Invite Him in
Let all things be done for edification. 1 Corinthians 14:26
Here is the key to spiritual gifts. They are to be used for edification and building others up. They are not to draw attention to yourself, and they are not to make you famous or popular. They are for reaching the world.
When Jesus was about to leave this world, He told His disciples to go into all the world and reach all people. Essentially, He was saying: I paid the price for all people for all time and now I want you to go out there in the world and rescue them all. He didn’t stop there either. He also said: Before you go, wait in Jerusalem until you receive the promise of the Father to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and His power. He will be here in just a few days. He went on to say: you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you to be my witnesses all over the entire world. The Holy Spirit will be with you until the end of the age. (Not until the end of their lives. See Acts 1)
That is the reason for the instruction about the Holy Spirits gifts in 1 Corinthians 12-14. How different would our world be if Christian people were the solution to the problems people face. Yes, we invite people to church and hope they will experience God there, but isn’t there something else we can do besides bring them to a service?
The answer is yes! We can be a voice of encouragement and edification. Start looking around you and notice when there are hurting people close by. Let them know there is a solution, and it is salvation in Jesus. Then let them know there is power to overcome through the Holy Spirit. Power to stand in adversity, power over every oppression, power against affliction and power to overcome every obstacle.
Start by praying for others before you even encounter them. Pray for opportunities, pray for boldness to love others and pray for wisdom to reach them. Also, pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to be evident to draw people into the Kingdom of heaven and to our loving heavenly Father.
Lastly, walk with people. After you bring them into salvation, bring them into community. Connect them with others that can show them how to walk closely to their Savior in faith and don’t let them slip back into a world that wants to devour them the first chance it gets.
Today I want to encourage you to let all things be done for edification. If you have never received the power of the Holy Spirit in your life, do it today. You can do this the same way you received your salvation, by faith. Just invite the Holy Spirit to come in and welcome Him to lead, instruct and comfort you in every area of life. Let Him know you are available for Him to move through to reach the world around you and ask for Him to give you the boldness to be His vessel. The Holy Spirit will not possess a person like evil does, He will only act if He is invited and surrendered too.
Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 14
The Daily Dose 