Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

FRIDAY APRIL 17


WE'RE A COMMUNITY

READ:
Ephesians 4:11-12
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[The Lord] gave
some...for the
equipping of the
saints for the work
of ministry, for
the edifying of the
body of Christ.
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A pastor's wife was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. That put the family in a difficult, stressful situation. The pastor wondered how he was going to be able to take good care of her while he still had responsibilities for his church family. But he needn't have worried because church members stepped up and volunteered to assist him with meals and some of her care.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church about the purpose for which the Lord gave them their spiritual gifts. Before he listed the diversity of gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, he reminded them that "a spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other" (v.7 NLT). God does not give His spiritual gifts for our won selfish use but to serve others, and in so doing, we serve Him.

We are all given different gifts to be used at different times and in different ways. But they are all to be used in love for the "edifying of the body of Christ" (EPH. 4:12). Wherever God has placed us, we can use what He has gifted us to do as we see the need, remembering that we are all part of the church__the body of Christ (1 COR. 12:13-14).

**Thank You, Father, for the wonderful gifts You have given your church. Help
me to understand how You have gifted me to encourage other believers, and
to spread the message of Your love to the world. ______________________________________________________
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Use your gifts to exercise care for others.

*************************************Today's Bible Reading __ 1 Corinthians 12:1-11***********************************
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want
you to be ignorant: 2 You know that you were Gentiles,
carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.

3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by
the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that
Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There
are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 and there
are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works
all in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one
for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom
through he Spirit, to another the word is given the word of wisdom
through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through
the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to
another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another
the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another
discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues,
to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the
same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one
individually as He wills.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Spiritual gifts are discussed in 1 Corinthians,
Romans, Ephesians, and 1 Peter. In 1 Corinthians 12-14, Paul
emphasizes how these gifts relate to one another within the body
of Christ, the church. In Romans 12:3-8, he gives a shorter list, but
also emphasizes the exercising of those gifts. In Ephesians 4:11-23,
he describes gifted leaders God has given to the church for its
development in life and service. In 1 Peter 4, the apostle Peter says
that the purpose of all gifts is that "God may be praised through
Jesus Christ." (v.11).