The Devotional – A Look at the Book 713
Many elderly people use a life-line system, a pendant or wristband that can be worn anywhere even in the bath. The intent is to gain immediate help in a time of need. For all of us, including those who need this physical medical device; God has always had a life-line system. For over six thousand years it has been available… yet it does not show wear and tear and it has never been repaired. Jeremiah 33:3
1 Corinthians 12:2-3 – The church is made of believers of all nations and all cultures but this does not give the universal church a free reign. Notice what the apostle says. “You know this, that when you were Gentiles (unbelievers) you were carried away to mute or dumb idols, however you were led. These are key words for the whole thought of how the Spirit of God controls the Church of God in time.
Notice verse 3; since you were led by these traditional false idols and other vain religious beliefs, be careful how you handle the things that pertain to life and godliness within the church of God in Christ. If you are using or mixing false worship and talking, singing or preaching Christ you are involved in cursing God; the Greek word is “anathema” again this is not decent, nor does it provide for the orderly works of God as we will see in later verses.
1 Corinthians 12:4 – I know you are waiting for this verse because we find the word gifts; which can be translated; “allotment of various kinds”. We are taught that all of us have a spiritual gift and it is true we do utilize the gifts of the Spirit. However, the allotment of “Spirituals” is given to the “universal church” and each local church has its own allotment. Revelation 2 and 3 describe the use of these gifts within the seven churches. As you study these seven churches you will see something interesting at the conclusion of each evaluation. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”.
So the allotment of “Spirituals” is given to the church and as the needs arise it is the Holy Spirit’s decision to disburse the gifts of the Spirit. You say “aha” well go ahead, but think about this. Over time we have been taught that there are temporal and permanent gifts. I believe this is true in this way; I believe that the section we are dealing with are all permanent to the church and temporal to the individuals within the local body.
Notice the following verses; 1 Corinthians 12:5-6. But first let’s be back up a bit and say just a bit more about the Spirit of God. Is the Spirit of God just a spirit without discretion like some humans; absolutely not therefore the allotment of gifts given to the church needs a biblical foundational and not one of a human viewpoint. Isaiah 11:1-2 , all of the nine allotted ministries assigned to the church are within the control of the Seven Attributes of God the Holy Spirit and He distributes these temporary gifts to members of the local assembly according to His will and not according to man’s will.
Verse 5 – The church of Jesus Christ; that is the title of all local assemblies no matter what name appears on the sign outside. It is simple really; if the church belongs to Him and it does, then the ministries therein belong to Him as well and this brings up that the gifts that are permanent are given to the men that He assigns within the church. Ephesians 4:1-16, please note verse 7 of Ephesians 4.
Verse 6 – The Head of the Church is God who governs the activities. The activity of God is the gospel, which is the death and resurrection of His Son the LORD Jesus, when churches (and they do) move away from the gospel, they move away from the activity that glorifies God which includes the Spiritual wisdom that exalts the LORD Jesus as described in Ephesians 1:15-23. More tomorrow if the LORD tarries.
Many elderly people use a life-line system, a pendant or wristband that can be worn anywhere even in the bath. The intent is to gain immediate help in a time of need. For all of us, including those who need this physical medical device; God has always had a life-line system. For over six thousand years it has been available… yet it does not show wear and tear and it has never been repaired. Jeremiah 33:3
1 Corinthians 12:2-3 – The church is made of believers of all nations and all cultures but this does not give the universal church a free reign. Notice what the apostle says. “You know this, that when you were Gentiles (unbelievers) you were carried away to mute or dumb idols, however you were led. These are key words for the whole thought of how the Spirit of God controls the Church of God in time.
Notice verse 3; since you were led by these traditional false idols and other vain religious beliefs, be careful how you handle the things that pertain to life and godliness within the church of God in Christ. If you are using or mixing false worship and talking, singing or preaching Christ you are involved in cursing God; the Greek word is “anathema” again this is not decent, nor does it provide for the orderly works of God as we will see in later verses.
1 Corinthians 12:4 – I know you are waiting for this verse because we find the word gifts; which can be translated; “allotment of various kinds”. We are taught that all of us have a spiritual gift and it is true we do utilize the gifts of the Spirit. However, the allotment of “Spirituals” is given to the “universal church” and each local church has its own allotment. Revelation 2 and 3 describe the use of these gifts within the seven churches. As you study these seven churches you will see something interesting at the conclusion of each evaluation. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”.
So the allotment of “Spirituals” is given to the church and as the needs arise it is the Holy Spirit’s decision to disburse the gifts of the Spirit. You say “aha” well go ahead, but think about this. Over time we have been taught that there are temporal and permanent gifts. I believe this is true in this way; I believe that the section we are dealing with are all permanent to the church and temporal to the individuals within the local body.
Notice the following verses; 1 Corinthians 12:5-6. But first let’s be back up a bit and say just a bit more about the Spirit of God. Is the Spirit of God just a spirit without discretion like some humans; absolutely not therefore the allotment of gifts given to the church needs a biblical foundational and not one of a human viewpoint. Isaiah 11:1-2 , all of the nine allotted ministries assigned to the church are within the control of the Seven Attributes of God the Holy Spirit and He distributes these temporary gifts to members of the local assembly according to His will and not according to man’s will.
Verse 5 – The church of Jesus Christ; that is the title of all local assemblies no matter what name appears on the sign outside. It is simple really; if the church belongs to Him and it does, then the ministries therein belong to Him as well and this brings up that the gifts that are permanent are given to the men that He assigns within the church. Ephesians 4:1-16, please note verse 7 of Ephesians 4.
Verse 6 – The Head of the Church is God who governs the activities. The activity of God is the gospel, which is the death and resurrection of His Son the LORD Jesus, when churches (and they do) move away from the gospel, they move away from the activity that glorifies God which includes the Spiritual wisdom that exalts the LORD Jesus as described in Ephesians 1:15-23. More tomorrow if the LORD tarries.
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