How important is the diversity of spiritual gifts?
How important is the diversity of spiritual gifts?
Sonny Ramsay explores 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.
4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different activities, but the same God produces each gift in each person. 7 A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good: 8 to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9 to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of tongues, to another, interpretation of tongues. 11 One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.
Does the Holy Spirit live in us? How do we get the gift?
Scott Crowley leads a conversation around the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
He also said to them: “Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don’t have anything to offer him.’ Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness, he will get up and give him as much as he needs. “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
Luke 11:5
What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit? What about speaking in tongues?
Larry Pons starts a series on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The first to be addressed is speaking in tongues.
How do we show mercy as a gift of the Holy Spirit?
Tim Dailey has been a part of the ministry here at the Christian Training Center since it was founded in the 1970’s. This Sunday he continues our series on the gifts of the Holy Spirit by discussing the gift of mercy.
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:6-8
“Mercy is not only required, it is also reciprocal and demands action. The mercy of God is demonstrated in this world by His people.” – Tim Dailey
Joules to Jewels – Part 2
Larry brings us Part 2 of Joules to Jewels. The power of God is stunning. We are filled with the Holy Spirit if God. The very same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead into an incorruptible body.
_____________________________________________________
Check out our upcoming ministry programs for young adults and families. Please click here.
Our programs are like an immersion into a new language – the language of living in Jesus. The goal is fluency in the language of relationships. Programs share a sequential vision, building an understanding of relationships and family culture. The foundation is an encounter with Jesus. This encounter is the means for both insight and vision. Encountering Jesus leads a radical change in living and relationships.
Heroes Semester is a 10-week residential, “family style” living experience like no other! | — The 2020 date will be announced soon. | Participants ages 18-26 come with one purpose – to go deeper with the Lord. Learn more about our programs here.
Strengthening & Restoring Family Relationships — Train to Reign Program — Oct 20 – Nov 2 | Family is the most vital relationship and the one under the most pressure and attack. Come strengthen your family in a strong relationship with God. Learn more here.
If you would like to donate to the Christian Training Center, please click here.
What is God’s kingdom like?
The joy of deliverance is amazing. When God sets us free, rejoicing is in order. We were tied up missing God’s goal (aka sin). Jesus, our Master, set us free. We are now His slaves.
What is God’s kingdom like? It is spiritual, not physical. Now that brings celebration because we can have it now. We can be ecstatic.
We can embrace joy. We have great news!
Who Is Our Helper?
Jedidiah Wright, summer intern, shares about what it means to listen to the holy spirit in your life.
If you would like to donate to the Christian Training Center, please click here.
Check out our upcoming ministry programs for young adults and families. Please click here.
Our programs are like an immersion into a new language – the language of living in Jesus. The goal is fluency in the language of relationships. Programs share a sequential vision, building an understanding of relationships and family culture. The foundation is an encounter with Jesus. This encounter is the means for both insight and vision. Encountering Jesus leads a radical change in living and relationships.
Heroes Semester is a 10-week residential, “family style” living experience like no other! | — Sept 2 – Nov 9, 2019 | Participants ages 18-26 come with one purpose – to go deeper with the Lord. ow.ly/Nhag30oRYRK
Strengthening & Restoring Family Relationships — Train to Reign Program — Oct 20 – Nov 2 | Family is the most vital relationship and the one under the most pressure and attack. Come strengthen your family in a strong relationship with God. http://ow.ly/l5SU30oS5pQ
Scripture
John 16 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
“I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling. 2 They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 They will do these things because they haven’t known the Father or me. 4 But I have told you these things so that when their time comes you will remember I told them to you. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going away to him who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Yet, because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: 9 About sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; 11 and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
Why don’t the religious elites know these things from Jesus?
Jesus Teaching
I can get confused. Nicodemus did for sure. His whole world was the bible and theology. He is a member of the Jewish religious elite. I have a similar background having grown up in the church and studied scripture my whole life.
I can get confused. Like Nicodemus I ask”How can these things be?”
There is good news. Jesus sets me straight. Jesus explains it to me. Jesus is patient.
“How can these things be?” asked Nicodemus.
“Are you a teacher of Israel [a member of the religious elite] and don’t know these things?” Jesus replied. “Truly I tell you, we speak what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you do not accept our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven—the Son of Man. | John 3:9-13 (CSB)
Nicodemus had described Jesus as a teacher. Ironically, perhaps even sarcastically, Jesus returns the compliment — and adds “the” and “of Israel” to heighten the irony of Nicodemus’s teacherly ignorance.
Nevertheless, the high rank of Nicodemus doesn’t rise to the level of Jesus as a teacher who, according to Nicodemus himself, “has come from God”.
Why should Nicodemus have understood these things? Because Ezekiel 36:25–27 quotes the Master as saying, “Then I’ll sprinkle clean water on you, and you’ll be clean.… Moreover, I’ll give you a new heart and put a Spirit in you.… And I’ll put my Spirit in you.…”
Now we know why Jesus told Nicodemus why he shouldn’t marvel. As “the teacher of Israel” Nicodemus should have understood Jesus’ words in terms of Ezekiel’s prophecy.
Here is the literal translation:
Nicodemus answered and said to him, “How can these things [being born from above, from water, even the Spirit] happen?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and don’t know these things?”
If you would like to donate to CTCI please click here.
Sources:
Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jn 3:9–13). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
Gundry, R. H. (2010). Commentary on the New Testament: Verse-by-Verse Explanations with a Literal Translation (pp. 360–361). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.
Natural and Spiritual Sonship | Jay Fesperman (3/3)
As we have already said, “Those who are led by the SPIRIT OF GOD are SONS OF GOD.” Acknowledging this to be the Word of God, we need to be very careful about saying “the Spirit told me” this or that. If the Holy Spirit speaks to us, He does so because we are a “son of God”. So, since sonship is obedience, then that which we hear from the Spirit must be acted upon in complete obedience!
Natural and Spiritual Sonship | Jay Fesperman (2/3)
Now, I have said all this to bring us to a very practical place of understanding our roles as SONS in our relationship to our Lord and to one another. You see, we are told (Romans 8:14-15) “Those who are lead by the SPIRIT OF GOD are SONS OF GOD. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the SPIRIT OF SONSHIP. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father!'” Then verse 16: “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are GOD’S CHILDREN.”
Natural and Spiritual Sonship
We’re hearing a lot of talk about the amazing work of the Holy Spirit in these days of spiritual renewal. We know the Bible talks a lot about the various ways the Holy Spirit works. . .The Holy Spirit hovered over the waters of the earth before the present form came into being. . .the Holy Spirit reveals God’s meaning in the Scriptures; He is the “Spirit of Truth”. . .the Holy Spirit speaks life into dead men.
But another role of the Holy Spirit is to be the BRIDGE between the FATHER and the SON. He is the RELATER of relationships! Beginning in the Godhead.