Volume 48 # 1, -- January 4, 2008
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Spiritually Gifted Men
And Their Gifts
– First Corinthians Twelve –
In first Corinthians twelve,
thirteen and fourteen Paul taught the Christians at
God had predicted that the Marvelous
things" or miraculous gifts would last for about forty years in the early
church. "According to the days of thy coming out of the
In Christ
people belong to the one body or church. While gifts differ in the church unity
must prevail. There is but one body! The privilege of being a part of the one
body is one of the great attractions to Christianity. The church is where you can truly belong and
everyone can be a part of this one body, regardless of your gifts. You belong
to God and He belongs to you! In this one body you have brothers and sisters
and they belong to you and you belong to them.
Many
members with different gifts – I Corinthians 12:1-11: Sadly the
brethren at
The Bible
can be understood. Its purpose is to make know the truth, not to hide truth.
Before becoming Christians the Corinthians worshipped idols in ignorance. They
were led astray by their dumb idols. In contrast they are no longer spiritually
blind. Now by the Spirit of God they serve Jesus as Lord. No dumb idol would
induce them to confess that Jesus is Lord. This confession could only be
induced by the Spirit of God.
Paul set
forth the truth that the same God, the one true God not some idol gods, gave special
gifts to men in the early church. This is a discussion of the true spiritual
gifts and the disciples that possessed them. "There are diversities of
gifts, but the same Spirit." The brethren at
Many
members in one body – I Corinthians 12:12-14: The one body is the one
Men have
been taught the necessity of baptism because the Spirit gave that message to
the apostles and other inspired teachers. Baptism is to get into Christ or into
His death. (Romans 6:3) Baptism is to put on Christ. (Galatians 3:27) Baptism
is for remission of sins. (Acts
Many diverse members united – I
Corinthians 12:15-26: There is nothing more diverse and nothing more
united than the body. The imaginary conversations between the various parts of
the body make this point clearly. A body is not really a body, unless there is
more than one part working together. In the body no part of the body can take
the place of another part. Each member is an important part of the physical
body. Just so, each member is an important part of the spiritual body. No one
can take the place of another. All are important.
When a person becomes a Christian they take
on a new identity. This new person becomes an important part of the body of
Christ. There is to be one church for all mankind, regardless of race or
background. We have all been baptized into the same body. Christians are one in
Christ. The church is the only place where people are truly created equal! The
body is not one member, but many useful and important members! Christianity is
not a religion of independence. If one part of our body hurts, then we all
hurt. If one part of our body is honored, the whole body will feel honored.
Members
that love one another – I Corinthians 12:27-31: In the close of this
chapter we will see the application Paul made concerning the spiritual gifts
given in the one body. The church is composed of many different members but
they all make up one united body. Each member of the body must have a strong
interest in other members and want to be a blessing to them. If each Christian
will do his or her part there will be no jealousies or contentions.
The
spiritual gifts were temporary. However the church must continue to function as
one body. The spiritual gifts were no longer needed with the completion of the
New Testament. We must remember that even in the early church not everyone was
an apostle; not everyone was a prophet; not everyone was a teacher; not everyone
could work miracles; not everyone could speak in tongues or interpret tongues.
But everyone could desire and pursue the best gifts. In the next chapters Paul
will identify and describe that more excellent gift. All of the spiritual gifts
are temporary but love will continue into eternity.
Are you a faithful member of the one body of
Christ? To become a Christian you must hear the gospel (Romans
- - - Charles Box
News & Notes
1. Prayer List: Stabler
Hospital: Jean
Hayes. In Need Of Prayers: Jimmy Allen (1065 Arrow-head Drive,
Prattville, AL 36067), Joe Barrett (nephew of Lomax Owens – surgery in
Germany), Mae Beverly, Nelson Daughtry, Paul Deason, Mary Dewrell, Mac
Diamond, Birdie Lee Godwin, Roy Goodwin, Montine
Hardin, Evan Hartsell, Joe Hawkins, Linda Holley, Dee Matthews, Jo Ann Moorer,
Curtis Newton, Mary Powell, Olivia Reynolds, Austin Shows, Lane Strickland,
Harold Thompson, Corrine Till, Leroy Waller, Alma Ward (mother of Bill Ward),
Richard Watts, Johnnie Wesley, and Mary Williams. Crowne
Health Care: Mary Alexander, Gladys Childs, Kathy Johnson, Wallace Murry, Myrtle Perdue, and Iva Lou Wright. Pine
Needle: Mary Lou Phelps.
2. Baptized Into Christ: Amanda Bagents
was baptized into Christ by her father Ricky last Wednesday. Birthday: April 24th,
Address:
3. Sympathy Expressed: Our love and sympathy is expressed
to (a) Ann Cauthen
and her family in the death of her mother, Wanda Kyser,
(b) Earl Acreman
and Alice Padgett and their families in the death of their brother, James Acreman, (c)
Jerri Davis and her family in the death of her brother-in-law, Therl Pinkerton, and (d)
the family of Larry McNeil.
4. Please Pray For: The following people are serving
in
5. Birthdays: January 7th Jean
Hayes, and January 9th Justin Pierce.
6. Thanks To: Dear Walnut Street Family, We
want to thank you for the kind words, thoughts and deeds that were shown to our
family through our difficult time. A special thank you to
Jerry & Joan Barr, Dennis & Virginia Lowery, Elease
Brown, and Brett & Paige Barr. We thank all our brothers and sister
at
7. Sign-Up List For 2008: The lists for communion,
greeters, and van drivers for 2008 are on the bulletin board. There are just
two or three places left, please sign-up now!
8. Radio Programs: Remember to hear our programs on
WKXN 95.9 Sunday at
9. Put These Dates On Your Calendar: (a) January 18th-20th – Singles Seminar –
University Church of Christ, Montgomery – Theme: “Successful Christian Living”
– Speaker: Matt Vega – Time 6:00 p.m. Friday & 8:30 a.m. Saturday – Cost
$25.00, (b) February 1st-2nd
– Financial Management Seminar – Walnut Street Church of Christ – Dwayne
Wilson, (c) February 16th
– Ladies Day – Century Church of Christ – Theme: “Joy Deep in My Heart” –
Speaker: Becky Blackmon – Time: 9:00 a.m., (d)
February 22nd – 24th – Yes Weekend 2008 – Forrest Park
Church of Christ Valdosta, Georgia, (e) March
30th – April 3rd – Memphis School of Preaching Lectures –
Theme: “Strengthening The Heart”, (f) June
22nd-26th – Vacation Bible School – Walnut Street Church
of Christ, and (g) July 6th-13th
– Backwoods Christian Camp – This is our week. Plan to participate.
10. The Reporter: “The Reporter” can be viewed on
our web-site or received by e-mail. Send your e-mail request to: wschurchofchrist@camelliacom.com. If you
receive the Reporter by mail and would be willing to receive the e-mail version
we would be grateful as postage is so expensive. The website address is: http:\\www.walnutstreetchurchofchrist.org.
11. Put God First: Give as you have been blessed.
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken
together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom…” (Luke 6:38)
“Love One Another”
Two Roads
He came to a fork in the road. On
one hand there was the road that led up a hill where three crosses stood. On
two of the crosses, criminals were to be crucified, but the third cross was
reserved for the very Son of God. He knew that it was his betrayal that placed
Jesus into the hands of the angry mob. He gazed long and hard down that road,
but his remorse and shame caused him to notice the road on his other hand. It
was a lonely road, which no one seemed to have traveled that day. Judas chose
the lonely road, and as he walked, weeping bitterly, it came to him. He saw the
tree, and he knew what he would do. He draped the rope over a large limb, tied
it around his neck, and hanged himself.
Meanwhile,
up the other road, our suffering Savior bled. He was bound to the cross only by
His love for us as the multitude continued deriding Him. Then, He opened His
mouth and said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Oh, if
only Judas had walked up that road instead! Perhaps he could have fought
through the guilt and shame. Maybe, in addition to 1st and 2nd
Peter, our New Testament would contain 1st and 2nd Judas
as well.
The
truth is, Judas was no more wrong than Peter, any one
of the hateful men and women who consented to Jesus’ death, or you, or me.
We’ve all sinned and we’ve all gone astray (Romans
God
has done His part. Our responsibility
is to obey the gospel of Jesus Christ (II Thessalonians 1:8). Paul said that
saving message is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on
the third day (I Corinthians 15:1-4). Then, in Romans 6:3-4, Paul explains how
every person can OBEY that gospel message. “Or do you not know that as many of
us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore
we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised
from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in
newness of life.” You too are guilty…which road will you choose.
- - -
- Darrell Powell
It is better
to have bad health than a sour disposition.
Don’t just own a Bible; read it!
(334-382-3001)