By: Pastor Rick Smith

Now Concerning Spiritual Gifts

 Everything in the Christian’s life is a gift.  God gave His only Son to pay the debt of our sin (John 3:16).  It is the Father that draws us to the Son (John 6:44).  As a gift God teaches a soul to seek Christ (John 6:45).   It is God that gives repentance to a soul (2 Timothy 2:25).   And “…by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God… (Ephesians 2:8).”  We could go on and on pointing out the gifts that God gives to the Christian, but we want to pay particular attention to the spiritual gifts that God gives to each and every believer in Jesus.  1 Corinthians 12 begins a new section in this letter and it is focused on issues surrounding spiritual gifts. For the next three chapters Paul deals with spiritual gifts their importance, use, and abuse.  So let us look at 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. 

Some of you may have a version of the Bible that has the word “gifts” italicized.  This indicates that the word is added for clarity.  The beginning phrase literally says, “Now concerning spiritual… (12:1).”    The word spiritual is a dominate word in 1 Corinthians, being mentioned sixteen times.  Paul desired that the Corinthians not be ignorant about spiritual gifts.  It is obvious  that they were ignorant, or Paul would not have cautioned them about this ignorance.  The majority of the Corinthians were Gentiles and experienced the deception of false spiritual gifts exercised by some that worshiped the idols.  They looked on those with ecstatic utterances as having a special relationship with the idol.  In their ignorance they brought this belief into their new faith in Jesus.  Some were doing and saying some odd things when they were in their ecstatic state.  Some were cursing Jesus.  Paul makes it clear “…that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed…”.   The person led by and under the influence of the Holy Spirit will always proclaim that Jesus is Lord.  There is a hint here that there were some that were trying to bring the practices of idol worship into the church and mingle it with true Christians worship.  This is happening in so many ways today.  Spiritual music is being replaced by carnal and sensual music of this world.  The pulpit has been, in some churches, by a stage to entertain lost souls into hell.  Is the Lord pleased with such things?  Remember what happened to Nadab and Abihu when they offered strange fire on the altar (Leviticus 10).  “This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified (Leviticus 10:3)”

The gifts of the Holy Spirit involved all three persons of the triune Godhead. All the Persons of the holy trinity are involved together in the gifts of the Spirit.  Note that there are diversities of gifts, but they are given by the same Holy Spirit (12:4).  There are differences of administrations, but there’s only one Lord – our Lord Jesus Christ (12:5).  Just as there are diversities of operations (activities) through God the Father Who gives power to all.  Note the trinity of God is gifts:…the same Spirit…the same Lord…the same God works all in all.  The Greek word translated as diversities and differences is the same word.  Just as God created a diversity of creatures in the world so He has given great diversity of gifts to the saints.  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are united in the gifts given to His people to use and bless all.  The least of the people of God are given spiritual gifts just like He gives to the greatest of the people of God.  He is at work in all of His children in Christ Jesus our Lord.

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal (12:7).”   The Holy Spirit bestows a diversity of gifts to each and every believer in Jesus for the common good of all.  At this point we are give a list of gifts given to the saints.  There are several lists of gifts given in the New Testament and not two are exactly the same.  I believe the lists are not meant to be complete, but to show that good things come from God.  Each and every true gift of the Spirit comes from the Holy Spirit and is meant to unite us together.  The gifts of the Spirit are “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ… (Ephesians 4:12).”

“But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will (12:11).”  The Holy Spirit is the One Who determines what gifts we are to have.  The church does not designate the gifts of the Spirit, neither does the pastor, and neither do you determine the gifts that He gives to you.  It is like salvation: these are gifts from God.  How should we receive God’s gifts?  Like receiving any gift: with joy, thanksgiving, and love.  Just like we received Jesus by faith.  “ Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15).”

If you have any questions, we invite you to visit with us this Sunday.   Worship at 10:50 A.M.  We are located at 711 West Washington Ave.  Check our sermon videos on Youtube @ricksmith2541.  Send comments and prayer requests to prayerlinecmbc@gmail.com.

Rick Scott is the Pastor at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Artesia.