Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.Paul reveals for us the role that the members of the Trinity play in gifting and empowering God’s kingdom mission to advance in the world. Paul explains that while there are different gifts that are given to followers of Jesus, it is the Holy Spirit that oversees that distribution. While there are different opportunities to invest time serving God by serving others in ministry for followers of Jesus, it is Jesus Christ that we ultimately serve. While there are different evidences of God’s supernatural and miraculous activity that are expressed differently in the world, it is God the Father who leverages His miraculous activity to advance His kingdom and bring Him glory.
And it is in these verses that we see one of the clearest indicators of the existence of the Triune God; God the Father, Jesus His Son, and the Holy Spirit who work through their diverse roles in a unified vision and mission for the redemption and rescue of the world from selfishness and sin. Paul then explains that while there is diversity in terms of the activity of the various members of the trinity, their activity is centrally focused and united in the desire for the common good. When Paul refers to the manifestation of the Spirit, he is referring to the giving of spiritual gifts for the benefit and advantage of the community of believers that formed the church at Corinth.
Paul is revealing for us the reality that spiritual gifts are given for the spiritual growth of the church as a community and the advancement of the kingdom mission that the church has been given. To understand what Paul is communicating here, we first need to understand what we are talking about when it comes to spiritual gifts. A spiritual gift is a God-given inner motivation that enables us to meet the needs of others in a way that builds up others spiritually. Spiritual gifts are not talents; they are not natural abilities; they are not ministries or positions. Spiritual gifts work through natural talents and positions to work in ministries with the result of spiritual growth in the lives of others.
The Bible lists for us 18 different spiritual gifts, several of which Paul reveals for us in verses 8-11. Several of these gifts, however, are not currently active in the same way as they were in the church of Corinth. To understand why some spiritual gifts are not are not currently active in the same way as they were in the first century, we first need to understand the purpose of these gifts.
As we saw a few weeks ago, during the days of the early church, followers of Jesus did not have a New Testament to read. So during a church service, after a time of singing and prayer, people in the church would stand up and speak, sharing either their testimonies or messages that they heard from other Christians. And some early followers of Jesus received from God what are called foundation or sign gifts, which are spiritual gifts that were used to deliver or confirm the new verbal revelation that was what we now have as the New Testament.
When Paul refers to the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge, these were foundational spiritual gifts that were used to deliver new verbal revelation from God as to the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel; Paul also reveals five additional spiritual gifts that are not currently active as they were in the church of Corinth. The spiritual gift of prophecy that was used to deliver new verbal revelation from God as to the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel, while the spiritual gifts of the effecting of miracles, kinds of tongues, and interpretation of tongues were used to confirm new verbal revelation from God as to the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel. The final spiritual gift that Paul reveals here, the distinguishing of spirits was a foundational spiritual gift that was used to discern new verbal revelation from God as to the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel.
Since we are no longer receiving new verbal revelation from God in the form of new books in our Bibles, these spiritual gifts no longer are active as they were in the first century. Currently, there are nine spiritual gifts that are currently active and that can be divided into two categories; Speaking Gifts and Serving Gifts. The Speaking Gifts consist of Teaching, Shepherd (Pastor), Evangelism, Exhorting (Encouragement). The Serving Gifts are Giving, Administration, Mercy, Faith, and Helps (serving).
Paul then reveals for us the reality that the Holy Spirit brings about the distribution of spiritual gifts to individual followers of Jesus according to His administrative plan. The timeless truth is that every follower of Jesus has been given at least one spiritual gift by the Holy Spirit according the Holy Spirit’s divine plan to build up other followers of Jesus and advance the Kingdom mission that the church has been given.
After explaining God’s divine plan to build the church and advance His kingdom through a diversity of spiritual gifts, Paul then continues by revealing for us a timeless truth that can occur when Christians act unchristian. And that timeless truth is that Christians act unchristian when we abuse spiritual gifts. In the rest of this section of this letter, we will see the Apostle Paul reveal for us three ways that Christians act unchristian by abusing spiritual gifts.
We will spend the rest of this week looking at each of these three ways that followers of Jesus can abuse spiritual gifts.
So what do you think about spiritual gifts? Do you agree or disagree with what you have read? Why or why not?
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