{"id":14481,"date":"2026-08-21T09:13:17","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T13:13:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/?post_type=oyb&#038;p=14481"},"modified":"2026-08-21T09:13:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T13:13:17","slug":"gifted-to-edify-the-church","status":"publish","type":"oyb","link":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/oyb\/gifted-to-edify-the-church","title":{"rendered":"GIFTED TO EDIFY THE CHURCH"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church\u201d (1 Corinthians 14:12 ESV).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Writing to the believers in Corinth, Paul addressed their strong interest in spiritual gifts. He did not condemn their zeal, but redirected it. They were eager for manifestations of the Spirit, yet Paul wanted them to measure spiritual maturity not by how impressive a gift appeared, but by how effectively it strengthened the church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1 Corinthians 14:12 functions as a kind of controlling principle for Paul\u2019s discussion of spiritual gifts in chapters 12-14: The Spirit gives the gifts, love governs the gifts, and edification determines how the gifts should be used. Spiritual gifts were never intended for self edification or recognition. They were given for the good of others and for the edification of Christ\u2019s body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paul expressed the same truth in Ephesians 4:11\u201312, where he explained that Christ gave gifted leaders to the church \u201cto equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.\u201d Whether speaking of spiritual manifestations or ministry roles, the purpose remained the same: Christ gifts His people so that His church might be built up and grow up to maturity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We can be tempted to begin comparing gifts, admiring visible abilities, or wondering whether our own contribution matters. But Paul redirects our attention from prominence to purpose. The question is not, \u201cHow gifted are we?\u201d but, \u201cAre we using what God has given us to strengthen others?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whatever abilities, opportunities, resources, or spiritual gifts God has entrusted to us, we can offer them in love for the good of His people. We are not gifted merely to express ourselves, but to serve one another. We are gifted to edify the church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>PRAYER<\/strong>: Dear Father, thank You for graciously giving gifts to Your people. Teach us to use what You have entrusted to us in love and humility. Help us seek the good of others rather than recognition for ourselves. Use our lives to strengthen, encourage, and build up the body of Christ. In Jesus\u2019 name, amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cSo with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church\u201d (1 Corinthians 14:12 ESV). Writing to the believers in Corinth, Paul addressed their strong interest in spiritual gifts. He did not condemn their zeal, but redirected it. They were eager for manifestations of the Spirit, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"audio":"https:\/\/garycombsorg.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Aug-21-2026-at-9_08_09AM-esv2-50p-bg-10p-music-10p.mp3"},"categories":[],"tags":[],"scripture-book":[1313],"scripture-chapter":[1347],"oyb_day":[1760],"class_list":["post-14481","oyb","type-oyb","status-publish","hentry","scripture-book-1-corinthians","scripture-chapter-1347","oyb_day-august-21"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb\/14481","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/oyb"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14481"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14481"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14481"},{"taxonomy":"scripture-book","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/scripture-book?post=14481"},{"taxonomy":"scripture-chapter","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/scripture-chapter?post=14481"},{"taxonomy":"oyb_day","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb_day?post=14481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}