ListenDaily - 12 January 2009; Getting and Giving
We are coming out of the Christmas season; one in which there is so much talk about getting and giving - in both secular and spiritual senses. Now we will take some time to talk about our getting and giving; from and for the Holy Spirit.
Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:1-7
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. Galatians 5:16-17
(find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
What I am talking about here are those things commonly known as "gifts of the Spirit" and "fruits of the Spirit".
You have probably read and heard, as I have, devotions, studies, and sermons on these two topics; I am not sure if I have ever heard them compared to each other. But let us consider this as we head into this discussion; you must get in order to give...and if you get you are expected to give. If you do not give, what happens to what you get? Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant...now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good...so I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.
If we are open to the Spirit we can receive all He desires to give us. I propose that we are then expected to give, and furthermore, if we do not give it begins to kill off that which we receive.The Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea both receivethe flowing waters of the Jordan. Galilee teems with life, while the Dead Sea is, well, dead. The difference? Galilee receives and gives, the river flowing into and out of it. The Dead Sea gives nothing, it only receives.
We receive from the Spirit...do we show His fruit?
If we do not, why not?
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Questions:
1. What do you think of this perspective?
2. What gifts of the Spirit can you identify in your own life?
3. What fruit?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"A church in the land without the Spirit is rather a curse than a blessing.
If you have not the Spirit of God, Christian worker,
remember that you stand in somebody else's way;
you are a fruitless tree standing where a fruitful tree might grow."
Charles Spurgeon
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