| We hear so much about the Church-what it ought to do and how it ought to do it. It is easy to say these things, even to say them critically. But sometimes we need to stop and ask, 'What has God said about the Church? How has he planned that it should be carried on?' God commenced the church at Pentecost. He sent the Holy Spirit to be the power of God living in the Church. The Holy Spirit adds to the Church, the body of Christ, everyone who believes. Then he does more. He gives to every one of those believers a special ability to serve Christ within the Church. These abilities are known as the gifts of the Spirit. In our reading today, Paul points out that it is the Holy Spirit who gives these gifts. He does it himself according to his own sovereign will. These gifts are different, but all are to be used for the glory of Christ and for the building up of the body of Christ. Every believer has at least one gift. They are like tools which men use in (heir work, only it is not really us who use them. It is the Holy Spirit who both gives them to us and uses them through us. This is like the parts of the body, too. Each part has its own work to do and without each part we are incomplete. Some have the gift of teaching. Some have the gift of evangelism. Others have the gift of mercy. Still others have the gift of faith. When every part of our physical body is working as it should, we are strong and healthy. When every part of the body of Christ is working, the Church is accomplishing what God has planned. A QUESTION: As a member of the body of Christ, what is your gift? Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to use that gift for Christ? | 
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