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Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says ‘Let Jesus be cursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12: 1-13)
May this Tuesday be tremendous in your life! Shine brightly for the Lord today like never before, dear Friend! As we pray this morning I ask special prayers for Mr. Doug Smith, who has been battling cancer for some time now; he was admitted into the hospital battling an infection that prevents him from receiving the proper treatment. Pray for his wife, Autumn and their three children.
In speaking with Autumn yesterday afternoon, she shared how one of the highpoint of her week was her little girl saying to her, "Mommy, I want to be a follower of Jesus!" Autumn said her heart "swoll up three times!" And indeed, what a joy when a little one, or a new one, says, "I want to be a follower of Jesus." That's the work of the Holy Spirit. As i re-read today's passage, that section jumped up at me; If we have the Holy Spirit, "no one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit", and the Holy Spirit prevents us from saying something stupid like 'Let Jesus be cursed!' If we let ourselves be guided by Him, the Spirit will lead us to life. The passage deals with the question of what it means to have the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit, we can be led, like the ancients to "idols that could not speak." The Spirit guides us to affirm Christ, not mock or defame Him. And is is the same Spirit that gives us the gifts we possess, to glorify God in us; the various services given by Him still come from the same Lord. The Holy Spirit works for the common good, to build up and affirm the entire Body of Christ. Given the list shared here, you may find that which God has entrusted you with which to serve Him: sharing of wisdom, which is wise counsel to those who seek it. There is the gift of faith, strong, unwavering faith, also a gift from the Spirit. The gift of healing is another, as is the working of miracles, the gift of prophecy, which is speaking the truth for God in warranted situations; the ability to discern spirits, the gift of speaking in tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. "All these are activated by one and the same Spirit... as the Spirit chooses." All for the work of the one body, the Body of Christ, His Church, who seeks to bring good to the world.
What do you believe your gift is? If you can say out loud, "Jesus is Lord," you've started in the right place! If you can pray and ask, "Lord, what is my gift, and how can I best use it to glorify You?" then you've taken the correct next step, followed by another prayer, "How can I build up Your Church?" The responses from God will be as different as we are from each other, but we seek to work for the common good. If you still have a question about spiritual gifts, please speak with your pastor or trusted Christian friend; together you will find that which can bless God and bless you!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, all Your gifts are good! Speak to our hearts how we can best serve You. Help us not hide our gifts, but to use them for the common good of Your work here on the earth. Let us put aside timidity or shyness, and be those who overcome. In Christ Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Affirm in your own way today, Jesus is Lord!
Eradio Valverde
NOTICE: Dear friends, I want again to encourage you to consider travel this fall to Greece on a tour called "In the Footsteps of Paul the Apostle." The dates are September 4-14, 2019 and the experiences, must-see inclusions such as Corinth, the ancient Athenian ruins, the island of Patmos, not to mention local Greek cuisine will all serve to bless our faith. This Sunday, immediately after the 10:45 worship service, at First United Methodist Church of Gonzales, Mr. Mike Sprute of Collette Vacations, will be showing a slide presentation of this tour. If you have any questions please make plans to attend this meeting. It should answer any questions you may have and I'd love to see you there!
