Concerning Gifts From God
"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues." (1 Corinthians 12:4-10)
The Apostle Paul tell us that we are to DESIRE spiritual gifts.
"Pursue love, and DESIRE SPIRITUAL GIFTS, but especially that you may prophesy." (1 Corinthians 14:1)
Many institutionalized Christians CRAVE certain gifts. To these some just seem to be more important than others so they functionally disesteem those they consider to be less important.
They don’t want those.
This happens because some portions of the Body of Christ have been trained by leaders to (and I choose this word specifically...) IDOLIZE those who move in certain gifts.
These can be preaching, teaching, prophesying....
(Have you noticed that hardly anyone ever DESIRES the gift of celibacy or the gift of service or the gift of giving? - not sexy enough, I guess...)
While its okay to DESIRE spiritual gifts it is NOT okay to make idols of certain gifts.
There is real danger of us worshiping the gift....to the neglect of worshiping the GIVER of the gifts.
"But one and the same Spirit works all these things," (1 Corinthians 12:11a)
That's right, the Holy Spirit is the Person manifesting prophecy, teaching, giving, celibacy, hospitality, faith....ALL the gifts that manifest in Christians yielded to Him.
WE don't "do prophecy."
The SPIRIT prophesies THROUGH us.
And....this is important....while some of us CRAVE certain gifts that we esteem higher than other things the Holy Spirit can do through Christians.....WE DO NOT GET TO CHOOSE which ones we will manifest.
Why?
The Holy Spirit is the one "distributing to each one individually as He wills." (1 Corinthians 12:11b)
Oh, we can "prophesy" all on our own, alright.
But it WON'T be God speaking through us, therefore what we speak won't yield life, order, peace....rather, it will be our own flesh speaking and, well, Paul describes best what our flesh yields....EVERY TIME:
"...the mind set on the flesh is death" (Romans 8:6a)
What say we strongly desire spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 14:1), implore the Holy Spirit to give us the gifts HE sees fit, be content with what He gives us...and just worship God by practicing what He does through us.
He really DOES know what's best for us...and for HIS Kingdom.
Pastor Mike McInerney
Mike McInerney Ministries, Inc.
© December 1, 2017
(for use with permission)