The Gifts Of the Spirit, and You
I Corinthians 12:1-11NKJB
A man from Illinois decided to travel to Wisconsin to go duck hunting. He shot and dropped a bird, but it fell into a farmer’s field on the other side of the fence. As the flatlander climbed over the fence, the dairy farmer drove up on his tractor and asked what was going on. The hunter said, “I shot a duck and I’m retrieving it.” The old farmer replied, “This is my property and you’re not coming over here!”
Well, this made the hunter mad so he said, “If you don’t let me come over the fence I’ll call my Chicago lawyer and I’ll sue you.” The farmer smiled and said, “Apparently you don’t know how we do things up here. We settle disagreements with the Wisconsin three-kick rule. I’ll kick you three times, and then you kick me three times, and so on, back and forth, until someone gives up.”
The man liked this challenge because he thought he could easily take the old farmer. The Wisconsin Badger climbed down from the tractor and planted the steel toe of his heavy work boot into the man’s shin. The man fell to his knees. His second kick went directly to his stomach, knocking the wind out of him. The farmer than landed his third kick to the side of the hunter’s head. The disoriented man slowly got up and said, “Okay, you old codger, now it’s my turn!” To which the farmer responded, “Nah, I give up. You can have the duck.”
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
Paul instructs believers about their personal commitment to Jesus Christ. He wants them to understand that their salvation includes a lot of spiritual gifting’s to farther in-hence their walk with Jesus Christ as well as to others. The spiritual gifts are given to build the body of Christ, so they won’t be children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. In other words, God’s gifting brings stability, they shore-up anything that’s lacking.
1 Corinthians 12:1NLT Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this.
Who gives these spiritual gifts? The Holy Spirit.
God wants every believer:
Be Informed About Spiritual Gifts.
2 Be Influenced by the Holy Spirit
3 Incorporate diversity in your understanding.
4 Identify Your Spiritual Gift
5 Implement your gift in service
6 Intensify Your Love
Notice verse 1 calls them special abilities.
Illustration: A baseball team has many players. Some excel in defense, while other’s excel in offense. The baseball superstar excel’s in both. Plus he might be a home-run-hitter. There’s other players that come into the game just to swing the bat. Other’s enter, to steal a base. Most pitchers can’t hit well, while most other’s wouldn’t even think about pitching. A well rounded team has players for different outcomes.
1 Corinthians 12:2NLT You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols.
You were once led astray, pagans, worshiping rocks, trees, clouds and water.
However presently, as a born again believer you were chosen to follow Jesus Christ.
The Bible teaches us in Ephesians 4:14-16NLT Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
As you ask for your role in the body of Christ, you will become sure and steadfast. You will flow with confidence and authority. You will know your role as a believer, and you’re aware Christ can always give you more!
1 Corinthians 12:3NLT So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.
When someone is gifted they learn to watch their words. There speech will always be backed up by the gifting of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6NLT There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.
The gifting you receive should become highly regarded by you. Remember, the Holy Spirit gave them to you.
Again verse 5-6 say’s, There’s different kind of services, and God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.
1 Corinthians 12:5-11TM God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful:
wise counsel
clear understanding
simple trust
healing the sick
miraculous acts
proclamation
distinguishing between spirits
tongues
interpretation of tongues.
All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when.
Verse 7 say’s, the manifestation of the Spirit is given to profit all.
In Acts chapter 2, the Holy Spirit became evident and useful as the early church came to Jerusalem to celebrate passover. The fullness of the Spirit came to the 120 in the upper-room so thousand’s in the city of Jerusalem could hear about salvation in their own language.
How about the time when Paul prayed for the sick? He didn’t approach them speaking in tongues, He asked them the question, “Do you want to be healed?”
Matthew 7:9-11NKJB Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
“When Christ calls you to do a certain something He will gift you for it.” P.H.
1 Corinthians 12:11NLT But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
Are there more gifting of the Spirit? Mother Theresa ministered to the people of Calcutta, she did it with love and compassion.
Is that a spiritual gift from God? Sure it is.
I believe there are thousands of spiritual gifts and God knows the ones He’s given to you.
Benediction.
