Open Heavens 11 September 2016: Sunday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Spiritual Specialization

Topic: Spiritual Specialization [Sunday 11, September 2016]
Memorise: For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. – Romans 12:3
Read: 1 Corinthians 12:4-12 (KJV)
 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.
Bible in One Year: Jeremiah 36:1-38:6, Psalms 55:16-23
 MESSAGE:
 God in His infinite wisdom specifically created the universe and everything in it with diversity in His mind. Consequently, the difference between people, their special gifts, needs and characters is obvious all through creation. Individualism stresses the differences between people and recognises the special gifts of individuals. Now the Bible teaches that the diverse gifts in the lives of individuals in the body of Christ are specifically designed to be used for the benefit of all. To this end, 1 Corinthian 12:4-6 say:
“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.”
We are encouraged not to personalise God’s gifts in our lives, but rather to recognise that we are incomplete in ourselves and we need cooperation and fellowship with others in the body of Christ to function as a complete whole. God wants His children to live by this biblical injunction so that no one will be proud, and to enhance mutual respect in the Church of God, which will promote peace and unity in the body of Christ. Physical and spiritual development will go on unhindered. Passages of the Bible like Romans 12:6-8, would then become realistic and practicable:
“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; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”
One person operates in the word of wisdom, another in the word of knowledge; one is the gifts of healing, and yet another in the working of miracles and prophecy. They should cooperate with each other with the understanding that one and the selfsame Spirit is at work in each individual to accomplish the ultimate purpose of God.
 Prayer Point: Father, please give me the unction to function with total humility and submission in Jesus’ name.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
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