Don't Be Ignorant! - 1 Corinthians 12

 

Concerning Spiritual Gifts

12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know 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.

In the next three chapters Paul is going to be teaching on the subject of spiritual gifts. He tells the Corinthians he doesn't want them to be "uniformed" about their spiritual gifts.   Another translation puts it a little more sharply, "I don't want you to be "ignorant" of spiritual gifts".  The Corinthians had looked for power in idols that were powerless and couldn't speak before they came to Christ.  But Paul is going to teach them about the Spirit of God who works and speaks through every believer in Christ.  In fact the first confession of faith we make, "Jesus is Lord", is initiated in us by the Holy Spirit. 

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

The word gifts is the word "charismata".  "The term is the plural form for the Greek charisma, "gift of grace." In a Christian context, it refers to divine gifts that enable the believer to fulfill his or her vocation. These gifts may be understood as outward signs of grace received through faith." (EpiscopalChurch.org)  

As the term implies we cannot earn spiritual gifts, but we are given them when we are "born again".  Just like we were born with natural talents, when we become children of God and filled with the Holy Spirit, we born with spiritual gifts.  Importantly there is a diversity of gifts, as we will soon learn about.  Just like some are given artistic or athletic abilities, we are are given different abilities to use for God.  Some are given the gift of teaching God's Word.  Some are given the gift of pastoring or shepherding God's people.  Others are given the gift or wisdom which guides the church in the right direction.  But though there is a diversity of gifts, they all come from the same Spirit.  These spiritual gifts produce different kinds of ministries like bible study, meeting in small groups, and praying for the sick, but it is the same Spirit in all of them.  There are different kinds of "working" or "power" in each spiritual gift but it is all God's power not our own.  

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one here is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a 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,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

In verses 7-11, Paul lists some examples of different spiritual gifts.  Importantly he says, "to each one is given a manifestation of the spirit".  There is no hiearchy of gifts in the church.  Every gift is equally given and needed in the church.  One of the issues in the Corinthian church was that some of the believers started valuing some gifts like "speaking in tongues" over gifts like "serving the poor".  Because the former attracted more attention it led to the person getting "puffed up", or prideful about their gifts because it drew more attention to them.  Paul list 9 different spiritual gifts in this passage, but depending on how is doing the intepretation there are anywhere from 16 to 21 spiritual gifts.  

Many Christians today are ignorant of the spiritual gift(s) they possess.  They miss out on meaningful ministry that builds up the church and leads to people coming to Christ. Can you think of anything more fulfilling than being a part of process that leads someone to a life saving relationship with Jesus Christ.  Churches that don't teach, train and equip their members to use their spiritual gifts make a big mistake.   These churches use the 80/20 rule.  20% percent of the people do 80% of the work.  And often the biggest culprit is the pastor who tries to do all the work.  There is only one problem with this system of operation, it is not the church Jesus started and the one we see in the New Testament.  As you read the book of Acts, you see the type of church Paul is teaching about here.  There is no hiearchy, but everyone is involved in the church's preaching the message, healing the sick and caring for those in need.  If the church would follow Paul's teaching on spiritual gifts it would be a lot more effective and reach many more people for Christ. 

Have you studied spiritual gifts and discovered what you gift(s) might have?  Have you put your gift(s) into practice?  Meet with your pastor or volunteer coordinator and share your spiritual gifts, and ask how you might start to use them in the ministry of your church.  I believe when we get to heaven one of the things Jesus will ask us is what did we do with the spiritual gift(s) I gave you.  My hope is I could stand before him and receive his commendation, "Well done my good and faithful servant."