Spiritual Gifts, part 2--Love

As promised, I am going to begin a series of posts on spiritual gifts.  I've held off doing this because I wanted to do it with a right heart.  I'm glad I held off, because today's sermon gave me our first topic.  I want to give credit where it is due, so "thank you" to Mike Nichols for your message on love today.
I want to discuss love because it is a very important part of understanding the topic of spiritual gifting.  Love is the ONLY spiritual gift promised to every believer.  The "love chapter", I Corinthians 13, falls in the middle of Paul's discussion on spiritual gifts.  Why would Paul place a chapter on love in the middle of such a discussion? 
Chapter 12 introduces us to the various manifestations of the Holy Spirit:  words of wisdom, words of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation; then tells us that we are all members of the same body, and that as such, our gifts are to be used for the edification of the Body of Christ--the Church.  I think that verse 11 demands some attention here, and I will discuss this at a later date:  "All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who appoints to each one individually as He wills." (ESV, emphasis mine)  These outward gifts are given to individuals by the Holy Spirit; not everyone receives the same gifts.  He (Paul) ends the chapter asking if everyone receives specific gifts.  I'd like to address this, too, at a later date.
Chapter 14 discusses prophecy and tongues specifically, saying that prophecy is more beneficial to the church because it can be understood by everyone.  More on this later.
So, we have the discussion on love between chapters on outward, active giftings.  Why?  Because if the outward gifts are not exercised in love, then they are worthless.  Love is the only gift given to ALL believers.  To understand this, we must turn to I John 4.  Verses 7-8 and 16 read this way:  "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.  Anyone who does not love does not know God because God is love...So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.  God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him." (ESV)  So, we know that God is love.  We also know that anyone who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior receives the Holy Spirit as a sign and seal.  The Holy Spirit is God.  Thus, anyone who accepts Christ receives God and His love.  That's it.  The gift of love, the "more excellent way" (I Cor. 12:30b), is given to all of us.  This is not the "touchy-feely" physical love, or the love between friends and family.  This is love that lasts forever, a covenant love that says "I will love always, no matter what happens, what you do or say"--agape love.  But wait a minute, you say.  Not everyone who has accepted Christ loves the same way or to the same extent.  You may be correct, but love is like any other gift, physical or spiritual--it must be used.  That requires action, a decision on the part of the recipient.
So my challenge is this:  reflect on your actions this past day or week.  How have you used the gift of love?  How have you loved your neighbor?  Your co-worker?  Your spouse?  Your children?  Is God's love for you reflected in how you love others?

Outward Gifts, part 1

Today was the first day of school.  The students were only in class for two hours, but what an interesting two hours!  It was so bad, I considered staying home after lunch.  Fortunately, God heard my cries and changed my heart throughout the afternoon.  I was still pretty shaken when I dropped some info off at church.  Our CLC and I are working on a simulcast the church is hosting, and I had some things on my flash for her.  I intended on stopping by for half-an-hour or so...an hour and a half later, I left with lifted spirits and a humongous coffee mug that currently holds 4 cups of decaf.

While visited with Amy this afternoon, I had the opportunity to share part of my story with her, a wholly unintended, yet very welcome opportunity.  I'd like for tonight's topic to be the outward gifts of the Holy Spirit, however I'm going to formulate what I want to say and include it later.  I will lay out my story, the one I shared today, and share everytime I'm asked.  Think what you will.  Remember, I love feedback!

For the longest time, I was taught to believe that the "outward" gifts of the Spirit (tongues, prophecy, healing, etc.) were not for today's church, that they died with the apostles and that anyone who practiced them wasn't really following the Spirit.  Then, I was taught they were good, but that not everyone received the same gifts.  Later, I heard that anyone who did not practice a prayer language wasn't really filled with the Holy Spirit, and that the gospel wasn't really preached unless tongues followed.  So, you see I have heard, and believed at some point, all ends of the spectrum.  I will say this:  I am a tongue-talking, hand-raising, dancing in the aisles girl.  What do I believe now?  I've written this before, but I'll say it again.  We cannot put God in a box.  We must not expect the Holy Spirit to work exactly the same way in each Christian's life.  To do so limits who God is and how He can act.  It divides the church.  It separates brothers and sisters (physical and spiritual).

I'm not going into theology tonight.  I'm not getting on a soapbox.  I will go to the Word and study this.  I will encourage you to do the same. 

Changes

New look, new content.  I have decided to rename my blog and change its content.  I realized that my original intent for this space and what it became were two, totally unrelated things.  I want this to be a place where I can tell what God places on my heart as I live out this journey of faith we call life.  Instead, it became a place where I vented my frustrations and ended up hurting people because I didn't reflect Christ in what I said and how I said it.  For that, I have asked said persons for forgiveness, and have set out to return to that original intent.  That being said, if I voice an opinion rather than fact, know that I do not mean to direct that opinion toward a single person or persons.  I've learned that God has given us freedom to be individuals, and that means that we will disagree.

Thus, the topic for today is freedom.  I have learned the past few weeks that God has created us individually, and that He loves for us to be individuals.  I cannot, nor do I want to, think, act, and live like any one else.  God has given me my own strengths, my own weaknesses, my own ability to think and act.  For too long, I lived my life believing and thinking like someone else wanted me to, instead of taking everything to the Word and to God through prayer.  As I have begun to realize my individuality as a Christian, I realize that I can love my brothers and sisters in the faith, whether or not we agree.  I can stand beside and behind them in support, even if I think they are off in whatever area.  I MUST do this for Christ wants us, His church, to be united.  There is a song on the radio by Francesca Battistelli called "Free to Be Me".  While it is far from my favorite, the last line of the chorus and the tag capture the essence of what I am trying to say:  "I'm free to be me and you're free to be you." 

As time goes on, hopefully, I want to discuss ideas, thoughts, and arguments that God places on my heart.  If at any time this blog strays from that and begins to attack, please let me know.  Lessons from life have taught me to take it to the source, not the target.

The Journey

This week, I have had the opportunity to work closely with our Community Life Coordinator, Amy. A forgotten appointment led to the provision from God for both of us. But before I go into that, I need to share what God has been showing me the past few weeks. I've really been searching for a place to "plug in"--somewhere where I could use the gifts, talents, and passions God has given me to advance His kingdom. I landed at Trinity, and through His hand plugged in almost right away. I have been doing a lot of thinking about past and present situations, lots of praying about what He wants for me, where He wants me to go. He has shown me, within the last month, that words and actions against me ten years ago have dictated what I've done. I didn't enter the "ministry" due to some bad experiences. I realize that some of the life-shaping things I've done since then have been of my own hand, but also see that many things were of His doing. For example, had I found a church to work in immediately following college, I would not have landed in a Spirit-filled church where I found a new family. I would not have met wonderful people to do life with. Anyway, as I look back on the last ten years, I realized that I could respond to God's revelation in two ways: I could wallow in self-pity and mourn ten years I can't replace, OR I could look back, see the "standing stones" in my life during that time, and rejoice that God has shown me these things. I can, and have, choose (chosen) to trust that He will replace those years, heal the wounds, and guide me where He wants me.
So, in that, I have been praying for more opportunities to experience what He wants for me. I have been praying for chances to exercise those gifts, etc. And, He has been faithful to answer. While not many people would consider re-formatting a training guide or planning a big event "fun," I have thoroughly enjoyed these opportunities (yes, even my eyes are crossed and my hands cramping from cutting and pasting for hours on end). And, He has renewed my interest and desire to work in the church. I'm not saying this is a certainty, and I don't think it will happen for several months, but at least I know that my education and giftings are welcome, even valued.
To those who feel like they aren't appreciated, like their personal ministries (whatever they look like) aren't valued--don't swallow the lie! You are impacting lives in ways you may never know. You may never get called up on stage, may never receive an earthly reward for your work, but God sees. Focus on Him, and His love and grace and blessing will follow.