“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all . . . For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ . . . Now you are the Body of Christ and members individually.”
1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-7, 12, 27
Even in the loneliest and driest of deserts the burning bush is magnificent–filled with power and offering hope. God planned our churches to be burning bushes from which He will speak. Seeing a burning bush, church people will hear and will listen to God’s voice. We want forests of burning bushes.
WE ARE BUSHES THAT BURN WITH THE GLORY OF GOD AND the fire of the Holy Spirit, not old reeds in a dirty swamp that are weak, wet and cannot burn. When Moses encountered the burning bush, his life was transformed. This hopeless, wandering, purposeless man received a Divine purpose from God that would change his life, destiny and people. A man who was hiding from the law was empowered to go back with a staff of righteousness to liberate those in captivity. God intends for our churches to be burning bushes from which He will speak and transform the lives of many who are destitute, hopeless, forgotten and abandoned, to give them purpose and a reason to live.
Secret prayer is the secret of power. A prayer room is a power house of the Spirit. But God wants more. He wants His house to be a house of prayer for all nations (Isaiah 56:7). Let prayer go forth to and for the nations, and let the healing waters flood the earth.
JESUS SAID, “WHEN YOU PRAY, GO INTO YOUR ROOM, CLOSE the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen” (Matthew 6:6 NIV). Close the door of your prayer room, and the door of heaven opens. When the disciples were in the Upper Room, the windows of glory unlocked, and the Holy Spirit rained upon them (Acts 2). The devil will try to stop you from praying, because prayer stops him. All around the world, there are prayer rooms—upper rooms—in churches, colleges and even in administrative offices. They are typical places full of the Gospel and Spirit-filled Christians. A prayer room is a power house. Today, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Far in front of all the phenomena of signs and wonders, new tongues, or healings is the preaching and teaching of the Word of God. Miracles are the support system of the truth.
THE PRIMARY AIM OF EVERY CHURCH SERVICE SHOULD BE evangelistic. Why shouldn’t every service be open to outsiders? Especially at Holy Communion when the emblems of bread and wine are taken. What a prime opportunity to first preach salvation. That cup of red wine is the greatest preacher in the world, to convict sinners of their sin. It is the Gospel in a cup—an opportunity to invite lost sinners to accept the sacrifice of the Cross. Shall only the clean come to the fountain?
The gifts of the Spirit have not been given to us so we can play power games. God’s power shapes and forms us as creatures of HIS purposes not OUR purposes. “Thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11 KJV). What an honor to be called to help build God’s eternal Kingdom! Our mortal hands can build His eternal Kingdom here on earth. There is nothing greater.
THE DESIRE FOR POSITION AND POWER IN THE KINGDOM HAS been seen from the very beginning of the Church. James and John, two of the 12 disciples, asked Jesus, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory” (Mark 10:37). But Jesus’ response was polite but strong—even if you can drink from My cup, and you usually will, this request is not Mine to grant (Mark 10:39, 40). Throughout history, there have been power struggles, politics and turf wars. Believers have fought for position in the Church, wanting to build their own kingdoms and pursue their own agenda. But there is only one thing that matters—the purpose of God. I hope you and I can dedicate ourselves, our talent and our ambition to building the Kingdom of God. After all, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works . . . ” (Ephesians 2:10).
No two persons operate in the Holy Spirit the same way. Neither are any two churches the same. Unity does not mean uniformity and oneness does not mean sameness.
BEING DIFFERENT IS NO SIN. THE EXPRESSION “THE PROFIT OF all” in 1 Corinthians 12:7 is the Greek word sympheron, from which comes the English word “symphony.” The Holy Spirit is a Composer conducting His own work, bringing counterpoint and harmony from many interlocking themes and instruments. He doesn’t need or want everyone playing the same tune. “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).