God is the giver of every good and perfect gift, and above all His indescribable gift, Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, and including eternal life or immortality. Therefore, it is no alien of being empowered by the Holy Spirit to do the will of God. The spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit are: Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Counsel, Piety, Fortitude, Fear Of The Lord. In distinction from 'the fruit of the Holy Spirit' are: Love, Joy, Peace, Mercy, Forgiveness, Compassion, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Trustfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.

The spiritual gifts bestowed by the Holy Spirit upon Christians are for the the purpose of building up the Church and on which will grow to benefit the community, and for the common good. Since these gifts are gifts of grace, their use must be controlled and use in accordance by the principle of "Love." That is, the greatest of all spiritual gifts. The Lord Jesus Christ distributes different gifts to different people just as God chooses.

In short, there are three things that last; Faith, Hope, Love. The greatest of these is "Love." - 1 Cor. 13:13 -

You must want love more than anything else; but still hope for the spiritual gifts as well, especially prophecy. Anybody with the gift of tongues speaks to God, but not to other people; because nobody understands him when he talks in the spirit about mysterious things.

On the other hand, the man who prophesies does talk to other people, to their improvement, their encouragement and their consolation. The one with the gift of tongues talks for his own benefit, but the man who prophesies does so for the benefit of the community. While I should like you all to have the gift of tongues, I would much rather you could prophecy, since the man who prophesies is of greater importance than the man with the gift of tongues, unless of course the latter offers an interpretation so that the church may get some benefit. - 1 Cor. 14:1-5 -

The gift of tongues is very different from the gift of speech. The gift of speech communicate and convey God's messages to people. Therefore, if your tongue does not produce intelligible speech, how can anyone know what you are saying? You will be talking to the air. Now suppose, my dear brothers and sisters, I am someone with the gift of tongues, and I come to visit you, what use shall I be if all my talking reveals nothing new, tells you nothing, and neither inspires you nor instructs you? What happened at the 'Pentecost' was the Holy Spirit came to rest on the head of each of the apostles with the gift of speech. "It is not the gift of tongues." "It is the gift of speech."

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech. - Acts 2:4 -

We must know and understand that the ability to comprehend the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible correctly is given by the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, we will be taken in by people who like grovelling to angels and worshiping them; people like that are always going on about some vision they have had, inflating themselves to a false importance with the worldly outlook. People of this sort is not united to the Almighty God, the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and it is the "Lord" that adds strength and holds the whole body together, with all its joints and sinews, and this is the only way in which it can reach its full growth in God. Amen!

In the light of the grace I have received I want to urge each one among you not to exaggerate his real importance. Each of you must judge himself soberly by the standard of the faith God has given him. Just as each of our bodies has several parts and each part has a separate function, so all of us, in union with Christ, form one body, and as parts of it we belong to each other.

Our gifts differ according to the grace given us. If your gift is prophecy, then use it as your faith suggests; if administration, then use it for administration; if teaching, then use it for teaching. Let the preachers deliver sermons, the alms-givers give freely, the officials be diligent, and those who do works of mercy do them cheerfully.

Do not let your love be a pretend, but sincerely prefer good to evil. Love each other as much as brothers should, and have a profound respect for each other. Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit. If you have hope, this will make you cheerful. Do not give up if trials come; and keep on praying. If any of the saints are in need you must share with them; and you should make hospitality your special care. - Rom. 12:3-13 -

There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them. The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose. - 1 Cor. 12:4-7 -

If one part is hurt, all parts are hurt with it. If one part is given special honour, all parts enjoy it. Now you together are Christ's body; but each of you is a different part of it. - 1 Cor. 12:26-27 -

In the Church, God has given the first place to apostles, the second to prophets, the third to teachers; after them, miracles, and after them the gift of healing; helpers, good leaders, those with many languages. - 1 Cor. 12:28 -

With all these in mind, I am grateful to God for all His blessing and the Lord Jesus Christ blessings to come. Amen! In fact, I have did an in-depth study of myself for many years. Then, reflected and contemplated on my own life, the past, the current and what the future will be? Daily pondering as well. Lastly, I have had some serious contemplation of my own life, the past, the current, and the future. Consequently, I came to my senses and not only realizing what the Lord Jesus Christ has done great things for me, the Lord, actually has been my "Savior" all this while. Seriously, if I have not know God and live without the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, I am already a dead man. Perhaps, long time ago. Indeed, "I am nothing and God makes me into all things that is good."

Of course, God, the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ calls, and touches everyone or every human beings, whether it is in a small way, big way, and profound way. Thus, whether the one who was touched by God or encountered or experienced God, is willing to response His called is questionable? Because God, the Creator give every human beings, the freedom to choose. As a result, I have save myself from this perverse generation and remain faithful to the teaching of the apostles. [ Didache] That is, Tradition, Sacred Scripture, Magisterium. Thanks be to God.

But as we have the same spirit of faith that is mentioned in scripture - I believed, and therefore I spoke - we too believe and therefore we too speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus to life will raise us with Jesus in our turn, and put us by his side and you with us. You see, all this is for your benefit, so that the more grace is multiplied among people, the more thanksgiving there will be, to the glory of God. - 2 Cor. 4:13-15 -
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Faith . Hope . Love - Welcome donation. Thank You. God bless. 

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -