Today we continue with another feature of the ministry of God’s Spirit to those who have received the new life of salvation:
l) He empowers Jesus’ followers with specific capacities [the Spirit's gifts] and gives them responsibilities to serve God, each other and the wider world:
The apostle Paul writes to the Corinthian followers of Jesus about the bountiful ways in which God’s Spirit manifests himself in the Messianic community [i.e. the Body of Christ]:
“Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service in the church, but it is the same Lord we are serving. There are different ways God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work through all of us.”
(1 Corinthians 12:4-6)
In addition, Paul explains that the Holy Spirit manifests himself to each follower of Jesus and not only to some ‘spiritual superstars’ or to the leaders of the church: “The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one...” (1 Corinthians 12:7).
Later on in the same chapter he repeats that statement to underline its importance: “One and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”
(1 Corinthians 12:11)
However, these manifold demonstrations of the Spirit’s presence is not for our self-glorification, to set us in the spotlight. On the contrary, God’s (Christlike) Spirit wants to empower Jesus’ followers to serve God, each other and the wider world in a Christlike way. The manifestations of God’s Spirit are given: “... for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7).
Not only does the Holy Spirit ‘shower’ his plentiful gifts on the followers of Jesus, he also distributes functions and responsibilities to each of them. The apostle Paul explains that to the Christians in Rome:
“Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do.
And since we are all one body in Christ [the Messiah], we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others. God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well...”
(Romans 12:4-6)
Speaking about everyone’s Christlike ministry within the Messianic community [the Body of Christ], Paul writes:
“We will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love” (Ephesians 4:15-16).
Finally, the apostle Paul writes about how every follower of Jesus is called to serve God in a Christlike way within the Messianic community and in the wider world. He says: “...Now we can really serve God ... in the new way, by the Spirit” (Romans 7:6).
Are you a follower of Jesus?
Has someone taught you how to serve God by his Spirit in a Christlike way?
Through what kind of ministry do you serve God by his Spirit?
The Bible verses 1 Corinthians 12:7 and 1 Corinthians 12:11 are quoted from the New King James Version. 1 Corinthians 12:7 is also quoted from the New International Version. All other texts are quotes of the New Living Translation.
No comments:
Post a Comment