EQUIPPED WITH GOD’S GIFT
The word “gifted” is often used to describe a person who can perform a task easily, whereas the rest of us have to work hard to do the same thing. The world seems to gravitate to people who are talented or highly skilled with unique abilities. The more talented a person does not necessarily make the world a better place. God has a different focus. His desire is for us to serve and support others, and He equips us for that very purpose. The gifts God gives us aren’t meant to glorify the gifted person. Our gifts are to be used in service to others to build up the body of Christ. First Corinthians 12 shows us that God gives each of us gifts for ministry.
Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
The usual purpose of Paul’s writings to a church is due to some trouble in that church. Jesus addressed this problem in His conversation with John when He told John to record everything in Revelations. The first three chapters are devoted to the 7 churches and their problems and it remains a warning to our churches today. Paul’s writings, here in chapter 12, are for the divisive issue surrounding spiritual gifts. Some in the church were taking pride in their gifts and belittling those who possessed what they considered to be “lesser gifts”. Paul was telling them (and us) that all believers served the same Lord and all spiritual gifts were distributed by the same Holy Spirit of God as He deemed fit for the accomplishment of God’s purpose. When God gifts His people, He doesn’t use a one-fits-all strategy. He gives gifts that are a perfect fit for each individual and each church.
After dealing with the inappropriate manner in which the Corinthians were observing the Lord’s Supper (11:17-34), Paul turned to matters of the Spirit (12:1). He was especially concerned about how worship was being conducted. His emphasis was that “everything must be done decently and in order” (14:40). Paul was clearly writing in chapters 12 and 14 about that which was not happening in the Corinthian church. False teachings were being presented, and uncontrolled behavior was occurring. Those involved claimed they were being led by the Holy Spirit and their gifts were superior.
We are no more left to our own resources to be the body of Christ in a community than we are to achieve our own salvation. By grace we are saved, and by the enabling graces or charismatic gifts bestowed by the Holy Spirit upon every believer, we are equipped as a church to serve. In verses 4-6 Paul mentioned the varieties of spiritual gifts, emphasizing the sameness of their divine source and operation. Then in verse 7, he affirmed, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good”. This is great news! It means that every Christian has received some charismatic gift or enabling grace. No one is overlooked. Nor should any believers say, “I cannot do anything meaningful for the Lord”. Such a statement reflects upon the competence and generosity of the Holy Spirit.
God is completely involved in the giving, using, and empowering of gifts. Specific gifts, places of service, and activities vary, but they all have their best effects when they build up the body of Christ- the church. God creates a unique place in the body for every believer. Gifts and ministries may overlap, but each believer has a specialized, God-designed role. Part of the exciting adventure of following Christ involves discovering one’s service contribution and then making it available to God. Make serving God and His people our motive as we utilize our gifts.
Read 1 Corinthians 12:7-10
Paul listed some spiritual gifts, although not an exhaustive list. He named other spiritual gifts in Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:27-30 and Ephesians 4:11. Some spiritual gifts have equivalents on two or more lists, but others only appear on one list. People have attempted to group the gifts in various ways, but perhaps the simplest way is to put them in four broad categories: 1) Gifts that support- such as helping and managing guide the work of the church and help get it done; 2) Gifts that share- such as showing mercy and hospitality are tangible ways of communicating God’s love, both inside and outside the church; 3) Gifts that speak- such as teaching and prophecy that ground the church in God’s Word; and 4) Gifts that supplement- such as wisdom, knowledge, and faith support the other gifts. So verse 7 teaches that the spiritual gifts are bestowed upon individual members for the good of the entire congregation. They are functional; that is they equip the members of a church to function as the body of Christ in a community. But also they are congregational: they are not anointment for our private benefit but rather anointment for our joint services.
No charismatic gift is to be regarded as a merit badge designating God’s elite. None is to be regarded as an evidence of total commitment. This is to misunderstand completely the nature and purpose of charismatic endowment. At Corinth some members were so carnal that they tried to make status symbols out of charismatic gifts, especially speaking in tongues. All Christians have faith. Some, however, have the spiritual gift of faith, which is an unusual measure of trust in the power of God.
“The ability to prophecy” does not just refer to predicting the future. Paul was indicating that it can also mean giving a message received from God to the community of believers- witnessing for Christ!! “One who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them” (14:3). The prophet Joel had written the words of the Lord, “I will pour out My Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophecy” (Joel 2:28). As with the gift of faith, the ability to share one’s faith with power is available to everyone (14:1-5), but to some the Spirit gives a special measure of this gift. “God has given you different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you” (Romans 12:6). Some have interpreted “prophecy” to be fulfilled in various sermons throughout church history. Others, however, say that prophecy is not a sermon, but a spontaneous, Spirit-inspired message that is orally delivered in the congregation for the edification and encouragement of the body of Christ.
Opinions differ over exactly what Paul meant by “unknown” languages. Some believe that this refers to earthly languages that a person did not know before (the same as the gift described in Acts 2:4-8). Other scholars say that this refers to an “ecstatic” language, a “heavenly” language. Most likely the second view is correct. In his book “Heaven”, Randy Alcorn takes this view and adds that he believes in heaven we will have at least two languages: our prominent earthly language and a “heavenly” language that God will give to all so that we will all be able to talk to all different people. Probably the only time that the word “tongues” refers to other earthly languages is when describing Pentecost. Here it is used to say all present heard Peter’s message in their own language (tongue) so they could understand and be saved. At the Pentecost, it was clear that the “tongue” language must be understood by all or it is not valid language and may be even the language of Satan. The rest of the time in the New Testament, the word refers to ecstatic languages unknown to anyone- languages of angels (13:1).
Read 1 Corinthians 12:11
Paul wrote, “All these are inspired by the one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills” (v.11). Charismatic endowment is not a do-it yourself kit. Only the Holy Spirit can give these gifts. And if given, how can one boast of any them as though he has accomplished or attained whet he has received? Like we can’t do any action, – good works, pay our way, speak in a certain way (like tongues), make promises, – to “earn” our way to heaven and eternal life, that gift must come from believing in Jesus as our savior and accept the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
No matter what gift(s) a person has, all spiritual gifts are distributed by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit decides which gifts each believer should have. We are responsible to use and sharpen our gifts, but we can take no credit for what God has freely given us. Note that discussions about spiritual gifts usually create difficulties when two central points are overlooked: 1) Properly used, spiritual gifts are not self-serving but serve the whole body of Christ (12:7); 2) Each gift becomes practically useless when used without love (Chapter 13). As we seek to identify and utilize the gifts God has given us, make loving God and loving fellow Christians our highest motives. Remember, the same Holy Spirit in us as Christians is the same one God used to conceive the savior of the entire world in the form of a baby- Jesus.

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