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Ephesians 4:11-13 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: (KJV)
We have been talking about the term gift or gifts, what was given on our behalf. When you think of the term gifts you see it comes in the form of those that in verse 11 know who they are in Christ, and then in turn show others what was given. These are people that have chosen not to limit the Lord, but have learned what was provided to them when they accepted salvation. You will not grow and mature until you learn these things for yourself. 1 Corinthians12:4-6 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which works all in all. (KJV) Every person is unique and different in who they are and what they’re called to. The reason the church is so stale and lifeless at times is because many spend too much time emulating others rather than allowing their own personalities of who they really are to manifest. Many get a bit robotic and we see more assembly line Christians than those that truly find their calling in the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. (KJV) Please take note of verse 7 so that you don’t have to operate in the ignorance of many who think they only received some of the gift of the Spirit and not the whole package. Everything that is written in this chapter deals with Spiritual things, things that are yours for the taking. Ephesians 1:2-4 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (KJV) Please take note of that big little word in verse 3, ‘all’; as well, ‘us’ is another big one because it doesn’t limit anyone access to what the Lord provided for His people and the reason God sent the Son. Anything less than all is unacceptable and not an area you should settle for. I John 2:20-21 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. (KJV) Every day that we are in this world should be a learning process, where we go from relying on our outward senses to the inward ones. Every day you should be growing and learning who you are in Christ and all that He has given you access to. Don’t ever limit the Lord and tell Him what He can’t do because He is willing and able to do above and beyond what you could have ever asked or thought of. God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Corinthians 12:1-3 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God called Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. (KJV)
In your past life before your conversion in Christ you were misguided, looking for answers, but then you found a whole new life in Christ. This week we are going to concentrate on Spiritual things given to us for our benefit. Verse one uses the term gifts which is actually an added word; what you will find is that you were given access to everything needed to walk a victorious life in the Spirit and no longer be held back by the limitations of the flesh. Ephesians 4:7-8 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he says, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (KJV) God sent a gifted man our way in the form of His Son who allowed the Spirit to manifest through Him, a man who was not in bondage to the dictates of the flesh. The gift of Christ is yours too. Much of the ignorance we are surrounded with today is with those who have limited the Lord by their carnal interpretations of what they have heard through man and not personally though the Holy Spirit. If you are not hearing first hand from the Lord yourself then you too have allowed the thief to come into your house and rob you blind. I John 5:9-11 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (KJV) The greatest gift that was ever sent our way is one many don’t see, because they either settled for what man told them or they keep looking in the outward fallen realm thinking they will find fulfillment. When you realize personally who the Son is and why He was sent, as well as what was really given to us through Him, you will be amazed at how blind and ignorant you were living, even at times after your conversion in Christ. Acts 8:18-20 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power that on whomsoever I lay hands; he may receive the Holy Ghost. 20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. (KJV) An interesting question was asked a while back that has stuck with me for months, that being “how did we get to this point”? I say this because while working out the other day and turning on one of the prominent TV ministries I was bombarded with a telethon, basically following the same principals illustrated in the above verses. Acts 8:21-22 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. (KJV) Just exactly which chapter and verse was it that our Lord did a telethon? Dearly loved, have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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