Welcome to Refinery Life Australia.
The Lord’s Prayer.
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
This week we continue our study focusing on Paul’s letter to the Corinthians.
Today we are talking about Things Freely Given To Us.
Text
1 Corinthians 2:12 NKJV
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
Scripture Reading
1 Corinthians 2:12-16 NKJV
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.
16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
Prayer
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
Introduction
I recently read a story of a small church, they had a building that needed some repairs and renovation.
The congregation voted to spend $5000 on the job.
The work started, but as it progressed, costs soared.
It became apparent to the pastor that some plan was necessary to meet the added expense, and he proposed one that was unique.
Every three months the pastor and the twenty two members who responded to his challenge made a trip to the blood donor clinic and sold a pint of blood for $25.
The church netted more than $10000 by doing this.
They were literally paying for their church with their own blood.
Blood, James stated, has always been the life of the church.
Christ gave His precious blood for it.
As Tertullian said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”
Across the centuries the church has flourished in proportion to the sacrifice and dedication of God’s people.
The present hour calls upon each of us to give nothing less than oneself in a new surrender to Christ and His church.
The subject for this message is “Things Freely Given to Us.”
- Let’s have a look at today’s passage.
The meaning of the word “freely” in 1 Corinthians 2:12 means “bestowed.”
It is to be distinguished from the word “freely” found in Matthew 10:8, which reads, “Freely you have received, freely give.”
The primary idea of the word here is the spirit of giving, or the spirit in which a thing is given.
God’s gifts are not given grudgingly, nor with resentment, nor of necessity.
They are freely given blessings from heaven, agonies of earth, and blood of life.
Grace is unmerited favour.
Romans 8:32, He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
Galatians 3:18, 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
All gifts of God are as we are told in Isaiah 55:1, “Without money and without price.”
2. Look at the different people who are offered God’s gifts.
Some people resent the idea of God giving His Son away the way He did.
They feel so secure within themselves that receiving a gift as described in this text is an unheard of thing.
These people are lost.
All people need to see that’s God’s giving of His son is God’s plan for our redemption from sin and ruin.
God’s redemption would be unfair if it were not free, for some would not be able to purchase it.
It it were not free, think how a lost person would feel.
This redemption cost Jesus His blood, and there have been many martyrs for His cause since.
All who receive God’s gifts must count the cost of discipleship.
Although we cannot earn or buy our salvation, which is a free gift from God, we are called upon to commit our lives in Christian living and service.
The Christian is to be separated from the things of the world and consecrated to the things of God.
3. Look at the Spirit of God who reveals God’s gifts to each person.
God’s gifts are freely given, but the recipient is not to take them for granted.
No person is to believe he or she is the recipient of any gift because of merit or worth.
The giving is according to the Sovereign will and plan of God.
The gifts carry with them responsibility.
The gospel, about which Paul talked earlier in this passage, is to be shared.
The good news of Jesus is the privilege and responsibility of God’s children to share.
Believers are to bear the expense of spreading the gospel.
Conclusion.
If you are a Christian, you have been bountifully blessed.
You have many gifts bestowed upon you.
Now you must use them.
Until next time
Stay in the Blessings
Giving
I really want to encourage you to be diligent with your Bible study time, because God has so much more for us than we can get from just going to church once or twice a week and hearing someone else talk about the Word.
When you spend time with God, your life will change in amazing ways, because God is a Redeemer.
Theres nothing thats too hard for Him, and He can make you whole, spirit, soul and body!
You’re important to God, and you’re important to us at www.refinerylife.org
When it comes to prayer, we believe that God wants to meet your needs and reveal His promises to you.
So whatever you’re concerned about and need prayer for we want to be here for you! Or even if you just want to say Hi, you can contact us
2022 IS A YEAR OF REPENTANCE AND BLESSINGS
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