As we officially start the weekend, today's PW Devotional series talks about Spiritual Gifts.
Every person who has placed their faith in Jesus for salvation has at least one spiritual gift. Don't get confused and think your natual talents are spiritual gifts. God definitely created you and blessed you with abilities, talents AND when you're His in Christ, spiritual gifts.
In some churches many Christians place heavy emphasis on spiritual gifts. Even growing up, I took "spiritual gifts analysis" tests and you know what I learned? Not much, actually.
Spiritual gifts are provided by God to use within us for His purpose, His plan and the edification of the body (the church). What is edification? I could go all mom on you and tell you to look it up! However, for your edification (see there how I just did that!?), I will add to your education and, enlighten you. :o)
And, I agree with you Katie, I hate definitions that use tenses of the word to define the word. Grrr...if you look up "edification" it will say, the state of being edified. Hence, I looked up the definition of the root word, "edify."
Examples of EDIFY
- These books will both entertain and edify readers.
- <a family-oriented show that tried to edify the television audience as well as entertain it>
Origin of EDIFY
Middle English, from Anglo-French
edifier, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin
aedificare to instruct or improve spiritually, from Latin, to erect a
house, from
aedes temple, house; akin to Old English
ād funeral pyre, Latin
aestas summer
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to EDIFY
Related Words: elevate,
ennoble,
enrich,
ensoul,
lift,
uplift;
better,
improve,
regenerate,
renew,
transform;
exalt,
glorify,
transfigure Spiritual gifts are supposed to uplift, build up, improve (morally and/or spiritually) the body of Christ (the church). So it is all about God using you to impact other believers in such a way as to improve them. Leave them better than when you found them.
Read on...and, don't sweat the figuring out what your spiritual gift is. Depending on the situation, God may choose to equip you with serveral for His glory, His purpose and the good of the person(s) and whatever the situation may be. Keep remembering, it isn't about you. Just be ready, willing and usable by God.
Have a great weekend!
And, if you don't have somewhere to worship this weekend...why not join with us at our little community Baptist Church?! We'd love to have you! Everything gets going around 9:00 a.m. and look for me!!! I'll be sitting toward the back on the right side of the sanctuary. In case you forgot: Calvary Baptist Church, 2780 E. Wagner Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92806. Pastor Phil and the men will be away this weekend getting some spiritual food as they gather for the weekend at Pine Valley Christian Conference Center in San Diego County. But, knowing our Elders...we're sure to have a great speaker on Sunday!
Hope to see you all there!
| Gifted: Don't Be Ignorant Posted: 04 Oct 2010 01:00 AM PDT "Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. . . . The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ." (1 Corinthians 12:1,12) The Bible describes a weird and wonderful thing that happens to every single person who puts his or her trust in Jesus Christ for salvation from sin. And, honestly, way too many of us are ignorant about it. Paul called this thing "spiritual gifts." It's the idea that we're each given the supernatural ability — through the power of God's Holy Spirit with us — to do certain things unnaturally well for a specific purpose.
Three major passages describe some of these gifts. Some churches teach that all the gifts are still "active" today; others say some of the sign gifts were needed only while the church was being established. What we're going to focus on this week is not the what or how of spiritual gifts, but the why. What's the point of this crazy power God hands out to HIs people through His Spirit?
Paul's metaphor: a human body. The church — all of us who say Jesus is Lord of all — is often called "Christ's body" in the New Testament. Like a human body, Paul writes, we've got lots of parts. That is, we're all parts of His body. In other words, I'm a toe; you're an eyelash, etc.
See, I told you this was going to be a weird and wonderful idea.
Think: What are some ways in which the church operates like a body?
Pray: Ask God to help you get a better understand for why he gave you a spiritual gift.
Do: Speed drill: List as many body parts as you can think of in 3 minutes. Go.
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Mary E.Hickcox
www.CalvaryBaptistSM.orghttp://mary-neotes.blogspot.com/
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