August 11
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CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be unaware. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 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. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. – 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
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In this letter, Paul tackles the topic on spiritual gifts. He reminds them of the source of being unaware of these gifts which originated from their pagan background where the idols are mute and has no life. In verse 3, Paul makes them see that there is nothing good we say or do that comes on our own, but only comes from God’s Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that reveals to us spiritual things because on our own, we will always be thinking and talking in the flesh. In verses 4-11, Paul points out some of these Spiritual gifts that is distributed by the Holy Spirit. They may be different for each believer, but they are all given by One Spirit. In verse 7, he gives the reason why such gifts were given to one: for the common good. In other words, these gifts are not for our own individual consumption but for edifying and equipping the body of Christ.
Among the gifts Paul mentions here are: word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, effecting miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, various kinds of tongues or language and to others, interpretation of tongues. What Paul wants to stress here is that all these gifts were given by one Spirit and that we need to remember that these gifts are to be used to bring about the kingdom of God here on earth and not to be usurped by personal agendas.
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REFLECTION
• How can spiritual gifts be abused by false Christians?