Hello, my “Walking with Jesus” friends;
Are you amazed at how different people are, one from another, even in the same family? That, is a beautiful work of God in the unique design and development of each human being, made in His image. And I hope, as you stand in front of the mirror, your uniqueness awakens thanksgiving and praise to God, from deep in your soul! It’s Psalm 139:13-16 isn’t it? Now imagine that uniqueness multiplied in our world of 8.4 billion people!!
Did you know that when a person, any person, anywhere in the world, enters into a life transforming relationship with God through Jesus Christ, then Almighty God goes to work in that person, accomplishing a long list of additional miraculous things? (2 Cor. 5:17) Did you know that ONLY God can accomplish each of those miracles? Do you know God does that wonderful work inside each of us uniquely, individually, personally and with careful precision?!
What miraculous things am I talking about and how should these miracles affect a person? In our ‘Walking with Jesus’ journey I frequently draw our attention to these wonderful, life transforming miracles such as: Redemption from our sin (1 Peter 1:18-20); or Regeneration of a holy spiritual nature (John 3:3-7); or Adoption into the family of God (Rom. 8:14-17); or Reconciliation into a sin-forgiven relationship with Holy God (2 Cor. 5:18,19); and the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit.
Today let’s look closely at one of the most significant chapters in the Bible when considering the life transforming work of the Holy Spirit IN the life of any Christian person, anywhere in the world. As you know we are in Paul’s first letter to the Christians in Corinth and today let’s look at chapter 12.
Paul begins with these powerful words in 1 Corinthians 12:1… “Now about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols…” Please take note that Paul often uses the phrase “brothers and sisters”. Why? Because it clarifies WHO Paul is speaking or writing TO.
That phrase celebrates the miracle of ADOPTION which God the Father accomplishes in EACH Christian, as God adopts us into His family, as His son or His daughter, when we trust Jesus to be our Savior. (Romans 8:14-17; John 1:12,13) Genuine Christians are’ brothers and sisters’ with each other in God’s family, regardless of ethnicity, education, generation, or marital status. We are a family because we’ve each and all been adopted by God! And God has no grandchildren!
Do you also notice Paul calls these Corinthian Christians to remember that they were once far away from God and had been involved in idolatry? But now as Christian brothers and sisters, Paul calls them to embrace the work of the Holy Spirit of God in their lives. Paul writes: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Holy Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service but the same Lord Jesus Christ. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (1 Cor. 12:4-7) Pause. Do we understand what Paul is saying here, my friends? Do you see all three members of the Triune God, involved in our Christian life development in these words from Paul?
* Do you see it is the HOLY SPIRIT of God who distributes or entrusts to EVERY Christian, certain ‘spiritual gifts’ from God?
* Do you see it is with these gifts that we serve Jesus Christ, God the Son, as HE leads His people, the Church, (Eph. 4:15,16) in accomplishing the purposes or works of God the Father in our world? (Eph. 2:10)
* And finally, do you see these Spirit-given gifts, when properly used, under the leadership of Jesus, will result in benefits for the common good of people? (Eph. 3:10,11)
In the three verses which follow, Paul identifies some of these ‘spiritual gifts’. Do you see them as you look at 1 Cor. 12:8-10? Can you identify them? Here, let me help you get started. Do you see “wisdom’ and “knowledge” and “faith”? Now you keep going friends, looking carefully at the identified gifting work of the Holy Spirit in those three verses.
Now please keep in mind: this is a work of the Holy Spirit entrusting ‘spiritual gifts’ to individual Christians, so they can use those gifts under the leadership of Jesus, for the accomplishment of God’s purposes, here on earth. This list is NOT a complete list of the ‘spiritual gifts’ nor is it given in any particular order.
Now please notice Paul’s important summary statement in vs. 11-13. Let’s take it one phrase at a time: “All these are the work of one and the same Holy Spirit of God, and He distributes them to each one, just as HE determines.” Do you see that ALL the spiritual gifting of God’s people is accomplished by the Holy Spirit of God as He works IN EACH Christian to equip them and refine them so they can fit well into Jesus’ “Church”? (Matt. 16:18) Do you see that gift distribution is at the discretion and intentional plan of the Holy Spirit?
Do you also see it is God’s plan that God’s Christian people live and work well together, for God’s glory and the accomplishment of God’s purposes, in every generation all over our world? Pause. Think about the churches you’ve been a part of. In which church did you most easily find your ‘fit’ and the purposes that gave your God given gifts a chance to be utilized for God’s glory?
Here’s another verse to help us see this significant and strategic truth: “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep and was buried with his ancestors…” (Acts 13:36) David had a God given life purpose, and when it was accomplished, David’s life ended! Can you make the application to your life and mine?
If you are a Christian, alive and breathing, regardless of your age, you apparently still have PURPOSE here, as God seeks to work HIS will in our world THROUGH His people. That purpose of ours is best accomplished when you and I live with every part of our lives in full alignment with Jesus, following His leading and using the gifts the Holy Spirit has given us as the Spirit enables us.
The results should benefit those your life touches; bring you a sense of fulfillment as you accomplish the assignments given to you by the Holy Spirit; and awaken amazement at how God is glorified by your Spirit anointed life.
Now we need to pause here, inviting the Holy Spirit to help us grasp these amazing truths and the ‘lessons learned’ study notes at the link below will be a great help as will the worship song I’ve found about the Holy Spirit leading us. And tomorrow we’ll continue digging into this exciting 12th chapter of Paul’s letter.
Today’s Scripture: 1 Cor. 12:1-11
Choose below to read or listen.
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Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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