Spiritual Gifts Study Announcement

“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:” 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (also Romans 12)

“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men."” Ephesians 4:7-8

“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10

Each and every born-again believer is given at least one, possibly more, spiritual gift to minister with.  Their use of this gift is what God intends to bring him the most glory in their service.  The amazing mystery of why God would give us these abilities and allow us to be a part of giving him glory is awe inspiring and worthy of worship.

Yet the devil, the skillful warrior he is, comes in to try and cast down anything the Lord has declared good.  So it seems safe to say that Satan would use our own gifts against us.  If he can take the glory away from God, he will do it ('He is such a great singer!)  If he can take our focus from God to ourselves, or those we minister to, he will (‘There is no time for a Bible reading, we have too many mouths to feed. ’or ‘They don't appreciate the service we give them!').  If he can get us to believe that what we do is accomplishing nothing, and we should quit, he will gain a victory ('Nobody is listening, and I'm not making any difference.').  We must not let this be so!

 

 The World Changers class is going to be doing a Spiritual Gifts survey and study in December. We will begin with a survey meant to stir our thinking and identify the gift God has given us.  Then we will have a couple lessons looking at spiritual gifts in the Bible, discussing how that affects us now.   Then the culmination of the study will be a special dedication service where we bring a symbolic 'gift' to God, and ask Him to bless it for the coming year.  After these moments of study and meditation, I am even more convinced now that it is crucial to find and expose these gifts to 'the Light' so they can be used.  Anyone is invited to participate, even just this month.  Please let A.J. know if you plan to participate so he can have enough copies of the survey available.

Broken before the Lord

“The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalms 118:22-24

“Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'? . . . 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder."  Matthew 21:42,44

“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."  Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:6-7

   What does it mean to be broken before the Lord?  There are many things described as ‘broken’ in the scriptures, such as shackles, walls, bread, the backs of the proud, and so on.  God doesn’t intend for us to be broken into pieces, such that we would become unusable for His kingdom.  Instead he intends for us to become humble; not standing on legs of our own strength, but relying on His strength and His grace. 

   The intentions of Matthew 21:44 refer to the judgment at the end of this age.  Where the works of all will be judged; and the central question will be what did you do with “Jesus of Nazareth?” Everyone will be broken in one fashion or another.  Those who willingly go to Jesus and allow Him to break them in order to realign with God’s will, are going to be with God forever through his grace.  Those who come proud, saying “I don’t need Jesus because of my family heritage . . . my abilities . . . my connections” or any other human empowered reason will be rejected and ‘crushed’. 

   Immediately in a Christian’s life this could be applied in our path of sanctification.  There are strongholds in our lives which we must bring to Jesus to break them. God is then able to rebuild them to his Glory  through his grace.  Those places/ideas we refuse to subject to Jesus, attempting to hide them, will eventually be crushed out of our lives.

   We need grace in our life and there is only one source of it.  God is love, and also the source of all grace.  Man is inherently self-centered and does not forgive.  Even a great pastor or parent cannot give grace of their own, it is a gift of God.  Once we have seen our need for grace, we are much more willing to show grace to others.  Thereby we glorify God all the more. 

If your life feels broken right now, remember that God wants to help you build it back.  His grace can heal deep wounds.  If your life is smooth sailing right now, show some grace to those around you.  It might be the display of grace they need to get back on track with God.

Abide in His Word

“Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word. Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law. I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me. My soul breaks with longing For Your judgments at all times. You rebuke the proud--the cursed, Who stray from Your commandments. Remove from me reproach and contempt, For I have kept Your testimonies. Princes also sit and speak against me, But Your servant meditates on Your statutes. Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors” Psalms 119:17-24 (Gimel)

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:5-11

    Would you say during a typical week it is easy to “abide in the Word?”  When you look at to-do lists, doctor appointments, practices, chores, homework, work schedules, and so forth, is the Lord on your mind; or even in your thoughts?  Anyone can see it is easy for the cares of this world to pull our focus far from God, Jesus, and the Bible. 

    Part of this can be attributed to Satan, as the “prince of this world.”  He is very skilled at taking bus(y)iness, flashing lights of entertainment, and pleasures of our flesh to lure us into the darkness where we stumble and fall into sin.  God created us with needs and desires which need to be met; Satan then moves them into excess.  By gorging ourselves in one area of life, it will take away from other areas. 

    Yet there is also the fault which is ours.  Many of us are lazy and undisciplined.  You may reply, “I am certainly not lazy, I do . . .” and then list out a very lengthy itinerary which you accomplish every week.  Yet would you say that there is absolutely no time for God in that itinerary?  Many of us will accomplish ‘great’ things in our own power, but leave out God as we do it.  We’ve all said it, “But I don’t have time to pray or read my Bible.” We must train and discipline ourselves to read and pray even when we “don’t have time.”  I’ve seen myself when I don’t take time, and it isn’t God-honoring.  Look at the promises of the Bible.  The Old Testament shows us that God will bless His people and curse their enemies, when they follow his Word.  Jesus himself says in the NT, if we abide in Him (Word)we will have joy, fruit, and God will be glorified.  While we can accomplish nothing without him. 

Prayer for Boldness

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!" So God granted him what he requested. 1 Chronicles 4:10

“if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

“And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” Acts 4:31

praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-- and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.  Ephesians 6:18-20

“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 4:16

The Bible speaks highly of prayer; and we are commanded to pray.  So why do our individual and corporate (in a group) prayers become short, generic, and not even God honoring so often?  What would happen if all our prayers were answered?  Who would be better off because they were answered?  Our family or church?  The people of the Bible were able to do great things; because they asked a Great God, through great (big) prayers. 

Prayer is not a magic formula for success in life, or getting everything we could ever want, however when we become Kingdom-minded our desires change.  Jesus offered a Model prayer in Matthew 6, then in chapter 7 He says “Ask and it will be given to you.”  James said you have not, because you ask not; or ask amiss (James 4:1-4). 

How long has it been since you examined your prayer life?  There are millions or billions needing the church to take serious its call to minister to the broken and downtrodden.  There are billions who have never heard the name of Jesus.  Will we be satisfied in praying for one lost soul, when so many churches haven’t even reached one in over a year?  Could everyone you pray personally for salvation, fit in your pew?  If they can, we probably need to pray bigger.  Then we must also move when God directs us.  For the future, should we look at expanding our facilities for 50-60 people, or multiplying what we have to double our ability to reach Hart County?  We must learn to pray with boldness, so that we can proclaim His Gospel with boldness.