Earnestly Desiring the Best Gifts of the Spirit

God wants each of us to be filled with His Holy Spirit and be loaded with the gifts of the Spirit for His ministry.

He wants to use each one of us:
"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all" (1Co 12:7 NKJ)

We are members of His body. No man would ever want any part of his body to be left unused. Nobody would say, "I will shut my nose off and not use it". God wants to use each one of us.

However, the question is do we want to be used of God? Really?

There are two things spoken to us in 1Corinthians 12-14 that are essential in the pursuit of the gifts of the Spirit.

1. Zeal and Intense Passion for the Gifts
"Earnestly desire the best gifts. (1Co 12:31 NKJ)
"Desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. (1Co 14:1 NKJ)

The word for "desire" is zeloo and means "intense zeal". It is the same word from which the word "zealot" comes. The zealots were a terrorist group, a do or die people. To be zealous for the best gifts is to be so fully consumed of desire for the gifts that it is like a do or die situation. Jesus said that if we genuinely and persistently ask for the Spirit, the Father will give. He won't give His precious gifts to those who only half-heartedly seek them. Because, then, they never understand the value of the same. A really zealous person is like a thirsty man who cannot give up looking for water till he found water to drink. So, a person who is zealously seeking the gifts of the Spirit cannot find rest until God has filled him. Such person will not sleep and slumber in prayer. He will not get bored of prayer times. He will pray in the Spirit; he will enquire, seek, follow.

2. The More Excellent Way Called Love
"And yet I show you a more excellent way." (ICor 12:31)
"Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts." (ICor 14:1)

God will never entrust His power to somebody who doesn't have God's love.
-Power without Love is destructive. It will destroy both the one who possesses the power and those around that person.
-Power without Love is immoral. Love is the fulfillment of Law; therefore, power without love is immoral and lawless.
-Power without Love is godless. God is love; therefore, power without love is godless.
-Power without Love cannot work the righteousness of God.

Smith Wigglesworth said: Faith+Compassion=Miracle

Jesus was moved with compassion and healed people. Love is the more excellent way. It is the way that remains. Love is the greatest of all.

Be rooted in the love of Christ and your life will bear fruit for Christ.

We all can have the gifts of the Spirit if we are zealous for them and if we cherish the love of Christ in our hearts for all.

Is Water Baptism Necessary Before Partaking in Lord's Supper

"Last Supper" by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (1750) Yes, it is. Water baptism identifies one with the redemption work of Jesus Christ, with His death, burial, and resurrection. It is anticipated of visible identification with Christ and His Church. Every person has the personal responsibility to examine him/herself before deciding to partake in the Lord's Table. The Bible makes it clear that those who chose not to be baptized were rejecting the counsel of God (Lk.7:30). In a mixed congregation, it is not possible to always know who is worthy to partake of the Table; however, the minister must encourage only those who have been baptized for remission of sins (not just as a ritual but by faith in Jesus Christ) to partake of the Table. Before Jesus sat down to dip bread in the cup, He washed His disciples' feet. He makes the statement that they are already "washed" and only need feet to be washed. Of course, this may not explicitly/only refer to their baptism, fo

Matthew 6:31-33

"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Mat 6:31-33) The original sense of nakedness was from that deep insecurity of autonomy that sprung from man's first alienation from God due to sin-- spiritual death. Seeking God marks man's refusal to stay alienated by turning towards His Maker in whom alone is Covering and true Security and no reason to be ashamed anymore.

Is it not cruel for God to kill His Son in place of us?

The doctrine of atonement is a stumbling block for some who feel that it not only exemplifies cruelty but also does away with human responsibility. The issue abounds with various questions and attempts to solution. Questions: 1. If God knew that man would sin and fall, why did He create man? 2. Why doesn't God, if He exists, intervene and stop evil; why just be Judge but not be Governor with proper police security system that minimises the possibility of transgression? 3. How can the death of one particular man atone for the sins of many particular men? 4. Isn't it not cruel to punish an innocent man for the sins of others so that they go free? Answers that challenge the Christian doctrine: 1. God does not require sacrifice in order to forgive, He can forgive by sovereign authority. 2. Every man must bear his own guilt so that he has a sense of responsibility and possess a genuine reason to pursue good and turn from evil. Biblical Responses: 1. God's knowledge of human Fall

Marbaniang, Domenic

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