10/27/2018
When someone is baptized, and the Holy Spirit comes over them, three things occur within them. They are given gifts, a calling(s), and they will begin to behave in a new and wonderful way. Gifts, service, and activities, these identify them, and set them apart, on a course that God has willed for them even before their feet became wet in the waters of baptism, or they took their first breath as a child of God.
“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 12:4-6 ESV
Last night I had a dream about speaking in tongues. I was standing in front of the congregation at my church when suddenly the Holy Spirit came over me and I lifted my arms towards heaven and began to speak in an unknown language. I have no idea what the rest of the dream was about, but I recall that particular portion of it, and the rush of the spirit within me as it occurred. This morning I began to read my devotional, and lo and behold, my reading dealt with the Holy Spirit, and the gifts, services, and activities He brings into our lives.
“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
1 Corinthians 12:7 ESV
We like to interpret this particular scripture to mean that the “common good” is for the church that we are attending, or the group of Christians that surrounds us, but it has a much larger meaning than that... it means the world into which we are sent. Our world may be our family, our church, our community, country, or indeed the world as a whole, but whatever it is... we receive the gifts necessary for us to succeed in doing what God has called us to do there.
“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.”
1 Corinthians 12:27-31 ESV
Many of us look around at the church we attend, and find it to be a relatively peaceful place on its surface. This is especially true of new Christians who have come in, beaten and battered out of a hard and dangerous world, and when they find peace and security in the arms of Jesus within the pews, they tend to view the Church as a sanctuary; they see it as Buddhists see nirvana, where neither suffering, desire, or self, reigns, and happiness abounds, but it is not. It is true that our churches are places of sanctuary, but into this sanctuary we bring our lives, and they are not perfect, or pretty... our church is where we come to be bathed, to be anointed in oil in an effort to cover the stench of the world we just stepped out of, and once we are refreshed we walk back into the surrounding madness to face it again. Our church is a place where we can bolster our faith by coming together with others who also suffer, and yet are sanctified... and who perhaps exhibit righteousness, or holiness. It is a place where God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit can restore us.
The Holy Spirit doesn’t take us out of the world that surrounds us, but prepares us to go back out through the doors of our church and bring the Word of God, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to a people who are lost and dying there. To this end we receive gifts to help us, we perform services that God has called us to because they bring us into close proximity with sinners, and we act in certain ways so that others might see Jesus reflected in our lives and activities each day.
“And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."”
Matthew 28:18-20 ESV
When a ship is sinking in a rough sea, and the passengers are bobbing about, being thrashed by the waves, the Coast Guard is called, and they brave the dangers of high seas to come to the rescue. When they arrive they lower their small boats and men row through the crashing waves into the midst of those who are drowning. They take life buoys attached to long ropes and throw them out to those in distress... then pull them to the safety of their boat. As Christians we like to see ourselves as those brave men in the Coast Guard boat, but we are not... we are the lifebuoys that are thrown out to the lost souls. Sometimes Jesus and the Holy Spirit pull us back with a man, a woman, or a child in tow, but quiet often we return empty and must be thrown again, and again, and again. We get battered in the process, and our rope becomes frayed, but at the end of the day we are taken to the boathouse and repaired, and our rope rewoven. Once we are refurbished we are placed back into the small boat where we await the next storm. The Holy Spirit prepares us for such moments, and our church is the boathouse of Christendom.
The Holy Spirit gives us what we need to face the storms in life. Sometimes we are the souls bobbing helplessly in the sea, but more often than not, we are the lifebuoy. Are you ready to receive the gift of a long rope, the call to rescue, or the action of a strong arm that throws you out into a raging sea to save a lost soul? Are you ready to face the suffering, the wind, and the crushing power of the waves to bring home a floundering victim of life to their Father and family? If so, then walk into the boathouse, and meet the Holy Spirit there.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your Son Jesus Christ who takes me to sea in the midst of life’s storms, and I thank you for your Holy Spirit that prepares me for the dangerous journey, and helps me to bring home the survivors I find there. I thank you for all the gifts you give me Holy Father, that I can apply to the tasks that you set before me. I thank you for the strong arm of Jesus that throws me into the wind and draws me back to you. I thank you for your perseverance as you see me come back empty time and again... yet call out “throw once more” in confidence. I thank you for the faith I have in you, and the part you allow me to play in your redemption of souls. I place the rope of my life in the hands of Jesus, and have faith that it will never slip from His grip, but even if it should Father, I offer my life up for that of my friend, because this love is your greatest gift to me. No tongues, no healing, and no miracle, can eclipse your love that rests in me. So make me ready Holy Spirit, take me to sea courageous Father, throw me into the sea faithful Jesus, that one soul might be saved, or one survivor might be given another chance to know you as you lift them above the waves. Merciful Father you never abandon us, and your grace goes to sea for the least and most undeserving of us. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you who gave the life of His own Son that others would be saved. Your mercy and grace is my hope and your love the foundation of my faith! All glory is yours Father; now and evermore.
“By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might; who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples,”
Psalms 65:5-7 ESV
Rich Forbes