Wednesday February 11, 2015

Read 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

Imagine a church where every position, every role and need, was filled by the church prayerfully seeking those members who are spiritually gifted in that area. Rather than asking for volunteers and taking anyone who puts up their hand, this church has each position filled by God’s choosing. Imagine a church where people serve in line with their giftings. Such a church, I suspect, would witness rapid and accelerated growth and maturity among the Christians. The growth would occur rapidly because the church would definitively impact the general society around it so much so that many would come to check out this dynamic church. It would mature quickly because people would not be overloaded and busy. Space would be created for the Holy Spirit to bring growth and maturation.

The standard rule of thumb in every church, across all denominations, is that 30% of the people do 70% of the work. The Church today needs preachers, teachers, disciplers, evangelists, servants, deacons, helpers, administrative people, singers, musicians, technical people, welcomers, encouragers, prayer warriors and on and on it goes. Imagine how differently your church would function if these positions were filled by the Holy Spirit’s choosing rather than relying on volunteers or on the 30% that do pretty much everything in the church!

The basis for this dream is 1 Corinthians 12:7. Let me encourage you to commit it to memory and to meditate upon in throughout the rest of this week. Notice what this verse says.

to each one is given… There are no bystanders in God’s church. There are no reserves on the sideline bench. God has given a gift to each person in the church. Put bluntly, if you are a Christian then God has given something to you as a gift so that you can be a productive and active part of the church.

a manifestation of the Spirit… But what has God given us? A manifestation or outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In other words you have been given a gift, or service or working (v4-6) from God. The implications of this are enormous. It means that I can no longer come to church expecting to simply sit through the service, listen to what’s said and then to go home. God has given you and me of His Holy Spirit so that we can be actively engaged in the workings of the church. Consumerism is dead!

for the common good. But why has each one been given a manifestation of the Spirit? Paul answers this in the last part of the verse – for the common good. God has equipped you with a spiritual gift so that you can build up the body. God wants you to be actively engaged for the edification and blessing of others. This too has enormous implications. It means that church attendance is no longer about me and my needs. It means that I come to church not to be served but to serve. That echoes Jesus’ attitude doesn’t it? In Mark 10:45 Jesus said, ‘For even the son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.’ When we wake up Sonday mornings and feel lazy or just can’t be bothered getting ready for Church or when we are tempted by a host of other offers and priorities on Sonday, remembering that Church is about others and blessing/edifying them helps us to make good priorities and right choices.

Prayer:

Prayer:

Use the day’s reading notes and Bible passage to pray meaningfully:

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

· Ask God to remain faithful to His Word in 1 Corinthians 12:7 and to show  each person in your church what their spiritual gift is. Pray that He would communicate clearly with each person.

· Pray that every person in your congregation would be receptive to God’s leading and that each person would be faithful in using the spiritual gift that God has given them for the common good.

 Discussion & Reflection

1. Explain verse 7 in your own words.

2. What are the implications of verse 7 for you personally, for your cell and for your congregation?

3. Verses 7-11 list many different gifts. Define each one and tick the ones that you desire to have or think you have.

4. If I think I have a particular spiritual gift but am not sure, what should I do?