1 Corinthians 14:6-33, Acts 2:1-6

We are to use the gifts we have unwrapped. And those gifts are to be used in building up the Church, to build up the body of believers we congregate with. And then, to go out into our communities and build up the body of Christ by sharing the gospel with unbelievers, by being the Church to the communities in which we have been placed.

Is that not what we are called to do? 

Each and every believer as a living stone is being built into a spiritual House but here is the catch you can’t pick where you will be placed. And as believers you are part of that holy priesthood that is to be making spiritual sacrifices through Jesus Christ (see 1 Peter 2:4-10).

Under the New Covenant the spiritual sacrifices take the place of the material sacrifices of the Old Covenant. There is no need for a separate class to offer bulls and goats as the Levites did in the Old Testament.

We have the perfect sacrifice the spotless lamb of God! Jesus Christ, bore the sins of the world, he died for sins, once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit (1 Peter 3:18).                                                                                                                 

Our worship, as priests of the Most High God, is to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. These spiritual sacrifices are a believer’s prayers and praise, their will, their bodies, their abilities, talents, and of course gifting; all to be used in the most excellent way: Love. It is when we allow the love of God into our hearts and become the living sacrifices of Romans 12 that God is able to build His Church.

Gifting. If I were to ask you what your native tongue is, all, or most all of us, would say: English. For the most part, our native language is English. So why was this gift given? Was it not to spread the Gospel to those of different languages? So that they would understand what was being preached? 

I am not going to say much more or exhort much more on the gifting of tongues. God’s Word says enough here in 1 Corinthians 12-14  to show how and when this gift is to be employed. All I will do is remind you that ALL the gifts are given for the common good. 

We know that we are to use our abilities, talents, and gifting for the common good of the Church; starting with the local congregation we are a part of. We are to build it up and, thereby, be a blessing to that local part of His Church, right where God has assigned or placed us. 

Vs. 12 – Seek to excel at building up the Church. Seek to be exceptionally good at making the local congregation stronger with what you have to contribute for the common good! Be zealous for the spiritual gifts needed where God has placed you to grow and to help grow others.

Vs.17 – This verse is tell us to say and do things that build others of our congregation up, encourage one another, help one another, serve one another, be devoted to one another, and be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Vs. 26 – Everything is to be done for building up. Your learning and encouragement come about from being an active part of the congregation where God has placed you. Everything, here and out there,  is to be done for building up the body of Christ.

How are you going to respond to what you have heard today? Are you going to adjust your life to what God has called you to?  Are you a living stone placed just as He wants within the spiritual house He is building, or, are you going to walk in rebellion to His call on your life?  Now is the time, today is the day to repent, to turn and walk in obedience to the plan and purpose of God.

Digging Deeper:

• How are you using your abilities, talents, and the gifting of God, within the local congregation? 
• Have you ever thought of yourself as part of a royal priesthood?
• What are the Spiritual sacrifices you are offering up? 

Further Reading: John 13:34-35, John 15:12, 17, Romans 12:10, Romans 15:7, 14, Ephesians 4:2, 32, Philippians 2:3, Colossians 3:13, 16, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, James 5:16, 1 John 4:7, 2 Peter 1-3, Romans 12:5, Ephesians 4:15-17, Romans 14