you have been given, we need to find out. We may already be using what He has given us, and that is great, but it is still important to know what it is and how He intended it to be used, to be even more effectual in what we've been given. We need to ask the Lord about it and seek Him in His Word. I did this when I was younger, and the Lord made it clear to me, via His written Word and the highlighting of it by His Spirit, exactly what He had given me in order to serve Him and His people. And so He is faithful to do this with all that ask this of Him. However, it may already be apparent to you what you have been gifted with, or even others may have known it for a long time, and told you already. You may already be walking in it, so keep walking in it! You may have put your gifting down for a while, so pick it up again and use it to help the family of God! Whether in the seemingly greatest or smallest of ways, use what you have been given for His body and thus for Him. To bury your gifting and not use it is an incredibly serious matter and the Lord will hold us accountable if we do that (Matt 25). To not use our talents is to not allow the Lord to work through us in this manner, and that is a serious denial of His Lordship of our lives (Phil 2v13). If we have never had such a desire to serve Him, we should even examine whether we even have the Lord Jesus inside us (for there would be that working inside of us of His will and to do His good pleasure if He truly is inside of us- Phil 2v13). But if we are truly His, although we are weak and none of us perfect in the area of service, we won't let our talents be idle for long; the Spirit will stir us up to use them for Him and His glory!
It is crucial that we find out how the Lord has gifted us, and what He wants us to do for Him with those things. 1 Corinthians 12 clearly shows us Christians are all part of one body and that the Lord's will for us is that we support each other in one of the capacities outlined below. The writer of Corinthians, the Apostle Paul, said that each gifting is NECESSARY: 1 Cor 12v22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.' Even those gifts which seem the least essential are in fact as essential as any other gift. If we didn't have hands, it wouldn't really matter if we had a very intellectual head, because we'd have nothing to carry out what we thought we should do. Even so, every gift is needed to support the other gift, and we can achieve so much more as a complete body. We all need each other in some way, and one of those ways are outlined in Chapter 12. For one member to think they are exempt from this, and therefore exempt from supporting the part of the body of Christ they have been placed with, weakens that body and actually makes it lame in some way shape or form (just as if we were to be made lame if we were to lose an eye or arm (v 20-22). Yes, it is true that all of our lives should be lived for God, but there should still be a specific aspect of our lives lived for God that encompasses the service that is outlined in this chapter of scripture (1 Cor 12), as the writer makes quite clear. And we should make every effort to make sure we are contributing what God intended for us to contribute.
None of us as part of the body of Christ are dispensable, each of us are crucial to its healthy existence, and each of us have an opportunity this year to make use of the talent the Lord has given us. Jesus has a specific will for the working which He has planned to do through us: Phil 2v13- 'For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.' This is the highest of callings, and we have already been gifted to fulfil such a calling. And there is even the possibility that we may do more for Him than we ever have before (but that is for another post). By the grace of God, you are crucial to the health of His body and for its good function! What an amazing thought! What an incredible truth!
(this carries on from verse 3 in the passage of scripture above) 1 Cor 12v4: There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same[b] Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best[d] gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
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