1 Corinthians 12:4-11

                                                                 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.  To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.  All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

 

Believers have a common purpose and have a common source of strength in the Lord.  However, believers are not the same.  Each person is unique and different and serves according to those differences that are determined by the Lord.  The different gifts that we have find both their source and purpose in God.

 

VARIOUS GIFTS FROM THE SAME GOD: Variety is important to any group of people.  This is especially true in the body of Christ.  We are all dependent upon one another for our growth and we are all certainly dependent upon the Lord.  He provides a variety of gifts for the members of the body.  This diversity demonstrates both the grace and creativity of God.  We all have differing gifts that find their source in God.  He is an endless source of blessing, strength, wisdom, and ability from which the body of Christ grows and is equipped.  We must appreciate the variety on display in each other and give glory to God because of it.

 

INDIVIDUAL GIFTS FOR THE SAME GOOD: Each person has a different and unique gift that is intended to be used for the same overall good.  The good the gifts are intended to provide is the glory of God through the edification of the body.  Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues and the interpretation of tongues have been given to individual members of the body of Christ in specific times and places so that the body of Christ could be formed and then grow in maturity.  This body has only one purpose, which is to bring glory to God.

 

MULTIPLE GIFTS FROM THE SAME SPIRIT: The promotion of the glory of God through these multitude of gifts is empowered by the Spirit of God.  God is moving in the body of Christ through His Spirit to promote His own glory.  He is drawing people to Himself and then equipping them to be used by His Spirit to bring others into a relationship with Him through Christ and then grow in Christ through the gifts of the Spirit to begin the cycle all over again.  

 

APPLICATION: Appreciate the variety of gifts that are present in the body of Christ.  Don’t expect people to be the same but admire the creativity of God that is on display in His body.  Make sure to use the gift we have been given for God’s glory and not our own.  Seek for ways to help others grow.  Depend on the power of God’s Spirit to help us grow in the light of His Word.

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