Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 6, 2011

Acknowledge the Saints. “They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 16:15-18.
 
“15 Now I urge you, brethren (you know the household of Stephanas, that they were the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves for ministry to the saints), that you also be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the work and labors.  17 I rejoice over the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have supplied what was lacking on your part.  18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours.  Therefore acknowledge such men.”  1 Corinthians 16:15-18.
 
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Acknowledge means “to recognize the rights, authority, or status of” and “to express gratitude or obligation for” and “to recognize as genuine or valid“.  Click here: Acknowledge – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary    
 
As one example, Paul stated about “Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need”, “Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard;  because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me.”  Philippians 2:29-30. 
 
So, how can we “acknowledge such men” who help so much in Christian service to us and others?
 
We can thank them.
 
We can encourage them.
 
We can pray for them.
 
We can help financially support them.
 
We can help them in other ways.
 
We can praise them in front of others.
 
We can subject ourselves to their authority and leadership.
 
We can respect them.
 
We can love them.
 
There is certainly other things that God will put on our minds to “acknowledge such men”.
 
“As for the saints who are in the earth, They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.”  Psalm 16:3

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 5, 2011

“I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 16:10-13.
 
“10 Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without cause to be afraid, for he is doing the Lord’s work, as I also am.  11 So let no one despise him.  But send him on his way in peace, so that he may come to me;  for I expect him with the brethren.  12 But concerning Apollos our brother, I encouraged him greatly to come to you with the brethren;  and it was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when he has opportunity.  13 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.  14 Let all that you do be done in love.”  1 Corinthians 16:10-13.
 
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“Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”  We recently read a similar verse.  “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 15:58. 

How can we be so strong and steadfast as we should be?

We look to God in faith and meditate on His attributes.  We also meditate on His promises to help us. 

We may be weak, but God is strong.  We may be shaky, but God is steadfast and immovable.  We may only start things, but God accomplishes all of His purpose.  “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”  2 Corinthians 3:18

“‘Do not fear, for I am with you;  Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’”  Isaiah 41:10

In conclusion, God transforms us to His image!  God strengthens us!  God surely gives us all the help we need!  God surely upholds us!  God even gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!  1 Corinthians 15:57.  “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 15:58.  Therefore, be strong!

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 4, 2011

“for God loves a cheerful giver”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 16:1-9.
 
“1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also.  2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.  3 When I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem;  4 and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me.  5 But I will come to you after I go through Macedonia, for I am going through Macedonia;  6 and perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way wherever I may go.  7 For I do not wish to see you now just in passing;  for I hope to remain with you for some time, if the Lord permits.  8 But I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost;  9 for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”  1 Corinthians 16:1-9.
 
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Most of the time when I receive money from clients;  I will make a bank deposit and at the same time write a check to my church for a portion of the money I receive.  I “put aside” that check to the back of my wallet.  When Sunday arrives, it makes me feel good to retrieve the check(s) and put them in the offering plate.  By this practice, offerings are joyful to me and a part of my worship, rather than burdensome and brain-storming.

“9 Honor the LORD from your wealth
And from the first of all your produce;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty
And your vats will overflow with new wine.”  Proverbs 3:9-10. 

It is not only a joy to us to so make offerings:  it is not only a condition that will result in blessing to us;  our offerings are needed:  “for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”  Verse 9.  It is the best investment that we can make, because of that “wide door for effective service”.  It also serves as protection to those ministers and missionaries confronted with those “many adversaries”.   

“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;”  2 Corinthians 9:7-8.

In conclusion, my practice is certainly not done all the time, and the sum of my giving is also not what it could be.  But, my practice strives toward being what I have purposed in my heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, but rather toward being cheerful.  I pray that this devotion will turn your attention away from myself and toward you and stimulate your thinking as to what would work well for you in accordance with Scripture.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 2, 2011

Resurrection: The Absolute Need for Grace to be Changed

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 15:50-58.
 
“50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God;  nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.  51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet;  for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.  53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.  54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.  55 O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY?  O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?”  56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;  57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 15:50-58.
 
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From beginning to end, we absolutely need grace to receive the resurrection change.  In the beginning, based on our perishable human nature, we are not fit for the imperishable;  we absolutely need grace to be changed.  In the middle “prime” of our lives, our best works cannot earn the resurrection change;  we absolutely need grace to be changed.  At the end of our lives, death is the only “reward” for all of our sin;  we absolutely need grace to be changed.  We cannot change ourselves.   

“but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Verse 57.  “who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”  Philippians 3:21.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | December 1, 2011

Heavenly Bodies

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 15:35-49.  Here is a link to that Scripture – Click here: 1 Corinthians 15 NASB – The Fact of Christs Resurrection Now I – Bible Gateway  We will focus on the following verses 42 to 49.
 
“42 So also is the resurrection of the dead.  It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body;  43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory;  it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;  44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.  If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.  45 So also it is written, “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.”  The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.  46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural;  then the spiritual.  47 The first man is from the earth, earthy;  the second man is from heaven.  48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy;  and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly.  49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.”  1 Corinthians 15:35-49.
 
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There are many benefits of the resurrection to us.  Through the resurrection, we will obtain eternal life.  Through the resurrection, we will have no more tears and no more fears.  Through the resurrection, we will live in beautiful heaven.  Through the resurrection, we will no longer be affected by or even be around the wicked.  Through the resurrection, we will dwell with God.  See, for example, Revelation Chapter 22.
 
There are also many other benefits of the resurrection to us including the focus of today’s Scripture:  heavenly bodies.  Especially as we grow older and increasingly deal with the aches, pain, weakness, and other limitations of our frail earthly bodies, we look forward to receiving heavenly bodies.
 
We love to imagine what our heavenly bodies would be like.  We tend to base our imagination of our heavenly bodies on our earthly bodies:  stronger and free from such aches, pain, weakness, and other limitations.  In a certain sense, all of that may be true.  But, today’s Scripture gives us a better way to think of our heavenly bodies.
 
Rather than only basing our imagination of our heavenly bodies on our earthly bodies, we should think of our heavenly bodies in terms of different contrasts.  Our earthly body can be compared to a dead kernel of grain (“a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else” – verse 37) while our heavenly body can be compared to a living stalk of waving, beautiful wheat.  “So also is the resurrection of the dead.  It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body;  it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory;  it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;”  Verses 42 and 43.
 
“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be.  We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.  And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”  1 John 3:2-3.
 
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;  who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”  Philippians 3:20-21.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 30, 2011

“Bad company corrupts good morals.” But, God surrounds us with good company!

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 15:33-34.
 
“33 Do not be deceived:  “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
 
34 Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning;  for some have no knowledge of God.  I speak this to your shame.”  1 Corinthians 15:33-34.
 
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Think of the context.  The immediately preceding verse speaks of the attitude of some who say:  “LET US EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE.”  These people seek to party as much as they can with no or insufficient knowledge of God, His will, and their accountability to God.  These people are an example of this “bad company” who can corrupt good morals.  In resisting the temptation to run with this crowd, the admonition that we should “become sober-minded” is certainly appropriate.
 
Instead of hanging around bad company who can be this partying type of people or any other “bad company” with different lusts, but who also have in common no or insufficient knowledge of God, His will, and their accountability to God, we should hang around people who seek knowledge of God, His will, and how they may fulfill their duties to God.
 
“1 Praise the LORD!
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart,
In the company of the upright and in the assembly.
2 Great are the works of the LORD;
They are studied by all who delight in them.
3 Splendid and majestic is His work,
And His righteousness endures forever.
4 He has made His wonders to be remembered;
The LORD is gracious and compassionate.
5 He has given food to those who fear Him;
He will remember His covenant forever.
6 He has made known to His people the power of His works,
In giving them the heritage of the nations.”  Psalm 111:1-6.
 
“As for the saints who are in the earth,
They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.”  Psalm 16:3. 
 
Although we should seek out such good company, our ultimate trust is not in our own ability to do so, but rather our ultimate trust is in God that He will do what He promised a few chapters ago in 1 Corinthians Chapter 12.  God has placed each of us, members of the body of Christ, in the body, just as He desired.  1 Corinthians 12:18. 
 
God surrounds us with good company!      
 
“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”  Ephesians 4:11-13.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 29, 2011

“for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 15:29-32.
 
“29 Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead?  If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?
 
30 Why are we also in danger every hour?
 
31 I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
 
32 If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me?  If the dead are not raised, LET US EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE.”  1 Corinthians 15:29-32.
 
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Paul continues to talk hypothetically.  In other words, to use my own words to paraphrase in a nutshell today’s Scripture, Paul is saying hypothetically:  “If there is no resurrection from the dead, then I might as well party all the time if I am only going to die without any punishment for bad behavior or any reward for good behavior.”
 
But, Paul is inferring by today’s Scripture that there is indeed a resurrection from the dead.  Paul knows that there is a resurrection from the dead and that is why he is willing to suffer so much for the sake of the gospel.  We will be held accountable at the end of our lives for our actions during our lives.  We will be punished for bad behavior or rewarded for good behavior.  There is a hell, and there is a heaven.
 
Paul later states in the Book of Galatians:  “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked;  for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.  Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.  So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”  Galatians 6:7-10.
 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 28, 2011

The Blessing to the Church of Christ’s Sovereignty

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 15:20-28.
 
“20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 
 
21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 
 
22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 
 
23 But each in his own order:  Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,
 
24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 
 
25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 
 
26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 
 
27 For HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET.  But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. 
 
28 When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.”   1 Corinthians 15:20-28.
 
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Christ’s sovereignty is emphasized in today’s Scripture, particularly the repeated use of words similar to the following:  “HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET”.  Christ’s sovereignty extends from His punishment of the wicked (a/k/a non-elect) to His protection, guidance, and other blessing upon the righteous (a/k/a elect a/k/a His church).  There are many descriptions through Scripture of this sovereignty.  Psalm Chapter 2 and Psalm Chapter 110 are two examples.  For today’s devotion, we will look at two Scripture passages concerning Christ’s sovereignty in His protection, guidance, and other blessing upon the righteous (a/k/a elect a/k/a His church).
 
The first Scripture generally tracks the Scripture for today in following the order of God raising Christ from the dead and God putting all things in subjection under Christ’s feet.  And, what is so beautiful about this Scripture is the conclusion that God gave Christ to the church to be the head of the church over all things to the church which is His body.        
 
“18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.  These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.  22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”  Ephesians 1:18-23. 
 
The second Scripture goes into more specific things that Christ has done for the church.  Christ made us alive!  Christ removed our slavery to our sinful flesh by His circumcision of us!  Christ forgave us all of our transgressions!  Christ “canceled outthe certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us;  and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross”!  Christ has “disarmed the rulers and authorities”, our enemies that were also hostile to us!  Christ has made us complete in Himself!  Christ is our head over all rule and authority!
 
“9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;  11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;  12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.   13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us;  and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.”  Colossians 2:9-15.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 27, 2011

The Necessity of the Resurrection of Christ

Today’s devotion is 1 Corinthians 15:12-19.
 
“12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?  13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised;  14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.  15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.  16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;  17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.  18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.  19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.”  1 Corinthians 15:12-19.
 
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It is difficult to read today’s Scripture.  There are seven “if”s.  There are such hopeless “then” consequences of these “if”s.  There is the final summary consequence of “we are of all men most to be pitied.” 
 
What is the purpose of today’s Scripture?  We all know that Scripture clearly teaches that Christ “was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” as stated in the immediately prior section of Scripture.  1 Corinthians 15:4.  We all know that Scripture so repeatedly teaches the resurrection of Christ and its meaning to us throughout the New Testament with prophecies in the Old Testament.
 
It seems to me that Paul does not want this part of the gospel to recede from the position of historical fact to just a belief.  Paul knew that over a short amount of time the remaining eye-witnesses of Christ’s resurrection would die.  Although “most of whom remain until now, … some have fallen asleep (died)”.  1 Corinthians 15:6.  Paul knew the danger that there would not only be unbelievers who would be unbelieving, there would also be the danger that believers would be skeptical and hold to the resurrection of Christ as just a belief and not as a historical fact.  Paul knew the danger that the resurrection of Christ would be considered less important than other things, such as the teachings of Christ.
 
How often have we heard:  “All that matters is that we love our neighbor.”?!
 
Today’s Scripture shows the necessity of the resurrection of Christ to the gospel, our faith.  Without the resurrection of Christ, our preaching is vain, our faith is vain, we are false witnesses of God, our faith is worthless, we are still in our sins, and “we are of all men most to be pitied”.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 26, 2011

The Grace of God

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 15:9-11.
 
“9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
 
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain;  but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
 
11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”  1 Corinthians 15:9-11.
 
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Today’s Scripture focuses on “the grace of God” which is mentioned twice and which is demonstrated in Paul’s life.
 
Paul did not use that grace as an excuse for laziness, and neither should we.  Paul stated that:  “His grace toward me did not prove vain;  but I labored even more than all of them”.  But then, Paul quickly added:  “yet not I, but the grace of God with me”.  
 
Paul was not boasting.  He previously “set the stage” by declaring that he was “the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God”.  And, he concluded:  “Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.” 
 
Paul recognized that “the grace of God” deserved the credit for whatever success was accomplished.  When Paul states:  “Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”, we remember what he wrote earlier in this book of 1 Corinthians.  “What then is Apollos?  And what is Paul?  Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.  I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.  So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.”  1 Corinthians 3:5-7. 
 
So, then let us look at a few things of this “grace of God”.
 
First, we were created by God for the specific good works that He gifts us and otherwise also enables us to do.  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.
 
Second, God gives us the will to do His will.  God works within us.  “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.  
 
Putting these two things together using a musical analogy, God gives us each different musical instruments (“we are His workmanship”), and then God’s Spirit blows through each instrument (“to will and to work for His good pleasure”) to combine and orchestrate the two into beautiful music.  “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.  And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.  There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.  But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”  1 Corinthians 12:5-7.
 
In briefest summary, all is accomplished by “the grace of God”.  It is all “His doing”.  “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”  1 Corinthians 1:30-31.
 

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