1 Corinthians 12 - The Purpose and Power of Spiritual Gifts!

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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 chapters 12-14, Paul gives a very comprehensive look at the topic of spiritual gifts. A spiritual gift is a divine enablement God has given us for ministry in the church. Every Christian is given at least one gift when we accepted Christ and were filled with the Holy Spirit. 

Paul starts by saying, "I do not want you to be uniformed." One of my goals since I became a pastor is that the churches I serve would not be uninformed about the Holy Spirit. If every member of every church has been given a spiritual gift, then the church will never reach its potential until we are all informed and operating in our spiritual gifts. 

The first gift the Holy Spirit is the gift of faith. Paul says, "No one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit."

Martin Luther's explanation to the Third Article of the Creed says, "I cannot by my own understanding or effort come to know Jesus as Lord, but the Holy Spirit has called me, enlightened me, and sanctified us in the one true faith." 

Bottom line is without the power of the Holy Spirit we are "dead in the water". 

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.

Paul points out that though there is a diversity of gifts given to the body of Christ, and the same Spirit doles them out. Note there are different kinds of "gifts, service, and working", but is the same Spirit, same Lord, and same God who is at work. Notice the Trinity here! 

Gifts, ministries, activities: What are the differences between gifts, ministries, activities, and the manifestation of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7)? All of these are gifts. Some gifts are ministries – standing offices or positions in the church. Some gifts are activities – miraculous events or outpourings at a particular time and place (such as the manifestation of the Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:7).

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 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, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Once again Paul affirms that every believer has a manifestation of the Spirit. The purpose for this manifestation is for the common good and upbuidling of the body of Christ. Then Paul goes through the different types of messages or manifestations. How do these gifts reveal God's will for the church? 

Wisdom - Knowing God's unique will in any given situation, where human logic doesn't point to an obvious direction. Wisdom is "knowing things from God's perspective." 

Knowledge - A message or word of knowledge is a specific application of God Word's in a timely and relevant manner. As we pray for people, we seek for a word of knowledge that might be something God wants this person to know. When we preach or teach we offer words of knowledge to edify and direct the believers. 

We do well to understand the difference between the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge. One may have great knowledge, even supernatural knowledge, yet have no wisdom from God in the application of that knowledge.

As well, we must always use discernment in receiving a word of knowledge, remembering that God is not the only source of supernatural knowledge. Even if a word is true, it does not mean that it is from God and that the one speaking the word is truly representing God. - Guzik

Unity and Diversity in the Body

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Paul then talks about the unity and diversity in the body of Christ, which we also call the Church. Paul uses the analogy of a human body to state that though we have many body parts, we still have only one body. When we were baptized into the body of Christ, it was by the Holy Spirit who is at One with the Father and the Son. As the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one, so are we who were baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one. 

15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

Importantly each person in the body of Christ needs to understand their role and the role of others in the church. Like any good team, each person plays their position but also works together with their teammates for the sake of the whole. There is an interdependence within the body of Christ. We need each other, and as Rick Warren says, "We are better together!" 

Aristotle said, "The whole is more than the sum of its parts". We also call this "synergy"! Isn't funny that Aristotle figured something out that the bible would soon say is true. All truth is "God's truth". When we make a discovery that proves something to be true, we did not t invent it. We discovered what God has designed from the beginning of Creation! 

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

There is no room for "grandstanding" in the church. There are no gifts that are more important than the others. Though some roles in the church are more public like the pastor or church president, they are no more important than the person who makes the coffee on Sundays. We tend to honor the public figures in the church and forget to recognize those who work behind the scenes like the guy putting away all of the sound equipment. 

When we treat every ministry role the same and honor each one equally, we show the unity in the body of Christ. There is no reason for pride. After all Jesus said, "The greatest among you is the one of serves. They are slave of all." Jesus demonstrated this on the night in which he was betrayed he washed the disciples feet with a towel and basin. 

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

No Paul begins to list some of the roles and gifts in the body of Christ. 

Apostles - The first twelve disciples Jesus sent out to start the church and spread the good news were the original apostles. Paul came as an apostle who was "abnormally born", meaning he came later by a specific call from Jesus on the Road to Damascus. Apostles are ambassadors for Jesus and take the gospel out to all of the world. Missonaries who bring the Good News to other nations are modern apostles today. When we bring the gospel into our communities we are also apostles!

Prophets - The word prophesy means someone who brings forth the Word of God as it applies to a certain situation. 

These are those particularly called to speak forth for God with the gift of prophecy. There was a unique, foundational authority to this gift as well (Ephesians 2:19-20). However, God raises up those to speak to the church and the world with a special blessing and power. - Guzik

While there is a sense of predictive prophecy in the Old Testament regarding the coming of the Messiah, most of the prophecy today is about what is God doing in the church today. It is more "forth-telling" than "fore-telling". 

Teachers - Teachers are able to take God's word and make it understandable and applicable. Teachers are usually gifted with the knowledge of the scriptures and the ability to clearly articulate and explain it. You know a good teacher by their students. If their students learn what they are supposed to learn, they are usually a good teacher, especially if the students are anxious and willing to learn. 

Miracles - An event or occurence with brings God's kingdom to earth in a supernatural way that only can be explained by God. Jesus and the apostles did many miracles to show God's kingdom was at hand. The miracles always point to Jesus and were meant to lead people to salvation. 

Healing - Related to miracles, healing restores the body from disease or sickness to wellness. Again, the apostle did many healings as a sign of God's kingdom and the truth or Jesus. I.e. There is no other healing except by Jesus' name and power. 

Helping - Menial tasks that help the church to run properly and efficiently. These happen behind the scenes and are usually done by humble servants who rarely seek public affirmation. We need to always be honoring these silent servants. 

Guidance - This is also called discernment. It is learning God's will for any giving situation. which is similar to wisdom but more connected to leading people in every day decisions. It also relates to counseling and exhortation. 

Tongues - A language that can only be understood by God unless it is interpreted by someone with the gift of interpretation. A lot more could be said about this, because it became a point of contention in the Corinthian church. Paul will address this specifically in chapter 14. 

Love Is Indispensable

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

Paul ends with a segue to what he will be talking about in chapter 13. More on that tomorrow!

Are you using your spiritual gift to build up the body of Christ so it can be more effective in fulfilling the Great Commission?