The Resurrection and Spiritual Gifts

[HKHaugan]

“After Jesus' resurrection, they left the tombs, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.” Matthew 27:53 The Message (MSG)

 

I’m not letting this one go. 

 

In the last writing I zeroed in on what this whole passage (vs.51-53) had to say about the crucifixion experience.  The moment Jesus died there was an earthquake, graves were open, rocks were split and the bodies of believers were raised.  All the events has individual significance.  As the above verse says it was after the Resurrection that they left their tombs and entered the Holy City and appeared to many.  For me that meant that spiritually, because Jesus was raised, those who are born again become part of the new ‘Holy City,’ the New Jerusalem---the Body of Christ.  They left the tombs of their past and not only became part of the Body of Christ but ‘appeared to many.’  But it didn’t stop there.  This was the foundation for all future disciples.  This was not only their calling but ours as well.  The spiritual extension of the Resurrection is what Paul teaches later and that is the way they can and should appear.  Very specifically, that way is to be spiritually conscious bearers and sharers of the truth of the risen Jesus through the exercise of spiritual gifts.  It is spiritual gifts that build the Body of Christ and spiritual gifts that grow disciples who become the witnesses bringing Christ into the fallen world around them.

 

Let’s repeat what Paul teaches, “Is it not true that the One who climbed up also climbed down, down to the valley of earth? And the One who climbed down is the One who climbed back up, up to highest heaven. He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ's followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ's body, the church, until we're all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ (Eph.4:11-13 The Message).”

 

And in 1Cor.12 Paul says this: “What I want to talk about now is the various ways God's Spirit gets worked into our lives. This is complex and often misunderstood, but I want you to be informed and knowledgeable. Remember how you were when you didn't know God, led from one phony god to another, never knowing what you were doing, just doing it because everybody else did it? It's different in this life. God wants us to use our intelligence, to seek to understand as well as we can. For instance, by using your heads, you know perfectly well that the Spirit of God would never prompt anyone to say "Jesus be damned!" Nor would anyone be inclined to say "Jesus is Master!" without the insight of the Holy Spirit.

 ^4-11God's various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. God's various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. God's various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful:

   wise counsel

   clear understanding

   simple trust

   healing the sick

   miraculous acts

   proclamation

   distinguishing between spirits

   tongues

   interpretation of tongues.

   All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when (The Message).”

 

It seems to me that the most avoided subject in the Body of Christ is the person of the Holy Spirit and the work He does in each of us especially in the area of spiritual gifts.  Yes, we may have workshops occasionally and we may hear mention of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost celebrations but ongoing teaching about the gifts of the Spirit seems to fade in the background.  When was the last time you heard a sermon series on each of the gifts?  When were gifts the ongoing subject of overall congregational prayer projects?  When have they been the ongoing subject in prayer groups?  When have congregations been led to have continual practice sessions for gifts?

 

The very nature of the Holy Spirit’s work calls for the exercise of spiritual gifts at every level of congregational development.  When I say congregational I mean Body of Christ functioning.  We are the Body of Christ yielding to the presence of the risen Jesus wherever we are.  That yielding is letting Him be our Lord through the gifts given us.  The Holy Spirit is the ministry of Jesus in our daily living experience. 

 

The very reason I write, keep in communication with the Body, pray for its growth, hearken to the call for prayer for those in need and stand firm on Scripture is because of the gifts I’ve been blessed with.  I certainly wish I was a better gift bearer but by the very grace of the Lord Jesus I do what I am prompted to do the best I can.  I pray to be an encourager as well.  Be blessed, all of you.