Going to CHURCH and using your Spiritual GIFTS

The New Testament repeatedly emphasizes the importance of local assemblies.

Ephesians 4:15-16
Speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Acts 2:42 shows us what the early church did when they met together: "They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

Just like a family, a local church is our spiritual family. It is only in the local body to which one is committed that there can be the level of intimacy that is required for spiritual growth with brothers/sisters in Christ "to love and good deeds." Only through that kind spiritual initamcy where we can encourage one another. Through the local elders (church leaders), spirit-filled are to meet for encouraging, admonishing, and teaching. Hebrews 13:7 and 17 explains what God have expected us to have accountability through godly leadership and fellow believers.

We do not need Church for salvation, only Christ provides salvation. We do need fellowship with our brothers & sisters in Christ and that can only be accomplish through a local church.

Each local church is a fellowship in the deepest spiritual meaning of that word........Every local church is an expression of Church because as believers we are members of Christ's body through whom He seeks to reach out to people around us. A.W. Tozer

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. Paul—First Corinthians 12:12, 27

When a Christian shuns fellowship with other Christians, the devil smiles. When he stops studying the Bible, the devil laughs. When he stops praying, the devil shouts for joy. Corrie ten Boom

Quote:
Two of Satan's Beatitudes

Blessed are they who are too tired and too busy to go to church on Sunday, for they are my best workers.

Blessed are they who are those who don't think they need to go to church on Sunday, for they are my best workers.

Spiritual Gifts


The main problem I am having regarding some churches regarding spiritual gifts, especially tongues. I know there are people speaking in tongues today but not many are able to interpret them. Tongues can be practiced in a matter that should be consistent with the Bible. Tongues spoken in private is permissionable because it is "in private between God and the person" and no interpreters are needed. Only God knows and understands. Spiritual gifts have been mentioned in the WORD and like some say, no such thing. That each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. Everybody who has the gift of teaching doesn't teach the same way. Everybody who has the gift of exhortation doesn't counsel the same way. Everybody who has the gift of helps doesn't help the same way.

The bottom line about Spiritual Gifts. Get to know all of the gifts and listen to your brothers and sisters in Christ pointing out your gifts. Many times they say things to you indirectly, all you have to do pay attention and learn more about what you have heard. To use your spiritual gift, all you need to do is walk in the Spirit, let the Holy Spirit do what He will through you. Allow the Holy Spirit directs you, and see people affirm your spritual gifts are going to be something that causes people (the local church) to respond, because it is for them. The idea of the spiritual gifts is simply that the Lord uses that gift in a unity, in a unifying way. God uses your spiritual gifts by His Spirit as He wills. Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit produces power, love, a sound mind through you. Without Christ, you are nothing. Along with love and under the control of the Holy Spirit, the power of love and Holy Spirit flows through you since the only way the spiritual gifts are going to operate is love. Love is the key. God is love. He gave us two commandments. We are to love God and others. With the Holy Spirit and love, we will walk in the Spirit, Christ produces the fruit. And out of that fruit comes whatever the ministry of the gifts Christ wanted us to use.

I believe God will use whatever gifts He will use around the world because He is simply God. What I am trying to say, its all come down to common sense when we are ministering others and there are ALL gifts God will provide for us to use at HIS discrection, not ours.

Someone may try to give someone "credit" for getting the blessings from God when they think they have done it from the works of faith. Faith is a gift from the Holy Spirit, without the Holy Spirit, you can't have faith and without the Holy Spirit, you can't be spiritual. If you don't have faith, then you don't have the Holy Spirit. Faith don't come before the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit comes before Faith. Faith will express itself in faith deeds not just words alone. Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Romans 15:13, Overflowing hope is the gift of the God of hope by the power of the Spirit. Faith is a gift from God and only the Holy Spirit can provide faith in us. The key in order to make faith work, submission to God is the key.

Obviously, there is no real sense in which we are able to do spiritual work of any kind without the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, our faith and our works are NOTHING. My Faith itself is not in my works because the Holy Spirit is the generator of my works which is obedience and love. Through the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of life and light and love.

Spiritual gifts are "evidences" of faith. Every believer is anointed one way or another depending on the Holy Spirit's movement. Believers are anointed. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 1 John 2:20 "you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth." 1 John 2:27 "As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him."

FAITH "is the gift of God…that no one should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). Faith comes as a result of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit-He quickens our hearts to believe. 1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Without Christ, we are nothing. Along with love and under the control of the Holy Spirit, the power of love and Holy Spirit flows through us. The only way the spiritual gifts are going to operate is love. Love is the key. God is love.

Ministries are using the Bible to encourage people who are affected by all kinds of trials including disabilities (both visible and invisible)so that we can be conformed to God's image. The ministry's objective is to meet the emotional and spiritual needs of the afflicted people in practical ways while at the same time, Glorify God. God has a plan. God has a will. His main goal is to save souls. More are being saved through special minitries that are able to reach out to those who needs to hear that God is with them. Thank God for those ministries !!! People who live with chronic illness or daily physical pain often feel as though no one understands what they are going through. Chronic illness can become a part of a church's ministry for members. Jesus said, "Woe to you also, lawyers [experts in religious law]! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers" (Luke 11:46). The burden of loving help which we are admonished to give to others: "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2) which never harmed a soul. The burden of moral responsibility which no one can shift to another: "For each one should carry his own load" (Galatians 6:5) which is a source of comfort if our hearts are right. Through the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of life and light and love. He will always act like Jesus, toward sinners in compassion, toward saints in warm affection, toward human suffering in tenderest pity and love. Do we really submit to the fruits of the spirit as spirit-filled Christians?

Hebrews 10:24-25 commands every believer to be a part of such a local body and reveals why this is necessary. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Acts 2:42 shows us what the early church did when they met together: "They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."