Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. I Corinthians 2:12
When one is born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit, he is given motivational gifts and spiritual gifts to employ in the body of Christ! These gifts are so important for us to exercise and use in our daily walk with Christ. For instance, our personal prayer language when used to communicate with our heavenly Father in other tongues changes from time to time and expands our revelation and knowledge of God.
We as the expression of the Lord Jesus Christ in the earth are a "Supernatural" people called to conquer, with all authority and power. We have inherited the "Divine Nature of God" into our spirits giving us miraculous gifts and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. When we assemble, we are to employ our gifts to edify our brothers and sisters building up their faith and love for one another!
The apostle Paul was admonishing the church at Corinth for their carnality and lack of the Spirit. Because they were walking in the flesh, they could not receive spiritual things or discern what Paul was teaching them being babes in Christ.
But the natural (fleshly) man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. I Corinthians 2:14
BABES IN CHRIST
And I brethren could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able. for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? I Corinthians 3:1-3
The salvation of man is a miraculous transformation likened to the metamorphosis of a worm to a butterfly. Beginning a fleshly man, we progress through spiritual growth. Being baby Christians, we are fed the milk of the word until like human babies we can have solid food!
Because of a lack of training in the body of Christ sadly many never grow in the Lord remaining in their former state! Jesus took His disciples out in the world and walked with them 24/7 for over three years training them and teaching them to be strong men of God who would eventually be the leaders of His church!
When one is truly born again, he has a desire for the milk of the word just like human babies desire the milk from their mothers but if there is no desire more than likely there is no salvation! No milk, no growth only a stunted church member with no strength who will sit in a pew the rest of his life in a vegetated state!
As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. I Peter 2:2,3
LIVING STONES
Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. I Peter 2:4,5
We as the living expression of the Lord Jesus Christ in the earth are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are His dwelling place and the body He walks in today through us. A supernatural building made of living stone indwelt by a holy priesthood of saints.
This is why "When We Assemble" it is so important to have something to give to one another in the Spirit so that we can all be edified. God never gives the whole truth to anyone so that we can rely on one another to have a part in sharing that fills in what God is saying and allows the growth of the body!
This is why it is so important to strengthen yourself in the Lord, meditate on His word and pray for one another before you assemble as the body of Christ! The purpose of our assembling is to build up our faith, fellowship in the Lord, worship and hear together what God is saying to us. If we will follow His instruction and learn from the voice of Holy Spirit, we will become that "Chosen Generation" that He desires us to be!
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. I Peter 2:9
Your servant in Christ, Timothy Laughlin
Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ