1 Corinthians 12:1 says, Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Paul wanted to clarify the giving of spiritual gifts, yet we still have different views of spiritual gifts today. Verse two adds, Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Paul reminded the believers at Corinth where they had come from spiritually. They were Gentiles who had worshipped dumb idols. Their idols could never empower them to do anything, but now they worshipped the Living God Who could and would empower them. Verse three continues, Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. We cannot come to God except through Christ. To say that there is any other way would make the sacrifice of Christ on the cross unnecessary and would in effect curse or condemn His sacrifice. Paul also says that the only way we can call Jesus Lord is through the power of the Holy Spirit. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, God calls everyone to Him, though not all respond. Verse four states, Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. If a person is truly a follower of Christ, a says, Now believer, then they have some spiritual gift that is needed to carry out the commission of God that we go and make disciples of the whole world. Not everyone has the same gift, and we are not to covet the gift of another or to attempt to glorify our own gift or gifts. They come from God, and not from our own worthiness. Verse five adds, And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. I believe Paul was saying that there are different ways in which we use our spiritual gifts, but all that we do is for the glory of God. As the Lord of the life of each believer, He unifies us in the use of our individual spiritual gifts. Verse six continues, And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. I believe Paul was saying that even though we serve different purposes in God's kingdom, God unifies what we do. As long as each individual Christian uses his or her spiritual gift for God's glory, then the kingdom of God will be stronger. Verse seven says, But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. We profit from using the gift or gifts that God gives us for His glory, not for our own. If we begin to feel that some spiritual gifts, or those who have them, are more important than others and are to be desired by all, we are not following what God teaches us. Verse eight says, For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; I believe we can state that wisdom is more inborn, and knowledge is learned, but God should be the source of both. Verse nine adds, To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; We may not think of faith as a spiritual gift, but God tells us that He not only provides salvation for us, but the faith to respond as well. Paul said that some were given the gift of healing, but that the gift of faith and healing were both given by the Holy Spirit. Verse ten continues, To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: Paul lists several gifts here, and states that they are given to different people. We might want to put the working of miracles ahead of discerning of spiritual truth, but Paul tells us that all these gifts are necessary, and we simply need to allow God to develop ours. In verse eleven Paul concludes, But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. As followers of Christ, we all have the Holy Spirit to guide us, and we need to put control of our lives in His hands. When we do, the church will work together for God's glory and the advancement of His kingdom.
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