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.