The Party Where Everyone Gets a Present
Imagine a wedding where the guests get gifts as well as the bride and groom.
Whenever God throws a party, everyone present gets presents.
In John 2, we see Jesus working his first miracle in Cana. He turned water into wine. It was not a bad demonstration at all. Everyone enjoyed that and everyone noticed.
John 2:1-11
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.
When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine."
And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to me and to you? My hour has not yet come."
His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water."
And they filled them up to the brim.
He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the person in charge of the banquet."
So they took it. When the person in charge tasted the water that had become wine and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), that person called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now."
Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee and revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.
If Jesus were interested in developing a repertoire for a traveling road show where he did tricks to entertain the crowds, this would be a real crowd please. But this was the first and last time he did this as far as we know.
This miracle had a very specific, time-sensitive, purpose-driven reason for its accomplishment. The need did not arise again. He could move on to other signs.
In 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, the Apostle Paul is dealing with a group of people who have seen some wonderful signs, miracles, and gifts to and through people. They have become very attached and attracted to the most visible gifts and manifestations of God’s power.
He addresses those attitudes with one overarching teaching. There are a variety of gifts, but they all come from one Spirit.
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that when you were gentiles, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak.
Therefore, I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Let Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit.
Now there are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of services but the same Lord, and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of powerful deeds, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.
“To one,” he declares, and then, “to another,” but “to all.”
Let’s pick out some talking points:
- We need to DIFFERENTIATE what Paul is describing and IDOLATRY.
“…you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak.”
Idolatry is about manipulating God to get what we want from God or something we call a god.
- We need to DILLINIATE what is Spirit-led and what is IMMITATION.”
“…no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Let Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit.”
The result of a profound manifestation of the Spirit of God can be seen and heard in the sincere declaration of Jesus’ lordship. This is how we know if the gifts come from God or are just cheap imitations.
- We need to DISTINGUISH between what is INDIVIDUAL and what is universal.
“Now there are varieties of gifts.”
God varies things. God is creative. God works with creative people to make them more creative. God has an infinite treasure trove of gifts to give when needed to people who will use them.
“…but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. …”
The common denominator is God. We must not confuse God’s manifestations and varieties of expression with God himself as the source of these things. It is the same God.
- We need to DETERMINE that our gifts and callings come from the one who INDWELLS us.
All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.”
The capacity to do more than we can, utilizing the special long-term or situation abilities God bestows upon us, flow from the Holy Spirit who dwells in our lives. That Spirit is sharing us, teaching us, informing us, inspiring us, igniting us, empowering us, and using us to accomplish God’s purposes according to God’s will.
- We need to DEDICATE these gifts to the INCLUSIVE common good of all.
“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
When God gives us a spiritual gift, it is not for us alone. First, it is for God’s glory, but then, it is for the good of all.
God shows up and everyone benefits.
The bottom line is that God gives the gifts through the Holy Spirit. God chooses, distributes, enlivens, activates, and participates in developing people and the church as a tool for and expression of the Kingdom.
Idolatry is self-centered, but Spiritual gifts keep our focus on our one-another consciousness.
Let’s take a moment and check in with today’s psalm, number 36.
“For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.” – Psalm 36:9
One of the first lighthouses ever built, certainly one of the most famous, was the Lighthouse of Alexandria in 280 BC. Situated on the Egyptian island of Pharos, it was at one time thought to be the tallest structure on earth at 383 - 440 feet. Many lives were rescued because of its existence.
Its purpose was the same as that of all lighthouses: to warn ships away from dangerous shores and guide them in the night.
No ship’s captain ever complained about a lighthouse getting in his way or inconveniencing him in his journey. Many a lighthouse has saved many a life.
It was all for others.
James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
Man-made lighthouses point us to the reality of God’s gracious willingness to warn us and guide us because He loves us. He desires life for us and in His light, we see light.
Philippians 2:15 says that God bestows blessings upon us, that we “be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.”
Not only does God provide light for our journey, but He appoints us as His people to shine in a dark world where there are many unseen dangers and unmarked shores.
By taking this stewardship of light seriously, the church and its people have helped to lead many lost ships and crew into a harbor of safety.
What could be a greater blessing than to be in God’s light and, in that light, to see lightv Surely, it is a fountain of life.
God is generous with us in a way that not only benefits believers and the church, but the world at large. Our Old Testament lessons today is from Isaiah 62:1-5.
God is building a City of God in the world, the Kingdom where he will dwell with us, the New Jerusalem, the new Zion descending from Heaven. God is inviting all people to come and to become citizens. As the promise was made to ancient Israel, it is extended to all that Jesus invited to come.
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn and her salvation like a burning torch. The nations shall see your vindication and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give.
You shall be a beautiful crown in the hand of the LORD and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her and your land Married, for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your builder marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
The word for gift, I often remind folks, shares the same root that is used to build the words, generous, grace, gracious, thanks, eucharist, and joy.
O, the doctrine of spiritual gifts is one that reveals God’s grace and joyous love to the world and invites us to participate in a great celebration to which we are encouraged to invite all people.
Let us end where we began:
Imagine a wedding where the guests get gifts as well as the bride and groom.
Whenever God throws a party, everyone present gets presents.
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