Daily Bread 2011 - 1 Corinthians 12
Daily Bread 2011 – 1 Corinthians 12
Spiritual Gifts
1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.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.
What Does This Mean?
Paul begins in chapters 12-14, his teaching on spiritual gifts. The Corinthian Church was blessed with many spiritual gifts, like speaking in tongues, miracles and prophesies; but people were starting to rank the gifts in importance based on how supernatural they were. I.e. they were lifting up the extraordinary gifts like speaking in tongues over more ordinary gifts like teaching or serving.
Paul begins by reminding them that nothing happens apart from God’s Spirit, not even their salvation and coming to faith in Christ. For, in fact, no one can say Jesus is Lord apart from God’s Spirit. But though we all come to faith in Christ through one in the same Spirit, we are given differing spiritual gifts that we can use to build up or edify the body of Christ (the Church!). Also within those gifts there are different kinds of service (ministries) and different kinds of working (manifestations of God’s power). But importantly it is the same Lord that is Lord of all these things, and since it is a gift we have no reason to think our gift is superior to any other in the body of Christ or no reason to take credit for the results they bring!
What Does This Mean For Us?
Paul starts out by making an interesting rhetorical statement, “Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.” Some churches, in fear of the division caused by spiritual gifts, can by default ignore them. The problem with this is that people operating in their area of spiritual giftedness is the key to the church’s power and effectiveness. As it says in chapter 12, the hand cannot say to the foot, I have no need of you. We all have different gifts, but unless we recognize the gifts in the congregation and equip people to use them we will never be the complete body of Christ we are called to be.
One of the chief purposes of any pastor is to help His flock understand and utilize their gifts in the power of the Holy Spirit. When someone comes into a church and says to themselves, “Boy this church is really alive! I just feel the Spirit of God in this place!” It is usually the result of many people operating in their spiritual gifts to the glory of God. I.e. the ushers, greeters, pastors, altar guild, other leaders, readers, prayers etc… The key to continued growth and renewal of the Church is the Holy Spirit’s power working in and through us as we preach the Gospel and administer the Sacraments of God’s grace and love in Jesus Christ. As we work in His power, each of us called to be God’s children, God will draw all people to Himself through His Son.
Jesus thank you for sending Your Spirit to us so that we might minister in Your name and power. Continue to help the Church to not be ignorant of the Spirit so that we might see Your will done in our generation, Amen.
Spiritual Gifts
1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.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.
What Does This Mean?
Paul begins in chapters 12-14, his teaching on spiritual gifts. The Corinthian Church was blessed with many spiritual gifts, like speaking in tongues, miracles and prophesies; but people were starting to rank the gifts in importance based on how supernatural they were. I.e. they were lifting up the extraordinary gifts like speaking in tongues over more ordinary gifts like teaching or serving.
Paul begins by reminding them that nothing happens apart from God’s Spirit, not even their salvation and coming to faith in Christ. For, in fact, no one can say Jesus is Lord apart from God’s Spirit. But though we all come to faith in Christ through one in the same Spirit, we are given differing spiritual gifts that we can use to build up or edify the body of Christ (the Church!). Also within those gifts there are different kinds of service (ministries) and different kinds of working (manifestations of God’s power). But importantly it is the same Lord that is Lord of all these things, and since it is a gift we have no reason to think our gift is superior to any other in the body of Christ or no reason to take credit for the results they bring!
What Does This Mean For Us?
Paul starts out by making an interesting rhetorical statement, “Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.” Some churches, in fear of the division caused by spiritual gifts, can by default ignore them. The problem with this is that people operating in their area of spiritual giftedness is the key to the church’s power and effectiveness. As it says in chapter 12, the hand cannot say to the foot, I have no need of you. We all have different gifts, but unless we recognize the gifts in the congregation and equip people to use them we will never be the complete body of Christ we are called to be.
One of the chief purposes of any pastor is to help His flock understand and utilize their gifts in the power of the Holy Spirit. When someone comes into a church and says to themselves, “Boy this church is really alive! I just feel the Spirit of God in this place!” It is usually the result of many people operating in their spiritual gifts to the glory of God. I.e. the ushers, greeters, pastors, altar guild, other leaders, readers, prayers etc… The key to continued growth and renewal of the Church is the Holy Spirit’s power working in and through us as we preach the Gospel and administer the Sacraments of God’s grace and love in Jesus Christ. As we work in His power, each of us called to be God’s children, God will draw all people to Himself through His Son.
Jesus thank you for sending Your Spirit to us so that we might minister in Your name and power. Continue to help the Church to not be ignorant of the Spirit so that we might see Your will done in our generation, Amen.
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