No Gifts

1 Corinthians 12King James Version (KJV)

12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

14 For the body is not one member, but many.

15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?

20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.

25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Romans 11:29
For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

I have had a terrible week this week my job I had to cancel because the mixer stopped working and then I just had to take time of due to stress.

Daniel 7:25
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

I find it so hard in the church, I feel almost like a disjointed thumb in the church. It is so hard because if you are to intellectual it is so hard to fit in and having my history. A number in a crowd. With my Dad previously leading a church and being a former pastors son and having done the things behind the scenes in the church and then sitting as a pew member. Evangelising each week. I have read bible commentaries for fun and I have read alot of christian books as I used to read and review books in the christian bookshop including bibles as I would read them like going through water.

It is also hard as I have had a love of revival but have felt so distant at the same time, to me where is that love of God and love of his word that the world can be jealous of .

To me it seems so distant being a person in a pew with no purpose. To me it seems like the body has become disabled.

It seems peoples vision for the church is glorified not what it says biblically.

Sometimes in my life I seem to have no purpose with going to job to job working late hours so I barely have enough time to pray and spend time with God

In our church we used to have 2 members a guy called Jim White who used to be on an oxygen machine he used to pray for an hour a night on his knees yet he could barely walk a few feet and then we had another lady who said she could not hear and she could not see but she would praise the lord anyway.

If he prayed an hour with Christ whilst he was unwell, how much more should I pray when I am healthy but I have found it so hard.

I have found it so hard to praise the lord deep in my heart as so much has gone wrong, in the valley of tears in my heart. When we previous lady who could not see and could not hear but would praise the lord anyway.

I know as the scriptures say

John 15:5
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

When you feel just broken and nothing inside, you feel a billion miles from God, You do not feel like a broken wretch. I think praying that I could pray or praying that we pray for revival.
I know that I think the first 24-7 prayer meeting I went to I thought it was a 24-7 prayer meeting that you had to be there for 24 hours! I think I was praying for three days I would go to my lectures then come back again. I find it hard to pray for an hour at the moment.

It is so hard with work making me so weary

I also feel like I am at a dead end with my bible study. I have read 4 books in a day but I cant seem to read anything at the moment

It really put us to shame as they were evangelising as the oldest members of the church. I would go round his house and we would listen to the audio bible and christian music.

To me the wearying out of the saint has been happening with jobs and to me I have been almost worn out with iniquity which I used to write long lists out for.

All I do is cry out to God!So broken inside!

John 6:68
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Because I have witnessed on the street and studied every other religion and sometimes no atheist and Muslim literature better than they do.

All the other religions there is no answers to basic questions or conform to the reality that we live in.

Where are we coming and where are we going after when we die, how do to deal with the problems of sins.

The more I read the scriptures I find it relevant in science and history and everything else and I have been lied to by the world, I so sometimes wish that god would beam me up like in star trek. I know I am a pilgrim in this world who does not belong here.

I have seen so many friends lose there faith from pastors to people in the pew. I know I am so much of a mess a nobody in Christ.

I have always wanted to know what my gift is or what part I play in the church or body of Christ!
I have been so wanting to go to Israel, I feel like my life is such a mess.

It is so hard when people speak about families in church when you are alone or where you have worked your whole life and cant drive even thou you have tried and the house prices are so expensive it is impossible to move out.

I so want a church in which I can call my home and somewhere where I can grew in Christ. I just feel like an outcast of this world and even of the church as when working in the christian bookshop i read so many books and it is amazing as i used to read all the classics things like John Bunyan or the Puritans and how that the current literature is like Candy Floss. I love scholarly books and how the bible was put together.

I wish God could bombard me with his joy in my heart and I could sing again as I find it so hard as the songs are either to old or to new. I wish I could praise God more and I wish God could sort out my heart as I am a broken mess.

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Psalm 38
O Lord, Don't Rebuke Me in Your Wrath

1{A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.} O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

2For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.

3There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.

4For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

5My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.

6I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

7For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.

8I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

9Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.

10My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

11My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.

12They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.

13But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

14Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.

15For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.

16For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.

17For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.

18For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

19But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

20They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.

21Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.

22Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

I feel like I need God to move ! I cannot ask him as the Narnia tells he is not a tame lion,

Who are we to direct God, he has to do everything in his time!

I feel such a mess !

Dominic, you're not alone. There are many saints who walk a lonely path, myself included. I attended a church last Sunday (first Sunday I've had off in a while) and it they just didn't have it. Not insulting them or putting them down; I went to a Bible study at one man's invitation later that evening, and it seemed no one had a burden for the lost or a desire to be holy. I nearly always feel like the odd man out, like I am speaking Chinese or something.

All I can say is take comfort in the fact that you are not alone. I'm here for you brother, and I believe I can say the same for every saint on SI that loves Jesus.

P.S. Didn't Solomon say that much study is a weariness of the flesh?

Brother Don, I think from time to time we all go through the valley of the shadow of death, we all to a greater or lesser degree experience some of the things you are. The secret is to keep on moving forward, maybe like spiritual memory muscle. We pray even when we ca not see because the Word says men ought always to pray, we read the Word of God even if just 1 sentence because it is the very breath of God. In the church there are a diverse array of gifts and talents, and I believe there is a need for intellect, well thought out sound doctrinal conversation. Don’t lose heart remember you are a book,epistle,read by every man ,woman,and child throughout the course of your day. As to work ,all work has value, you can be just as effect and fruitful for God in the work place as you could from behind a pulpit. You interact with more people and have the opportunity to be Jesus and touch more lives than the pulpit.

Sin conscientiousness is a problem we all wrestle with time to time, starting back in the garden. Most people believe Adam and Eve knew they were naked, all but the Lord, he said to them,who told you you were naked. Since that day the accuser of the brethren does what he does and we are his target. There will be times when we can’t seem to overcome besetting sins , that’s when the Lord strong and mighty will surround us with songs of deliverance, that’s when the prayers of the saints and fellowship of believers is there to help and comfort us. The Word of God and the blood of The Lamb being like soap to clean the toughest stain from us.

So my brother, take courage , stand up like a man and be strong for greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. You are a citizen of The Kingdom of God here and now, surround by a host of heavenly beings who are all there to help you in your hour of need. I know also that my prayer are being joined with the prayers of all the saints here on SI on your behalf.

Thankyou for the encouragement !

Hi Dom,

Been there, done that.

Who gives us the understanding of Paul' words and opens our understanding to God's mercy and upbuilding in Christ Jesus?

Acts 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: ((((((whose heart the Lord opened,))))) that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

Only God the Son could take on all the sin of the world. Even if I could only take on all my own sins at the same time without the Grace of God in Christ Jesus, they would kill me, the curse fulfilled. But we whom the Lord has opened our hearts by His Grace have received His forgiveness by His own shed blood and live.

1 John 5:11-13 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And I do attend to the things of Paul given by God and in me by Him opening my understanding and heart. Amen.

1 Timothy 1:14-17 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

God richly bless you Dominic

In Christ: A Chief sinner cleansed by the Blood

Phillip

Hi Dom: Couple of things.

I wanted to share a few texts with you. Do not skim read the verses.

Heb 10:14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

We who believe brother were perfected in Jesus Christ, his sacrifice has perfected us, whereby we are now indwelt by the Spirit of God and by that same Spirit we will do the will of God and obey the Lord. Know this about yourself, God has perfected you in order to indwell you and by that indwelling demonstrate who he is through you.

Heb 10:15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,
Heb 10:16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,"
Heb 10:17 then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more."

This old covenant promise is fulfilled in your heart and in your life this very moment, despite what you feel or your own judgment of yourself, God is greater than your failures and distresses.

This must be your testimony concerning yourself.
Heb 10:35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
Heb 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
Heb 10:37 For, "Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay;
Heb 10:38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him."
Heb 10:39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

Have faith brother...
by faith Able's sacrifice was accepted.
by Faith Enoch's drawing near to God resulted in his taking up.
By faith Noah, built an ark, became and heir of righteousness.
By faith Abraham, lived, obeyed and became an heir of the promise
By faith Sarah, received power to conceive.
Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar,
By faith Abraham offered Isaac
By faith Isaac invoked future blessings
by faith Jacob blessed
by faith Joseph saw the exodus and gave command concerning his bones.
by faith Moses parents hid Moses not fearing the Pharaohs command.
by faith Moses refused a pharoah's daughters sonship and chose mistreatment with the people of God.
by faith Moses left Egypt...seeing him.
by faith Moses kept the passover, passed through the red sea
by faith the walls of Jericho fell,
by faith Rahab the prostitute was not killed,
Heb 11:33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Heb 11:36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
Heb 11:38 of whom the world was not worthy””

So this is what you should do...
Heb 12:2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Be strong my brother, walk in the Light, know the Lord Jesus has a great reward, a glorious abode, Angels to receive you, the Saints to meet you, the Tree of life to feed you and finally...
Rev 22:3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.
Rev 22:4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
Rev 22:5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

In my dark days, remember me that I too need upholding with an encouragement that only comes from the Lord.

This is ours my brother make sure you find another brother to share the journey with and so help each other.
Ecc 4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.
Ecc 4:10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!
Ecc 4:11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?
Ecc 4:12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him””a threefold cord is not quickly broken.