Many Gifts, One Purpose

[ezra]

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.—1 Corinthians 12:12


Corn, also called maize, is the staple food in my home country of Mexico. There are so many different types. You can find yellow, brown, red, and black cobs, even ones with a wonderful spotted pattern. But people in the cities usually won’t eat the spotted cobs. Restaurateur and researcher Amado Ramírez explains that they believe uniformity is a synonym of quality. Yet the spotted cobs taste good, and they make excellent tortillas.
The church of Christ is much more similar to a spotted ear of corn than to a cob of just one color. The apostle Paul used the imagery of a body to describe the church, because even though we are all one body, and we have the same God, each of us has been given a different gift. As Paul said, “There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work” (1 Corinthians 12:5-6). Our diversity in the ways we help each other shows God’s generosity and creativity.
As we embrace our diversity, may we also make every effort to keep our unity in faith and purpose. Yes, we have different abilities and backgrounds. We speak different languages and come from different countries. But we have the same wonderful God, the Creator who delights in so much variety. —Keila Ochoa

Father, may we make every effort to be one, respecting and valuing each other and our various gifts and talents.​

We need one another in order to be what God wants us to be.

INSIGHT: Romans 12:6-8 and 1 Corinthians 12 provide important instruction about spiritual gifts: All Christians have been given gifts; all gifts have different but equally important functions; all are from God; and all are to be used to build up others in the church. We have no reason to boast about our gifts because they are products of God’s grace. “In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us” (Romans 12:5-6).
How can you use your gifts to promote unity? Alyson Kieda

Our Daily Bread Ministries

 

[Tessa]

I like the Our Daily Bread devotions. They write in such a clear way.

Isn't God amazing how He organises everything. So many gifts in the church. I believe God puts the desire in our hearts for the gift or gifts that He wants us to have. We pray for them and receive them. Then it is our duty to use them with humility and love, because it is God using us to give these gifts to the church through each one of us.

If we follow this God's church would be vibrant full of life.

Would love to study each gift


If we don't use our gifts we are breaking the unity of the church.

 

[ezra]

I like the Our Daily Bread devotions. They write in such a clear way.

Isn't God amazing how He organises everything. So many gifts in the church. I believe God puts the desire in our hearts for the gift or gifts that He wants us to have. We pray for them and receive them. Then it is our duty to use them with humility and love, because it is God using us to give these gifts to the church through each one of us.

If we follow this God's church would be vibrant full of life.

Would love to study each gift


If we don't use our gifts we are breaking the unity of the church.

in some churches the gifts of the spirit is no longer around. went outwith apostles ..just like foot washing many feel its not thing to be practiced .be cause the early church never did it .. i believe the gifts are still here..but just cause we ahve that gift. it is not us doing it.. i have never healed anyone. i have prayed and the Lord healed . i really dont buy into Benny hinn . the gifts are for the edifying not personal gifts

 

[ezra]

Will To Be Faithful

…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… Joshua 24:15

A person’s will is embodied in the actions of the whole person. I cannot give up my will— I must exercise it, putting it into action. I must will to obey, and I must will to receive God’s Spirit. When God gives me a vision of truth, there is never a question of what He will do, but only of what I will do. The Lord has been placing in front of each of us some big proposals and plans. The best thing to do is to remember what you did before when you were touched by God. Recall the moment when you were saved, or first recognized Jesus, or realized some truth. It was easy then to yield your allegiance to God. Immediately recall those moments each time the Spirit of God brings some new proposal before you.

“…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve….” Your choice must be a deliberate determination— it is not something into which you will automatically drift. And everything else in your life will be held in temporary suspension until you make a decision. The proposal is between you and God— do not “confer with flesh and blood” about it (Galatians 1:16). With every new proposal, the people around us seem to become more and more isolated, and that is where the tension develops. God allows the opinion of His other saints to matter to you, and yet you become less and less certain that others really understand the step you are taking. You have no business trying to find out where God is leading— the only thing God will explain to you is Himself.
Openly declare to Him, “I will be faithful.” But remember that as soon as you choose to be faithful to Jesus Christ, “You are witnesses against yourselves…” (Joshua 24:22). Don’t consult with other Christians, but simply and freely declare before Him, “I will serve You.” Will to be faithful— and give other people credit for being faithful too. From My Utmost for His Highest Updated Edition

Bible in One Year: Job 36-37; Acts 15:22-41​

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS

We are not to preach the doing of good things; good deeds are not to be preached, they are to be performed.

from So Send I You, 1330 L​

 

[for_his_glory]

in some churches the gifts of the spirit is no longer around. went outwith apostles ..just like foot washing many feel its not thing to be practiced .be cause the early church never did it .. i believe the gifts are still here..but just cause we ahve that gift. it is not us doing it.. i have never healed anyone. i have prayed and the Lord healed . i really dont buy into Benny hinn . the gifts are for the edifying not personal gifts

It's sad that so many believe the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not for today. Like you said it's the full of all the gifts given to different ones that lift up and edify the whole body of Christ as being one body. There is nothing of our self we can do with these gifts as it's God's Spirit working through us as we need to be the vessels of honor to God that brings glory to His name. Without these gifts there is no organization within the body that brings it to one body in Christ.

I use to watch Benny Hinn many years ago and actually had a chance to work in his ministry one weekend. When you see the backstage stuff before the performance you truly find out how many frauds are out there.

 

[Razeontherock]

Great thread, Ezra!

 

[ezra]

It's sad that so many believe the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not for today. Like you said it's the full of all the gifts given to different ones that lift up and edify the whole body of Christ as being one body. There is nothing of our self we can do with these gifts as it's God's Spirit working through us as we need to be the vessels of honor to God that brings glory to His name. Without these gifts there is no organization within the body that brings it to one body in Christ.

I use to watch Benny Hinn many years ago and actually had a chance to work in his ministry one weekend. When you see the backstage stuff before the performance you truly find out how many frauds are out there.

i been a skeptic of him for some time i understand those who feel the gifts went out with the apostles they say healing no man has healed a single person . i have heard stories of those who allegedly raised the dead... in today world after death at the funeral home would take a huge miracles ..the only gift i am some one at a stand off is tongues ..( please i am not interested in getting into a discussion on tongues any one..} it is one of the most controversial gifts today .