Church was never designed to be a spectator sport but a team effort. Today's reading allowed me to focus upon all the great servants God has raised up at LFC - servants who have stepped forward to give, share, pray and serve. Last Saturday, we had an incredible turn out of people who simply came for the purpose of cleaning their church. I gratefully think of all those who served this past Sunday in so many areas and those who are working hard on Easter preparations as well. What a difference each one made and is making. I thank God for each one who have made a way to using their gifts - and I also pray that whatever gifts God has placed inside of you - will be released for the common good of all and to the praise of God.
Please Take a Read:
SCRIPTURE:
I Corinthians 12
Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. 4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (verse 7)To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.
OBSERVATION:
The main point of this passage is verse 7; “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good" and also verse 14; "The body is not made up of one part but of many." "To each one is given . . ."--that's you! All who know Jesus, for the “common good.”
"To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." That's a result of the manifestation of God the Spirit in the life of the church. God’s good comes to people. It is good for people to see God. It is good for us to see the manifestations of God's Spirit in each other's lives. As we pursue God and as we make Him known to others – we cannot do it alone. The church is the place where all this comes together. The world often tries to do good for each other. But they leave God out and no eternal good is done. I am all for good and for even temporary good but the ultimate is eternal good. Even some Christians try to experience God's manifestations alone, but do not do it in the context of an interdependent body. We need each other and God desires His gifts and glory to flow in the context of community. God manifests himself for the common good, not for individualistic religious practice.
Think about this in light of LFC and your unique place in God’s family. Think about:
1. "Each one"
"To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."
The "each ones" of verse 7 are people who decided to follow the Lord. Not just call Jesus Lord, but allow Him to be Lord. The essence of who the "each ones" are is the Lordship of Jesus. The key sentence is at the end of verse 3: "No one can say 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit." These are people (and I want to be one) --who aim to think the way He thinks, and who aim to feel the way He says to feel and who aim to do what He says to do. These are the people who each have a manifestation of the Spirit, because they cannot live like this "except by the Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit's main purpose in the world is to glorify Jesus and make God real in people's lives. Jesus said in John 16:14, "[When the Spirit of truth comes] He will glorify me." That's who the "each ones" are in verse 7--people who have decided to serve and follow Jesus and allow the Lord, by the power of the Holy Spirit to work in them and through them. That is who God wants us to be, and to be His “each one” right here at LFC and into our community and beyond.
2. "The common good."
"To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."
The Spirit is manifest for this purpose:: the common good. The Spirit does not give gifts and ministries so that we can boast or like trophies, put our gifts on display. He gives gifts and ministries for two reasons: to manifest Himself and to help us do “good” to each other in the church. Gifts are for the glory of God and the good of the church. God can work through you and me for the common good of the church and the people He lives and for those outside the church – those who have yet to come to know His love.
APPLICATION:
We have opportunity all around us to manifest the Spirit of God in our lives and to be doing good to others. Think of people to pray for today, think of those to invite with you for Easter, think of the things the Lord has been prompting you to do or give for some time.
Think right now what you need to do to make more room for the Holy Spirit in your life and the goodness He desires to flow through you to others – right now.
Let us live in the power of the Holy Spirit,
PRAYER:
Dear God, Thank you for allowing me to know you. Thank you for allowing your Holy Spirit to fill me. May my life be dedicated to your “goodness” flowing through me. May your gifts be manifested as people encounter my life –for your glory. In the Savior’s Name, Amen
Please Take a Read:
SCRIPTURE:
I Corinthians 12
Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. 4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (verse 7)To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.
OBSERVATION:
The main point of this passage is verse 7; “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good" and also verse 14; "The body is not made up of one part but of many." "To each one is given . . ."--that's you! All who know Jesus, for the “common good.”
"To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." That's a result of the manifestation of God the Spirit in the life of the church. God’s good comes to people. It is good for people to see God. It is good for us to see the manifestations of God's Spirit in each other's lives. As we pursue God and as we make Him known to others – we cannot do it alone. The church is the place where all this comes together. The world often tries to do good for each other. But they leave God out and no eternal good is done. I am all for good and for even temporary good but the ultimate is eternal good. Even some Christians try to experience God's manifestations alone, but do not do it in the context of an interdependent body. We need each other and God desires His gifts and glory to flow in the context of community. God manifests himself for the common good, not for individualistic religious practice.
Think about this in light of LFC and your unique place in God’s family. Think about:
1. "Each one"
"To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."
The "each ones" of verse 7 are people who decided to follow the Lord. Not just call Jesus Lord, but allow Him to be Lord. The essence of who the "each ones" are is the Lordship of Jesus. The key sentence is at the end of verse 3: "No one can say 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit." These are people (and I want to be one) --who aim to think the way He thinks, and who aim to feel the way He says to feel and who aim to do what He says to do. These are the people who each have a manifestation of the Spirit, because they cannot live like this "except by the Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit's main purpose in the world is to glorify Jesus and make God real in people's lives. Jesus said in John 16:14, "[When the Spirit of truth comes] He will glorify me." That's who the "each ones" are in verse 7--people who have decided to serve and follow Jesus and allow the Lord, by the power of the Holy Spirit to work in them and through them. That is who God wants us to be, and to be His “each one” right here at LFC and into our community and beyond.
2. "The common good."
"To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."
The Spirit is manifest for this purpose:: the common good. The Spirit does not give gifts and ministries so that we can boast or like trophies, put our gifts on display. He gives gifts and ministries for two reasons: to manifest Himself and to help us do “good” to each other in the church. Gifts are for the glory of God and the good of the church. God can work through you and me for the common good of the church and the people He lives and for those outside the church – those who have yet to come to know His love.
APPLICATION:
We have opportunity all around us to manifest the Spirit of God in our lives and to be doing good to others. Think of people to pray for today, think of those to invite with you for Easter, think of the things the Lord has been prompting you to do or give for some time.
Think right now what you need to do to make more room for the Holy Spirit in your life and the goodness He desires to flow through you to others – right now.
Let us live in the power of the Holy Spirit,
PRAYER:
Dear God, Thank you for allowing me to know you. Thank you for allowing your Holy Spirit to fill me. May my life be dedicated to your “goodness” flowing through me. May your gifts be manifested as people encounter my life –for your glory. In the Savior’s Name, Amen
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