“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie   

http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht 

“Homily Grits Devotional”   http://www.homilygrits.com/

Philippians 1:11…  being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.  (NKJV)

I just wrote yesterday, about getting plugged into a church, as part of the body of Christ; where the believer is given a spiritual gift, hand picked by the Holy Spirit…1 Corinthians 12:11…  And how the believer will be lit up, as they get plugged in to a Bible believing and teaching church…when they recognize and submit to using the spiritual gift the Holy Spirit has given them… This is where the Christian will find true joy, when they use this spiritual gift to help the church become a unified body of Christ (Ephesians 4:15-16); with all members having the same mind, and the same love, and the same selfless thoughts of esteeming other members as better than themselves…Philippians 2:1-4…

I got the idea of being lit up …based upon what Jesus taught us, in the following scripture…Matthew 5:16… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.  (NKJV)    …We see the words “glory” and “glorify”, in the opening scripture, and this scripture verse…  It’s important to note, that these “good works”that the plugged in believer will become part of…must be done with the right motive…

Everything we say and do as Christians, should be done to bring honor and glory to the Lord…  And I mean everything !!  The Apostle Paul tells us this, in…1 Corinthians 10:31…  Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.  (NKJV)

But how do we recognize this special spiritual gift that the Holy Spirit gives to EACH  Christian ??  The secret was presented to me this morning (last Saturday for you)…when I went to a quarterly mens breakfast at my church…  The topic of the guest speaker was on…“Waiting on the Lord”…  I am going to spend a day writing about how important it is for the Christian to wait patiently for the Lord to answer our prayers… But a key verse was mentioned, that applies to today’s thoughts…

Psalm 46:10…  Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!  (NKJV)

The Spirit filled Christian, is the Christian that is walking in the sweet fellowship of the Lord…  And when the Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-20), they should be continuously conscious of listening to what the Holy Spirit is urging them…telling them…teaching them…and warning them…  And if they are being urged by the Holy Spirit to walk away from a temptation from Satan or their carnal flesh, which will lead to sinning…they will “just say no”, with the awesome power that the Holy Spirit provides, as He controls their heart, their mind, their soul, and their actions…

If the Christian’s life is loaded with unrepentant sin…Satan, and their own flesh will probably dominate most everything they say and do…  They will be resisting the urging of the Holy Spirit; seeking to fulfill their own self-centered desires of pleasure…and the lusts of the world that the Apostle John warns all Christians about, in…1 John 2:15-16…  The Holy Spirit is right there with-in this true Christian…but they are not obeying His urgings to follow Him…  Scripture tells us, that the wayward or backsliding Christian, is in jeopardy of being chastised or scourged by God…until they submit again to the leading of the Holy Spirit…Hebrews 12:5-11…

Here is a link to this important scripture, and why some unrepentant Christians, might be going through hard times…      http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=heb12:5-11&version=NKJV

I believe the Holy Spirit won’t reveal the spiritual gifts to a Christian who is living in sin…  How can they benefit the body of believers, in a church that is filled with love; and living for the Lord ??  They must “clean up their act”, so to speak…by confessing, repenting of, and turning from their sins…1 John 1:9…  And when they are walking again in the sweet fellowship of the Lord…they will be worthy of receiving their Spiritual gift…

So if you want to get plugged into a church that is a living, loving, vibrant body of Christ…to find the supernatural peace (Philippians 4:6-7), and the joy (John 16:24), and the love of Christ again, which passes knowledge (Ephesians 3:16-19)…you must put the Lord back into first place in your life…  Love Christ and your fellow brethren with ALL of your heart, mind, and soul…Matthew 22:36-40…

And when you’re walking worthy of the grace God has given you…just stop…get on your knees…ask the Lord to reveal your spiritual gift…and listen !!   God wants His children to become active, contributing members of His Son’s church body… Listen for the Holy Spirit’s idea spiritual gift that He want you to have…and then just say “yes”…and watch God’s blessings light up your life as you get “plugged in” !!

Heavenly Father, I pray Your Word will touch the hearts and lives of Your children, that You are eagerly waiting for…to start walking for the first time, or again…in sweet fellowship with You…  I pray for this unity of the Spirit for all of Your children…as they get plugged into a church that is built on the love of Christ… Give all of us the eyes to see, and the ears to hear the truth from Your Word… I pray in Jesus’ most precious name and for His…Amen…

written by bruce r mills