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Diverse Gifts

Diverse Gifts

Words of Faith 7-13-17

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2017

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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1 Corinthians 12

   [4] There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. [5] There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. [6] There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

   [7] Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. [8] To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, [9] to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, [10] 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. [11] All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

 

       Few things have been quite so controversial in Christian history as the gifts or manifestations of the Spirit. While these spiritual gifts may not have been the most divisive thing going on in Corinth, it was an area of big enough concern to warrant several chapters of direction and exhortation.

       What are these "gifts of the Spirit"? The Greek word is charisma, khar'-is-mah; a divine gratuity, deliverance, endowment, qualification, gift or miraculous faculty. Gifts are different from "talents" such as singing or speaking. The gifts of the Spirit are an operation of the Spirit for the benefit of the church Body. The various gifts of the Holy Spirit are enumerated here and in Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:28-31; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 4:10-11.

         Paul's first point was that God is One in working through this diversity of gifts. For this reason, genuine spiritual gifts will never operate in disunity or division. We have already heard from Paul that not everything that claims to be "spiritual" is truly of God. Some spiritual manifestations are pagan while others are probably of the flesh, manufactured by human pride. These are the sources of disunity. Genuine spiritual gifting will work toward the common good and building up of the Body.

         Paul listed some of the gifts of the Spirit as examples of how the Spirit works in unity through diverse methods.

       Wisdom refers primarily to insight into doctrinal truth but also the ability to make decisions and give guidance that is according to God's will.  Knowledge refers to the ability to apply doctrinal truth to life and to have an in-depth understanding of a spiritual issue or situation.

       Faith as a spiritual gift is probably an unusual measure of trust in God beyond that exercised by most Christians, being able to trust God and encourage others to trust God, no matter the circumstances. Healing is the ability to use God's healing power to restore health to those injured or suffering and also to hold off death itself temporarily. Miraculous powers is the ability to perform signs and wonders that give authenticity to God's Word and the Gospel message including exorcising demons or inducing physical disability or even death (Acts 19:12, 13:11, 5:5, 9).

       Prophecy is the ability to declare a message from God for His people. The ability to distinguish between spirits is the gift to differentiate a spiritual manifestation or the Word of God proclaimed by a true prophet from that of a self-appointed or satanic deceiver. The gift of tongues referred to the ability to speak an unlearned, living language (Acts 2:11) or to speak in an unknown language of prayer or prophecy (1 Cor. 13:1; 14:2). Interpretation was the ability to translate an unknown language expressed in the assembly (14:27).

         The big point was that all these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines. True spiritual gifting is not the work of many different gods as was the case in the pagan worship of the day. These gifts of the Holy Spirit do not compete with one another or interfere with one another. They work toward the common goals of Spirit. We do not choose which gift we would like. The Spirit alone determines what gifts are received and manifest by which person.

         In the modern church, much division has occurred in regard to gifts, whether they still exist, and how they should be expressed. There was no issue as to the reality of these things in the time of Paul. The question was more over how these are expressed in such a way as to keep order in worship and the importance of discerning whether a charisma expression is truly from the Spirit. More of this will be dealt with in chapter 14.

         Devotionally, our central celebration is simply the wonder of God and that He cares for His children enough to create a living Body that is empowered and gifted by His Holy Spirit! Praise God, He did not abandon us after saving us. Praise God, He continues to encourage, bless, guide, strengthen and anoint His people.

         The big devotional questions are probably more ponderous. Am I willing to receive the ministry of the Holy Spirit through His chosen methods and people? Am I willing to honor the work of the Spirit in people around me even if it is different from the working God has chosen through me? Am I willing to confess any sense of pride that I may have attached to a spiritual gift that has been expressed through me? Am I willing to submit expressions of the Spirit to the leaders God has appointed in my life and worship? Am I willing to seek the unity of the Body? Can I confess that God is bigger than I am and His workings beyond my tracing out?

 

       Father God, may Your Body be unified. Manifest Your Spirit in my life for the good of the Body. Help me to discern in my own life the careful and wonderful working of Your Spirit as I surrender to You. In Jesus' Name.