Love is the Key
We are all blessed with supernatural gifts given to us by our supernatural God. These spiritual gifts give us our purposes, and are meant to serve God and be His channels of blessings to those people whom He wants us to minister with our spiritual gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
While each one of us is blessed with various combinations of spiritual gifts, the key to activate and administer them is the same, love.
Love is the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Love is the foundation for everything we do for God.
1 Corinthians 16:14 Let all that you do be done with love.
In order for us to effectively employ our spiritual gifts and minister to His people, we need to reflect God’s love to us. Without love, our use of these spiritual gifts is meaningless and self-serving, and may become our sources of pride and arrogance.
1 Corinthians 13:1-4 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not [a]love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction]. And if I have the gift of prophecy [and speak a new message from God to the people], and understand all mysteries, and [possess] all knowledge; and if I have all [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love [reaching out to others], I am nothing. If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body [b]to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all.
Our spiritual maturity is about the fruit of the Holy Spirit rather than the anointing to carry out the work of the Holy Spirit. The sign of spiritual maturity is the ability to walk in love toward God and His people, because love is eternal and will outlast all spiritual gifts.
1 Corinthians 13:8 Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away.
Sermon Series: CG Campaign 2019 – Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow (Part 1)
爱是关键
我们都被超自然的上帝赋予了超自然的恩赐。这属灵恩赐赋予我们生之意义，是为要我们事奉上帝，并成为上帝赐福的管道，去祝福那些祂要我们以这些恩赐去服事的人们。
哥林多前书 12:4-7恩赐原有分别，圣灵却是一位。 职事也有分别，主却是一位。 功用也有分别， 神却是一位，在众人里面运行一切的事。 圣灵显在各人身上，是叫人得益处。
虽然我们每个人都有各种各样不同的属灵恩赐，但激活和运用这些恩赐的钥匙只有一把，那就是爱。
爱是圣灵的果子。
加拉太书 5:22-24圣灵所结的果子，就是仁爱、喜乐、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信实、 温柔、节制。这样的事没有律法禁止。 凡属基督耶稣的人，是已经把肉体连肉体的邪情私欲同钉在十字架上了。
我们为上帝所做的一切都必须出于爱。
哥林多前书 16:14凡你们所做的都要凭爱心而做。
为了有效地运用我们的属灵恩赐，服侍上帝的子民，我们需要活出上帝的爱来。如果没有爱，我们使用这些属灵的恩赐就是毫无意义的而且是自私的，也可能成为我们骄傲和自大的根源。
哥林多前书 13:1-4我若能说万人的方言，并天使的话语，却没有爱，我就成了鸣的锣，响的钹一般。 我若有先知讲道之能，也明白各样的奥秘，各样的知识，而且有全备的信，叫我能够移山，却没有爱，我就算不得什么。 我若将所有的周济穷人，又舍己身叫人焚烧，却没有爱，仍然与我无益。爱是恒久忍耐，又有恩慈；爱是不嫉妒；爱是不自夸，不张狂
我们灵性的成熟，是圣灵的果子，而非受膏来完成圣灵的工作。灵性成熟的标志是有能力在爱中更靠近上帝和他的子民，因为爱是永恒的，比一切属灵恩赐更长久。
哥林多前书 13:8 爱是永不止息。先知讲道之能终必归于无有；说方言之能终必停止；知识也终必归于无有。
细胞小组活动：教会通过属灵恩赐得以成长 (1)