March 2, 2009 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Gifts from the Holy Spirit ~1 Corinthians 12:1-11~

Now, brothers and sisters, I want you to understand about spiritual gifts. You know the way you lived before you were believers. You let yourselves be influenced and led away to worship idols--things that could not speak. So I want you to understand that no one who is speaking with the help of God's Spirit says, "Jesus be cursed." And no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," without the help of the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, but they are all from the same Spirit. There are different ways to serve but the same Lord to serve. And there are different ways that God works through people but the same God. God works in all of us in everythign we do. Something from the Spirit can be seen in each person, fo the common good. The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak with wisdom, and the same Spirit gives another the ability to speak with knowledge. The same Spirit gives faitht to one person. And, to another, that one Spirit gives gifts of healing. The Spirit gives to another person the power to do miracles, to another the ability to prophesy. And he gives to another the ability to know the difference between good and evil spirits. The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak in different kinds of languages and to another the ability to interpret those languages. One Spirit, the same Spirit, does all these things, and the Spirit decides what to give each person.



In this passage, Paul discusses the different spiritual gifts we might have been given by God. Not everybody has the same gift/talent, but those unique talents should be used for the right reason. When we are given these gifts, we are given them in order to expand the kingdom of God. That's what they were used for in the biblical years...to reach out to those who were unbelievers: miracles, prophesies, and etc. Spiritual gifts are given for the advantage and salvation of others. We need to use our gifts to glorify God and expand His kingdom. The greater the gift one has received, also comes greater temptations...that person will need more grace in order to keep himself/herself humble and spiritual.



Being a leader is also being given a gift, whether it be leading, organizing, teaching, praise band, ability to handle finances, and etc. These are all gifts that we, as a leaders team, have received, and we need to continually ask for the grace to keep us humble and spiritual. Let's continue to use our gifts/talents, so that all the glory may go to God!