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| courtesy: Dean Williams 2012 |
Sometimes I wonder if spiritual churches have lost their
way. Once a church is charismatic or Pentecostal (defined as displaying the
gifts of the Spirit), then the focus is on receiving the Spirit and the
accompanying gifts (1 Cor. 12:8-10). All good.
However, the apostle Paul clearly argued for an emphasis on
the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23)—more particularly love. The reason for
love is to prevent schisms (splits, breaks,
rifts) among the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:25) as each member—i.e. the
academic or the street person—manifests the gifts. While that is happening, it
is important to hold together like glue. Love’s definitions will help guide you
(1 Cor. 13:4-7 NIV).
Spiritual gifts accelerate the growth process of faith,
whether you’re one who manifests the gifts, or one who is a recipient of the
manifestation.
Since God will one day stop spiritual gifts from flowing
through you (1 Cor. 13:8-10 NIV) consider the gifts as a means to come to the
“unity of the faith”; and the growing of spiritual fruit as the ends—that the
church may come to the “measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph.
4:13).
To fight the good fight of faith (Gal. 5:22, 23; 1 Tim. 6:11,
12) may be admirable; but to be patient, kind, envy-free, not boastful, humble,
considerate, selfless, slow to anger, thinks only good, rejoices with the
truth, always protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres—is the more excellent
way—because love never fails.
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Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version, Cambridge 1769. Used by permission. All
rights reserved. Scriptures marked “NIV” are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version.
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission
of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
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