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Special Abilities

¹ Alright, cowboys and cowgirls, let's talk about the special abilities God gives his hands who are riding for the brand. I don't want there to be any confusion about these great gifts from the Holy Ghost. ² There was a time, before you were one of God's cowboys, that you followed your own desires and worshiped rocks and sticks and other people. ³ One of God's cowboys wouldn't curse Jesus. In the same manner, no cowboy would be inclined to say Jesus is Lord without the Holy Ghost's prompting.

⁴ There are different kinds of special abilities, but they all come from the same God. ⁵ There are different kinds of jobs, but they all serve the same Lord. ⁶ God works in different people in different ways, but it is the same God doing the work in all of us.

⁷ Listen close and don't let your mind get to wanderin' off. Special abilities we have are for the benefit of others, not yourself. ⁸ If you're given wisdom, it's so you can give others good advice. Someone else might be given the ability to talk with supernatural knowledge. ⁹ To one, the gift of faith is given and to another it is the gift of healing others. ¹⁰ The Holy Ghost might give the ability for one cowboy to do miracles and another to prophecy, and still another might have the ability to tell if something is from God or not. The Holy Ghost gives one person the ability to speak in other languages, and still another cowboy will be able to understand it. ¹¹ But don't forget, all of these different things come from just one God. And it is the One True God, and only God, who decides who gets what.

One Body, Many Parts

¹² Your body is made up of a bunch of different parts that do different things. The same thing applies to the church, or what we like to call, "The Body of Christ." ¹³ Some of us were born Jews, others were born outsiders. Some of us are free, and others are slaves. Some are cowpunchers and some are buckaroos, but we have all been baptized into the body of Christ and we share the same Spirit.

¹⁴ Our bodies have many different parts and God made each part for a specific and grand purpose. ¹⁵ Just because your foot can't swing a loop doesn't mean it's not part of your body. ¹⁶ And just because you can't see out of your ear doesn't mean it's not just as useful to the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, how would you listen? If your whole body were an ear, how would you smell the steak cooking?

¹⁸ I'm going on and on so you will understand that the church, or the Body of Christ, is made up of vastly different parts, doing vastly different things, but all for the same Lord. ¹⁹ If your body wouldn't function with just one part, how do you expect the church to function with just one part? ²⁰ There are many different parts in the church, but only one body. ²¹ Your eye cannot say to the hand, "I'm more important and I don't need you." Your head cannot say to the to the feet, "I'm more important and you don't serve any purpose."

²² In fact, some parts of the body that seem unimportant and unnecessary are really the most needed. ²³ Have you ever noticed the parts we don't think are worth very much are the parts we care the most about? How much do we strive to cover the parts we don't think anyone would find beautiful? ²⁴ But there are other parts that are just as important that we never cover up. God put this whole body together, and while some parts are more visible, the entire body should be honored. ²⁵ God did this so our body would not be divided. God wants us to care for the entire body, not just the visible parts. ²⁶ If one part of the body suffers, then all the others will suffer as well. If one part is honored, then that honor is shared through the entire body.

²⁷ All of you are part of the body of Christ. Each and every one of you serves a great part of that body. ²⁸ And in the church, or the body, God has given special appointments. First are the apostles, second is the prophets, and third are the teachers. Then there are the special appointments of miracle workers, healers, helpers, leaders, and finally those who speak in different kinds of languages. ²⁹ Now listen, not everyone is an apostle, or a prophet, or a teacher. Not everyone can do miracles ³⁰ or is able to heal. Not everyone will be able to speak in unknown languages or be able to interpret those languages. ³¹ Some of you desire the abilities you think are most important, but you should be glad with what God has given you, not what you think is better.

Now let me show you a way of life that tops everything else.