We Need One Another

“To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7).

Right in line with modern culture’s emphasis on personal independence, it’s often easy for one to say, “If I have the all-sufficient Holy Spirit living within me, that’s all I need to live my Christian life.” That is true, but because you are not completely sanctified, you do not always allow the Spirit to fully do His work. Therefore, God needs to use other believers to minister the Spirit’s correction, exhortation, or encouragement.

The Bible is very clear about this. The Epistle to the Hebrews says God wants followers who do not waver in their profession of faith. And a primary way Christians will fulfill that is by regularly meeting together and seriously stimulating one another to love and good works (Heb. 10:23-25).

We don’t have to look far for the proper setting in which to meet regularly and encourage one another. It’s any Bible-believing local church that is exercising its spiritual gifts. These special gifts are simply the loving channels through which the Holy Spirit ministers to those within the fellowship of believers. Today’s verse suggests that each of us has a gift, and this truth is explained a little more in verse 11: “One and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.” Here the apostle Paul reveals yet one more way in which the Holy Spirit sovereignly helps us and others to become more mature.

What’s remarkable about the Spirit’s working through us is that we become extensions of His voice. Perhaps you’ve thought of that comparison at times when you’ve shared the gospel with the lost. But the analogy fits equally well when you reach out and minister to someone within your church. The idea of being an extension of the Holy Spirit’s ministry ought to encourage you toward greater faithfulness in using your spiritual gifts to help other believers. Likewise, it should make you more sensitive to the Spirit’s correcting and edifying work in your life as others come alongside and minister to you (Col. 3:12-13).

What kind of example did the Macedonians set regarding aid to other believers? How should that motivate us (v. 7)?

Everywhere you turn, it sure seems like some preacher has a laundry list of failures and shortcomings to lay on the folks. If it isn't some blatant sin to point out, it's that Christians are not properly socializing or whatever.

There's no end to the *bottomless pit* of criticisms. Okay so we all fall short. Boy aren't we all reminded. And reminded. And reminded. Prosecutors are everywhere, dressed up as defense attorneys. Hello.

Even worry has become a sin to worry about!

Jesus healed people so they could get up and walk, saying to them, “Your sins are forgiven.”

What a relief. No back-handed slights on the other end, no moving goalposts, just a genuine message of love and kindness that gets people motivated and up and moving for real. Life from the dead. Now there's a guy who can then offer advice for improvement, and we'd know it's good and sincere and worth listening to and taking to heart.

Not like the crackdown smackdown messages coming out of the establishment that lives for how many convictions it can get.

It's game over when people finally catch on.

Jesus. Would anybody even be able to recognize him after what his supposed representives have been teaching? He was big into fishing, hiking, mountain climbing, sailing, telling stories around the fire. He knew all the guy stuff like building and carpentry, farming, livestock, and could offer tips for bigger fish catches. And what *didn't* he know how to fix? A real man. A mensch. And the children loved him. Women too. Sometimes he liked to set off by himself and just soak up nature. And yet there was the devil, at the ready to hassle, nag, and deceive him.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.