Devotions with Pastor Jerry Schmid

Aspects of Prayer and Why It Is Important For us In Our Life

Session 2: OUR ACTIVITIES

How do you know what your spiritual gifs are or how to use them unless by prayer and supplication? Hear my prayer, O Lord, Give ear to my supplications! In Your faithfulness answer me, And in Your righteousness. (Psalm143:1)

The Lord both grants and instructs us in the gift and the purpose through which we can serve others. We are granted spiritual gifts from God through the Holy Spirit for a designated time and purpose. These abilities God grants us to use in worship and service along with various gifts of wisdom, knowledge, teaching, serving in the church or community, provide psychological or even physical healing, hospitality, encouragement, etc. etc.

These gifts do not give us superiority over others, but rather a servant’s heart for the help and love of others. We become extensions of Christ’s hands and feet.

Paul expressed “spiritual gifts” in two distinct areas. First that there is unity in diversity through the direction of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians: 12 1-14 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

But only through prayer can we expect to draw close to the wisdom of the Lord by the Holy Spirit to work His will for our lives and service to others.

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.

Secondly, it is through Love, as Christ loved, that we experience the greatest gift of all. As again Paul expresses 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

To be given a gift and not use it as intended, it is of little to no value, unless you like collecting dust. So, pray for the Holy Spirit’s direction and USE IT! In doing so, you may be surprised how many blessings in your life and lives of others can be realized.

OH, but I can’t you say! You have to break eggs to make omelets and you have to try, even though each try may not be successful. Be assured that God uses all situations and opportunities, turning our failures into His successes, through your yielding to the Holy Spirit to fulfil His plan and purpose.

Prayer is the key which opens the communication to the Holy Spirit for you to seek and experience what God will bestow upon you to serve others and carry His Word of love and salvation to a desperate world.

Rev. Jerry Schmid
Watch for Session 3: Our Guard