Author Archives: lrbartel

Apr 04 2018
Leave a comment
Devos

The purpose and adequate motivation of “Spiritual gifts” and “manifestations”

Spiritual giftsI am a Pentecostal/Charismatic Christian. I believe that “Spiritual gifts” or “manifestations of the Spirit” are for today (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) I believe God desires to display His presence and power in wonderful ways in both the gathered assembly of believers (the “Church” – the gathered congregation) and in the marketplace (see the book of Acts).

But I also believe the only adequate motivation for the exercise of Spiritual gifts is to glorify Christ and build up (“edify”) others… Try these verses on for size…”To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good… Since you are eager for manifestation of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church… What then? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.” (1 Corinthians 12:7; 14:12, 26)

So, it seems to me, here is the bottom line – the only adequate motivation for the exercise of Spiritual gifts in the church or marketplace… They are NOT primarily for personal edification or benefit (and certainly not to draw attention to one’s self), but for mutual edification and the glorifying of Christ.

As a Spirit-filled Christian and one who embraces Spiritual gifts and manifestations for today… I want to live my life and exercise Spiritual gifts in that way! Incidentally, that is why 1 Corinthians 13 (the “love chapter”) is sandwiched between 1 Corinthians 12 and 14.

Apr 04 2018
Leave a comment
Devos

Honest questions about God deserve answers!

Honest Questions“Where is your God?”

It’s a haunting question asked by our neighbors in response to our claims for Christianity… It’s the penetrating question asked by many in our world who embrace false religions and idolatry…. And I want to give them a convincing answer! They want to see clear evidence of “the Living God” that we claim to serve! It is a question posed twice in Psalm 42-43 (many scholars believe these two psalms were originally one psalm)…

Here’s what Scripture says in those two psalms…

My longing and desire…

“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for You, O God! My soul thirsts for God – for the Living God!”

The rejoinder of my neighbors and a needy, searching world…

“My tears have been my food day and night while they say to me all the day long, ‘Where is your God?’”

What I say to myself when I hear their questions…

“Why are you cast down, O my soul? Why are you in turmoil with me? Hope in God! For I shall again praise Him, my Salvation and my God… By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night His song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life!”

But I hear the taunts of a skeptical world asking the question again…

“My adversaries taunt me – they say to me all the day long, ‘Where is your God?”

And again what I say to myself as I hear their taunts and questions…

Why are you cast down, O my soul? Why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God! For I shall again praise Him, my Salvation and my God! Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people – from the deceitful and unjust person deliver me! You are the God in whom I take refuge!

And one more time, what I say to myself as I stand looking into a mirror… Self-talk, if you please…

“Why are you cast down, O my soul? Why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God! Fore I shall again praise Him, my Salvation and my God!”

(From Psalm 42-43)

I believe in the Living God! Don’t you? I long for His presence! I deeply desire for Him to display His reality and power in convincing ways to my neighbors, in my nation and around the world! I believe He will! I pray for that! I hope in Him! I believe He will do what He has promised and show His power, love and grace in a convincing way once again, as He has in the past! In light of that I say to myself, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? Why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God!”

Apr 04 2018
Leave a comment
Devos

Think about it… What would you call “a good day!”

A good day

Describe what would be “a good day” in your estimation… What would it look like? What would its features be?

Well, I read this verse from my Bible during my time of “coffee with the Lord” and jotted these words in the margin of my Bible…

“This is what a good day looks like! This is how I want to live each day of my life!”

The verse? Here it is… “BY DAY the Lord commands His steadfast love [His ‘Hesed’ or covenant keeping love! AND AT NIGHT His song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.” (Psalm 42:8 ESV)

Now I’m telling you, if those things happen in my life, that’s “a good day!” I want every day of my life to be characterized by those things!!! Don’t you?

← Older posts
Newer posts →