ListenDaily - 06 March 2009; Say it again, Paul!
Friends, to follow up on yesterday's discussion on the place of speaking in tongues within the body of the church, let us reflect on the next verses from this chapter.
"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?"
From 1 Corinthians 12 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
As a writer, I hesitate to be so repetitive...but the Apostle Paul repeated important ideas as God led him, and Paul's writings have done pretty well, readership-wise.
"And in the church God has appointed..."brothers and sisters...how important this is! For the operation of the church God Himself has appointed the positions, gifts, and people to have them...! We seek His will, we seek His gifts, but they are not just randomly handed out....they are appointed.
You may have to reach a level of spiritual maturity in order to be able to receive and handle that which God has appointed for you.
"...first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?"
The answer to Paul's question certainly seems to be, no. How then, have some of us become so obsessed with one gift? How have we developed the theology that 'everyone' who 'truly believes' will speak in tongues?
But let us not get caught up in negative thoughts, for next time,"I will show you the most excellent way."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. I think we are getting close to ending this discussion,,,what are your thoughts? Questions?
(I will not end it without a discussion on the Greek, and a few common teachings, thus far ignored.)
2. Chapter twelve and thirteen are part of the same writing...what is "the most excellent way"?
3. Many of you have mentioned divisions caused by this issue, how did that affect your 'church life', then and now?
AN INVITATION!
Come join the First Church of Facebook (no, this isn't a joke!)
Go here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63164484154
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organization do not constitute a church
any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always."
A.W. Tozer
"Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other?
They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow.
So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become unity conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.
Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier.
The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life."
A.W. Tozer
"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees.
He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness,
in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day.
If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day."
E.M. Bounds
No comments:
Post a Comment