Everybody Loves A Gift

Christmas was just over a month ago, our tree is down and the decorations have been put away since the first of the year.  All the gifts that didn’t fit have been returned and the others are being used.

When I think of Christmas, or anytime we give gifts, I often wonder if the recipient is using the gift.  It is no fun giving a gift that is unwanted or not needed, because it won’t be used.  

The Spirit of God gives us gifts.  Our scripture passage today says that the gifts are given, “for the common good”, or as the New Living Translations says, “so we can help each other.”  We do not get every gift.  The Spirit of God determines which ones he gives and to whom.  The important thing for us to do is USE THE GIFT we have been given.

If you are trusted with the gift of prophesy and don’t share the word God has given you, you won’t help the person God sent you too.  If you can interpret tongues yet keep silent, the message God wanted shared will not be revealed.

When it comes to the gifts of the Spirit, God is a great gift giver.  He will give you the exact right gift.  He does not make mistakes.  Use your gift or gifts.  Don’t be afraid of them.  Use your wisdom or knowledge for his good.  Heal people he sends you to heal.  If you can perform miracles, do it for His glory.

We tend to see the works of the Holy Spirit as taboo in North America, but remember God has not changed. The same God we read about in the pages of scripture is the one we serve today!  So, pretend it’s Christmas morning.  Unwrap your gift and start using it.

Read today's passage here.  1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Acts 19:1-7

In the name of the Father 
and of the Son 
and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

We have a vision of who the Father and Son are, but the Holy Spirit seems more mysterious. 

It’s difficult to picture what a Holy Spirit looks like and because of our human limitations

 we seem to need things somewhat concrete to understand.

In Acts 2, the Pentecost took place. Luke writes of a violent blowing wind that came from 
             heaven. What appeared to be tongues of fire rested upon each of their heads and they began              to speak in tongues as the Spirit enabled them. As a crowd gathered these disciples’ words 

were clearly understood by each one in their own native language.

Acts 19 tells of another incident of disciples receiving the Holy Spirit. Perhaps we are those 

disciples. Before Jesus was taken up into heaven he promised the power of the Holy Spirit 

would come. That promise was not just for the twelve chosen Apostles, but for all men.

The Holy Spirit is the power of God here on earth. We are all free to receive it, but we must 

be still and open our hearts to feel and accept it. It need not happen in a great and glorious 

manner with wind and fire. It is a personal experience meant to help us feel and 

understand God’s purpose and our mission.

Might speaking in tongues to us be simply meeting people where they are, identifying

 with their pain, and walking them through it toward the Lord?

We have been given this gift of the Holy Spirit, but it does us no good to simply look 

at the beautifully wrapped package. We must open it, acknowledge its contents,

 thank our God, and use it for His purpose.
"Bringing Faith To Life"

Read/Listen to Acts 19:1-7

1 Corinthians 14:20-28

A few years ago I had the privilege of participating in a short term medical mission trip to Honduras. Not having medical training I could only be useful as a go-fer. When the doctors and nurses needed something - I would go fer it.

When I wasn't needed for this chore I was able to spend time with the people of that country and their children. I did not speak their language and when I wanted to communicate with them I needed an interpreter. Playing with the children was fun and teaching them an American game was amusing. We struggled to understand one another as there was not always an interpreter available.

I would use pantomime to instruct the children on the rules of a game. It became apparent to me I needed to speak the same language if I was going to teach them a game. It would be necessary for me to speak so they could understand me if I wanted to have a relationship with them. I also learned how much they respected my efforts to speak their tongue, how much more willing they were to listen.

That is exactly the lesson Paul is teaching us today, and the Corinthian people in his day. When we speak in a foreign language no one will understand us without a translator. We will only be the entertainment and not the messenger.

Read the text for today at Biblegateway here.

Can You Share That With Everyone? 1 Corinthians 14:13-19

How many of you can finish this statement? “You cannot eat that piece of candy unless you have enough for…” The missing word is “everyone”. I remember hearing teachers say this on the first day of school along with the other rules we needed to remember. As a child I often wondered why we couldn’t chew gum or enjoy a piece of candy alone.

Of course now I understand what a distraction that would have been. The teacher would have had to compete to get the classes attention because all eyes would have been on the student doing their own thing.

Our scripture passage today has a similar rule. When speaking in tongues during a corporate worship service, there should always be someone present who can interpret what is being said so that the entire community can participate.

Although worship can be a very private experience, the focus should always be on God. If we do anything to remove that focus from God and put it on ourselves it’s like a teacher who has lost her classes attention.

Don’t get me wrong being moved by the Holy Spirit should not be stifled, but scripture says that God will send an interpreter if the one speaking in tongues is truly moved by the Spirit. God wants us to live as a community of believers not as isolated individuals. We all need to learn from each other and that doesn’t just happen when we study the word, it also happens when we worship and pray together.

Read today's passage at Biblegateway 1 Corinthians 14:13-19

1 Corinthians 14:1-12

1 Corinthians 13 ends with, "...and the greatest of these is love."  Of all the Spiritual gifts a believer is given, the greatest is love. Chapter 14 moves us toward two gifts--Prophecy and Tongues.  Years ago at a prayer meeting at church someone in the congregation began speaking in tongues.  As a new believer, I did not understand what was going on.

Thankfully the pastor who was presiding stopped everything and asked if anyone was able to translate.  There was someone who spoke up and shared the meaning of the foreign conversation.  Pastor then explained that anytime someone speaks in this manner there must be someone present to interpret. He explained to us about the gift of tongues, how it is a special communication between the speaker and God.  He also talked about other gifts that are meant to promote and lift up the body.  Those with the gift of Prophecy edify the church, promote the Word and educate believers.


"Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it—because it does."  (1 Corinthians 14:1)  Aren't those great words to hear?  No one can live without love.  Think about it, name off the different types of love in your life.  Who and what do you love?  Do you love a spouse, child, sibling, friend, or pet?

Can you imagine life without that loving relationship, the companionship, and special feelings that love gives?  Isn't that why, when a loved one leaves us it hurts and makes us wonder if we will ever be the same?  "And the greatest of these is love."

Read the text for today in the Message translation at Biblegateway here.