This morning was a little hard to roll myself out of bed but I did do it and boy, am I glad that I did.
Our day started with the going to Ian’s (A Vicar in England) house for a time of prayer and scripture reading.
The whole FYM team, Henry and Ian were there.
What a great way to start your day.
Then we had a team time of worship and prayer followed by looking into God’s Word and defining each spiritual gift.
It never stops to amaze me how much we can glean from God’s Word.
As many times as you read it and study it you always see something new and fresh.
What a great time to we had of discussion.
Let me ask you a couple of questions and please feel free to comment.
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When you accept Christ, do you receive all the spiritual gifts, or just select ones that God gives to you?
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If you do not receive all the gifts, then how can you develop them and grow them?
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Depending on our personality and our strengths and weaknesses, is that what determines what gifts are more predominant?
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Is Grace a gift?
Would love to have your input.
Thursday is my last day to teach so if you could send me an email with some insights, before then, that would be great.
I would like for you to meet Marilyn Goeden.
She is from Wadena, Minnesota and has graduated from University of Wisconsin with a Retail Merchandising Major and a Business Minor.
She has dreams of starting her own business called “MarWear” which will sell outdoor merchandise with a Christian atmosphere.
Pray as she is here for 3 more months that she would love the country and the people in England and her team.
Pray that she has a servant’s heart in all she does.
Pray that she intercedes for the people here in England and that their eyes would be unveiled to the truth.
You know I love questions like these and won’t let an opportunity for interaction slip away. Romans 12:6, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” 1 Corinthians 12:11, “All these (the gifts) are the work of the one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.” We were not given all of the gifts, but the Spirit has given us gifts as He has determined. We have the gifts that go with our personality and talents. It is very evident in 1 Cor. 12 that the Spirit gave different gifts to differenct individuals. “To one he gave… to another he gave…” It’s our responsibility to develop those gifts and use them for His service.
Grace is something given to every believer. It is not a spiritual gift. It is only through grace that we are saved. Just as grace was demonstrated by Christ to us, all believers are to demonstrate grace to others. It would be the same as the fruit of the Spirit. These are characteristics which should be evident in every believer. Every believer has been given the Spirit and His fruit should be evident in our lives. But every believer has not been given all the gifts of the Spirit. He divided them up just as He determines. We have the responsibility to use what has been given to us.
Even though God’s grace is not a spritual gift, I still think it is God’s gift to all who believe. What a great gift that is!!
I think that as we grow in Christ and are faithful in doing what he’s given us to do we can receive more gifts as they are needed. I may not have the gift of evangelisim but as I am faithful in sharing Christ with those around me, he can gift me in that area.