interpretation

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1 Corinthians 14:12 Seek Gifts To Build The Church

So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. 1 Corinthians 14:12

People always desire the best of everything. They want the things that everyone can see and that make them look good. Things that cannot be seen are often ignored or not desired, since it does not build the individual up himself.

Most often this desire is based on selfish pride. Very few actually desire to help someone else out more than themselves.

Paul had just listed some gifts of speaking in tongues and the interpretation of it in the church. Tongues can be good, but he wants the people to seek gifts to build the church up.

The whole part of man’s fall from God was one of selfishness and trying to build one’s self up. The whole work on Jesus dying upon the cross was one of non-selfishness. It was all about helping or building others up.

After Jesus left the earth, He sent His Holy Spirit to build and guide His followers in doing His work upon the earth. The Holy Spirit works in supernatural ways, giving spiritual gifts to guide His church.

Many believers want the gift of tongues, thinking that it is something amazing. While it can be amazing, it only builds self up and does nothing for others. The real help is found in the translation of the tongues.

God uses the interpretation of tongues to build His church up. God uses spoken words that the local people can understand to build them up, not just tongues that edifies or build’s up the individual.

Every believer should be seeking the greatest joy in being a witness and building others in the church up in Christ Jesus. In order to do that, he must seek the gifts God has given that others can tangibly see God’s hand working in their lives.

God is willing to use you in many different ways. He is willing to give you gifts of the Holy Spirit to help you in the work He has for you to do. Allow the Holy Spirit to use you in the gifts He has for you.

Seek those gifts that will help build the church up first and foremost. As you build the church up, God will build you up and meet all of your needs.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will be filled with God’s Holy Spirit; that you will use the gifts God has for you; that you seek to build others up before yourself; and that God will remove selfish pride in your life.

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Daniel 2:27-28a Not Taking Credit

Standing by a window

Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Daniel 2:27-28a 

The desire to have the right answer or have the ability to meet the need for others is great in most people. They want to be able to say that they can give what is needed out of their own abilities and strength.

Very few people like to admit that they do not have the right answer or lack the ability to do something. It makes them look weak and incompetent, so they will often make up something to try to meet the need, whether it is right or wrong.

The king had had a dream and wanted someone to tell him what the dream was and what it was about. If no one could do that, he would kill everyone. He was told about Daniel being able to do that. Daniel tells him that only God can give that answer.

In themselves, no believer really has the ability to do anything. Their power, strength and wisdom come from God.

The world will have questions to problems that they do not know how to answer or deal with. They are seeking answers, that only God can give. Some believers will give the answers in their own abilities or give the answer God has, and will take the credit for it, rather than give God the credit.

God has given His Holy Spirit to guide believers and give them wisdom. When a believer speaks, it should be with the wisdom and words of God, and then he needs to let the world know it is God’s word, not his own.

There will be times when someone needs help or guidance.  At these times seek God’s direction for that situation. God will guide you in what to say or do to help that person out. As you do this, do not take the credit for yourself. Give the credit to God for what He has allowed you to do.

Doing this points people towards God and takes the focus off of you. God is the only one who can give the perfect answer each and ever time. Allow God to work through you, but also give Him the credit. Without Him, you can do nothing.

I pray today that you will be filled with God’s Holy Spirit; that you will be guided by God’s Spirit; that you will give God credit for what He does trough you; and that you will allow God to use you to help others.

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Genesis 41:16 Give God The Credit

Path on a hill

“I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” Genesis 41:16

People all over the world are constantly looking for answers. Just like children, most adults like to ask the question, “why?”. They want answers as to why things happen as they do.

In the majority of cases, people seek those answers from other people or books that people have read. In that process many will choose the ways of the world to get their answer and will also be given the answer that the world gives.

Those that give the answer, will usually take full credit for that answer. The want to be seen as the person with the wisdom and knowledge. People want to feel as though they are really important and are somebody.

Many believers have fallen into this trap of taking the credit for what they say or do. They feel as though they are the ones who had full power and ability to say or do what was said or done. It was their own wisdom and knowledge.

While Joseph had been in prison, God had given him knowledge of the meaning of some other prisoner’s dreams. Later, when one of those prisoners was released, Pharaoh had a dream also that he wanted interpreted. Joseph was called before Pharaoh.

Pharaoh’s first statement was that he heard that Joseph could interpret dreams. Immediately Joseph stated that he cannot interpret the dreams, but that God can give the answer needed. With the guidance of God, Joseph then interprets the dream.

Joseph could easily have taken credit for interpreting dreams, but he did not. He gave God the full credit.

As a human, it is easy to think that one has the ability to do something, when in reality it is God working in and through that person.

There is absolutely nothing that you cannot do, unless God gives you the ability to do it. This even includes breathing. If you cannot breath without God’s help, how much less can you interpret dreams or do some other ministry or work for Him?

When God uses you to touch someone’s life, such as in prayer, witnessing, helping hand, interpretation, a word,  or anything else, give Him the credit for the ability, wisdom and knowledge.

Don’t take the credit that belongs to God. He is the one who did it.

I pray today that you will know God’s power and abilities; that you will give God credit for all works done; that you will point all people to God and not to self; and that God will use you to touch many people. 

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1 Corinthians 14:26 Building Up The Church

 

church building

What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. 1 Corinthians 14:26

Jesus came to build His church. It was to be built with people who would follow Him and believe in Him and glorify God. He was looking at the church as a whole, not the individual churches that are seen today.

Each individual, physical church today has a part in building up God’s church. And inside each individual church, every person has a part in building up God’s church. Working together, God’s church will be built up.

Over the years, the ways of building up His church has changed. It is common today to see some churches use many methods to build it up. Paul gave some guidelines in what is needed to build a church up. Hymns, instruction, revelation, tongues, and interpretation are all needed in the process.

While there are many churches that use these methods, there are also many that do not. Some churches do not really preach the word of God, but put on a good entertainment show for the people. Sinful practices are allowed openly in the leaders of the church, while claiming to believe in Jesus. There is no real word of instruction, but it is all about feeling good, not being holy.

Flashing lights, fast songs, and coffee may draw a lot of people to the physical church, but the question is are they being changed to be more like Jesus? Without the word of God being at the center of everything being done, the church is not really being built up.

The things Paul listed are all focused on God and His Word, not on the physical things of this world.

As a believer in Christ, when you go to church, you must focus on building His church up. How are you leading others to walk closer to God? What words can you speak that will point people to God, rather than to this world?

Allow yourself to be led by His Holy Spirit to know the word to speak and the revelation to give someone else. Everything you do in the church is to worship God and build others up, whether you are the pastor or a member.

I pray today that you will know what God wants you to do in the church service; that God will reveal to you how to build His church; that God and His word will be the focus of every physical church; and that His church will be built up.