[T]here may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

 1 Corinthians 12:8-31

[T]here may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 1 Corinthians 12:25-26

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians, moving on to an assisted review of 1 Corinthians 12:8-31 using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary volume for this book.  From the commentary for this text:

Main idea: "Different gifts are given to different believers, and all gifts are for the glory of God and the good of the church."

Key excerpts from the introduction: 

• Every believer has a primary spiritual gift
• Everyone typically has more than one spiritual gift
• Teaching, exhortation, service, mercy, prophecy, leadership provide a list while not exhaustive, that capture "most areas of service and ministry"
• "every gift is to be used for the glory of God and the good of the church."
  

Divisions per the commentary:

1. The Gifts of Wisdom (12:8,10): "God supernaturally imparts insight about the Scriptures or reveals how the Word of God may be applied to certain situations, how the will of God may be preserved, and how the work of God may be continued....Wisdom is supernatural in origin (James 1:5). You can get knowledge from a book and education in a school, but true wisdom comes only from God....It is the ability to see things as God sees them....Now there is some debate among scholars as to whether or not there is to be a distinction made between wisdom and knowledge....there must be some distinction or it would not be distinguished as a separate gift in Paul’s delineation....A word of knowledge, then, is perhaps when God reveals something to someone that he or she would not know or could not know about a particular situation unless it was revealed supernaturally. It is a special message of insight into a particular situation that may reveal a hidden motive or even a future action."  Possible examples identified by the commentary include Acts 5 and 27 when respectively "Peter uncovered the fact that Ananias had kept back some of the money he claimed to have given to the church," and when Paul "warned the entire crew of the ship they had to stay together or else they would all perish....Both wisdom and knowledge reflect the God-given ability to bring spiritual insight beyond human understanding to bear in a situation....The work of distinguishing between spirits refers to the ability to see through false teaching, false prophets, and false doctrine. I like to think of it as spiritual x-ray vision.  In the spirit of what’s said in 1 John 4:1-3, I believe the gift is also the ability to discern not just by what is being said but sometimes by the person who is saying it. I have found by personal experience that some of the finest, most eloquent speakers can also be the best at deception. More than ever before, the exercise of this gift is desperately needed both in the church and in the academy." 
   
2. The Gifts of Worship (12:9-10): "I place two gifts, faith and prophecy, under this category because I believe these two are linked very closely. Most worship will involve some prophecy because God always speaks in and through worship, but no worship can take place apart from faith because “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). The work of God is expanded through faith. The Word of God is expounded through prophecy." The gift of faith is described is no ordinary faith but that which 'moves mountains.' "There are just certain people who have the ability not only to see what no one else can see, go where no one else will go, risk what no one else will risk, but do it with a quiet confidence and unshakable assurance that God is going to come through. Theirs is in effect an unshakable faith in God’s unequaled faithfulness that is far more abundant than all that we ask or think." The gift of the word of prophecy is defined as "[t]he spiritual ability to proclaim God’s truth in such an authoritative and powerful fashion that lives are changed, the lost are saved, and believers are motivated for greater service and maturity."    
   
3. The Gifts of Wonders (12:9-10): "These gifts, though normative to Paul, are nevertheless exceptional. In the Bible, they are neither more prominent nor more prominently displayed than other gifts. In fact, church history would suggest they are rarely used except in special situations. With that caveat, I accept all these gifts as legitimate for today....First, there are different kinds of healings.  Surely a doctor can be used by God to bring physical healing, a counselor may be used to bring about emotional healing, and a pastor may be used to bring about spiritual healing....[T]here is no one gift of healing. There are “gifts” of healings. That is, at certain times, in certain situations, and through certain people God brings healing to those who are sick....[A]ll healing is divine....Of all the gifts, this one most consistently proves itself a topical land mine. Unfortunately, the gift of tongues has become one of the most controversial and divisive issues among God’s people....[T]he gift of tongues is the supernatural ability to speak in a foreign language previously unknown by the speaker so that the gospel and biblical truth might be communicated to people that need to hear it....[T]he gift of tongues is a missionary gift. Indeed, there are reports it has been heard on mission fields before." 
   
4. Unity in Diversity (12:11-31): "No person should be jealous of another person’s spiritual gifts or God-given abilities. Rather, as we come to understand the whole dynamic of spiritual gifts, we celebrate the differences and the point that we are all unique. But we are also to be dependent on one another (vv. 14-17). It takes every part of the body working together to have a healthy, properly functioning church body. Each part of the body is dependent on other parts of the body to do its work....every member of the body is equally needed, but every member of the body is equally important. We all have different gifts, different passions, and different interests. Yet every gift should be unwrapped and put into the service of the body. Everybody is somebody in Christ’s body.  Then, we are to be devoted to one another (vv. 23-26). No matter what functions, gifts, or ministries other people have, we each honor and respect all others, and we empathize with one another."  
   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gave me a church body that supports me when I am weak and a role to play to give me significance - thank You Jesus for these blessings.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For the body does not consist of one member but of many....As it is, there are many parts, yet one body....But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

1 Corinthians 12:8-31

For the body does not consist of one member but of many....As it is, there are many parts, yet one body....But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 1 Corinthians 12:14, 20, 24b-25

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians, moving on to a unassisted review of 1 Corinthians 12:8-31. Here Paul builds on Vv1-11 and how the Holy Spirit moves in the distribution and allocation of spiritual gifts to all believers as he describes in more detail the various spiritual gifts believers may possess - see v8-10, and v28.  Paul also uses the analogy of the body and its various parts and how they work together - see v12-27.  Core to use of this analogy:

• One part of the body cannot say to another that is of less importance to the body than another - vv15-17.
  
• God designed the body - perfectly with no weaknesses or lesser parts - v18
  
• One part of the body cannot say to another I don't need you - vv21-24
• The body parts work together - in unity, caring for one another, suffering together, and rejoicing together - v25-26 
  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - thank You Jesus.  Thank You for giving me others in the body that support me when I need it.  I am not deserving of how You bless me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 1 Corinthians 12:11

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians, moving on to an assisted review of 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary volume for this book.  From the commentary for this text:

Main idea: "Every believer has spiritual gifts that are to be exercised, not for personal gratification, but for corporate edification in the church."

Key excerpts from the introduction: 

• "Anyone preparing commentary on this passage must do so with care and humility."
• "there is neither a guarantee nor an expectation that there will be unanimity of agreement on the interpretation given on some of the gifts that are listed and their relevance and application today. But the truth remains: we are to give ourselves not only to studying these gifts and trying to understand them but just as importantly to using them for the glory of God and the good of the church." 
• "One of the reasons Paul wrote to the Corinthians in such detail, in fact, was because of their ignorance of spiritual gifts."
• "Unfortunately, when it comes to the church there are many spiritual agnostics. They know very little about spiritual gifts, and those who do are not even sure what their spiritual gifts might be. I have learned by personal experience there is a great cost involved in being educated, but there is a greater cost if you are not."
• "Exercising a spiritual gift is no guarantee of spiritual maturity, nor is it a guarantee that one belongs to a great church."
• "Spiritual gifts, unfortunately, were not uniting the church in Corinth; they were dividing the church. It was obvious that some of the Corinthians were placing such an inordinate emphasis on showy displays of spirituality, particularly speaking in tongues, that it was disrupting the church’s worship, dividing the church’s fellowship, and demeaning the witness of the gospel[.]"
  

Divisions from the commentary:

1. "How the Gifts Are Described (12:1,4,7): Gifts are actually Trinitarian in nature. God the Father has given us the gift of God the Son for our salvation. God the Son has given us God the Holy Spirit for our sanctification, but God the Holy Spirit has given us spiritual gifts for our service. The point is, these are not material gifts. These are spiritual gifts. They are gifts of and from the Holy Spirit.....Spiritual gifts are supernatural gifts granted by the grace of God. They are not just glorified natural abilities. They are not something you gain by going to school or practicing or inheriting. They are literally charismatic gifts, which means if you are a Christian in the truest sense of the term, you are a charismatic Christian by default. Spiritual gifts, simply put, are supernatural endowments that enable us to carry out God’s work in God’s way....These gifts are not to be stored; they are to be shared for the “good” of others....35). Spiritual gifts are given to every believer to bless the church, build up the body of Christ, and edify believers. But if a spiritual gift does not in some way edify the church, it is no longer a used gift; it is an abused gift.....To be sure, this does not mean there would not be any private benefit to the one exercising the gift. But this verse would certainly rule out using any gift strictly or merely for personal gain or self-satisfaction. It certainly does not rule out any and all benefits for an individual[.]"
2. "How the Gifts Are Distributed (12:5-7,11): Every Christian has received at least one spiritual gift. Unfortunately, I have pastored some people who assumed they had the spiritual gift of criticism, which is not a thing! No one Christian has every gift, but every Christian has at least one....You may not have graduated first in your class. You may not be very athletic. You may not be one of the world’s most talented people, but if you are a follower of Jesus, you are a gifted child! You have a gift that God wants you to use in his church in service and ministry that might not get done unless you do it....Every Christian is a minister, and every Christian has a ministry. The ministries of the church are to be carried out as followers of Jesus exercise their spiritual gifts in ministering to one another. Again, they are distributed independently....This should remind us that no believer should ever be jealous of another believer who may have a different gift. All of us have been gifted differently, but all of us have been gifted perfectly. The Holy Spirit, in his divine wisdom and sovereignty, has given to each of us precisely the gift, or gifts, that will enable us to function most effectively in the body of Christ....When we exercise our gifts within a local context, we find that we fit together perfectly and create a beautiful representation of God’s greater family. Although what we perceive God to be doing sometimes doesn’t make sense to us, there is always a method to his seeming madness, and he knows what he is about and what he is doing. As we think about spiritual gifts, we should rejoice knowing that we are each gifted, that we can be used, that God has a purpose and a plan for us and a work for us to do, and that with his gifts and by his power we can do things in a way that brings glory and honor to him and serves to bless others."  
   
3. "How the Gifts Are Distinguished (12:4-6): Gifts show up in different ways in different ministries. Even though two Christians may have the same basic gift, that gift may be manifested and applied in different ways....We exercise these gifts not only by the grace of God but through the power of God. It is his power that fires engines and leads us to exercise these gifts effectively.  the first category represents the essence of the gifts (they are grace gifts). The second category represents the expression of the gifts (they are to be used for service). The third category represents the effects of the gifts. They result is a display of the power of God through his people."
   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer:

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 1 Corinthians 12:5-6

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians, moving on to a unassisted review of 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. Here, Paul helps us understand how God and the Holy Spirit distribute and move in believers' lives with spiritual gifts. 

• Vv 1-3: Paul seeks for us to be "informed" about spiritual gifts; some in the Corinthian church were led astray about this topic - perhaps on the topic of teaching or prophesying.  He reinforces how God alone and the Holy Spirit distribute and work in believers' hearts and lives to both give and direct spiritual gifts.  
  
• Vv4-6: Paul is explicit and states emphatically that all spiritual gifts are from God who "empowers them all in everyone."
• V7: In constructing his case, Paul starts with foundational doctrine - that the Holy Spirit is present in the lives of all believers ("to each is given...") who call Christ their Lord and Savior.  Galatians 5:22-23 help us understand how we see "fruits of the Spirit."  This is given for the "common good" which is for the healthy functioning of the church and its members working together as a body.
  
• Vv8-10: Examples of spiritual gifts are described, including "wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, tongues, interpretation of tongues, etc."
• V11: The Holy Spirit both "apportions to each one" and "empowers" each one to use these gifts.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - giving me spiritual gifts and equipping me so that I can work for the common good both inside the church and in the world. Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving how You work in my heart and life.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace....Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Ephesians 4

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace....Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Ephesians 4:1-3, 15-16

Today, I am pausing in my study of 1 Corinthians to dig deeper into studies provided by my church - Bay Leaf Baptist Church as part of its Multiply initiative - from my study booklet, my focus this morning for reading is Ephesians 4:1-16, and 2 Corinthians 9:10-11 for memorization. The study booklet, on page 34 shares how "the first three chapters of his letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes about the beauty of the gospel message. The final three chapters of Ephesians are an explanation of how a transformed follower of Jesus should live in light of the gospel by the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul begins this teaching with an exhortation to be unified in Christ." Paul makes this exhortation in Ephesians 4 by first (vv1-3) urging believers to "walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Paul then (vv5-6) defines unity and how believers are bonded together (one body) by "one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father."  In v6, Paul further reminds us that the One True God we serve is "over all and through all and in all" (God reigns over all). In vv7-12, Paul says that regardless of how we serve and are bonded together through faith in the One True God, Jesus Christ graced us with spiritual gifts (Paul references Psalm 68:18) - so we are unique but designed to work together "for the work of ministry, [and] for building up the body of Christ."  In v13, Paul urges us to do such work (ministry and for building up the body of Christ) until "the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ", implying until glorification.  In v14, Paul provides a tertiary reason for the work he describes - so that we can grow in our maturity in faith and withstand Satan's schemes and continue to defend against sin and temptation. In vv15-16 Paul concludes the text for today by providing a portrait of how church unity works - using a physical body as an analogy.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who provides me church to support me in my effort to be worthy of the calling You gave me.  Thank You for Bay Leaf Baptist church.  I am not deserving of how You love me and bless me.  My sin is great and it continues...will You please forgive me and help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 1

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians.  I am assisted in my study by the Christ-Centered Exposition Series commentary for this book.  This morning my focus is a review and study - assisted by the commentary - of 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, which the commentary unpacks via three (3) divisions:

1. God Builds His Church in a Specific Way (1:1-3).* > emphasis on how Paul is called by God and given apostolic authority "as an emissary of the Lord Jesus Christ." Sosthenes is also called out by the text and the commentary describes him as the same man mentioned in Acts 18:17 and it posits that he became a "missionary serving alongside Paul in Ephesus." The commentary then describes several attributes of the church in Corinth - which can be applied all churches: (a) the church as "positional[ly] sanctif[ied]" (vs "experiential[ly] sanctif[ied]") - where the church as a whole defined as "God's holy people in Christ;" (b-c-d) church members as saints - those who in faith call on Jesus Christ as Lord; God's people as saints are a global body - not "contained by borders or...walls"; (e) "the Lord builds his church and blesses his saints with two essential kindnesses: grace and peace" which the commentary further shares as "God's Riches At Christ's Expense (GRACE)
   
2. God Gives Gifts to His Church, with Nothing Missing (1:4-7).* Here the emphasis in the text, as shared by the commentary is how graciously God provides, in particular through the distribution of spiritual gifts. It shares that "Paul draws attention to the gifts of 'all speech and all knowledge, '" and how "all spiritual gifts generally fall under one of three categories: knowledge, speaking, or service....Indeed, in Christ we get all that we will ever need to be pleasing to God and effective for God....[n]othing is missing."  
   
3. God Provides Hope for His Church with Powerful Promises (1:7-9).* The church is encouraged to hold fast to the faith and to be in expectant hope based on the promises of Christ's return and eternal rewards. The commentary describes the hope and encouragement for the church in Corinth as shared in the text in v9 - despite the church's challenges: "[t]he church at Corinth may be fragmenting and headed toward a split, but God nevertheless has a hold of the believers there by his Son. He will not let his people go, no matter what. He may have to exercise some tough love, but they are his and will remain his forever. You can count on it." 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good and You are so faithful! I know I can count on You and find a yes and all of Your promises!  Thank You for the hope and encouragement that only You can provide.  I am not deserving of the grace and blessings You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the sie effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

*Akin, Dr. Daniel L.; Merritt, James. Exalting Jesus in 1 Corinthians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (p. 6). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Hebrews 2

It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. Hebrews 2:3b-4

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 2:3b-4, the second of three divisions in Hebrews 2:1-9, and the commentary builds on yesterday's warning to "spiritually hear" the messages of the gospel, and to "anchor" ourselves to the Word, lest we drift away towards eternal damnation. The commentary shares that if Jesus is more superior than angels, "[h]ow much more guilty, then, are those who reject the “great salvation” declared by the incarnate Lord himself? This new stage in redemptive history brings great privileges, but also great responsibilities."  The commentary then pivots to describe how Christ's message - the New Covenant brought about by His blood - is superior to angels' messages in four ways:

• Spoken to us by the Lord - v3b
  
• "Confirmed to us by those who heard [Him]" - v3b
• God himself testified the veracity of gospel "by signs and wonders and various miracles" - v4
• Through the showering and distribution spiritual gifts throughout the church - v4

On this last point, the commentary emphasizes that "the author of Hebrews helps us strip away our misconceptions about why spiritual gifts exist. Spiritual gifts are not an end to themselves to be used for our personal, private enjoyment. Spiritual gifts edify the church (see also 1 Corinthians 14:3-5; Ephesians 4:11-12) and testify that Jesus Christ is Lord."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are a great God who not only gave me ears to spiritually hear Your message, but You also gave me salvation and so much more - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.