Spirit #15 – A More Excellent Way

Workings of the Holy Spirit  

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.

Life #12 - Do You Measure Up?

Crown of Thorns 015

To maintain all that we inherit from Jesus, even his zōē-life, we are exhorted to conform to his image (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18). His image is that of a full-stature Son—not an infant, a child, or a teenager. When we come “to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”, then we know that the church has grown up “in all things into Him” (Ephesians 4:13, 15).

To be a “perfect” human being is to be tĕlĕiŏs (tel’-i-os), complete in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc; of full age. Even the apostle Paul labored to present us “perfect”, tĕlĕiŏs, complete—and only “in Christ Jesus” can that ever be our reality (Colossians 1:28).

Jesus is the one who “…abolished death and brought life and immortality [incorruption] to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10), so the difficult way which leads to life is to arrive at Christ’s fullness.

·         God planned for it (Romans 8:29).

·         Jesus made it possible, “Follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

·         The Holy Spirit does transforming work in us (2 Corinthians 3:18).

·         We do our part by works of faith as the Spirit and Scripture give guidance.

The way to life is difficult and the Lord admits that few will find it. However, the full statured Christ in us will not fail. If we’re up for the challenge.

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; Greek definition from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible – perfect #5046; This blog addresses Life #4 – To Live is Christ, item1; excerpts from our book to be released next year.