I recently had the blessing of spending significant time with a believer from another country. I had always known this person to be a praying Christian....but after getting to know them....it became apparent to me that there was a gift of intercession here. The words were simple....unadorned by elocution or vocabulary....but trusting and believing....in a sense that I don't ever recall hearing before....not even by preachers of the past....who preach today like preachers of the past....although I have read of such blessed believers. This person's prayers had been answered a number of times in their life....in extraordinary though very basic ways....in maybe a healing....or in the basic needs of life. This has a special meaning to me....because I know that they are praying for me....and I wish that I could pray for them with the same gift!
                I have witnessed in the past a believer....believers actually....with an obvious gift of service. R. C. Sproul....had an obvious and extraordinary gift for teaching.....and Spurgeon for preaching. I'm being very particular here....because in my life I've witnessed many more pretensions and pretenders to spiritual gifts.
                Corrie ten Boom had a specific gift. Joni Eareckson Tada has a gift of faith that is too humbling for me to even attempt to expound upon.
                The spiritual gifts are for the church....this I have had read....and understand and believe. I cannot write anymore on this because I do not have a gift of teaching that it would require.
                 I do know this....few preachers today have a gift of preaching God's Word. I know this also....they cannot see that they have no gift....so they are not burning the midnight oil on their knees imploring of God enough of the gift to be of any help to the people that will sit before them on a Lord's Day morning....trusting them.
                 I know this also....everything good begins with introspection. You....I....anyone....cannot look outward....before looking inward. The pride has to be found and taken out of the house....as in the ancient Passover....when the night before....in this case the night before they would enter their pulpits....a search has to be made....and the leaven....if there be any....particularly of pride....found and disposed of.
                 So this day that I am writing and posting this....is the day before the Lord's Day. And I will as I always try to do....pray for my pastor....and our son's pastor....and the pastors of many friends....and plead with God that if it be His will....and in his perfect timing....that this might be the day that He has mercy upon these pastors....faithful though in many cases sleeping men....and thus have mercy upon all of us who will sit before them....expecting and hoping to be fed!