1.      Corinthians 28 – 31.

Now God indeed placed them in the congregation. First He placed apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, kind of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Are all having gifts of healing? Are all speaking in tongues? Are all translating? Then you must continually strive for the better gifts.

Paul is telling us to strive for the better gifts. So we are meant to have them and use them for the benefit of the congregation we are in. We are in the last days. God has given us these gifts, but are we allowed to use them in most churches? No!! Because I think the church leaders as a whole are too keen to be the centre of the show. People are keeping quiet about their gifts for fear of rejection. If we are honest most churches are not as friendly as it should be. Do they really help one another when there is a crisis? Do Pastors visit the sick in their congregation or do they only visit their favourites. Many people are in a great deal of pain through rejection. If you let it be known that you have a spiritual gift people have a tendency to label you as mad. How Christian is that!!.

Spirit filled Christians

Spirit filled Christians should never be surprised at what God does or who He anoints with His gifts. God always chooses the unexpected, God is so creative we don’t know what He is going to do next if we let Him. That shouldn’t surprise us. God is unpredictable. We can never out smart Him. The prophets have been saying only 20% of Christians will be taken at the rapture, because most of the 80% are not living to the full potential as Christians. They have one foot in the world and the other foot in Church.  Something is very wrong with our churches. New believers often complained going to Church is boring. You just sit there and listen to the preacher. Churches shouldn’t be like that we should all have a job to do to make up a wonderful warm loving community that is right on track with God.

Jesus has told different prophets He wants the fivefold ministry to return to our churches. But the problem is people for the most part are in a rut. They want to play it safe. The thing is playing it safe is sitting on the fence and God hates that. Churches in the Western Society are as a whole lukewarm.

Serving God according to Your Gifts.

If the Pastors leaves teaching to the teachers, healing to the healers, prophets to do what they are called to do and the administrators do what they are best at and so on, it would leave a great deal more time for Pastors to do what they are called to do. Supervise everything, but let God move in your congregation and see how He will work miracles before everybody’s eyes. Love has to be felt and present. If that is there people will want to come to your church. Visit your flock get to really know them like you would a friend and let them feel you can be trusted enough for them to share their gifts to you. Give them confidence to demonstrate it with the rest of the congregation. Too many people are more concern about bringing people into their churches they don’t look after their community like they should. If it is a strong community it will naturally attract people. People want love above everything else. If love is not there you will just attract the religious spirit and your church will die.