HIS
SERVANTS' MINISTRY
www.hisservants.org
A
GIFT, UNEQUALED
Contents
Salvation
Introduction
Gifts, Spiritual Ch.1
More on Spiritual Gifts Ch.2
More on Gifts He Gives Us Ch.3
Gifts of God, The Ch.4
More on God’s Love Ch.5
More on God’s Gifts to Us Ch.6
Closing Comments Ch.7
Gifts of Love (Poem # 872)
Bible Used: [KJV] King James Version
Verses
with words in bold,red italics
is Jesus speaking.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I
am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,
but by me. [KJV]
Written and Compiled by:
His servant, Connie Kramer
A
GIFT, UNEQUALED
Introduction
A
gift is simply something given. Mat.7:11
If ye then, being evil, know how
to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your
Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
(KJV) People love to receive gifts. What is the best gift you have
ever received? Some gifts are very expensive, some come from the
heart, some are the beginning of a long list of things to follow.
The GIFT that I will be speaking of in the following pages is all
of these things! The greatest GIFT
of all times is none other than our Lord Jesus.
The refusal of a gift in the Bible was a great dishonor; and was
a grievous insult to the giver. Mat.22:11-12 And
when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which
had not on a wedding garment: [12] And he saith unto him, Friend,
how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was
speechless. (KJV) The
marriage robe was offered and refused.
The GIFT of which I will be speaking
in this booklet is Christ. Please consider the following.
The
Believer’s Riches in Christ from A to Z
-
A-accepted in the beloved . . . Ephes. 1:6.
-
B-born of God . . . 1 John 5:1
-
C-crucified with Christ . . . Galatians 2:20
-
D-delivered from the power of darkness . . . Col. 1:13
- E-enriched
in everything in Him . . . 1 Cor. 1:5
- F-forgiven
for Christ’s sake . . . Ephes. 4:32
- G-grounded
in love—Ephes. 3:17
- H-hidden
with Christ in God . . . Col. 3:3
- I-instructed
in the way of the Lord . . . Acts 18:25
- J-justified
by His amazing grace . . . Titus 3:7
- K-kept by the power of God . . . 1 Peter 1:5
- L-led by the Spirit of God . . . Romans 8:14
- M-made nigh by the Blood of Christ . . . Ephes. 2:13
- N-nourished
in the Words of faith . . . 1 Tim. 4:6
- O-ordained
to eternal life . . . Acts 13:48
- P-erfected
forever . . . Hebrews 10:14 -quickened together with Christ .
. . Ephes. 2:5
- R-edeemed
from the curse of the law . . . Gal.3:13
- S-sealed
with the Holy Spirit of Promise . . . Ephes. 1:13
- T-translated
into the kingdom of His Son . . . Col. 1:13
- U-unblameable
in His sight . . . Col. 1:22
- V-victorious
through our Lord Jesus Christ . . . 1 Cor. 15:57
- W-washed
from our sins in His own Blood . . . Rev. 1:5
- X-xalted
from among the people . . . 1 Kings 14:7
- Y-yearning
for the coming Kingdom . . . Mat.6:10
- Z-zealous
of good works . . . Titus 2:14
By accepting
God’s wondrous GIFT (Christ), we are blessed over and over
again! This Gift is the very best that God had to offer, His one
and only begotten Son. This Gift came from the very heart of God!
By accepting God’s Gift to us, we just begin
A
GIFT, UNEQUALED
Chapter 1
GIFTS, SPIRITUAL
Spiritual gifts = a divine gratuity, a special, spiritual endowment
from God. These are spiritual gifts supernaturally bestowed on Christians,
each having his own correct gift or gifts for the edification of
the body of Christ. They are the result of the amazing operation
of the Holy Spirit.
What I will say now, will bring on those who disagree with me. But
I firmly believe this. Each person has the God-given right to make
their own decision. I strongly suggest you carefully study the Holy
Word of God and not take someone’s word on this (individual
or church doctrine). The more I study the Bible, the more I know
I am right.
On the day of Pentecost, these gifts included speaking with tongues,
casting out devils, healing, etc. (Mark 16:17-18). These special
gifts were enjoyed only for a time. They could
not and would not continue always in the Church. They were suited
to its infancy and to the necessities of those times.
Certain spiritual, supernatural gifts and abilities are given to
all believers by the Holy Spirit in order to build up, edify, comfort
and encourage the church (Rom. 12:6; Ephes. 4:11). Each and every
believer (child of God, John 1:12-13), is granted by the Spirit,
a gift, (the Spirit’s choice).
Ephes. 4:11 And he gave some,
apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors
and teachers; (KJV)
1 Cor. 12:10 To another the
working of miracles; to another
prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds
of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
[KJV]
1
Cor. 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first
apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles,
then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
(KJV)
Romans
12:6-8 Having then gifts differing according to the
grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according
to the proportion of faith; [7] Or ministry, let us wait on our
ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; [8] Or he that exhorteth,
on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he
that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
(KJV) The above verses gives us some idea of some of Spiritual gifts.
God has chosen His people to do His work. He does this for reasons
only He knows. Why doesn’t He have the angels do it? I don’t
know. Some times we may wonder if this is the best way. God could
have created special messengers that would never fail Him . . messengers
who are sin-proof and completely faithful. But God has chosen His
people to do His work among the unsaved and in the churches.
As we attempt to follow and be used by Christ Jesus, we need to
use all that He has made available to us. One of the great blessings
Jesus has given to His disciples is the gifts of the Spirit. The
Bible tells us they play a vital role in the lives of believers.
Spiritual gifts help us to grow in the knowledge of Christ. Some
people get sidetracked with spiritual gifts and become more
obsessed with the gifts than with Jesus. Well
known preacher, A. B. Simpson wrote these words: “Once it
was the blessing, now it is the Lord. Once it was the feeling, now
it is His Word. Once His gifts I wanted, now the Giver own. Once
I sought for healing, now Himself alone.”
Gaining spiritual gifts is NOT the goal; they are merely the doorway
to what the Lord has planned for us. They are not a hobby with which
to play; they are tools with which to build; they are weapons with
which we can fight evil forces. We will be much more effective when
we to use them for God’s glory and not our own.
Spiritual gifts are to be used!
Far too many people bury their gift and never use it (Matthew 25:14-30).
Christ wants none of His servants to be idle. Everything we have
is from Him; we have nothing we can call our own, just our sin.
What we receive from Christ, we must put to work for Him. The spiritual
gift of the Spirit is given to every believer to profit the church.
The day will come when ALL people
will be held accountable. We shall be
judged on how faithful and obedient we have been, and what we
have done to help others.
It is the true Christian’s freedom and privilege to work as
the Redeemer’s servant, to promote His glory, and the good
of His people. The love of Christ compels us to no longer live to
ourselves, but to live for Him that died for us.
Some people think it is impossible
to please God, and it is foolish to serve Him. The fact is, they
are lazy, slothful servants who shall be judged.
We
ALL have been given excellent resources to build and expand God’s
Kingdom. Jesus expects us to use these talents so that they multiply
and the Kingdom grows. He asks each of us to account for what we
do with His gifts. While we wait for the coming of the Christ, we
must do His work.
Mark 13:33-35 Take
ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. [34]
For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his
house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his
work, and commanded the porter to watch. [35] Watch ye therefore:
for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or
at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: (KJV)
Mark 13:37 And
what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. (KJV) Do you see that one little word ALL?
No one is exempt from service! We ALL must serve
Him as we wait patiently for Him to return! We must not disobey
God and cheat the church (body of believers) of a blessing. We must
use those unique gifts He has given us. We are insulting God any
time we degrade some gift His Holy Spirit has instilled in our life
by saying that it just isn’t important enough to use. Each
and every spiritual gift has a specific place in the Body of Christ.
Each and every gift that God has placed in the body of Christ, the
church, is important. Some gifts, like preaching, teaching, and
prophesying may seem more important than others
to you, such as hospitality or service. But God never makes
a mistake, and has given all of these gifts to build up
His church. None of His gifts should ever be looked down upon or
treated lightly. Trust Him as you serve Him!
A
GIFT, UNEQUALED
Chapter 2
MORE ON SPIRITUAL GIFTS
As I already stated, it is because of our belief in Christ that
we receive gifts from God.
Christ is the chief GIFT.
Isaiah 42:6 I the Lord have called thee in
righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and
give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
(KJV) Christ demonstrated God’s righteousness and was a light
for the Gentiles (all nations). Only through Christ, do people have
the opportunity to share God’s love. God calls us to be servants
of His Son. We are to demonstrate God’s righteousness and
bring His light to the dark world around us. It is a privilege to
help the Messiah fulfill His mission! But we must seek His righteousness
(Mat.6:33) before we can demonstrate it to others, and let His light
shine in us before we can be lights to others (Mat.5:16; 2 Cor.
4:6).
John 3:16 For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life. (KJV) This is the Gospel in a nutshell.
God’s love is not self-centered; it reaches out and draws
others to Him. God sets the pattern of true love, the basis for
all relationships. When you love someone dearly, you are willing
to give freely to the point of self-sacrifice. God paid dearly with
the life of His Son, the highest price He could pay. Jesus accepted
our punishment, paid the price for our sins on the cross, and then
offered us the new
life that He had purchased for us. When we share the Gospel with
others, our love must be like Jesus’ love. We must freely
and willingly give up our own comfort and security so that others
might join us in receiving God’s love.
Are through Christ.
John 6:27 Labour
not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth
unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you:
for him hath God the Father sealed. (KJV) We
shouldn’t be as concerned about perishable things like food,
as we should be with eternal things. We should spend our time and
energy seeking the eternal life that only Jesus, the Son of Man,
can give us. God the Father sent Him for that reason.
Ephes. 4:7-8 But unto every one of us is given
grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. [8] Wherefore
he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive,
and gave gifts unto men. (KJV)
(Quoting Psalm 68:18). One is our common connection: one Lord, one
faith, and one God, (Eph.4:4-6), yet each one of us is assigned
his own particular gift, to be used for the good of the whole.
The Holy Spirit has given each one of us a
special gift according to the wisdom and generosity of Christ.
The Holy Spirit. Luke
11:13 If ye then, being
evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more
shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask
him? (KJV) Even though good fathers treat their
children well, our perfect heavenly Father treats His children far
better! A most important gift He gives us is the Holy Spirit (John
14:16), whom Jesus promised to give all believers after His death, resurrection,
and return to Heaven (John 15:26).
Acts 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money
perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God
may be purchased with money. (KJV) The only way to receive
God’s power is to turn from sin, ask God for forgiveness,
and be filled with His Spirit. NO
amount of money can ever buy salvation, forgiveness of sin, or God’s
power. These wondrous gifts are granted when we repent of our sins
and believe in Christ as Saviour.
Indicate God’s Presence.
Hebrews 2:4 God also bearing them witness,
both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts
of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (KJV) When we
see the gifts of the Spirit in a particular person or church, we
know that God is truly present. As we receive God’s gifts,
we should thank Him for them and put them to use in the church.
Two errors to avoid with spiritual
gifts. 1 Cor. 12:12 For as
the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that
one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. (KJV)
Paul compares the body of Christ (church) to a human body. Each
part (person with his gift) has a specific function that is necessary
to the body as a whole. The parts are different for a reason, and
they all must work together. Believers must avoid two common errors:
(1) don’t be too proud of your ability, and (2) don’t
think you have nothing to offer to the body of believers. Don’t
compare yourself to another. Use your gift wisely and willingly
to spread the Good News of salvation.
A
GIFT, UNEQUALED
Chapter 3
MORE ON GIFTS HE GIVES US
Grace. Grace = favor, kindness, friendship; God’s
forgiving mercy; God’s unmerited favor.
2
Tim. 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy
calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose
and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
(KJV) This verse gives us a brief summary of the Gospel. God loves
us, called us, and sent Christ to die for us. We can have eternal
life through faith in Christ, because He broke the power of death
with His resurrection. We do not deserve to be saved, but God offers
us salvation anyway. We simply must believe in Him and accept His
offer.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the
knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory
both now and for ever. Amen. (KJV) We need to grow in the special
love and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and always
give Him all glory and honor, both now and forevermore.
Wisdom. Wisdom = insight, discretion,
knowledge of God and His Word. Proverbs
2:6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh
knowledge and understanding. (KJV) Wisdom is a God-given gift,
and also the result of an energetic search. Wisdom’s starting
point is God and His Word, which is the source of knowledge and
understanding. Wisdom is God’s gift to us, but He gives it
only to those who earnestly seek it. God’s wisdom is hidden
from the rebellious and foolish, and it takes effort on our part
to find it and use it properly. The pathway to wisdom is a hard
one. We discover
that true wisdom belongs to God alone, and that He will guide us
and reward our persistent search.
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him
ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not;
and it shall be given him. (KJV) Wisdom is not only about knowledge,
but also the ability to make wise decisions in difficult circumstances.
Whenever we need wisdom, we can pray to God, and He will generously
supply what we need. It’s a Promise from God! Believers don’t
have to stumble around in the dark, hoping to find the right answers.
We can ask for God’s wisdom to guide our choices. Wisdom is
discernment, and it begins with respect for God, leads to right
living, and results in increased ability to tell right from wrong.
God is always willing to give us wisdom, but we cannot receive it
if our goals are self-centered. We need to study His Word and obey
it, and do what He tells us.
Faith. Faith = unquestioning belief
and trust in God. Ephes. 2:8 For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God: (KJV) Because our salvation and even
our faith are gifts, we should respond with gratitude, praise, and
joy. We become God’s children through God’s unmerited
grace, not because of any effort, ability, wise choice, or act of
service on our part. But, because of our gratitude for this free
gift, we will strive to help and serve others with kindness, love,
and gentleness. We are not saved merely for our own benefit but
to serve Christ and build up the church (Ephes. 4:12).
Philip.
1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ,
not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
(KJV) How many people do you know who consider it a privilege to
suffer for Christ? Not many! Most people do not consider suffering
a privilege. Yet when we suffer for faithfully representing Christ,
our message and example affect us and others for good (Acts 5:41).
Suffering does have benefits: (1) it takes our eyes off of earthly
comforts; (2) it weeds out pretenders (hypocrites); (3) it strengthens
the faith of true believers who endure; (4) it serves as an example
to others who may follow us. Don’t let suffering for good
get you down.
Peace. Peace = a calm and content
soul. John 14:27 Peace
I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth,
give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it
be afraid. (KJV) The result of the Holy Spirit’s
work in our lives is a deep and lasting peace. With this peace,
we are confident in any circumstance. With Christ’s peace,
we have no need to fear the present or the future.
Philip. 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in
every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known unto God. [7] And the peace of God, which
passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus. [KJV] Don't
worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what
you need, and thank Him for all He has done for you. True peace
comes from knowing that God is always in control. True peace is
knowing our citizenship in Christ’s Kingdom is sure, our mansion
awaits us, and we can have victory over sin. Only God’s peace
can guard your heart against anxiety.
Love.
God’s kind of love = personal, sincere affection or loving
kindness; charity and goodness which comes from a heart that is
full. Love = giving of self to benefit others. 1
John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because
he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives
for the brethren. (KJV) Real love is an action, not a feeling.
It is a selfless, sacrificial giving. The greatest act of love is
giving oneself for others. How do we lay down our lives for the
brethren? By serving others with no thought of receiving anything
in return. To live for others is to put them first, over your wants,
desires, and goals. Hard to do? Yes! Living a Christian life is
not easy.
1 Cor. 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity,
these three; but the greatest of these is charity. [KJV] Corinth
was morally corrupt, just as the world is today. The true meaning
of love is not what unbelievers have in mind. Love
is the greatest of all human qualities, it is a characteristic of
God.
(1 John 4:8). Love involves unselfish service to others; showing
that you care. Faith is the basis and content of God’s message;
hope is the focus; love is the action. When we have faith and hope,
we automatically love, because we understand how God loves.
Joy. Joy = cheerfulness, calm delight,
great gladness, exceeding fullness, complete happiness, a coordination
of our feelings and emotions. Joy to me is knowing that I have eternal
life. No matter what the circumstances of life, or how bad things
get, no one can take that joy away from me. 1 Peter
1:8 Whom
having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet
believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
(KJV) Because we have not seen Jesus and yet have believed on Him,
we are blessed. The result is we rejoice with joy unspeakable and
full of glory (1 Cor. 2:9). This glorious joy is our present
possession, the Presence of Christ, the Lord of glory, in our heart
and soul. Our joy is tied together with love for Jesus and is grounded
in our faith. It is neither self seeking or self sufficient.
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not
meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy
Ghost. (KJV) God’s Kingdom is much more than food and
drink and perishable things of this world. This is the way God wants
His children to live. The first is to live righteously,
the second, He wants us to live in peace, respecting
our neighbors, and the third is joy in the Holy
Ghost, meaning that our thinking and feelings should be under the
control of the Holy Ghost, so our joy may be seen as that of the
blessed One who inspires us.
1 Cor. 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not
seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man,
the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (KJV) There is NO way God’s children can ever imagine all
that God has in store for us, both in this life and for eternity.
He will create a new Heaven and new Earth (Isaiah 65:17; Rev. 21:1),
and we will live with Him forever. Until then, His Holy Spirit comforts
and guides us. We know He has a wonderful and eternal future awaiting
us. This is joy beyond description! It gives us hope and courage
to press on in this life, to endure
hardship, and to avoid giving in to temptation. This
world is not all there is, it is not our permanent home. The best
is yet to come.
Strength. Strength = abundance of
power, ability, capability, might, force, energy. 2 Cor. 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is
sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
(KJV) Do we actually glory in our infirmities, so the power of Christ
may rest upon us? God’s power is shown in weak people (1 Cor.1:26-29).
This should give us courage. We need to recognize our limitations
and know if we turn to God He will help us. We must rely on God
for ability to go on, rather than rely on our own energy, effort,
or talent. Our weakness not only helps develop our Christian character;
but also increases our worship, because when we admit our weakness,
we declare God’s strength.
Philip. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ
which strengtheneth me. (KJV) Are you content in any circumstance?
The secret is to draw on Christ’s power for strength to go
on. Are you discontented because you don’t have what you want?
Learning to rely on God’s Promises and Christ’s power,
will help you be content. If you always want more than you have,
ask God to remove that desire and teach you to be content in every
circumstance. He has promised to supply
all your needs, and He will do it in a way that is best for you (Phil. 4:19). Try to look at life from God’s point
of view. We should focus on what God expects of us, not what we
feel we should have (or want). Let us be grateful for everything
God has given us. We should separate ourselves from nonessentials
so that
we can concentrate on eternal things. Can we really do all
things? The power we receive from Christ is always sufficient
to do His will, and to face any challenges that may arise from our
commitment to doing it. He will NOT grant us superhuman ability
to accomplish anything we want without regard to His interests.
As we battle for the faith, we will face troubles, pressures, and
trials. When these things come, Christ will strengthen you.
Gentleness. Gentleness = kindness,
impartial compassion, humility, meekness, mildness, patience.
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above
is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated,
full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. [KJV] The wisdom we receive from Heaven is first of all pure, also peace loving,
gentle at all times, and always willing to yield to others. It is
full of love and mercy and good deeds. It shows NO partiality and
is always sincere. We should make allowances for others; be lenient
towards neighbors, as to the duties they owe us. We should not be
harsh to a neighbor’s faults, for we have faults too. We should
be full of mercy to a neighbor’s miseries. We should not be
hypocrites. Our relations to others should be peaceable and mercy
towards others must be without hypocrisy. God
is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34), and we should not be either.
Temperance.
Temperance = moderation, restraint, sobriety, self-control.
Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. (KJV) We should illustrate the qualities Jesus showed while He was
here on earth; love, humility, truth, service. We should do what
Jesus would do in our situation (Ephes. 4:24-32; Col. 3:10-17).
We must not give our desires any chance to lead us into sin. Avoid
any situations that open the door
to pleasing your sinful desires.
Proverbs 13:3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth
his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
(KJV) You will never master self control
if you cannot control what you say. Words can cut
like a knife and destroy, worse than deeds. Words when spoken cannot
be taken back. James knew this truth: “The tongue is a
small part of the body, but it makes great boasts” (James
3:5). If you want to master self-control, begin with your tongue.
Stop and think before you react or speak. If you can control this
small but powerful member, you can control the rest of your body.
Meekness. Meekness = being humble,
mild, docile, submissive. Meekness is power under control.
Col. 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of
God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of
mind, meekness, longsuffering; (KJV) Here is a system to help
us live for God day by day: (1) imitate Christ’s compassion,
and His forgiving attitude (Col. 3:12-13); (2) let love direct your
life (Col. 3:14); (3) let the peace of Christ rule in your heart
(Col. 3:15); (4) always be thankful (Col. 3:15); (5) keep God’s
Word in you at all times (Col. 3:16); (6) live as Jesus Christ’s
representative (Col. 3:17).
1 Tim. 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these
things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love,
patience, meekness. (KJV) If we are to be people of God, we
must flee bad and evil things, pursue good things, fight for your
faith and take hold of eternal life! We must have an active faith,
obeying God with courage and doing what we know is right.
A
GIFT, UNEQUALED
Chapter 4
GIFTS OF GOD, THE
All
blessings are Gifts of God. James 1:17 Every
good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down
from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither
shadow of turning. (KJV) All that is good and perfect comes
to us from God. He created all heaven’s lights, but unlike
them, He never changes or casts shifting shadows. Good is often
compared with light in the Bible, while evil is compared to darkness.
For other Passages where God is pictured as light (Psalm 27:1, Isaiah
60:19-22, John 1:1-14).
2
Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given
unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through
the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
(KJV) Each day we know Jesus a little better, and as we know Him
better, we know His divine power gives us everything we need to
live a godly life. He has called us to receive His own glory and
goodness. The power to grow doesn’t come from us, but from
God. Because we cannot be truly godly on our own, God allows us
to participate in His divine nature in order to keep us from sin
and help us live for Him. When we are born
again (John 1:12-13; 3:3), God by His Holy
Spirit empowers us with His moral and pure goodness.
God's
Gifts are free and abundant. Numbers 14:8
If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land,
and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. (KJV)
God had led Israel out of slavery, through the desolate desert,
and up to the very edge of the Promised Land. He had protected them,
fed them, and fulfilled every Promise He had ever made to them.
But when He asked them to take that last step of faith and enter
the land, the people refused.
They had seen so many miracles, why did they stop trusting God?
Why did they refuse to enter the Promised Land? That had been their
goal ever since they left Egypt. Joshua and Caleb were really upset
by the people’s refusal to enter the land. These two wise
and godly men encouraged the people to claim God’s Promise
and move into the land. The people rejected their advice, even spoke
of killing them. Don’t be too quick to reject advice that
scares you or that you don’t like. Consider it carefully.
The advice may be God’s message to you.
Romans
8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered
him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us
all things? (KJV) All things whether in Heaven or on Earth,
are a tremendous display of God’s free love. They
all are the gift of God and His coequal Son. All gifts that come
from God come through His Son, Jesus. If you want
to receive God’s gifts, and participate in the benefit of
any of them, you must first believe God and accept His Son as your
Saviour and Lord. God has prepared a crown and a Kingdom for all
believers, and He will give us whatever we need
in the way to it. People may try to justify themselves, but according
to the Bible, this is impossible!
Only
Christ can justify us! Justify = innocent, free, forgiven completely,
be made righteous. Just as if we’d never sinned. Only Jesus
can do this for us! Romans
5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (KJV) We can be made
right in God’s eyes, ONLY by faith in His Son. We can have
peace with God only when we believe what Jesus Christ our Lord has
done for us.
Only Christ can make us righteous. 1 Cor. 1:30 But of him are
ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness,
and sanctification, and redemption: (KJV) Talent and wisdom
do not get a person into God’s Kingdom; faith in His Son does.
Salvation is totally from God, only through Jesus’ sacrificial
death for us. There is NOTHING we can do to earn our salvation (or
buy it); we need only accept what Jesus has already done for us.
God is the reason and the source of our personal relationship with
Christ. Our union with Christ results in our having the gifts of
God’s wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:3), possessing right standing
with God (righteousness, 2 Cor. 5:21), being holy (1 Thes. 4:3-7),
and having the penalty for our sins paid by Jesus (redemption, Mark
10:45).
Only by faith in Jesus can we ever
realize these amazing gifts mentioned above. We have absolutely
NO righteousness of our own (Isa.64:6). God the Father applies the
righteousness of Jesus to us when we believe Him and accept Jesus
as our Saviour and Lord. An extremely important gift!
Only Christ can regenerate us.
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which
we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing
of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
(KJV) All three Persons of the Trinity participate in the
work of salvation. Based
on the redemptive work of His Son, the Father forgives us and sends
the Holy Spirit to wash away our sins and continually renew us,
day by day.
Col.
3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed
in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (KJV)
To “put on the new self” means that your conduct
should match your faith. If you are a Christian, you should
act like it. Being a Christian means more than making good
resolutions and having good intentions; it means having right thoughts,
taking right actions, saying right words. The more we know of Christ
and His work, the more we will be changed to be like Him. This
is a life long process. We must never stop trusting, learning
and obeying. It takes patience and concentration to keep in line
with His will.
Only
Christ can sanctify us. Sanctification
= to cleanse, purify, consecrate, hallow, be holy, set apart for
God. John 17:17 Sanctify
them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (KJV) A believer becomes sanctified (set apart for sacred use, cleansed
and made holy) ONLY through believing and obeying the Word of God
(Heb.4:12). He/she has already accepted forgiveness through Christ’s
sacrificial death (Heb.7:26-27). But we must apply the Word of God
to our lives daily. It has a purifying effect on our minds and hearts.
Scripture shows us our sin, motivates us to confess sin, renews
our relationship with Christ, and guides us back to the right path.
All
good things are gifts from God. Psalm 34:10
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek
the Lord shall not want any good thing. (KJV) God knows what
we need, even our deepest spiritual needs. Many believers, even
though they face poverty and hardship, still have enough spiritual
nourishment to live for God. To have
God is having all you really need. God is enough, in any circumstance.
When
you feel you don’t have everything you need, ask yourself
the following:
- (1)
Is this really a need?
- (2)
Is this really good for me?
- (3)
Is this the best time for this?
- (4)
Would Jesus ask for this?
The
reason you don’t have certain things may be that He may want
you to see that you need Him more than you need those things for
which you ask. And remember, sometimes even a “no” answer
to prayer is a gift from God!
1 Tim. 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this
world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches,
but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
(KJV) Those who have money must not be arrogant just because they
have a lot to give. They must be careful not to put their hope in
money instead of in the living God for their security and welfare.
Even those without material wealth, can be rich in good deeds. No
matter how poor you are, you have something to share with someone.
1 Cor. 13:4-7 Charity suffereth long, and is
kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed
up, [5] Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is
not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; [6] Rejoiceth not in iniquity,
but rejoiceth in the truth; [7] Beareth all things, believeth all
things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. [KJV] Love
is patient and kind, is not jealous, boastful, proud or rude. Love
never demands its own way and is not irritable. Love keeps no record
of when it has been wronged, is sad about evil and injustice, rejoices
in truth. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful,
and endures through every circumstance.
There are actually
three Greek words that describe love. Agape, which
is God’s kind of love, or divine love. Phileo,
which is affection, or brotherly love, love for family and friends,
and eros which is lust, passion, sex. The world
around us confuses
love and lust. Unlike lust (craving, emotion, burning desire),
God’s kind of love is always reaching out to others, never
has a selfish motive thinking only of self and pleasure. God’s
love is completely unselfish. This kind of love (agape) goes against
our natural desires. It is impossible
to exercise this love on our own. It is a “fruit of the Spirit”
(Gal.5:22-23). It is available only if God helps us set aside our
own fleshly yearnings. The fruit of the Spirit
is the automatic work of the Holy Spirit in us, IF we do not restrain
Him (1 Thes.5:19). The Spirit produces all the character traits
that are found in the nature of Christ. They are the by-products
of Christ’s control. We cannot gain them by trying to get
them on our own. The fruit of the Spirit grows in us when we join
our lives to Jesus (John 15:4-5). We must know Him, love Him, remember
Him always, and imitate Him in every thing we do and say. The end
result is that we fulfill the intended purpose of the law . . .
to love God and our neighbors (Mat.22:37-40).
The
Holy Spirit is a precious Gift to us from Christ. He guides, teaches, comforts, and convicts us of sin, to name a
few. He teaches us to love, with God’s love, giving love but
expecting nothing in return. The more we submit to Christ, the more
we become like Him, and the more we will love others.
A
GIFT, UNEQUALED
Chapter 5
MORE ON GOD’S LOVE
Since
love is the greatest of all gifts, more needs to be said on this
subject. Love is a vital part of God’s character.
2
Cor. 13:11-B . . . Be perfect, be of good comfort,
be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall
be with you. (KJV) God is the Author of peace and Lover of
harmony. He loves us! He is more than willing to be at peace with
us. It should be our constant desire and goal in life to walk in
His ways, and to do His will. He wants us to share in all the benefits
which Christ of His free grace and favor has purchased.
1
John 4:7-13 Beloved, let us love one another: for love
is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth
God. [8] He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. [9]
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God
sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through
him. [10] Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved
us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. [11] Beloved,
if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. [12] No man
hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth
in us, and his love is perfected in us. [13] Hereby know we that
we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
(KJV) The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love. If we do not love
the image of God (Gen.1:27; 9:6) in His people, how can we possibly
have any saving knowledge of God? It is God’s
nature, His character . . . to be kind, gracious and merciful; and
to want us to have joy, peace and happiness. If we are to imitate
Him, what is this saying to us? We must do likewise.
The
whole law of God is simply boiled down to one four letter word:
love! Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man,
what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do
justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
(KJV) In this one verse, the 613 commandments of the ancient priests
are reduced to just three.
Matthew
22:35-40
Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question,
tempting him, and saying, [36] Master, which is the great commandment
in the law? [37] Jesus said unto him, Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy
soul, and with all thy mind. [38] This is the first and great commandment.
[39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour
as thyself. [40] On these two commandments hang all the law and
the prophets. (KJV) Let’s look at God’s
law in a positive way. Instead of worrying about all the things
we should NOT do, let’s concentrate on all the things we can
do to show our love for God and others. Jesus was quoting from Deut.6:5
and Lev.19:18. What He is saying is
that IF we fulfill these two commands, we actually keep all the
others. IF we love God with our all, we will never
serve another god. IF we love our neighbor as ourselves, we will
never do any harm to them. Jesus
clearly states that these two laws summarize the Ten Commandments
plus all that the Old
Testament prophets had to say.
When God made provision of the Gospel; His forgiveness of sin, and
His salvation of sinners, was in perfect harmony with His glory,
mercy and justice, revealing that God truly is love. God shows Himself
to be love. His desire is that we not fall short of eternal happiness.
But, utter refusal to believe Him, and refusal to repent of their
sins, causes these stubborn ones to be condemned to a hopeless eternal
misery, for they break the Creator’s laws.
There are no words, thoughts or deeds on our part that can do justice
to the free and amazing love of a Holy God towards sinners! We all
profit from God’s love towards us when we simply believe Him
and accept His precious Son. When
we accept God’s First and Great Gift of His only begotten
Son, He floods our lives with many other blessed gifts to follow.
The most glorious display of God’s love is to be found in
the Person of Christ, and the work He performed on the cross. Is
there really love between God and sinners? YES! He freely, willingly,
graciously and abundantly loved us.
John 3:16 For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life. (KJV) God's love, when its proper end
is gained, is perfected in us, just as faith is perfected by its
works. God dwells in us by His Holy Spirit. His Spirit gently and
persistently teaches us and guides us in all right ways, making
us loving, caring and compassionate Christians. And a loving Christian
is well on their way to
being a perfect Christian. Love oils the wheels of our affections,
and makes us willing to help our brethren.
A person that goes around with a sour attitude towards others leaves
a lot to be desired. If God dwells in us and we in Him, shouldn’t
we put on a “happy face and attitude”? Those who are
truly the sons of God, cannot help but call Him Father, and do it
in a loving and joyful way.
Christ, the specific object of God’s
love. John 15:9 As
the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my
love. (KJV) To continue in His love, does not
only mean to continue to love Him, but to continue in the possession
and enjoyment of His love to you. When we obey Him, we remain in
His love, just as He obeys His Father and He remains in His love.
When we continue in His love, we will be filled with His overflowing
joy!
John
17:26 And I have declared
unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith
thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. (KJV) Jesus has made the Father known to us, and He will continue
to do so, that the love the Father has for His Son may be in us,
and too, Jesus is also in us. Since the Father and the Son are united,
we too can be united with both of them by acceptance of Christ Jesus. Unity is a tremendous gift indeed!
Christ
abides in God’s love. John 15:10 If
ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have
kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. (KJV) Just
as the Father loved Christ, who was most worthy, He also loved Jesus’
disciples, who were unworthy. All who love Jesus should continue
in their love to Him, and make every effort to show it and pass
it on. The joy of the hypocrite lasts just for a moment, but the
joy of those who abide in Christ’s love is a continual feast.
We show our love to Him by trusting and obeying Him. The same power
that brought the love of Christ in our hearts (Holy Spirit), will
keep us in that love, and help us to abide in it. The immense love
that Christ has for us, should excite and motivate us to love each
other.
GOD’S LOVE IS EXHIBITED IN:
The giving of Christ.
John 3:16 For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life. [KJV]
The sending of Christ.
1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love
of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into
the world, that we might live through him. (KJV)
Christ’s
dying for us while sinners. Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were
yet sinners, Christ died for us. [KJV]
Titus 3:4-7 But after that the kindness and
love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, [5] Not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he
saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy
Ghost; [6] Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our
Saviour; [7] That being justified by his grace, we should be made
heirs according to the hope of eternal life. [KJV]
What great love our God has
for us!
A
GIFT, UNEQUALED
Chapter 6
MORE ON GOD’S GIFTS TO US
REST. Matthew
11:28 Come unto me, all
ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (KJV) Jesus is able to free people from all their burdens. When
we are weary and loaded down with troubles, He can give us rest.
The rest that Jesus promises is NOT the end of all work and problems,
but instead love, contentment and peace with God. A personal relationship
with our Lord changes meaningless, wearisome toil into spiritual
productivity and peace.
LIVING WATER. John
4:14 But whosoever drinketh
of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water
that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing
up into everlasting life. (KJV) Just as our
bodies hunger and thirst, so do our souls. Our souls need spiritual
food and water. The living Word, Jesus Christ, and the written Word,
the Bible, can satisfy our hungry and thirsty souls.
BREAD OF HEAVEN. John
6:51 I am the living
bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread,
he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh,
which I will give for the life of the world. (KJV)
Again, this is speaking of spiritual
hunger. Jesus does NOT give us His flesh as physical bread to
eat. To eat living bread means to accept Christ into our lives and
become united with Him.
How
are we united with Christ?
- (1)
believing in His death (the sacrifice of His flesh) and resurrection
and
- (2)
devoting ourselves to living as He requires, which means depending
on His teaching for guidance
and trusting in the Holy Spirit for power and wisdom.
ETERNAL LIFE. John
10:28 And I give unto
them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any
man pluck them out of my hand. (KJV) Jesus
protects His people from eternal harm. We as believers can expect
to suffer on Earth, BUT Satan CANNOT harm our souls or take away
our eternal life with God. The Earth is the devil’s domain
(1 Peter 5:8), and bad things will at times happen to us. But if
we faithfully follow Jesus, He will give us everlasting safety.
PEACE. John
14:27 Peace I leave with
you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto
you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (KJV) The result of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives is
deep, unending peace. Worldly peace is usually considered to be
absence of conflict or wars. Spiritual peace is confident assurance
in any situation. With the peace of Christ, we have no need to fear
the present or the future. We KNOW He is in complete control, no
matter what! Do you have worry or stress? The Holy Spirit can fill
you with Christ’s peace (Phil. 4:6-7).
UNDERSTANDING. Job
32:8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration
of the Almighty giveth them understanding. (KJV) The Almighty
God gives us understanding. God is the ONLY source of true wisdom.
Becoming wise and understanding is a lifelong pursuit. Don’t
be content just to know about wisdom; make it part of your life
through Bible study and prayer daily.
ABILITY TO SPEAK COMFORTING WORDS. Isaiah 50:4 The Lord God hath
given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak
a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning,
he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. [KJV] The
Lord teaches us what to say, giving us right words at right times,
so that we can strengthen the physically and spiritually weary.
Each new morning we should be eager to know what He is going to
teach us.
GIFTS
TO THOSE WHO RIGHTLY ASK. Luke 11:9
And I say unto you, Ask, and it
shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall
be opened unto you. (KJV) Jesus tells us to
persist in pursuing God in prayer. Many people often give up after
a few halfhearted attempts and decide that God is not listening.
Knowing God takes faith, focus, and sincerity. Jesus assures us
that we will be rewarded. Don’t give up in your efforts to
seek God. Continue to ask Him for more knowledge, patience, wisdom,
love, and understanding. He will give them to you. He
will NOT give you selfish requests! But anything that is in line
with His will, He will gladly grant. When you go
to God in prayer, ask yourself this question: “Would Jesus
ask for this?” If the answer is no, don’t ask. But anything
that would honor and glorify God, is His will, and will be given.
HE
IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF OUR GIFTS. John 3:27
John answered and said, A man can receive nothing,
except it be given him from heaven. (KJV) Every person has
his work and place appointed to him/her from above. John the Baptist
continued to baptize after Jesus came onto the scene, because God
had given him his work. He had to continue it until God called him
to do something else. John’s job was to point people to Christ.
Even with Jesus beginning his own ministry, John could still turn
people to Jesus.
GIFTS
FORBID PRIDE. 1 Cor. 4:7 For
who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that
thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou
glory, as if thou hadst not received it? [KJV] Is there something
that makes you better than anyone else? What do you have that God hasn't given
you? So, if all you have is from God, how can you brag as though
you have accomplished something on your own? We have NO reason to
be proud. All we have, are, or do, comes from the free and rich
grace of God. We ALL are sinners, snatched from destruction by His
sovereign grace alone. How can we possibly be proud of the free
gifts God has given us? It is ridiculous! We should be eternally
grateful to God that He gives us such wonderful gifts to help us
in our service to Him and others.
The thought
that many eyes are upon believers as we struggle with difficulties
or temptations, should make us realize just how weak we are; but
also realize how strong He is. All believers are not exposed to
the same circumstances. Some suffer much greater hardships than
others. Always remember that God’s glorious love and mercy
will carry us through any and all hardships. Every one who is faithful
in their walk with Jesus, must be prepared for some shortage, ridicule,
persecution and contempt. True disciples of Christ may at times
suffer; but we must follow Jesus' example, and fulfil the will of
our Lord. We must be content with
Him and for Him, and be willing to be despised and abused by unbelievers.
It is much better to be rejected, despised, and painfully used,
than to have the good opinion and favor of the world. We will one
day be rewarded for our faithfulness.
TWO
GIFTS GOD GIVES TO NEW BELIEVERS.
2 Cor. 1:21-22 Now he which stablisheth us
with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; [22] Who hath
also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our
hearts.
(KJV) Paul mentions two gifts God gives us when we become believers:
- (1) a seal
of ownership to show who our Master is, and
- (2) the
Holy Spirit, who guarantees that we belong to Him and will receive
all His benefits (Eph.1:13-14).
The Holy Spirit
guarantees that salvation is ours now, and that we will receive
much more when Christ returns. The wondrous comfort, power and guidance
the Holy Spirit gives us in this life is just a foretaste (down
payment) of the benefits of our eternal life in God’s Presence.
But, with the privilege of belonging to God, also comes the responsibility
of being His faithful servants. Don’t be ashamed to let others
know that you are His; for you don’t want Him to ever be ashamed
of you (Mark 8:38).
GIFT
OF CONFESSING CHRIST AS LORD. 1 Cor. 12:3
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking
by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can
say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. (KJV) This
is a great truth, an absolute reality of the Christian life: the
lordship of Jesus Christ. NO person speaking by the Spirit of God
can ever call Jesus any offensive name. NO ONE can belittle Jesus
if they have the Spirit of God abiding within them (Rom.8:9). It
can’t happen! And NO ONE can say that Jesus is the Lord, unless
prompted by the Holy Ghost. Don’t get me wrong, people can
say the word Lord. But what did the Lord Jesus say? Matthew
7:21–23 Not every
one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom
of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in
that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in
thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful
works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart
from me, ye that work iniquity. (KJV) Why will that be? Because their profession of Jesus is simply
on the surface, superficial. The Lord Jesus was never their Lord
in their heart. Making Jesus Lord of your life is a conviction of
the heart and soul. We must come to the Cross to be saved, but we
do not stay there. We must become united to the living Christ. That
is what is important. He is the Lord God. He is sovereign and supreme,
and we cannot admit this without the Holy Spirit’s urging.
Remember the great question that Jesus asked, “… whom
say ye that I am?” (Mat. 16:15). Jesus
is still asking that same question today. Can you say with Peter:
“… Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”
(Mat. 16:16). Christ Jesus is the
Anointed One, He is King, He is Lord. No person is fit to serve
Christ unless he/she has been mastered by Jesus Christ.
Let’s
define gift. It is a capacity for service. It is a function. Spiritually
speaking, a gift means the Holy Spirit doing a particular job through
the believer, and using the believer to do it. Any job, any service
must be done in the power of the Spirit of God. The fact is: I am
nothing, I have nothing, I am of no use to God or man on my own.
But, when He gives a gift to me, I am to exercise that gift. The
Spirit of God will manifest Himself in my life and give me power
and wisdom to perform His will. So, a gift is simply the manifestation
(display, exhibition, demonstration) of the Spirit in us.
MANY
OTHER GIFTS. Romans 12:8 Or
he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it
with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth
mercy, with cheerfulness. (KJV) Exhortation is comfort. Some
people are given the gift of comforting.
He that giveth is he that shares his earthly possessions.
God may have given you a gift of making money, that is a gift.
He that ruleth, with diligence refers to the gift of leadership.
There are certain men who are given gifts to lead. They need to
exercise their gift so that everything might be done decently and
in order. He that sheweth mercy indicates the gift of kindness.
Some believers can be as a ray of a sunbeam in a sickroom, while
others cast a spell of gloom.
Romans
12:9-11 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that
which is evil; cleave to that which is good. [10] Be kindly affectioned
one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
[11] Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
(KJV) Let love be without dissimulation, means NO hypocrisy. Don’t
pat another believer on the back and say something that you don’t
mean. Abhor that which is evil means to express your hatred of that
which is evil. When you see something wrong in the church, bring
it to the attention of the proper authorities. Be honest, stand
up for the truth. Be honorable. Don’t be afraid to express
your hatred for all that is evil.
Cleave to that which is good. Cleave means to stick
like glue, to be welded or cemented together with the good things.
Believers should always be identified with good, never shady or
questionable practices.
Romans 12:12-13 Rejoicing in hope; patient
in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; [13] Distributing
to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. (KJV) Rejoicing
in hope means to be glad for all God is planning for you (eternal
life, mansion in Heaven).
Patient in tribulation means enduring trouble by prayer, persevering
(hanging in there). It is prayer that strengthens our faith, generates
hope and lifts it up into an assured and joyful anticipation. Distributing
to the necessity of saints means to help God’s children when
they are in need, physically or spiritually. Given to hospitality
means inviting believers home for dinner or, if they need lodging,
for the night.
I could go on and on. There are many “gifts” that God
gives His children. Helping in the kitchen, sweeping the floor,
greeting people at the door, a phone ministry to check on the elderly
or sick, visitation of those in the hospital or nursing homes, driving
someone to the doctor, etc. NO gift
should be looked down upon! ALL gifts are important! Don’t
ever be envious of someone else’s gift. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much
required. (Luke 12:48) The greater your gift, the more God will
expect of you. Be content with what God has given, and use it willingly
and faithfully with each passing day.
A
GIFT, UNEQUALED
Chapter 7
CLOSING COMMENTS
Our
precious Lord Jesus, is the most important GIFT we can ever possibly receive, and He is our Light and Candle. Only
He can enlighten our darkness (Psalm 18:28). When we believe and
accept Him into our heart and soul, our lives become enlightened
as never before. We are not ashamed (Psalm 34:5). He is a great
Light in our darkness. He is gracious, and full of compassion, and
righteous and teaches us to be as He is (Psalm 112:4). His gracious
Presence and words bring light into our once dark world (Psalm 119:130),
giving understanding to the simple.
Before we accept God’s gracious GIFT of His Son, we were people
that walked in darkness, but when we allow Jesus entrance into our
heart and life, His great light shines on all we do. His light shined
on us, we who once dwelt in the land of the shadow of death (Isaiah
9:2). He brings the blind by a way that they knew not; He leads
them in paths that they have not known: He makes darkness light
before them, and crooked things straight. All these things He does
for us, and will never forsake us (Isa.42:16).
When we accept God’s Great GIFT of Jesus, the glory of the
Lord is upon us (Isaiah 60:1). He has come a light into the world,
that whosoever believeth on Him should not abide in darkness (John
12:46). What an awesome and extreme
Treasure the GIFT of Jesus is! Have you accepted God’s GIFT
to you?
GIFTS
OF LOVE
Wondrous
gifts from our Father above,
Giv’n to His children, with such great love.
Marvelous gifts of love, we don’t deserve,
Gifts of love He gives, when Him we serve.
One
fine gift is His amazing grace,
Our horrid sins, He’ll completely erase.
With our simple faith, His gifts begin,
By accepting Christ, God’s pleasure we win.
God’s
awesome gift of peace, floods our soul,
Revealing to us, He’s in control.
God’s spiritual gifts, are better than gold,
And out of His abundance, they do unfold.
Another
gift of love from God, is joy,
A deep within feeling, no one can destroy.
Knowing in your heart “I’m going to Heav’n,”
This wondrous gift of love, from God is giv’n.
All
God’s gifts of love, with Jesus begin,
We must accept God’s GIFT of Christ, within.
Acceptance of Him must come from our heart,
And when He comes in, He’ll ne’er depart.
All
God’s gifts of love, give us contentment,
And all of them rely, on our commitment.
We must trust Christ with our all, always,
To receive God’s gifts of love, all our days.
***********************
A GIFT, unequaled, book
Accountability
Christ Is The Door, book
Comfort From God
Devotion
Failures
How To Live In God's Power
Loneliness
No Respecter of Persons
Submission and Servanthood
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JESUS, LORD AND KING
A Gift Unequaled
All Fullness of Christ
The Death of Jesus
Eyes on Jesus
Face to Face
Forgiveness From God
Jesus' Agony
Jesus, the Only Way!
Living Water
Messianic Prophecies
Why Did Jesus Have to Die?
Who Crucified Christ?
Who is Christ?
With or Without Christ
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