February 1, 2016

The theme I have selected for February are the different gifts of the Spirit that Paul speaks about in his various letters. Those gifts include:

Romans 12: prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, and mercy. The list in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 includes the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues. The list in 1 Corinthians 12:28 includes healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

Considering spiritual gifts is a necessary exercise for everyone to undertake every so often. There are spiritual gifts inventories that you can find on the internet, and I highly recommend you complete one in 2016. Some inventories also give you examples of ways to utilize those gifts. But the most important thing to remember is this: the gifts we have are not ours, they are divinely given gifts given by the Spirit to be used as G-d desires. And the gifts we have today may not be the gifts we had ten years ago, and may not be the gifts we have ten years from now. But gifts are to be used, not hoarded. And, all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit are to work together, like the members of the body (as Paul so beautifully taught, 1 Corinthians 12:12) to produce the full working of the Spirit among the members of the church.

So, February will be about the gifts of the Spirit. Hopefully they will warm the heart and challenge the faith as we approach the season of Lent.
Pastor Dave