Open Heaven 17 March 2019 Sunday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye
Topic: An Interdependent Generation
Memorise: “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.”- 1 Corinthians 12:11
Read: 1 Corinthians 12:1-12 (KJV)
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
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.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
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:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
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.
Bible in One Year: 1 Corinthians 12-14, Isaiah 65:17-66:6
MESSAGE:
One truth all children of God must realize is that we were created to be dependent on one another as members of the body of Christ. In other words, we are an interdependent generation. The failure to recognize this has caused some children of God to live as lone-rangers, and because the environment of accountability is missing from their lives, they ignorantly expose themselves to the devil’s attacks. The Christian faith is founded on fellowship among like-minded people. Painting a picture of what this looks like. Acts 2:46 says:
“And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,”
The fellowship that existed in the early Church affords the disciples the opportunity to share not only their physical possessions but also the gifts of the Holy Spirit in them. None of them could claim monopoly of all the gifts. Attesting to this, Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 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.”
The fundamental truth is that we need each other to finish well in the Christian race. Therefore, no one should claim superiority over another. An apostle in not more important than a teacher. Moreover, the Holy Spirit indicates that these ministry offices are gifts meant for the perfecting of the saints. Speaking in Ephesians 4:11-12, He says:
“11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”
Knowing therefore that we are interdependent, we must relate with one another as indispensable allies in the journey of faith. There should be no schism in the Body of Christ; rather, each member of the Body should take the responsibility of caring for other members as top priority. A lack of this understanding can make a prophet, for example, to think that he or she is superior to an evangelist or other ministry gifts in the Body of Christ, and lord himself or herself over them. We also see cases where some, such as teachers in the Body of Christ, suffer an inferiority complex, leading to rebellion against the government of the Church to their own spiritual peril. Don’t feel offended or sidelined if you are posted to a ministry that is not visible, such as prayer. Several people with the gift of prayer have lost everything in the course of struggling to be out there. May the Lord grant you understanding of your calling in Jesus’ Name.
Prayer Point: Father, please reveal my calling to me today and help me to be content with it. Also grant me grace to use my spiritual gifts for the perfecting of Your saints in Jesus’
Hymn 5: Let Others See Jesus In You
1.. While passing thro’ this world of sin,
and others your life shall view,
Be clean and pure without, within;
Let others see Jesus in you.
Chorus:
Let others see Jesus in you,
Let others see Jesus in you.
Keep telling the story, be faithful and true;
Let others see Jesus in you.
- Your life’s a book before their eyes,
They’re reading it thro’ and thro’
Say, does it point them to the skis,
Do others see Jesus in you? - Then live for Christ both day and night,
Be faithful, be brave and true,
and lead the lost to life and Christ.
Let others see Jesus in you.
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