By Pat
Russell
"Gifts of the
Spirit" sermon by Mike Banta, April 19, 2020
Text: I Corinthians
12:1-11
Today Mike walked us
through the Bible passage entitled “Spiritual Gifts.” He gave us a bit of
history and context of the passage before delving into each of the gifts
listed, pointing out what that gift is and how it can be and is being used to
build up and comfort the Church. Love is the characteristic of anyone
exercising any of the gifts and Jesus is our prime example of that love at work.
That is why Paul writes first about the exercise of the gifts and then writes
about the gift of love. “…if I do not have love, I am nothing.”
Mike did not state that
any one gift was more preferred, was of a higher rank than any other gift. All
are needed and all are important for our church.
I also remember Brooke
Momblow’s devotional on the second half of this same chapter. She pointed out
“We are Christ’s body, each of us a different member unique to God’s purpose
for the whole. Sometimes we can lose sight of this and only see ourselves and
the parts we play or don’t play…. C.S. Lewis said: ‘We like to think we’ve
chosen our peers, but as Christians there are no chances. Christ has placed us
and reveals to us the beauty of others.’”
So, in these days as we
are physically separated from one another but desiring to be spiritually
attuned to the Holy Spirit for the unity of our church body and for the glory
of Jesus, let’s take on Mike’s suggestions for “going deeper” into
understanding the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Here are some of his
suggestions, and I have added a couple of my own:
1. Be expectant. The Church celebrates the giving of
the Holy Spirit in a broad sense on Pentecost. Pentecost Sunday is in the near
future. Between now and then purpose to spend time in expectation of what YOU
might receive from God between now and then.
2. Reflect on what is going on in your life. What
gift(s) do you see yourself operating in at home with your family and friends,
over the internet, and within the church body?
3. How have you seen someone else operating in
her/his gift(s) that has been an encouragement to you? Maybe you would like to
let that person know what you experienced.
4. Ask someone who knows you well what spiritual gifts
that person sees in you.
5. How might you expand the work of the Spirit
through your gift(s)? Mike said, “Where can we move into the margins of our
gifting?” How might you bless our faith community more?
Finally, in these days
of separation and sometimes the feeling of isolation, let’s take Phil’s advice
and spend extra time with Jesus, finding a centeredness from his presence with
you and guidance from his Spirit within you.
Blessings THIS day,
P@
If you would like to
connect with me about “Going Deeper” or about living in these days of
confinement and stress, feel free to email me at patannruss@gmail.com.
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