GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT AND THEIR USE IN THE CHURCH, [1Cor.12-14]. Spiritual gifts are divine enablement to serve in the local church. They are different, but they serve to edify the saints. v.1. “Spirituals” refers to manifestations of gifts and perhaps evil spirits. v.2. Before conversion, they had surrendered self-control to supernatural manifestations of the spirit world. v.3. Now that they are saved, proper judgment is based on whether Jesus is exalted or accursed. v.4-11. UNITY of gifts: from the Spirit comes gifts; from the Lord comes administrations; from the Father comes operations. v.4. Unity is not based on one common gift but on the Holy Spirit, the Source of all gifts. v.5. Different ministries in the church but one Lord, and the purpose of the gifts is to serve others. v.6. Different activities are done, but the same God supplies the power. v.7. The Spirit imparts a gift to each believer for the benefit of all believers. v.8. “Word of wisdom” is the supernatural power to speak with divine insight. In the primary sense, the “word of knowledge” is complete. In a secondary sense, those in close fellowship with the Lord do this. v.9. “Faith” – unusual deeds of trust. “Healing” – miraculous power to heal disease. v.10. Foretelling and forth-telling: discerning languages and interpretations were all temporary sign gifts in a primary sense. v.11. The Holy Spirit sovereignly apportions the gifts. The Corinthians thought that if a power beyond himself carried off a man, he was more spiritual. v.12. Unity and diversity combine to make one properly functioning unit. “The Christ,” the Head, is in heaven, and we, the body, are on earth. v.13. The baptism of the Spirit took place at Pentecost. When we are born again, we get those same benefits. All were baptized; all did not speak in tongues [12:30]; all partakers of the same indwelling Person. v.14. There must be many cooperating, working members to have a body. v.15. Understanding diversity will save us from belittling ourselves [15-20] and belittling others [21-25]. v.16. Functions are different, but each is useful. v.17. If all functioned identically, the body would be a monstrosity. v.18. God, in His wisdom, has arranged everything: seemingly inferior gifts were not to envy seemingly superior gifts. v.19. If all had the gift of tongues, they wouldn’t have a functioning body. v.20. Some things are obvious in the human body and should be equally obvious in the church. v.21. It is foolish to envy another’s gift and equally foolish to depreciate seemingly inferior gifts. v.22. “Seems to be feeble…” unseen and hidden by clothes – kidneys, heart, liver, lungs; we can live without legs or hands. v.23. There is mutual care among the members, minimizing the differences. We compensate by covering. v.24. The parts that are presentable don’t need extra attention. God gives instinct to counterbalance deficiencies. v.25. Mutual care prevents overemphasis and division (negative) and promotes care (positive) without discrimination. v.26. Natural results of blending of members are fellow-suffering and fellow-rejoicing. v.27. You are a microcosm of the whole body, each part individually functioning without pride, independence, envy, or worthlessness. v.28. “The 12” plus some others were apostles who, with New Testament prophets, laid the foundation. Other gifts were added, such as administration (elders, bishops). Last on the list is tongues. v.29. “No” answers the question. The suggestion that all have the one gift of tongues contradicts the Word of God. v.30. Every believer has been baptized by the Spirit. v.31. Desire a good selection of gifts that edify. “A more excellent way” is using gifts with a spirit of love to help others and not please oneself.
Paul realized that what God had given him could be used to strengthen and build up the believers in the church at Rome. To use what God gave him to bless others was a deep-seated desire of this man. In the same way, it is necessary for us to understand spiritual gifts from God, from the Son and the Holy Spirit, have uses that He knows are needed. Where and how these are used is made plain to us by the will of God being our guide from day to day. This much we do know: the saints of God need each other, and the wise follower of Christ will be aware of the needs of others around him or her. Gifts are not given for self-centered purposes but for others-centered activity.
What a blessing it is when a sister gives what is needed to another who wonders how that need could be met. When an encouraging word of exhortation is cheerfully given, people often rise to carry out and accomplish a work that had been left undone. If teaching is given, believers are shown what to do and, in encouraging them, shown how to do it. The Lord's people are established in the faith and life by using these spiritual gifts by God's will.