The Open Word (Audio)

We cannot allow our fears or discomfort to limit what God can do in our midst. If you are not comfortable with a spiritual gift such as speaking in tongues, use God’s word to guide you to an understanding. Scripture gives guidance to our worship and our relationship with God, and God desires order for worship so that people are not being distracted from the truth that will change their lives. Also, having order means we submit to the teaching of scripture rather than an individual’s understanding.

There will be a time when the spiritual gifts are no longer needed. Pastor David shows us that when we are in God’s presence because we go to heaven or God comes back we will no longer need spiritual gifts. The spiritual gifts are a catalyst by which we encourage ourselves and others in a walk with God in our present time. So, seek the gifts of God to be used for God until that time comes. When He comes we will have all that we need for a perfect understanding of God!

Today we explore the powerful, practical love of God as Pastor David explores the description of God’s love in 1st Corinthians 13. It is the love of God undergirds all that we do, and though we may fail, God will not! Everything we have can be attributed to God’s choice to create you and I, and any ability we have is because God designed us with his wisdom. At the cross, the incredible, eternally reaching love of God is equally made available to all people!

The love of God for us is enduring, and God is willing to be patient with you and I. Because of God’s love we were created and our ability to endure the challenges of this life can be strengthened. Is the love of God being displayed through your actions and attitudes? Pastor David challenges you today to allow God’s agape love to be your strength and standard. The love of God is kind, patient, and free from envy, and your love is to be a pattern of God for this world!

One has been given a gift of teaching and another has the gift of mercy. Some may be blessed with healing or speaking in tongues. What must we keep in mind when considering our spiritual gifts? The heart of Pastor David’s message today is that there are many gifts but there is one God, one Spirit, and one Christ in which we serve. Our gifts flow from the love of God, and when we use our spiritual gifts we are joining in the flow of God’s love in this world, which benefits ourselves and others.

Today we explore the powerful, practical love of God as Pastor David explores the description of God’s love in 1st Corinthians 13. It is the love of God undergirds all that we do, and though we may fail, God will not! Everything we have can be attributed to God’s choice to create you and I, and any ability we have is because God designed us with his wisdom. At the cross, the incredible, eternally reaching love of God is equally made available to all people!

The love of God for us is enduring, and God is willing to be patient with you and I. Because of God’s love we were created and our ability to endure the challenges of this life can be strengthened. Is the love of God being displayed through your actions and attitudes? Pastor David challenges you today to allow God’s agape love to be your strength and standard. The love of God is kind, patient, and free from envy, and your love is to be a pattern of God for this world!

With Pastor David we explore the most popular emotion in our culture today – love. Love is idolized and portrayed in all manners of art and music. However, our culture’s obsession with romantic love lacks the depths of love found in the Bible. For a Biblical view of love, we look to God, who is our standard. The word for God’s love is “agape”, and God’s love is unconditional and more profound then attraction or kindness. The love of God is never failing, patient, and saves us for all eternity!

God has uniquely created each of us with spiritual gifts to serve God and others. Through this diversity a masterpiece is created that only God could design! Pastor David wants you to use the gifts God has given you to the best of your ability, and pray that God would even enable you to use other gifts as needed. We are called to unity in faith not uniformity in our actions or looks. To have unity we need the secret ingredient – love! Not just any love but the love of God working through us!

The trap of comparison drives people to despair that they are insufficient in some way. Haven’t you ever wished that you were better at something else? Or, have you desired to possess the same talent as another person? Listen closely to Pastor David today as he encourages us to value and be content with the way God has created us! Each believer is important to the whole body of Christ. As Paul says, instead of comparison let us rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep!