GIFTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS

Spiritual Gifts
Now concerning spiritual gifts brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.
(1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-6)

EVERYONE HAS BEEN GIFTED BY GOD: Nobody created by God is without spiritual gifts. God has endowed each of us with unique gifts. There are, however, important guidelines and directions for these spiritual gifts. Bookstores are filled with books about spirituality and how to achieve your highest potential as an individual. Each of these books may contain some truth, but there is only one book that provides the whole truth on spiritual gifts and their use.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE ACTIVATED BY GOD: It is not, as some would suggest, digging deep down in your gut and tapping into your gifts. If you want to turn the switch on and engage the full power of the spiritual gifts that have been given to you, your first and primary relationship should be with Jesus Christ and with his Word. If you want to know who you are, you must first learn who you are in the image of. The more we engage the Word the more we become activated by the Word.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE FOR BUILDING UP: Our gifts are not for our personal use but have the created purpose for the building up of the body of Christ. When used only for personal and self serving purposes, the gifts are drained of their power and effectiveness. Therefore, it is not just important what spiritual gifts one has but how those gifts are used and whom they serve. A prophet can not be a prophet in his own home. In other words, a prophet has to be willing to call upon the same gifts he or she has in someone else to reach their own family. Gifts are designed to be given away.

IT IS GOOD TO BE INFORMED ABOUT YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS: Gifts should not be taken for granted or simply accepted. Gifts need to be activated and developed through our growing relationship with Christ and our active use and participation through the mission of the Body of Christ. We will be offering an opportunity to become better informed about your spiritual gifts through a special workshop following a soup lunch on January 14th. We will also be learning more about spiritual gifts and their function and power throughout the month of January and February leading up to Lent.

We pray that this is the time when we will grow closer to the Lord and that the gifts we have been endowed with will grow and more fully be used for the mission God has given us of providing an environment where all will know Christ, grow in Christ and experience the fullness of the Kingdom.