If you recall, Jesus has already told the Apostles, that the Father will send another, the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 In Jesus\u2019 baptism, the Holy Spirit descends upon Him like a Dove.\u00a0 The baptism calls for the Holy Spirit to respond and remain within the baptized.\u00a0 The consequence of this is vast.\u00a0 Further in Acts, we see that the Holy Spirit is even given to the Gentiles, which is you and I, all non-Jews.\u00a0 45\u00a0<\/sup>The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles\u2026 (Ac 10:45 NRSV)<\/p>\n The Spirit is a gift itself but the consequence, not in the negative sense, is that the Holy Spirit also brings gifts to those who receive the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 14<\/sup>The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15<\/sup>The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16<\/sup>for, \u201cWho has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?\u201d \u00a0But we have the mind of Christ.\u00a0 (1 Co 2:14-16 TNIV)<\/p>\n As I pondered what is said in 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 and what I just wrote, I find it strange that God, gives us a gift of the Sprit and the person who has the gift of the Spirit, in turn also receives more gifts.\u00a0 Hummm, the gift that, actually keeps on giving.\u00a0 For the preceding scripture, I invite you to open your Bible and read this and take the time to follow the annotations in verses.\u00a0 I believe you will find this enlightening.<\/p>\n From 1 Corinthians 12, 4\u00a0<\/sup>There are different kinds of gifts, but they are all from the same Spirit. 5\u00a0<\/sup>There are different ways to serve but the same Lord to serve. 6\u00a0<\/sup>And there are different ways that God works through people but the same God. God works in all of us in everything we do. 7\u00a0<\/sup>Something from the Spirit can be seen in each person, for the common good. 8\u00a0<\/sup>The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak with wisdom, and the same Spirit gives another the ability to speak with knowledge. 9\u00a0<\/sup>The same Spirit gives faith to one person. And, to another, that one Spirit gives gifts of healing. 10\u00a0<\/sup>The Spirit gives to another person the power to do miracles, to another the ability to prophesy. And he gives to another the ability to know the difference between good and evil spirits. The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak in different kinds of languages and to another the ability to interpret those languages. 11\u00a0<\/sup>One Spirit, the same Spirit, does all these things, and the Spirit decides what to give each person.\u00a0 (1 Co 12:4-11 NCV)<\/p>\n In the letter to the church in Corinth, Paul does not cover all gifts available by the Holy Spirit but does cover some.\u00a0 There are many gifts yet one Spirit.\u00a0 Each of the gifts can even be broken down into subcategories to help us discern what God is calling us to do.\u00a0 It is in finding out our spiritual gifts and then discerning how God is calling us to us them, that we embrace, 5\u00a0<\/sup>There are different ways to serve but the same Lord to serve. 6\u00a0<\/sup>And there are different ways that God works through people but the same God. God works in all of us in everything we do.\u00a0 (1 Co 12:5-7 NCV)<\/p>\n Do you want to learn what God is calling you to do, both inside and outside of the congregation?\u00a0 Do you want to know what your spiritual gifts are?\u00a0 One of the first steps is to ask the people who know you best, what gifts do you see that God has given me?\u00a0 Be prayerful and meditate upon what you hear.\u00a0 Speak (pray) to God, then listen and watch to see how the Holy Spirit guides you in your life.\u00a0 Having a prayer partner and a spiritual director is a good way to focus.<\/p>\n The Nebraska Synod is offering a fantastic opportunity to get spiritual direction.\u00a0 The synod is offering spiritual direction sessions called, Drinking from the Well.\u00a0 Both Kris and I are signed up for this too.\u00a0 You can check out their website for details at:\u00a0 http:\/\/nebraskasynod.org\/discernment\/spiritualdirection\/drinking-from-the-well.html<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Peace and blessings through the gift of the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-KCOWTSDo6yg\/U_sml_EVylI\/AAAAAAAAAa0\/3I8csL4dRHY\/s1600\/firespirit%2B-%2Bkoopia.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n