Spiritual People
Are you spiritual? Do you consider yourself a spiritual Christ follower? There are simple tests to determine whether or not you are.
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul seeks to inform a church filled with people who are very gifted in the Spirit about the reality of what being spiritual is all about. A Spirit-filled person is someone who allows the Spirit to control what they have and where they fit in the body of Christ.
The gifts of the Spirit "are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills." 1 Corinthians 12:11 I think we forget the Holy Spirit is a Person. He has a will and a plan. He works through the church according to His plan to build up the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit's main objective is not to make your dreams come true. It is to build up the Body.
Are we concerned for the body? Or are we concerned for ourselves? Paul make it clear the reason why you are where you are is so that you will love the body of Christ. He says, "God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another." (Verses 24-25).
A spiritual Christian is someone who understands God is doing something in the body of Christ that is larger than his/her self. You are where you are as designed and orchestrated by God to care for the parts around you.
I got a question recently from a guy, "Do we have any small groups for people who want to really delve deeper into the Bible? The small group I was in has too many new believers in it." I wanted to puke. I said, "You can be there to help new believers get to know the Lord." I realized quickly my words were falling on deaf ears.
This is the sad testimony of too many people! This "I want to be spiritual, I want to be deep" junk! Too many "Simon the Sorcerers" from Acts 8 who want to leapfrog the "food chain" of Christian celebrity status. Jesus chastised these kinds of people with great regularity! He said to those who loved "deep" Bible studies: "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life." John 5:39–40 (ESV)
It is not that you shouldn't desire to be spiritual and gifted, it is what are you looking for in that gifting? Something for yourself or others? "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." 1 Corinthians 12:7 (ESV)
May we have the heart of Jesus - who FILLED with the SPIRIT was among us as one who serves.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, You sent the Holy Spirit to accomplish Your work, not our dreams. May we remember the gifts, service, and activities we have are for the building up of one another. In the Name of Jesus.
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul seeks to inform a church filled with people who are very gifted in the Spirit about the reality of what being spiritual is all about. A Spirit-filled person is someone who allows the Spirit to control what they have and where they fit in the body of Christ.
The gifts of the Spirit "are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills." 1 Corinthians 12:11 I think we forget the Holy Spirit is a Person. He has a will and a plan. He works through the church according to His plan to build up the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit's main objective is not to make your dreams come true. It is to build up the Body.
Are we concerned for the body? Or are we concerned for ourselves? Paul make it clear the reason why you are where you are is so that you will love the body of Christ. He says, "God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another." (Verses 24-25).
A spiritual Christian is someone who understands God is doing something in the body of Christ that is larger than his/her self. You are where you are as designed and orchestrated by God to care for the parts around you.
I got a question recently from a guy, "Do we have any small groups for people who want to really delve deeper into the Bible? The small group I was in has too many new believers in it." I wanted to puke. I said, "You can be there to help new believers get to know the Lord." I realized quickly my words were falling on deaf ears.
This is the sad testimony of too many people! This "I want to be spiritual, I want to be deep" junk! Too many "Simon the Sorcerers" from Acts 8 who want to leapfrog the "food chain" of Christian celebrity status. Jesus chastised these kinds of people with great regularity! He said to those who loved "deep" Bible studies: "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life." John 5:39–40 (ESV)
May we have the heart of Jesus - who FILLED with the SPIRIT was among us as one who serves.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, You sent the Holy Spirit to accomplish Your work, not our dreams. May we remember the gifts, service, and activities we have are for the building up of one another. In the Name of Jesus.
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