Darkened Glass Reflections

Tag: spiritual gifts

  • Prerequisites and Purpose of Pentecostal Power

    Prerequisites and Purpose of Pentecostal Power

    The disciples had to wait to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. God had a purpose in mind. We need to remember why we receive the Holy Spirit.

  • Faith and Fruit (Matthew 7:15-20)

    Faith and Fruit (Matthew 7:15-20)

    The fruit of the Spirit is more important than what we say or (apparent) gifts of the Spirit.

  • The Words of Christ—Matthew 9:37-38

    The Words of Christ—Matthew 9:37-38

    “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38)

  • Bede the Venerable: Gifts from God Given Back to Him

    Bede the Venerable: Gifts from God Given Back to Him

    Some traditional churches commemorate Bede the Venerable, perhaps the first scholar to write in English, on May 25. His life gives us an example of a man who devoted his God-given talents to glorify Him.

  • Spiritual Gifts and Natural Talents

    Spiritual Gifts and Natural Talents

    Our natural abilities can be just as important as our spiritual gifts in God’s service. The first man that the Bible says was “filled with the Spirit” was a carpenter.

  • Growing Up in Christ. I: Beyond Carnality—1 Corinthians 14:20

    Growing Up in Christ. I: Beyond Carnality—1 Corinthians 14:20

    Renewal of the Christian’s mind, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, has a goal. God is seeking to raise us from spiritual immaturity to maturity. The Word of God calls us to mature thinking and living, not immaturity. While Jesus calls us to childlike faith (Mark 10:15; Matthew 18:3; Luke 18:17), He calls us…

  • Modern-Day Elijahs XI: A Nature Like Ours

    A modern-day Elijah will expect God to act in response to our prayers, or to accomplish whatever He said He would do. The faith of an Elijah recognizes God as a living, active, all-powerful Sovereign over all creation, not as an abstract concept confined within the covers of a book.

  • Reflection on Mark 9:38-41 (Revisited)

    Reflection on Mark 9:38-41 (Revisited)

    John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said,“Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the…

  • Reflection on Mark 9:38-41

    John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said,“Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the…

  • Stewardship II: Talents

    One of the great dangers for Christians is to focus too much on whether a skill is a spiritual gift or a natural talent. While natural talents, shared by believers and unbelievers, can be used without any connection to God, they can be enhanced by the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives.