Tag Archives: wisdom

Spiritual Gifts – 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

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Last night at our Lifegroup, we discussed the gifts of the Spirit. As part of our aims in our new Lifegroup we: “aim to encourage the use of the gifts of the Spirit in order to strengthen us spiritually as individuals and as a group”. Brynn therefore felt we should pick up on this and learn more about what the gifts of the Spirit actually are. We first looked through the gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11.

Wisdom

I understand this to be the ability to advise in difficult situations, resolving arguments, solving problems etc. I don’t think it refers either to a worldly wisdom but one that is of a divine nature.

Knowledge

Knowledge of the Word, and being able to effectively communicate the Word and the Knowledge gained from it.

Faith

Matthew 17:19-20 talks of faith enabling you to achieve wonderful and amazing things. As believers we all have faith, however I think this refers to a more radical faith where the normal rationalisations we add to a situation no longer apply to those people, and the have complete and utter faith in the Lord for something.

Healing

Jesus healed the sick.  By the power of the Holy Spirit some are able to pray over the sick and the sick are healed.  I think healing can cover both physical and mental illnesses or afflictions.

Miraculous Powers

Seems to tie in with healing, however there are stories too of other miraculous things taking place in modern times, for example people being raised from the dead.

Prophecy

The ablitiy to receive pictures and Word direct from the Lord, and to then be able to effectively communicate these to the group or to the individual that picture or word is for.  I used to think that prophecy was about predicting the future, however it would seem it is more being a mouthpiece for God, speaking wisdom, knowledge, encouragement and advice into peoples situations.  Prophecy can be particularly effective when someone prophecies into a situation in your life, or into something you are thinking about, and yet they have no earthly knowledge of the situation!  This has happened to me on occasions and it is incredible.

Distinguishing Between Spirits

Often when I watch religious broadcasting, certain preachers will set off alarm bells in my mind.  Sometimes based on what they are saying, and others just the feeling that although what they are saying seems Biblically sound, their motive is not that of the Lord.  It is the ability to see what is of the Holy Spirit, and what is of satan.

Tongues and Interpretation

This is an often debated subject in the church and one I believe we are going to study together in the Lifegroup to better understand this gift.  I think in a nutshell that its the ability to talk in other languages and others have the ability to translate.  I will go into more detail in on tongues as and when we have studied it in more detail soon.

Bryn pointed out that throughout the Bible, there are other gifts of the Spirit mentioned to include:

Serving, Administration, Teaching, Encouragement, Giving, Leadership, Mercy, Helping Others, Hospitality, Interpretation of Dreams and Creative Arts.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but certainly highlights the wide breadth of gifts that the Holy Spirit can and will bestow on believers.

Why so many gifts, and why does he give them to us?  Firstly, these are gifts.  They are gifts of His grace, and not of our own doing.  He gives us these different gifts, to different people, I think to build up the church, as well as each other and to help advance His kingdom.  We all have different gifts at different levels to create balance within the Church so that we can act as one body.  Ann made a good point, if we all had the same gift for example, prophecy, we would never get through one Sunday service as everyone would be prophecying and there would be far to much to act upon!

With such a wide range of gifts at our own church, things really do work well.  We have people gifted with musical abilities, others with serving others (the welcoming team), others with leadership, others with administration (including finances etc) as well as others with serving (including those that always have the tea and coffee ready at the end of the service).  During the service also, we are lucky to have many wise, knowledgable people who bring word to us all, as well as prophecy.  The Lord has built up a dynamic Church, full of people with completely different gifts, all working together to grow His church.  Its is indeed amazing, exciting and wonderful.

Sources – John 6:60-71

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Interesting that the Our Daily Bread reading for today, concentrates on a modern day world of sheer information overload.  We are surrounded by all sorts of technology, and marketing material that bombards us daily with images, and information on how we should live our lives, how we should look, how we should feel about ourselves, what we should want in life.  The internet alone contains millions, if not billions of pages full of information on any subject you so wish to search on.  Unfortunately, some of the information isn’t always accurate, and more often than not contains a very worldly perspective.

It is a very valid point, and a reminder of how important it is for us as Christians to ensure that we live our lives according to Gods Holy Word.  The Bible should always be our final say in any decision we make.  With the millions of “self help” speakers out there pioneering break through ways to improve your self worth, and become successful, it is tempting to loose sight of the single source of truth and wisdom that has not gone out of fashion for thousands of years;  God’s Word the Bible.

Any teaching we hear, we should always ensure that not only is it firmly rooted in scripture, but also that we have investigated the subject further ourselves, and studied the scripture, not only to clarify the learning, but to gain an even deeper understanding of the exciting truths contained there in.

With all the modern day sources of information, we need to make sure that the Bible remains number 1.

Wisdom – Proverbs 2:1-9

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The first thing that struck me when reading the first few verses was the importance studying the scriptures. Not to study as a hist orical document,

or just to be able to recite verses, but to feed on it, soaking in the important lessons it has to offer. Storing the knowledge in your heart and actively using it in our lives and relationship with the Lord:

4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. (NIV)

Search for what the He is communicating to us, giving Him our full undivided attention. After all, we certainly wouldn’t be hunting for Gold or Silver and not pay much attention to what we are doing! Search for Gold or Silver, we would have a sense of urgency, a hunger to find what we desired.

Of course we know that material riches do not satisfy, however there is real satisfying riches in Gods Holy Word, and we can find them if we only take the time and make the effort to immerse ourselves and study.

6 For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. (NIV)

Some of the books of the Bible date back thousands of years, and yet it is STILL the worlds best seller! It’s author is the best writer in the universe. In it He has imparted much of His amazing wisdom for us to feed on and apply in our own lives. What a gift. He hasn’t just said “Follow Me”, then leave us on our own to get on with it, but He has sent His Holy Spirit down to us to help and guide us, and He has given us the most amazing Book in the Universe to help, guide and give us wisdom, that we may follow him in a way that will glorify Him and advance His Kingdom!

9 Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. (NIV)

When we thirst to know what the Lord wants from us, by studying His word and searching for those treasures just like we would search for Silver or Gold, we will gain an understanding of what is “right, just and fair”, and the wisdom to choose the right paths.

Following His Example – Ephesians 5:1-17

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1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (NIV)

Just as we inherit characteristics in how we look (and possibly act) from our parents and family, when we become children of God, we should look to resemble Him by what we do, how we live etc. God sent His son

to die so that those who believe will not die, and so that we can become children of God. As part of the family we should look to our father for the example of how to live.

I am surprised that in nearly 3 months of regular Bible reading the word imitate has been one of the most regular subjects. I would be tempted to think I have covered this subject and can move onto something else, but I remember many mature Christians who have said to me that they continue to learn even 30 years later after reading the very same portion of scripture. The Bible really can speak something different into different situations of our lives all the time. I don’t know of any other book that can really cover all of life like the Bible does!

Moving back to imitation. I am reminded of days at school when a friend would decide to mimic ever action I made. If I scratched my head they would do so. I would get extremely annoyed by it in the end and start saying things like “I am silly” to get the person to say that! OK, perhaps a poor example, but we are called to copy Christ’s example.

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (NIV)

It’s all very well being told to imitate, however how are we to do this? Well above is one clear example; we are to forgive as Christ forgave us. Note “just as Christ”, we see this also in the first 2 verses of this reading (Ephesians :1-2).

Moving through the passage, there is advice on what to and what not to do to help us keep true to our walk with the Lord. Vers 3 talks of sexual sin. Check out yesterdays reading I did on living in Darkness (Out of Darkness), it talks about sexual sin being something we need to flee from as it is different from all other sin. It is a sin inside the body, and our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Indulging in sexual sin or any other sin for that matter keeps us hidden in the darkness, and disconnects us from the help and support our Lord wants to give us. Remember he can’t look upon sin, but as soon as you ask forgiveness he is there in a shot!

Verse 4 talks of watching what you say and talk about. Filthy language never left Jesus mouth. He only spoke truth and love. We are likewise only to speak the truth, and not to use coarse, or vile words even if they emphasise a point! Mind you, you can still talk about unsavoury things without using bad language so we should also avoid “course talking”, for example joking where the subject has sexual connotations, or an unsavoury hidden (or at times not so hidden) meaning. Foolish talk is also mentioned, and this can mean swearing again, and also talking without thinking! If we babble we can sometimes say things that perhaps we didn’t mean and cause offence to someone. (Guilty as charged!)

Verses 5 & 6 rounds up the previous statements and emphasise the fact that those indulging in this behaviour will be subject to Gods wrath. That sounds scary, and yes God does punish sin. For those who do not believe their actions will lead to death! Why are these verses worded so harshly? I think to really drive the point home that living in darkness does not glorify our Father in Heaven and does not please Him. He will deal with things justly for he is a God of Justice. We have been warned!

Looking in more detail at verse 6, we are warned about being deceived by others words. One thing I am struck by watching some ministries on TV, is how they have used God’s word and Truths out of context. Changing God’s word to suit ourselves is to lie! As Christians we are to adjust our walk to reflect the truth, not to adjust the word to suit how we walk!

Verses 8-10 are a glorious reminder that we were once lost but are now found, we were once in darkness and are now in the light.

As believers we should adjust our actions to imitate our Lord so as to remain in the light, and to glorify Him. Glorifying the Lord acts as a “thank you” for what He did for us, and also offers a living example to those around us of how His saving grace has changed our lives, and that He can do the same for them!

Verses 11 & 12 emphasise the importance of not “going along” with evil deeds.  By going along with them, your silence could act as an endorsement!  We should always be clear and communicate where and when appropriate the Lords view on things using the Bible as our source of truth.  The Bible is Gods Word.  Gods Word is Truth.  Making assumptions of the Lords stance on a situation can be dangerous, we need to make sure we always have Biblical backup to anything we say!

Verses 13 & 14  is an encouragement to those caught up in darkness!  When you are deadlocked in/captive to Sin, you are in darkness and there is no means of escape.  Repent and the light of the Lord will shine on you.  Sin exposed can no longer have a hold on your life for you can now see!  Wake up O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you! 

Verse 15.  A call to live wisely.  Something we cannot do on our own.  Living not as others of this world live, but by following the Lords example and by using Gods Word as our source of wisdom.

Verse 16 tells us not to waste opportunities.  We only have a limited time on this earth, thus we should make sure we jump at every opportunity we have to serve the Lord.  Be it sharing our faith, helping someone who is needy, contributing our skills to a ministry etc.

And finally verse 17.  We have advised over the last few verses firstly of what we must do: Imitate, and then we are given examples and warnings to help us in our walk.  Verse 17 offers a “nutshell conclusion” (do not be foolish), and it then tells us we must understand what the Lord’s will is.  We can only do this by feasting on His word as often as we can, communicating with Him in prayer, fellowship with other Christians and regular Worship.

This passage has been an encouragement and an eye opener for me giving me more insight into how I should act, and what I can do to please and glorify the Lord.  Having been captive to sin and lost in the darkness for many years, I don’t want to return to that wilderness.  This passage is invaluable in offering wisdom for the walk.

Affliction – Psalm 119:65-80

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Today’s devotional picks out 2 verses that speak to our daily struggles:

Psalm 119:67,71

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I obey your word.

71 It was good for me to be afflicted
so that I might learn your decrees.

Whatever the Psalmist’s affliction, instead of becoming embittered and blaming the Lord, he actually thanked the Lord for the affliction! My initial reaction was Why?

“So that I might learn your decrees”.

When an event happens in your life be it good or bad, there is always the opportunity to learn a lesson from it.

I tend to find though, that I usually learn something more from a bad situation and tend not to forget it! I don’t think we are asking the Lord to send bad times to us so we can become wise, but at the same time, we can thank him for the wisdom and thirst for him that we nurture during those times.

Our God is a God of comfort, a tower of strength, and ever present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). Through the power of his Holy Spirit, during times of difficulty, he will be there with us, comforting us, guiding us, making us stronger. And as a result of those situations, we will come to appreciate other things in life that perhaps we had not considered before, or simply took for granted.

Although I would like the rest of my life to be picture perfect and rosy, I know there will be troubled times ahead. I pray that each experience will be a learning experience, and that I will come through them with renewed and strengthened faith. In Jesus name, Amen.

My Rock and My Fortress – Psalm 31:1-8

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This Psalm is a prayer for

help.  The writer is asking God for strength, comfort and wisdom (Psalm 31:3).  Looking back at my own life, there have been so many times when I have been scared, lacked the wisdom to deal with an awkward situation or lacked the strength to see something through to the end.  Of course each time, I was “going it alone” and relying on myself to get through the day.

All it takes is a simple prayer, opening your heart to God and asking for his strength comfort and wisdom and you are no longer alone.  There is no situation in this Universe that the Lord cannot provide his Love for.

As in the latter verses, I must also remember to praise God for this time and the many other times that he has been with me through the good and the bad (Psalm 31:7-8).