Day 8/26 – Spiritual Gifts

———/://///

Thoughts from the Diary of a Desperate Man by Walter A Henrichsen (“Walt”)
Spiritual Gifts
Day Two Hundred Thirty-eight

“So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.” 1 Corinthians 14:12

Paul gives a trilogy of chapters to the subject of spiritual gifts. First, the distribution of gifts, followed by their regulation. Sandwiched between these two is his treatise on love. Love is the spiritual lubricant that makes the gift giveable. God distributed the gifts so as to ensure the importance of each believer. As the Body needs the believer, he will be used, while at the same time drawing on the rest of the Body for his own edification. In short, the gifts are meant to ensure the unity for which Jesus prayed.

The Corinthians set this objective on its head, using the presence of their gifts as a cause for pride, and the absence of other gifts as a cause for envy. Thus unity gave way to divisions. Paul sought to correct this aberration by teaching the proper use of the gifts. As the various parts of the human body work together for the benefit of the whole, so the gifts are manifested in Christ’s Body with the same objective.

Note the use of the word “edify” in these chapters. God gave you your gifts to meet the needs of others. Just as your human body can best tell your hand how it ought to be used, so the Body of Christ can best help you identify your spiritual gift and how you can assist in its growth. God did not give you your spiritual gifts to help you, but to edify others.

———/://///

Psalm 119:89-176 1 Corinthians 8 (New King James Version)

Psalm 119:89-176
ל LAMED
89
Forever, O Lord,
Your word [a]is settled in heaven.
90
Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
You established the earth, and it [b]abides.
91
They continue this day according to Your ordinances,
For all are Your servants.
92
Unless Your law had been my delight,
I would then have perished in my affliction.
93
I will never forget Your precepts,
For by them You have given me life.
94
I am Yours, save me;
For I have sought Your precepts.
95
The wicked wait for me to destroy me,
But I will [c]consider Your testimonies.
96
I have seen the consummation of all perfection,
But Your commandment is exceedingly broad.
מ MEM
97
Oh, how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
98
You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies;
For they are ever with me.
99
I have more understanding than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.
100
I understand more than the [d]ancients,
Because I keep Your precepts.
101
I have restrained my feet from every evil way,
That I may keep Your word.
102
I have not departed from Your judgments,
For You Yourself have taught me.
103
How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104
Through Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.
נ NUN
105
Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
106
I have sworn and confirmed
That I will keep Your righteous judgments.
107
I am afflicted very much;
Revive me, O Lord, according to Your word.
108
Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord,
And teach me Your judgments.
109
My life is continually [e]in my hand,
Yet I do not forget Your law.
110
The wicked have laid a snare for me,
Yet I have not strayed from Your precepts.
111
Your testimonies I have taken as a [f]heritage forever,
For they are the rejoicing of my heart.
112
I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes
Forever, to the very end.
ס SAMEK
113
I hate the [g]double-minded,
But I love Your law.
114
You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in Your word.
115
Depart from me, you evildoers,
For I will keep the commandments of my God!
116
Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live;
And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
117
[h]Hold me up, and I shall be safe,
And I shall observe Your statutes continually.
118
You reject all those who stray from Your statutes,
For their deceit is falsehood.
119
You [i]put away all the wicked of the earth like [j]dross;
Therefore I love Your testimonies.
120
My flesh trembles for fear of You,
And I am afraid of Your judgments.
ע AYIN
121
I have done justice and righteousness;
Do not leave me to my oppressors.
122
Be surety[k] for Your servant for good;
Do not let the proud oppress me.
123
My eyes fail from seeking Your salvation
And Your righteous word.
124
Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy,
And teach me Your statutes.
125
I am Your servant;
Give me understanding,
That I may know Your testimonies.
126
It is time for You to act, O Lord,
For they have [l]regarded Your law as void.
127
Therefore I love Your commandments
More than gold, yes, than fine gold!
128
Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things
I consider to be right;
I hate every false way.
פ PE
129
Your testimonies are wonderful;
Therefore my soul keeps them.
130
The entrance of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.
131
I opened my mouth and panted,
For I longed for Your commandments.
132
Look upon me and be merciful to me,
As Your custom is toward those who love Your name.
133
Direct my steps by Your word,
And let no iniquity have dominion over me.
134
Redeem me from the oppression of man,
That I may keep Your precepts.
135
Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
And teach me Your statutes.
136
Rivers of water run down from my eyes,
Because men do not keep Your law.
צ TSADDE
137
Righteous are You, O Lord,
And upright are Your judgments.
138
Your testimonies, which You have commanded,
Are righteous and very faithful.
139
My zeal has [m]consumed me,
Because my enemies have forgotten Your words.
140
Your word is very [n]pure;
Therefore Your servant loves it.
141
I am small and despised,
Yet I do not forget Your precepts.
142
Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
And Your law is truth.
143
Trouble and anguish have [o]overtaken me,
Yet Your commandments are my delights.
144
The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting;
Give me understanding, and I shall live.
ק QOPH
145
I cry out with my whole heart;
Hear me, O Lord!
I will keep Your statutes.
146
I cry out to You;
Save me, and I will keep Your testimonies.
147
I rise before the dawning of the morning,
And cry for help;
I hope in Your word.
148
My eyes are awake through the night watches,
That I may meditate on Your word.
149
Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness;
O Lord, revive me according to Your justice.
150
They draw near who follow after wickedness;
They are far from Your law.
151
You are near, O Lord,
And all Your commandments are truth.
152
Concerning Your testimonies,
I have known of old that You have founded them forever.
ר RESH
153
Consider my affliction and deliver me,
For I do not forget Your law.
154
Plead my cause and redeem me;
Revive me according to Your word.
155
Salvation is far from the wicked,
For they do not seek Your statutes.
156
[p]Great are Your tender mercies, O Lord;
Revive me according to Your judgments.
157
Many are my persecutors and my enemies,
Yet I do not turn from Your testimonies.
158
I see the treacherous, and am disgusted,
Because they do not keep Your word.
159
Consider how I love Your precepts;
Revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness.
160
The entirety of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
ש SHIN
161
Princes persecute me without a cause,
But my heart stands in awe of Your word.
162
I rejoice at Your word
As one who finds great treasure.
163
I hate and abhor lying,
But I love Your law.
164
Seven times a day I praise You,
Because of Your righteous judgments.
165
Great peace have those who love Your law,
And [q]nothing causes them to stumble.
166
Lord, I hope for Your salvation,
And I do Your commandments.
167
My soul keeps Your testimonies,
And I love them exceedingly.
168
I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies,
For all my ways are before You.
ת TAU
169
Let my cry come before You, O Lord;
Give me understanding according to Your word.
170
Let my [r]supplication come before You;
Deliver me according to Your word.
171
My lips shall utter praise,
For You teach me Your statutes.
172
My tongue shall speak of Your word,
For all Your commandments are righteousness.
173
Let Your hand become my help,
For I have chosen Your precepts.
174
I long for Your salvation, O Lord,
And Your law is my delight.
175
Let my soul live, and it shall praise You;
And let Your judgments help me.
176
I have gone astray like a lost sheep;
Seek Your servant,
For I do not forget Your commandments.
Footnotes:
• Psalm 119:89 Lit. stands firm
• Psalm 119:90 Lit. stands
• Psalm 119:95 give attention to
• Psalm 119:100 aged
• Psalm 119:109 In danger
• Psalm 119:111 inheritance
• Psalm 119:113 Lit. divided in heart or mind
• Psalm 119:117 Uphold me
• Psalm 119:119 destroy, lit. cause to cease
• Psalm 119:119 slag or refuse
• Psalm 119:122 guaranty
• Psalm 119:126 broken Your law
• Psalm 119:139 put an end to
• Psalm 119:140 Lit. refined or tried
• Psalm 119:143 Lit. found
• Psalm 119:156 Or Many
• Psalm 119:165 Lit. they have no stumbling block
• Psalm 119:170 Prayer of supplication

1 Corinthians 8
Be Sensitive to Conscience
8 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge [a]puffs up, but love [b]edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.
9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a [c]stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
Footnotes:
• 1 Corinthians 8:1 makes arrogant
• 1 Corinthians 8:1 builds up
• 1 Corinthians 8:9 cause of offense