The Bridge RSM

A group of mothers from The Bridge share their stories about how God and Scripture have met and led them as they journeyed raising their children and what it can mean for the rest of us. In what ways has the Lord met you and led you as you go through life?

The Church, like many things, has a variety of systems that are designed to help it function. The body wouldn't function at its optimal level without a healthy circulatory system. Likewise, The Church is the most effective when it's members are operating in all of the gifts the Lord has designed us with. Lose or neglect one and the Church becomes less effective.

This week, Pastor Cami begins a new series on the Gifts of the Son and how we work together to advance the Kingdom of God on Earth.

Every believer is given the gifts of prophecy and discernment. Prophecy to speak and understand God's will toward us and others. Discernment to understand what voices we're listening to. In the world around us, we are constantly being bombarded by voices of destruction. But God's plan for us is good, only always. What voice will you listen to?

What do you have faith for? What box have you put God in? Our God is bigger than our notions and our limitations. He's bigger and more powerful than we can even conceive, and yet we often put limits on the things we believe he'll do. Particularly in our modern, western context we have eliminated gifts like healing and miracles from our practice of The Way of Jesus if not from our doctrines altogether. But they were promised. They're available and they're happening all around the globe. Are you willing to step in and trust God's power for more astonishing, miraculous works through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit?

How does God speak and what sorts of things does He speak? What's the purpose of His speech? The Lord wants to partner with us in ministry and to do that He shares His thoughts and plans with His people. That's really what we're talking about when we talk about things like words of wisdom, knowledge, or prophecy. These are revelations from God to someone that we wants to partner with to accomplish His purposes on earth. Pastor Cami unpacks the practicality of these gifts as we continue our series through 1 Corinthians 12 and Divine Power.

Ministry under the empowerment of the Holy Spirit is not a role for the isolated few. It isn't a privilege of the clergy to use the gifts of the Spirit. It is the joy and honor of all followers of Jesus to join in with the Body of believers in partnering with the Holy Spirit, for the common good.

One way that spiritual gifts get abused is when we see people as having power, rather than being empowered by the Holy Spirit. It's important to keep our focus on the power of God working through us and remember that all believers are gifted to function empowered by the Spirit for the upbuilding of the Church. We do however, have to actively choose to engage with the Spirit and participate in His work on the Earth.

Pastor Ryan opens a new series on the "spirituals" described in 1 Corinthians 12. Western culture doesn't tend to take spiritual matters very seriously. Even people who claim to believe in such things don't tend to practice them in any significant way. But Paul said he didn't want us to be ignorant of such things. Not for lack of information nor for lack of interest. This new series is an opportunity to learn about the way Jesus has invited us to come alongside Him and minister empowered by the Holy Spirit. As we follow Jesus and learn to do what He did, we have to learn the way He did things. That is what Divine Power is all about.

Followers of Jesus are called to tell people about Jesus. The question is, "Are you somebody worth listening to?" Is there anything about your life that is enticing, that makes someone want what you have? Do you have anything to share? Do you share with conviction? The Lord helps us to grow in our ability to share His love and character as we continue to earnestly seek after Him and follow His ways. The key there is that we need His ways to share who He is in an effective and credible way.