Tag: Gifts

World’s View of The Spirit

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As I sat in a group discussing the spiritual gifts that existed between us, I had a tug at my heart. I saw men light up as they described the gifts God had bestowed upon them and how they put those gifts into practice in their kingdom service. I realized how easy it is to talk about God moving in the presence of other believers, while on the other hand the same conversation with non-believers is met with confusion or skepticism. I then realized that every spiritual gift comes with a worldly stigma that faces criticism from those who cannot recognize God’s work in a person. A few examples:

The gift of Knowledge can be seen as arrogance to someone who is offended by the revelation found in that gift. The humility to be lead is a sign of wisdom and a trait of God.

The gift of Teaching can seem over bearing when the subject matter becomes eternal and spiritual. The believer is looked at as a ‘know it all’ and the words fall on deaf ears.

The gift of Encouragement makes people feel like their problem isn’t taken seriously because they don’t share the same confidence as the believer. They want a reaction that mirrors their own such as anger or fear.

The gift of Giving offends people who are too proud to receive that kind of love.

The gift of Prophecy makes people withdraw as they sit in denial about a truth that becomes clear far later than need be. They fight truth that they are not ready to receive.

The gift of Evangelism rubs anybody wrong who refuses to submit to The Creator and insists on a self-reliance that never succeeds. Just the name of God causes the sinful heart to withdraw.

Finally, the gift of Faith which looks like indifference when the world won’t approve of the lack of reaction found in Christ. They don’t find peace in reliance on a God they deny.

                Growth in Christ (spirit) is viewed as a flaw to the world (flesh). Every gift come with a perceived flaw when the lost don’t understand the true power of the Holy Spirit in a believer. Part of the deceiver’s work is to create a skewed view of God and His faithful by turning the lost away from the power of God as it works through the gifted. We should all take the time to examine our hearts and the gifts God has placed in them. That realization helps you see where God desires to use you in His kingdom. The difficult part is the perseverance we face in the light of those gifts. Ask God to give you strength and know that God has blessed you with those gifts and will continue to do so as you allow His Spirit to move through you with His gifts.

Body of Christ (The Church)

 

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Each person is given gifts from God, strengths designed to serve Him in His kingdom. While it is easy to be thankful to God for our gifts we must show caution as well. It is human nature to view the world through our strength. That means to hold people accountable in the light of our gifts. An important step in growing God’s kingdom is to embrace the gifts of those around us and to allow our gifts to bless them as we allow their gifts to bless and grow us. These steps together strengthen the body of Christ. We have to make sure to be open to the views and abilities of each individual, and be aware that we may not understand those views and gifts at first. We can be assured that God does understand and we can take it to Him in prayer and develop understanding through wisdom. God has a purpose for all of His creation. If we insist on understanding it all we are humanizing God. If you ever feel that you fully understand you should be afraid, you are guaranteed to be lost.

Make a point today to not hold people accountable to your expectations and abilities. They will almost always disappoint you. We must appreciate their gifts and contributions whatever they may be. It’s the diversity in the body of Christ that gives it its strength. Try not to focus on how people have fallen short, but what they have contributed, however slight it may be. God is at work in each of us and that person you might not understand is an important part of God’s plan.

(1 Corinthians 12:14-20)  For the body does not consist of one member but of many.  If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.  And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.