Wednesday 5 June 2013

June 2013 - Body Building with Spiritual Gifts

This month we will be looking at the Gifts of the Spirit.  Last month we considered the Holy Spirit, Himself.  It’s important that we not lose the connection between the two.  We certainly recognize that these spiritual gifts are not simply natural abilities that are taken to a new level by the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is not some gas with a higher octane rating that gives our natural engine more power.  These gifts are not simply empowered by the Holy Spirit but originate from Him.  1 Corinthians 12 says that the gifts, or graces, are “manifestations” of the Spirit.  They don’t enlighten us about man but about God dwelling in His temple.

There is a distinct difference between saying, “I have the gift of prophecy” and saying, “Holy Spirit often reveals Himself through me by prophecy.”  I have seen an ownership problem with the spiritual gifts in some people’s lives.  It’s far to easy to believe that a gift of the Spirit is for the one who has it.  The truth is that the spiritual gift that resides in a Christian is for someone else, or for the church.  I can benefit as part of the church, but the gift in me is still other-oriented.  I believe God wants us to be healthier and more mature in relation to the spiritual gifts.

As we consider the spiritual gifts this month, we will not be so much looking at each gift as much the gifts overall.  We will consider their purpose, public practice, personal engagement and priorities.  Each of the passages in Romans, 1 Corinthians and Ephesians speak of Christ’s body and unity.  So, we will be on a monthly body building exercise and I hope you will put in the time and effort any such exercise warrants.

Journeying with you,

Pastor Merril

May 2013 - Intoxicated?

Some of you who are reading this may be doing your own pondering: “What are they getting at with the cover of this month’s bulletin?”  What is meant by “Intoxicated?”

Let me start by reminding you that the event that is being referred to happens this month.  May 19th is the day we celebrate Pentecost in 2013.  It reminds us of a pivotal moment in the life of the church.  Jesus told the disciples to not simply go off and witness to His resurrection.  He said they needed power. (See Acts 1:8)

As you go on to read the account of that particular Pentecost celebration (in Acts 2, also noted in the image on the front of the bulletin), you will read that some thought they were drunk—intoxicated (Acts 2:13,15).  In the context of the event, those who thought they were drunk probably heard the newly “filled with the Holy Spirit” speaking in tongues they did not recognize.  It was the claim of the doubtful.  And yet, it is also possible to have such a euphoric experience in the Holy Spirit as to seem drunk.

There is a verse in the New Testament that also refers both to being drunk and being filled with the Holy Spirit.  Ephesians 5:18 says: “And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit” (HCSB).  Or, consider how this verse is translated in The Message: “Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him.”  Paul is comparing the level of drink needed to be intoxicated with the level of being filled with the Holy Spirit.  How full do you feel?

The tense/voice/mood of the Greek word for “be filled” indicates that it is actually a continual action of being filled.  This might seem like an odd thought if you think that once filled you are full and needing no more.  That would be true if you were not a conduit for the Holy Spirit to move through (see John 7:38-39).  That might also be true if you were a vessel that remained the same size (see what the NT says about increase).  Or, that might be true if all areas of your life were completely transformed by God (see 2 Cor. 3:17-18).

I will leave you with an interesting example from the lives of people in the early church, some of which were there on that Pentecost where the Spirit of God filled them.

And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31, NKJV)

Journeying with you,

Pastor Merril