18 DAYS TO PENTECOST

18 DAYS TO PENTECOST

TEXT:  1 CORINTHIANS 12

 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.

⁸ 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…

²² Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

KEY TEXT: “Concerning spiritual gifts I would not have you ignorant…” (1 Corinthians 12:1)

REFLECTION:  The same Holy Spirit who produces spiritual fruit, imparts spiritual gifts. While the fruit of the Spirit is singular, the gifts of the Spirit are plural. Writing of the gifts in general the Apostle teaches:

1.     There are diversity of gifts but one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:4)

2.     The manifestation of the Spirit is to benefit everyone. (1 Corinthians 12:7)

3.     The gifts are given severally as He will. (1 Corinthians 12:11)

4.     We should covet earnestly the best gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:31)

5.     The gifts without Christian charity (love) are nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1,2)

6.     Those who are zealous of spiritual gifts should seek to edify the Church. (1 Corinthians 14:12)

7.     When the gifts are given then we should let all things be done decently and in order. (1 Corinthians 14:40)

The Scriptures do not teach that the gifts of the Holy Spirit were given only for a certain time or for a particular group of believers.  The Body of Christ is gifted by the Spirit of Christ to do the work of Christ in every generation.

The Apostle Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, instructed the Corinthians, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.” (1 Corinthians 12:1).  God is so good.  He not only gifts His Church, He explains why and how He gifts us.

To the Corinthians the Apostle stresses, “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit…the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit everyone.” (I Cor. 12:5,7).  To the Romans Paul affirms, “I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift that ye may be established,” (Romans 1:11) and “we are one body in Christ, and members one of another, having differing gifts according to the grace that is given to us…”  (Romans 12:4-8).  Peter adds, “As every man has received the gift, minister to one another…that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 4:10,11).

We conclude then that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given by God:

1. To profit everyone.

2. To establish each one in the faith.

3. To encourage unity, And

4. That God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

Those who make claims to be super-spiritual because they are super-gifted violate the Spirit and the specifics of Scripture. The gifts are not given to advertise “How Great We Art!”  They are granted so that we can more effectively declare, “How Great Thou Art!”

In the book of Acts we are told that Simon asked the disciples if he could buy the gift of imparting the Holy Spirit.  Simon saw the Spirit as a means of self-promotion and financial profit.  Peter could not have been more direct in his denunciation: “Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.”  (Acts 8:20-23).

Peter saw right through Simon’s heart.  Simon’s motive was self-serving not Christ-honoring.  God does not gift His people to promote the gifted, He gifts His people to promote the Giver!  Christ is honored when His body, the Church, is strengthened in faith and increased in influence.  Again, the Gifts are not about self-promotion.  They are about advancing Christ and His holy Cause.

PRAYER: O God, Thou art the Giver of all good gifts.  We praise thee for thy love, thy grace, thy mercy, and thy provision for all our needs. We pray that thy Holy Spirit would cleanse and take claim of our heart.  We pray that the Fruit of the Spirit would be unmistakable in our lives.  We pray that Thy Holy Spirit would gift us in whatever way and for whatever purpose that would advance Thy Cause. We ask again that the Presence, the purity, and the power of Pentecost would be ours.  We need Thee! We long for Thee! We welcome Thee!  In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen. “Our Father, &c.”