"What shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up." TNIVSo many times, I have looked at this verse in the context of first century church and dealing with people who are acting out of order with the gifts that they have been given. What I have missed is this nugget of truth that is missing in so many gatherings. Each person is to bring something to the gathering. We have a mutual responsibility to help build each other up.
What I have seen most often, and what I have promoted most often, has been a select few bringing the hymn or the word. We relegate those things to certain leaders and the body never matures. The people continue to depend upon one or two people for all of their spiritual food, that they never get past childhood. Paul says in Ephesians four that the gifts were given so that the body would become mature, not needing a select few to lead but that they could all encourage and strengthen each other. The Hebrew writer chastises the readers for still being babies when they should in fact be teachers (chap. 5).
The time has come to release the people of God to be the priests He has made them to be in Christ so that they may serve the Body, the Bride of Jesus as they have been gifted and as they have been led to do. Just think of how rich our gathering time would be if each person would bring something that God has put on their hearts? Each person would be listening for God throughout the week to see what it is that He would have them bring. The Presence of God in people's lives would be so much more real.
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