A New Testimony

I begged my Father God to fill my heart with His love and He made me a new creation. He answered my prayer and filled my heart with love, peace, and joy—fruits of the spirit. I want to share my testimony with others and encourage them, as new creations, to use their spiritual gift daily to glorify their Lord and Savior, Jesus. What is your gift? Q: What does it mean that a Christian is a new creation? A: The new creation is described in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” The word “therefore” refers us back to verses 14-16 where Paul tells us that all believers have died with Christ and no longer live for themselves. Our lives are no longer worldly; they are now spiritual. Our “death” is that of the old sin nature which was nailed to the cross with Christ. It was buried with Him, and just as He was raised up by the Father, so are we raised up to “live a new life” (Romans 6:4). That new person that was raised up is what Paul refers to in 2 Corinthians 5:17 as the “new creation.” Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-21): “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” My Testimony“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him” (1 John 5:13-15). When you ask Jesus Christ to save you from sin, you will become a new creation. Oh what a joy-filled life it has been, following Jesus daily using my spiritual gifts of faith and prophesying. At the age of 87, my steps are wearier each day, and I’m ready to go home and live in Heaven with Jesus forever!! My name is written in the book of life with the precious blood of Jesus. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God’s Love and Ours“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him” (1 John 4:7-9). The First CommandmentThe first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3) is a foundational principle that demands exclusive worship and allegiance to the one true God. It requires that God be the primary focus and highest priority in one’s life, prohibiting the worship of any other gods, idols, or anything else (like money, power, or fame) that is placed above Him. It also implies that one must worship God in the way that is true to who He is. Purpose of Spiritual GiftsThe purpose of spiritual gifts is to build up the church, strengthen believers’ faith, and exalt Christ. These gifts are given to serve others, not to elevate individuals, and are used to strengthen the community, encourage individuals, and glorify God. To build up the church • Edify the body of believers: Gifts like teaching, encouragement, and administration help make the church a strong and healthy community by providing support and structure. • Support the church’s mission: Gifts such as service help fill ministry gaps and meet the needs of the church, allowing others to use their gifts fully and helping the church reach out to the community. To strengthen individual believers • Strengthen faith: Gifts help fortify the faith of individual believers, especially during difficult times. • Encourage and support: Gifts like exhortation (encouragement) help uplift and motivate people, while other gifts provide guidance and wisdom, which builds confidence in one’s faith journey. To exalt Christ • Point to God: The exercise of spiritual gifts should always point back to Jesus, magnifying His presence and work. • Glorify God: By using these gifts to serve others, believers bring glory to God and are empowered to do His work. Spiritual gifts are something every believer is given. Just as the gift of salvation is by grace through faith, so are the spiritual gifts. Our God is so generous. He is constantly giving us things. “Christ has generously divided out his gifts to us” (Ephesians 4:7, CEV). It’s His grace at work in our lives. spiritual gifts listed in Scriptures Specifically, spiritual gifts can be found in: Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10; 28-30. Let’s take a deeper look at each passage. Romans 12:6-8 (NIV) • Prophecy: The gift of speaking forth God’s messages, often focused on edification, exhortation, and comfort. • Serving: The capacity to serve others selflessly and meet practical needs within the church. • Teaching: The ability to communicate and explain God’s truth effectively to others. • Encouragement: The gift of encouraging and motivating others toward spiritual growth and maturity. • Giving: The ability to give generously and cheerfully, often contributing resources for the benefit of the church and those in need. • Leadership: The gift of providing leadership, organization, and guidance within the church. • Mercy: The gift of showing compassion, empathy, and kindness to those who are suffering or in distress. 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NIV) • Wisdom: A deep understanding of God’s truth and the ability to apply it practically to life situations. • Knowledge: Special insight and knowledge of God’s Word and His will. • Faith: A supernatural ability to trust God and His promises in extraordinary circumstances. • Healing: Praying for and witnessing physical, emotional, or spiritual healing in others through divine intervention. • Miracles: The ability to perform extraordinary signs and wonders, demonstrating God’s power. • Prophecy: Speaking forth God’s messages, including words of edification, exhortation, and comfort. • Discernment of Spirits: Distinguishing between different spirits, discerning whether they are of God, human, or evil origin. • Speaking in Tongues: The ability to speak in unknown languages as a form of prayer or communication with God. • Interpretation of Tongues: The gift of interpreting messages spoken in tongues, making them understandable to others. 1 Corinthians 12:28-30 (NIV) • Apostles: Those who are sent as messengers with a specific commission. • Prophets: Individuals who receive and convey God’s messages and revelations. • Teachers: Those who are skilled in explaining and sharing God’s Word. • Workers of Miracles: Believers who perform extraordinary signs and wonders. • Gifts of Healing: Those with the gift of praying for and witnessing healing. • Helps: Individuals who serve others selflessly, often behind the scenes. • Administration (Leadership): Those who provide guidance and organization within the church. • Tongues: Believers with the ability to speak in unknown languages. • Interpretation of Tongues: Those who can interpret messages spoken in tongues. Ephesians 4:11 (NIV) • Apostles: Those sent forth with a specific commission to establish and build up the church. • Prophets: Individuals who receive divine revelations and communicate God’s message. • Evangelists: Those who proclaim the gospel and lead others to faith in Christ. • Pastors (Shepherds): Leaders who provide spiritual care and guidance to the church. Categorizing the Types of Spiritual GiftsEach of the above spiritual gifts mentioned in Scripture can be categorized into one of 3 types or kinds. These gifts are not something we possess; they are God’s supernatural ability showing up in our lives in various ways. The Bible calls it a manifestation. There are ministry gifts, manifestation gifts, and motivational gifts. All believers take part in these gifts in various ways. “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-7). What are Spiritual Gifts?Spiritual gifts are special abilities, talents, or capacities given to individual Christians by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of serving God and others within the Christian community. These gifts are not natural talents or skills but supernatural endowments provided by God’s grace. They are meant to be used to build up the body of Christ, which is the community of believers. The origin of spiritual gifts can be traced back to the Holy Spirit’s work in the life of a believer. Acts 1:8 says: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” These gifts are a manifestation of God’s grace and divine empowerment. They are bestowed upon believers as a result of their faith in Jesus Christ and their connection to the body of believers. Spiritual gifts are given for the purpose of fulfilling God’s mission and serving others. In summary, spiritual gifts are supernatural abilities or capacities given by the Holy Spirit to individual Christians within the Christian community. These gifts have their origin in God’s grace and are meant to be used for the edification of the church and the fulfillment of God’s purposes.