Word for the Day April 18

   When God places a gift into one of his children by the Holy Spirit, the gift will open the way for it to be used. There are many examples of this in the Word. For example in 2 Chron. 2:34 we hear of the prophetess Huldah who King Josiah sought to confirm the word the Lord had given him regarding the Book of the Law he had found in the temple. Josiah sent his attendents to her to find out what the word of the Lord was and it was confirmed to him by her. I would encourage you to read 2 Chron. 34.
   Many struggle with how their gifts can best be used by God, partly due to the way the church is set up today. 1 Cor. 12 describes the working of the body of Christ. In most churches, the current set up of a minister in front and everyone else in a classroom environment, silences so many gifts. It leaves many in the congregation feeling empty and confused because they know the gift God has placed in them and they know it is not being given the opportunity to be used in the church. Others, who are not aware of their gifts, follow the gift of the minister and never find out what their own gift is. This is very dangerous as people begin to follow the minister instead of following the Lord. Ministers should be given honor for the work they do, but so should the other parts of the body. Not only are other parts of the body not honored, they are for the most part not allowed to be used. This silencing is grievous. The body of Christ is just that, a body, with many parts that are all designed to work together with Christ being the head.
   God is faithful and for those who are diligent in the Lord, He will make room for the gift to be used that He has placed in each person. Many times this is outside the walls of the church. It should be everywhere. Inside the church gifts should be used to strengthen and build up the body, and outside of the church they should be used to bring in the lost. Men have exalted other men and have begun to follow personalities instead of following the Lord. God has placed a gift into each child for His use. 1 Cor. 12:7-11 explains, "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.   To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines." Whether churches allow the Lord to use His body inside the walls or not, the gifts will go forth, for it is the Lord who gives them and it is He who gives opportunity for them to serve His purposes and fulfill the work they are sent for, even if it occurs outside of the church walls.