|
Home
Archive
March
February
January
Comments
and/or Questions
|
Wednesday, March
26, 2008
A New Realm
1 Corinthians 12:1-7 Now concerning
spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. (2) Ye know that
ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
(3) Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit
of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the
Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. (4) Now there are diversities of gifts, but
the same Spirit. (5) And there are differences of administrations, but the
same Lord. (6) And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same
God which worketh all in all. (7) But the manifestation of the Spirit is
given to every man to profit withal. (KJV)
First of all I would like to make note of
the fact that the word gifts in verse 1&4 are both added words and were
not a part of the original text. The reason this is mentioned is because
the key to all these verses is that everything that takes place in this
context is a manifestation of the Spirit, which is singular. While many
think they have only a certain gift that God can work through them, the
truth is that it is similar to our bodies, we all have the body parts to
make our bodies function and growing up it was just a matter of developing
and learning how to use them, whether it be walking, talking or any other
function. It is up to us as individuals to find out what our calling is,
where we fit in the body of Christ and allowing the Spirit of God to work
and manifest through us as He chooses and not as we think we should be
dictating it.
1 Corinthians 12:8-11 For to one is given
by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the
same Spirit; (9) To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts
of healing by the same Spirit; (10) To another the working of miracles; to
another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds
of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: (11) But all these
worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally
as he will. (KJV)
Now rather than limit the working of God
through its members by thinking that to only one member is given wisdom or
to another any other endowment, which is what the word gifts refers to in
Verse:9, Paul is showing how the
Spirit can manifest through the members of the body to provide what is
needed for each situation. Think of it this way, if you broke your arm and
went to the hospital it would not do the attending physician much good to
be working on your leg or checking your ears. So when there is a need in
the body of Christ and we are dealing with someone seeking a spiritual
answer to their need, it is a matter of letting the Spirit have its way and
manifest the answer that is needed for each and every individual situation
we will encounter. While some may be more developed in certain areas of
their walk, again like with children growing up some learn to talk or walk
quicker than others, all the workings of the Spirit are similar in the fact
that once you received this Spirit in you all the things in the above
verses are available to those that are a willing vessel and allow God work
through them. Although some think they can determine ahead of time how the
Spirit is going to operate, say for instance those that claim they are
going to have a special healing service or if you show up on Sunday there
will be miracles, the simple truth be known is that those that are truly
operating in Christ will keep themselves out of the way and allow Him to
have His.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14 For as the body is
one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being
many, are one body: so also is Christ. (13) For by one Spirit are we all
baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond
or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (14) For the body
is not one member, but many. (KJV)
Remember we are now talking about a
Spiritual body of believers; so in order to be a part of it one has to be
baptized Spiritually, immersed in the living waters of Christ to become a
part of as well as remain an effective working member of it. It is
important now for you to find your place in the body of Christ and to learn
to function the way the Lord intended for you to and not what you have seen
others do.
Romans 12:4-7 For as we have many members
in one body, and all members have not the same office: (5) So we, being
many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. (6)
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,
whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; (7)
Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on
teaching; (KJV)
Strong’s definition for gifts:
5486
charisma (khar'-is-mah); from 5483; a (divine) gratuity, i.e.
deliverance (from danger or passion); (specifically) a (spiritual)
endowment, i.e. (subjectively) religious qualification, or (objectively)
miraculous faculty:
KJV-- (free) gift.
When we see the word gifts it is
referring to a free gift (Christ), God having sent His only Son on our
behalf; as well as a qualification of, where is the Lord asking us to
operate in His body. So whatever your calling, whatever place the Lord is
asking you to serve in, its’ learning who you are in Christ and how you can
most effectively serve Him. So until you know and are not just guessing it
is best for you to wait on Him until you are sure how He operates. Many
people try to dictate to God how He is going to operate and what their
place in the body is rather than let Him have His way and allow His purpose
to manifest through them.
Ephesians 4:7-12 But unto every one of us
is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (8)
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive,
and gave gifts unto men. (9) (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he
also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? (10) He that
descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he
might fill all things.) (11) And he gave some, apostles; and some,
prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12) For
the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ: (KJV)
Everything we talked about today is a
result of the gift of Christ, the manifestation of His Spirit which is
given for us to profit in. The gifts He gave unto men is manifested in the
people mentioned in Verse 11, those that have answered their calling and
are now working to edify the body of Christ to teach them who they are in
Christ.
John 4:10-11 Jesus answered and said unto
her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee,
Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given
thee living water. (11) The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to
draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living
water? (KJV)
God’s gift to mankind is Christ, and
those that have answered His call and are working on His behalf will know
their place in the body and be ready to provide the Spiritual answer to all
that would ask of the hope within them as we see in the above verses. God
gave us the good and perfect gift from above. Now will you take the time to
read the instructions and learn how it operates for yourself?
|
