not an indication of one’s being bap tized by the Spirit of God. The bap tism makes possible the new birth or regeneration. By this baptism we be come members of the body of Christ, joined to our Head, the Lord Jesus Christ. So, from this chapter we see that not every one is to possess all of the gifts, and that the gift of tongues is not an evidence of a deeper Christian life, or of being filled with the Holy Spirit. This is emphasized by Paul, “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of heal ing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way” (w . 27-31). The question naturally follows, “What is the more excellent way and the evi dence of spiritual growth?” Listen to the Apostle, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sound ing brass, or a tinkling 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 moun tains, and have not charity, I am noth ing” (I Cor. 13:1, 2). If you want the marks of a deeper spiritual life, if you want an indication that you are filled with the Spirit of God; exhibit the first fruit of the Spirit which is love. Galatians 5:22 points out the marks of a spiritual life. Growth in grace is none other than having produced in our lives the fruit of the Holy Spirit rather than speaking in tongues. We need to have impressed on our hearts that this was a missionary gift that the Gospel might go forth in mighty power. We need to experience the spir itual marks of growing in grace, of the deeper Christian life, through the true fruits of the Spirit. 8
The Best Gift (continued) Looking further at this portion of Scripture, “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will” (v. 11). You see, the Holy Spirit makes possible the giving of the gifts. It is not necessary to pray for the gifts, nor is it required that we wait for them. As a part of our blessed salvation, the Holy Spirit gives them to us. YOU CAN TELL WHAT YOU ARE You tell what you are by the friends you seek. By the very manner in which you speak, By the way you employ your leisure time, By the use you make of dollar and dime. You tell what you are by the things you wear By the spirit in which your burdens bear. By the kind of things at which you laugh, By the records you play on the phonograph. You tell what you are by the way you walk; By the things of which you delight and talk. By the manner in which you bear defeat, By so simple a thing as how you eat. By the books you choOse from the well-filled shelf; In these ways and more, you tell on yourself. So there's really na particle of sense In any effort at a false pretense. There is something else of real in terest as we read, “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, be ing many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one 'body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (w . 12, 13). Paul points out that these gifts are
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