USE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS - I Corinthians 12 makes it clear that God has given spiritual gifts to every Christian . And verse 7 states unmistakably that these abilities are not provided to make you feel good ; they are abilities to minister that should be used for the common good ! I Peter 4:10 commands us to use spiritual gifts to help each other .
The same passage makes it clear that we meet with other Christians so they can use their gifts to strengthen us . God ’ s gift of a preacher or teacher is wasted if no one comes to hear them speak .
MUTUAL MINISTRY - The church is pictured as a body in I Corinthians 12 , and Paul explains that each part of the body exists to meet the needs of other body parts . In the same way , God intends each of us to meet the needs of other believers , using our strengths to help in their areas of weakness . I Corinthians 12:21 expresses it this way : “ The eye cannot say to the hand , I have no need of you .” Neither can a Christian claim to be self-sufficient today .
The New Testament is full of “ one another ” commands . We are to comfort one another ( I Thessalonians 4:18 ), build up one another ( I Thessalonians 5:11 ), confess our sins to one another ( James 5:16 ), pray for one another ( James 5:16 ), and many more . How can we obey these directives if we stay away from the gathering of believers ?
ACCOUNTABILITY - God designed the church as a place where spiritual leaders could watch out for our welfare , as a shepherd guards the sheep ( I Peter 5:1-4 ; Hebrews 13:17 ). A Christian who answers only to himself can easily rationalize sinful attitudes or actions ; regular contact with other Christians can keep us sharp .
A single verse should actually be sufficient answer for this question : Hebrews 10:25 warns its readers against “ forsaking the assembly of yourselves together , as the manner of some is .”
Author : Dr . John Bechtle .
December Edition
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