Spiritual Gifts – Word for the Soul

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies.” 1 Peter 4:10-11a NLT

Fear of not being qualified or talented enough has kept many Christians from serving the Lord in their local church. There are also other, not so legitimate, reasons for not serving and you most certainly cannot serve if you do not attend church, but that is for another day. Today, be encouraged the Lord God has gifted you to serve Him in His church. If you are a child of God you have been given a spiritual gift, maybe even a combination of serval gifts, but one in particular to serve God within His church.

The gifts that God bestows upon us at our conversion are spiritual gifts of a supernatural nature. They are gifts we did not possess before, nor could we achieve them on our own. They are also not to be confused with natural God given abilities which can and should be used to bring glory to God. These are gifts given to us by God to serve Him and our brothers and sisters in Christ where we gather together as a body of believers.

It is also important to note not everyone has the same gift. Oh, there may be others who have similar gifts, but a variety of gifts works best for the church to function orderly and for all to be taught, encouraged, cared for, and blessed. Whether you have the gift of teaching, administration, leadership, hospitality, serving, exhortation and caring, or a hands on where needed, used the gift God has given you for His glory. You are qualified and talented enough so do not fear. Do you have the gift? Yes, you do!

Devotionals

Fan into flames

January 21, 2025January 20, 2025 Loring Schultz

“This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.” 2 Timothy 1:6 NLT

Are you using your “Spiritual Gift” that God has given you? Spiritual gifts differ from our God given natural gifts and abilities in that they are given to us by the Holy Spirit as we put our trust and faith in Jesus Christ for Salvation. Gifts such as; teaching, giving, exhorting, encouraging, serving, leadership and mercy. These gifts are given to us to serve the Lord where He has placed us within the local church and in the ministry He has for us wherever that may be.

The apostle Paul reminded Timothy to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave him. Timothy needed some encouragement. Perhaps he was fearful, timid or shy. We may feel the same at times, but whatever the case, it is good instruction for us today to fan into flames the spiritual gift that God has given us.

Devotionals

The Gift of Music

July 31, 2024July 29, 2024 Loring Schultz

“’Now bring me someone who can play the harp.’ While the harp was being played, the power of the LORD came upon Elisha.” 2 Kings 3:15 NLT

“Sing a new song of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.” Psalm 33:3 NLT

Music has a way of making all things right, at least to some people. I can testify to its effect on me in any given situation. I have been blessed with a wide variety of musical tastes therefore my selection of music is from a long list of genres. Therefore, whatever mood I am in and whatever I need the most to lift me up or settle my mood, I can always find it. The Lord has also given me a gift of recognizing the difference between true talent and the entertainment factor. Both have their place, but they don’t always work together. During my twelve years in radio ministry, I’ve seen people try to make it, as they say, in Christian music only to be disappointed. I’m thankful the Lord had given the opportunity to serve Him in sharing His music in the radio industry, for I can’t sing a lick, and my instrumentalist skills were mediocre.

Music is a gift to all of us from the Lord. Whether He has gifted you in singing, or as talented musician, or a songwriter, or just one who enjoys music as I do, His gift is for us to find enjoyment in it. The ability to change one’s mood emotionally either happy or sad through music is God’s working in musicians and song writers. It has the power to create a divine atmosphere in seeking the Lord, or asking for His help as the prophet Elisha did. He relied on the musicians gifted from the Lord to play the harp, inspiring Elisha to rest easy as he waited for the Lord to answer him. The book of Psalms is filled with praise songs most of them written by David throughout his life from a shepherd boy to king of Israel. God’s give of music through David has continued to bless others all through the centuries. The gift of music will continue right up until the heavenly kingdom where it will never end.

However, the Lord has gifted you in His gift of music to us, use it for His glory. Do not overreach beyond where He has gifted you. If you are a songwriter, write songs. If you are a musician, play skillfully. If you are a singer, sing well. If you are an entertainer, entertain with enthusiasm. If you are gifted in all these areas, don’t hold back and do your best for the Lord. I’ll just sit back and listen.

Devotionals

Pardon our mess, Under Construction

July 29, 2024July 22, 2024 Loring Schultz

“So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.” 1 Corinthians 14:12 NIV

A lot of public businesses cannot afford to close during a renovation project. Signs are posted throughout the business stating, ‘Pardon our mess, we’re under construction to better serve you.” Churches also cannot afford to pause preaching the good news of the gospel on Sundays, so when appropriate, signs are displayed ‘Pardon our mess; Under Construction.’ It is not only the brick and mortar of the physical building that needs renovation over time, but the spiritual condition of the body (the real church) that needs a makeover, and that may start with the proper display of our spiritual gifts. Knowing and understanding our spiritual gifts may take time and putting them into practice may take even longer and the process could get messy. So, ‘Under Construction’ signs may become necessary.

Paul addressed the church in Corinth concerning their abuse of spiritual gifts. They weren’t using them properly and the misuse was dividing the church and causing confusion for outsiders who attended. Spiritual unity and harmony were missing. They were doing their own thing, and the church was not being edified. Paul did not scold them for their desire for the gifts but for failing to seek those gifts that build up the church, and to use them in a proper manner. Paul wrote, “But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” (1Cor.14:40 nlt) The Corinthian church was indeed under construction and I’m sure it got messy.

We may not have the same problems of the early Corinthian church understanding and misusing our spiritual gifts. But we are capable of exalting ourselves, ignoring others, or even hiding our gifts keeping a blessing from the church body for which they were intended. All of us are still under construction so even if those signs are not visible, may we see them around each other encouraging one another to pardon our mess for we are all under construction to better serve each other.

Devotionals

The Cauldron is Lit

July 27, 2024July 26, 2024 Loring Schultz

“This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:6-7 NLT

Last evening the Olympic Cauldron for the 2024 Paris Summer Games was lit before thousands of fans in attendance along with millions watching across the world. It signifies the start of the XXXIII Olympiad where athletes from every nation will display the results of their determination and self-discipline in preparation to win a gold medal. The flames in the Olympic Cauldron also represents the flame of desire in every athletes’ heart to compete in the games and win gold. That flame continues to grow stronger being fanned by endless training, proper diet, and self-discipline. It now burns full and bright ready to be revealed for the world to see.

Christians who have accepted Jesus Christ as savior by trusting in Him for salvation have a lighted cauldron within them. Everyone has been given a spiritual gift by the Lord to use for His service in building up His church. We possess the flame, but it needs to be fanned occasionally for its full effectiveness. Unlike an Olympic athlete who must rely on their own strength, discipline, and training to achieve positive results, Christians have the Holy Spirit to help them along. Paul encouraged Timothy he was given a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline to help him carry out the work of the Lord.

The Lord doesn’t want our gift to remain a single flame, but to fan it into flames with the power of the Holy Spirit. Many Christians are timid and even afraid when it comes to volunteering in a church project when they know they have the gift to accomplish the task. Remember it is God, the Holy Spirit, creator of the universe, whom you possess along with your spiritual gift. Unlike the flames in the Olympic Cauldron which will be extinguished at the end of the games, your spiritual gift will never go out. The Holy Spirit will see to it your cauldron stays lit.

The week’s devotionals were inspired by the “XXXIII Olympiad” and “The Incredible Race VBS Program” https://answersingenesis.org/

Devotionals

Loving Others

July 19, 2024July 16, 2024 Loring Schultz

“Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives” 1 Corinthians 14:1 NLT

There are certain passages of Scripture both in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible that are well-known to both avid readers and non-readers. One such passage is 1 Corinthians 13 in the New Testament, known as the ‘Love Chapter.’ Many people can recite verses embedded in the text even if they cannot recall where it is found. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” (1Cor.13:4 niv) And on it goes. It is read at wedding ceremonies and other venues where the subject is love, pursuing love, maintaining love, and administering love. These words of the ‘Love Chapter’ are more than adequate in pledging one’s love for another, and for an in-depth study of love from God’s perspective, but the apostle Paul had another thought in mind as he wrote to the church in Corinth. Their lack of love for others was hindering the full potential of their spiritual gifts.

The church in Corinth had many problems Paul needed to address. One was their abuse and selfish attitude of spiritual gifts. There was boasting and pride among those with certain gifts. Those with less influential gifts yearned for the more recognizable ones often disdaining their brothers and sisters who had them. They were ignorant of the fact that their gift was intended for others. Yes, the gifts were theirs given to them by God but were to be used to encourage others in the church. Their lack of love for others made the gifts meaningless.

Paul explains this at the beginning of the ‘Love Chapter.’ “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.” (1Cor.13:1-2 nlt) Paul is saying to the Corinthian church and to us he would be nothing and his gifts would not amount to anything or benefit anybody if he did not love others.

The greatest gift given to humanity is the Love of God; God’s Love in His plan of salvation, Christ’s Love in His sacrifice on the cross, and the Holy Spirit’s Love in His presence and administering our spiritual gifts. We are to love others as God has loved us putting into proper place the spiritual gifts He has given us. “Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives” (1Cor.14:1 nlt)

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:1-14:1 NLT – Love Is the Greatest – If I could speak – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Nurture your Spiritual Gift

July 12, 2024July 8, 2024 Loring Schultz

“I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.” Luke 13:7 NLT

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

I am not much of a gardener, never have been, but I’m learning little by little the last few years. Planting a few pepper and tomato plants with my wife and caring for them has been a new experience for me. Of course, I pay particular attention to my variety of hot pepper plants, which weren’t planted until this novice got involved. One thing I do know is that if a plant does not produce its fruit, or very little, it hasn’t performed up to the potential for which it was planted. Now I realize part of the fault falls on the gardener, but I’m still learning.

The same is true for a Christian who has had a spiritual gift planted in them by the heavenly gardener. The Lord God gives a spiritual gift to every believer to be cultivated and grow for service in His church. He is the master gardener and has given us the Holy Spirit, His Word, access to Him through prayer, and encouragement of other Christians to help us reach our full potential in administering our spiritual gifts. However, failure in not producing fruit is not the fault of the master gardener, but the believer in Jesus Christ. Every Christian is responsible to nurture their spiritual lives and grow spiritually with the resources the Lord God has given us.

Jesus told a parable of a barren fig tree in the gospel of Luke. He said, “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.” (Lk.13:6-7 nlt) This is a sad example of many Christians who never mature beyond their initial acceptance of Jesus as savior. The Lord comes looking for fruitful lives but there is no fruit to be found. Their spiritual gifts lie dormant, not nurtured but neglected. It is as if Jesus said in the parable, ‘they are just taking up space in my church.’

The caretaker was told to cut down the tree by the master gardener, but a second chance was given. The Lord God gives each of us, second, third, and even fourth chances. In fact, His grace is limitless. His desire is for us to grow in Him, bearing fruit, and nurture our spiritual gifts. God wants us to live up to our full potential in serving Him in the church and to do that, we must be nurturing the spiritual gifts He has planted in us.

Read: Luke 13:6-9 NLT – Parable of the Barren Fig Tree – Then – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Our Gifts of Grace Serving the Body of Christ

July 5, 2024July 2, 2024 Loring Schultz

“so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.” Romans 12:5-6a NLT

There’s an axiom within the church when it comes to work needed to be done, ‘20% of the people do 80% of the work’. There is a more positive one that says, ‘many hands make for light work’. When many hands come together in the chores and maintenance to be done in the church, the physical conditions of the building show the unity of diversity of talents used to present a well-maintained building for the glory of God. The same holds true for the spiritual building, the body of Christ. We are God’s building. (1Cor.3:9)

Every believer in Christ as they accept Him for salvation receive the Holy Spirit and at least one spiritual gift to be use in the church. It is possible for some to receive more than one, but everyone receives one. Paul tells us, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.” (Ro.12:6a nlt) We do not all have the same gifts. Some of us may share a gift, but the church body as a whole has a diversity of gifts to ensure the church functions as it should. What if ‘20% of the people did 80% of the spiritual work’? What would be the spiritual condition of the church? As we think this through, the 20% are not able to do 80% of the work even if they wanted to because they only have 20% of the spiritual gifts in the church. They will fall short no matter how much effort they put into it. For the spiritual building to be maintained, each one must use their gift.

Spiritual gifts are different from natural born God given talents. The Holy Spirit grants them to us when we are born again spiritually into the family of God. We didn’t possess them before, and that is important to understand. It is something brand new and its sole purpose is to do the work of the Lord encouraging others in the church. You may be the only one, or just one of a very few, who has the gift you possess in the church. Remember, it is God’s gift of grace to you for serving the body of Christ.

Devotionals

Do you have the gift? Yes, you do!

November 29, 2023November 28, 2023 Loring Schultz

Devotionals

Fan Into Flames

October 17, 2023October 16, 2023 Loring Schultz

“This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.” 2 Timothy 1:6 NLT

Think of it this way; your gift was given to you for a specific purpose and if you do not use it there will be many people who will miss out on a spiritual blessing that only you can provide. It is your spiritual gift. Use it. Read 2 Timothy 1:3-7 Encouragement to Be Faithful: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+1%3A3-7&version=NLT