?For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.? Romans 1:11 ? 12

Paul knew that for the Church to grow it would take the whole Body engaged in ministry, but such ministry cannot be done without the power of the Holy Spirit. The essential part of any ministry and/or Church is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ not only the focus our ministry, but in fact is the only thing we preach. ??looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.? Hebrews 12:2 ?For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.? 1 Corinthians 2:2 Since Jesus is our central ?theme? and focus, then all we do and build upon should be Him. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11 In order to build upon that foundation, we must be empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is only then that we will begin to grow and reach the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Only with the power of the Holy Spirit will we be able to fulfill the Great Commission. ?Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'' Amen.? Matthew 28:19 ? 20 When Jesus spoke those words He had not yet sent the Holy Spirit to the disciples, so they were told to wait in Jerusalem. Jesus said in Acts: ?But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.? Acts 1:8 When we are filled with the Holy Spirit we have all the power we need to fulfill the Great Commission. But the work of the Holy Spirit is not just to empower, but to gift us to our personal and corporate work which He has provided us to do. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 We are God?s workmanship, His special creation, and He has given us good works to do. Those good works can only be done if we are in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit and gifted with Spiritual Gifts. ?But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.? Ephesians 4:7 ? 8 When Jesus ascended, He led us from our captivity and gave us gifts so that we might use them and glorify God. It was by grace that we were saved, and by grace that we have and use our gifts. ?But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.? Ephesians 2:4 ? 9 We cannot work to get gifts, they are generously given by a gracious Father. ?Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.? James 1:16 ? 17 So we must desire to use our gifts and earnestly seek God so that the Holy Spirit would confirm and establish us.

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