09-01-2018, 09:32 AM
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES
SATURDAY, 1ST SEPTEMBER.
DISPENSERS OF DIVINE BLESSINGS
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (Hebrews 2:3-4).
Our opening scripture in the King James Version seems to portray the underlined portion as referring to the gifts of the Spirit, but that’s not what it means.
The word translated “gifts”above isn’t the Greek word “charisma,” like you have in 1 Corinthians 12; rather, it’s from the Greek word “merismos,” which means “distributions.” The Douay-Rheims translation actually puts it in a better light. It reads, “God also bearing them witness by signs, and wonders, and divers miracles, and distributions of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will.” What does the Scripture mean by “the distributions of the Holy Ghost?”
First, let’s put this in proper perspective: Who were those that performed the signs and wonders, and special miracles? It was the Apostles—the early
witnesses that bore testimony to the resurrected Christ! God performed signs, wonders, miracles, and “distributions of the Holy Ghost” through them! Acts 5:12 says, “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people….”
Who are we today? The Bible says we’re ministers or “servants” of the New Testament; stewards of the mysteries of Christ (1 Corinthians 4:1). We “serve” the New Testament. Imagine coming into a
restaurant and being served by a waiter. We’re like that waiter who serves in a restaurant; but the difference is, we serve life! We serve the Spirit, righteousness and the blessings of the New Testament. Hallelujah!
When I pray for God’s people, and say to them,“I bless you in the Name of Jesus; I bless you with the Word; with His presence; and with the Holy Ghost,” I’m distributing the blessings of Christ! This is what He’s called us to do as His ministers and ambassadors in the earth; we’re dispensers of divine blessings. He’s anointed us, and we’re to distribute this grace by the Spirit and change lives everywhere.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the privilege of being a minister of the New Testament, hence a
conveyor of eternal verities. I’ll extend your blessings to others through the Spirit, and spread your grace to the ends of the earth, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 10:7 - 8 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Romans 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—
1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
1 Corinthians 15:35-58 & Proverbs 8-9
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
1 Thessalonians 2:10-20 & Jeremiah 18
SATURDAY, 1ST SEPTEMBER.
DISPENSERS OF DIVINE BLESSINGS
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (Hebrews 2:3-4).
Our opening scripture in the King James Version seems to portray the underlined portion as referring to the gifts of the Spirit, but that’s not what it means.
The word translated “gifts”above isn’t the Greek word “charisma,” like you have in 1 Corinthians 12; rather, it’s from the Greek word “merismos,” which means “distributions.” The Douay-Rheims translation actually puts it in a better light. It reads, “God also bearing them witness by signs, and wonders, and divers miracles, and distributions of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will.” What does the Scripture mean by “the distributions of the Holy Ghost?”
First, let’s put this in proper perspective: Who were those that performed the signs and wonders, and special miracles? It was the Apostles—the early
witnesses that bore testimony to the resurrected Christ! God performed signs, wonders, miracles, and “distributions of the Holy Ghost” through them! Acts 5:12 says, “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people….”
Who are we today? The Bible says we’re ministers or “servants” of the New Testament; stewards of the mysteries of Christ (1 Corinthians 4:1). We “serve” the New Testament. Imagine coming into a
restaurant and being served by a waiter. We’re like that waiter who serves in a restaurant; but the difference is, we serve life! We serve the Spirit, righteousness and the blessings of the New Testament. Hallelujah!
When I pray for God’s people, and say to them,“I bless you in the Name of Jesus; I bless you with the Word; with His presence; and with the Holy Ghost,” I’m distributing the blessings of Christ! This is what He’s called us to do as His ministers and ambassadors in the earth; we’re dispensers of divine blessings. He’s anointed us, and we’re to distribute this grace by the Spirit and change lives everywhere.
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the privilege of being a minister of the New Testament, hence a
conveyor of eternal verities. I’ll extend your blessings to others through the Spirit, and spread your grace to the ends of the earth, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 10:7 - 8 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Romans 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—
1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
1 Corinthians 15:35-58 & Proverbs 8-9
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
1 Thessalonians 2:10-20 & Jeremiah 18