Gifts for the common good. - 1 Cor 12

Equality within Our Different Gifts – 1 Cor 12:4-11

The Triune God here is the great distributor of the gifts.  The Spirit, the Lord Jesus, and God the Father.  Now it doesn’t state those adjectives directly as it s assumed by the usage in all the other places in the Bible.

But God gives spiritual gifts.  Why?  To bless one another.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.  To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,  to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

1 – The Gifts are Given for the Common Good

There is no boasting on gifts.  The purpose of the gifts is not about you.  Gifts are to serve other believers.

2 – The Spirit is the author of the gifts.  It is he who decides which gifts to give to whom and when.  “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit.”  This means again that there is no reason to boast.

3 – Gifts cannot be manufactured.  They are given by the Holy Spirit, as He determines.

People try to idolize those who carry particular gifts.  For example, if someone has a gift of healing or working miracles, they somehow are perceived as more powerful in the Lord, or more holy.  This isn’t the case.  We are all recipients of the Spirit’s giving of gifts.  We all have something to give for the common good.

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