“Our Daily Bread” http://odb.org
The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie http://www.harvest.org/devotional
Written by bruce r. mills for “God’s group” @ www.Godsmanforever.com
“Are You Using Your Spiritual Gift ??”
(Revised from 3/04/2016)
Ephesians 4:14-16… that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (NKJV)
Every Christian, who has been given the gift of grace by God Himself, has been given at least one spiritual gift that God wants us to use in strengthening His body of Christ…that is, the church that the Christian has been called to be a part of… [1 Corinthians 12…See 1) below]
The Christian’s church is what the apostle Paul is speaking about in verse 16 above, when Paul pens “the whole body”… How many Christians don’t bother with church ?? How many Christians attend church regularly…but don’t get involved in helping their church, by using the spiritual gift God has given to them to help keep their church body strong and growing ??
When churches preach the gospel of Christ, and the whole truth found in God’s inerrant Word, the Bible…people in the congregation will be led to respond… God’s Word is living and powerful…
Hebrews 4:12-13… For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. (NKJV)
God will grace new believers with salvation, after they understand and obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ [see 2) below]…and at the same time, God will indwell the new believer with the Holy Spirit… God will bless a church whose members are focused on Him, as true Christians seek to discover their spiritual gift given to them by God, and put their gift to use in helping their church body run efficiently…
Christ warns churches who fail to remain focused on Him, as we read what the apostle John pens about the loveless church of Ephesus, in Revelation 2:1-7…[see 3) link below]…The Lord declares… “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.“
The church in Ephesus had been established by the apostle Paul some 30 years before John penned Revelation… They were doing all the right things for the Lord…with all their good works being done in His name… But the church had forgotten to preach Christ, and to keep focused upon Christ as the reason for meeting together as His body of believers… The Lord used the apostle John, to warn us about what would happen to any church…if they were not focused first upon the Lord… Christ tells us… “I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place”…
Friends…having the lamp stand removed from a church by God, means the church will be snuffed out… They will be closed down…
Is this the reason so many churches today are not growing…and worse…some are closing ?? For sure, Satan will be doing his best to keep God’s redeemed children from stepping out in faith, and exercising their God given spiritual gift… Satan will tell those who are weak in their spiritual walk with the Lord, that they just aren’t qualified to share God’s Word with others in need of hearing the “good news” message of the cross…
I can personally testify that if we aren’t filled with (being controlled by) the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-20)…we will not be energized by God’s enabling Helper, to be at our best at sharing the gospel message… For the latter part of 7 years after I was graced with salvation…I had somehow taken back control from the Holy Spirit…and only shared the Gospel of Christ two times… But when I finally surrendered my life to God, the Holy Spirit took control of my life, and I haven’t looked back since… Praise the Lord for His ever-present power and guidance of my life !!
The Holy Spirit will give us the boldness and the right words to speak to those around us in need of hearing about God’s saving grace… But Satan will do his best to keep us from sharing the “good news” gospel message of Christ, if our hearts and minds are not protected by God’s WHOLE 6 piece set of Spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:10-20)…and we have not submitted our life to God…James 4:7-8…
I wrote about this God given duo at work in my own life, in a day’s writing I titled…“God’s Duo”… [see 4) below] May God be glorified by His visible supernatural power displayed in my own personal testimony !!
It is the Holy Spirit that gives every believer their spiritual gift… And it is the urging of the Holy Spirit, if left in complete control of the Spirit filled Christian…who will urge the believer to exercise their spiritual gift to help their church body run like a well oiled machine… But just like all of us need food and water to grow and survive…each believer needs to be spiritually fed (hopefully every day) by reading the Word…to spend time in prayer and meditation with the Lord…and to become part of a church body of believers, using their spiritual gift to help their church body grow… This personal growth of knowledge and spiritual wisdom is a lifelong process, as we are being conformed into the image of Christ…Romans 8:29… It is known as “progressive sanctification” [see 5) below]…and it begins and ends by spending time reading, studying, and digesting God’s Word, allowing it to be written on our hearts and minds…Deuteronomy 11:18…
Speaking about reading God’s Word…I came across an amazing app for reading the Bible in a year… It includes audio by Nicky Gumbel…Vicar of HTB in London, and originator of Alpha… Listening to Nicky’s commentary is like having your own personal preacher/teacher to add insight to God’s perfect Word… I believe using this app daily will provide an experience that most of you eager to grow in your spiritual maturity will enjoy… [see 6) below]
Heavenly Father, I thank You and praise You for who You are… Help each and every one us reading this to seek and learn more about You… Urge us Father, through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit…to find a Bible believing and teaching church…and then to become part of their growing church body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, … I pray for this unity of the Spirit in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…
Blessings in Christ, bruce
References:
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1 Corinthians 12… https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+12
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Here is a link for this most important days writing, about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, after first being drawn in by God…John 6:44… https://godsmanforever.com/2014/10/26/the-truth-about-sin-10262014-by-bruce-reposted-from-7112013/
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Revelation 2:1-7… https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rev2%3A1-7&version=NKJV
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“God’s Duo”… https://godsmanforever.wordpress.com/2013/02/25/gods-group-thoughts-for-2252013-gods-duo/
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Progressive sanctification http://www.gotquestions.org/progressive-sanctification.html
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“Read the Bible in one year”… http://www.bibleinoneyear.org/
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P.S. When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !! If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ?? Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ… https://godsmanforever.com
To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…
You say you are a “born again” believer… BUT is your soul “ON FIRE” for the Lord ?? If not, open this link – https://godsmanforever.com/2020/08/01/are-you-a-christian-in-gods-eyes-and-on-fire-for-the-lord-or-not/
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Reblogged this on FOR THE LOVE OF GOD and commented:
This is from my Brother in Christ Bruce R. Mills of God’s Group. This is a great question that hasn’t been asked enough! Read this, think about it and then be blessed!
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Thanks soooo much Roland, for the reblog !! I am blessed my friend !! 🙂
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