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REFLECTION

The gifts of the Holy Spirit is the theme for our reflection. Paul enlightened the Corinthian Church about the gifts of the Holy.

The first fact about the Holy Spirit is that, He lives and empowers only those who are saved with the Spiritual gifts. For this reason, Paul says, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:1-3)

Secondly, there are variety of Spiritual gifts and they are given to believers individually but for the common good of the Church. (1 Corinthians 12: 4-10) In other words, possession of Spiritual gifts must not lead to the division of the Church. Some people have left their churches to establish their own fellowships, prayer camps, spiritual consultation centers or church because of their unique Spiritual gifts they received when they were in the former churches. Unfortunately, they leave with some of the members of their original church to establish their new churches. This is called sheep stealing in the Study of Mission and Evangelism. Again, others also use their Spiritual gift for selfish interests not for the common good of the Church. Some people with unique Spiritual gift such as healing and prophesy use them to extort money from people and to enrich themselves unduly. To those who use their Spiritual gift to cause division and for selfish interests Jesus cautions us that ” “not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:21-23)

Thirdly, Spiritual gifts cannot be transferred neither can they be given by human beings nor received from the Holy Spirit with force but “All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” (1 Corinthians 12:11). It is interesting to note that in some churches people are ignorantly made to believe that they can be taught how to speak in tongues. In other churches peole are made to believe that everyone must speak in tongues because that is the only way to prove that one has the Holy Spirit indwelling in him or her. This is quite unfortunate! To accept Jesus Christ and be saved is a personal decision or a choice but to be given Spirit gifts is the Holy Spirit’s decision or choice. Let us in humility desire the Spiritual gifts with good intentions to serve and glorify God and for the common good of the Church of Christ and they will be given to us according to His will. Shalom.

PRAYER

Dear Holy Spirit, we humbly ask that you continually empower your church in the 21st Century with the manifestation of the gifts of Spirit so that the Church may be edified and relevant as a transformational agent in the world. Amen.