{"id":8427,"date":"2015-09-04T14:08:36","date_gmt":"2015-09-04T18:08:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=8427"},"modified":"2015-10-31T12:20:38","modified_gmt":"2015-10-31T16:20:38","slug":"pastors-ponderings-the-significance-of-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=8427","title":{"rendered":"Pastor’s Ponderings: The Significance of One"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pastor Jim submitted the following devotional on Monday Aug. 23, 2015. It references his sermon from the previous Sunday (“The Life and Music of Charles Wesley<\/a>“<\/span>); Both Charles and John Wesley demonstrated that God can work through one person to do mighty things…<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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PLEASE READ: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11…<\/p>\n

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There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. <\/span><\/p>\n

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. <\/span><\/p>\n

All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n

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In our world, it\u2019s easy to underestimate the significance of one. What can I as one individual contribute to the overwhelming needs of our world, our communities, our church, one may ask? The truth is, no one else can do the things that God has called and gifted you to do. The text above points out that each of us has special and unique gifts (call them talents or abilities, if you like) which have been given to us by the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n

The witness of history is full of accounts of individuals who have made a difference. For example, think of battles that have turned on the axis of one heroic person. Think of the scientists, inventors, explorers, and technological experts that have invented, discovered, and contributed. Think of the courageous preachers, teachers, and spiritual leaders who have stood alone in the gap and made a difference.<\/p>\n

The face and direction of the Christian Church was changed by significant individuals\u2014people like Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Augustine, Julian of Norwich, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, C. H. Spurgeon, Catherine Booth, D. L. Moody, Fanny J. Crosby, Billy Graham, Mother Teresa, Charles Pitman, to name only a few.<\/p>\n

To see influence and even power of one person look at how history records the difference one vote by one person has made:<\/p>\n