1 Corinthians 12:1–7 (NLT) — 1 Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. 2 You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. 3 So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
Three ways the Body works:
1. The GIFTS of the Spirit
- The Body works best when it is empowered by the Holy Spirit.
- A gift is given to each of us! You are included in this grand design.
- Word of Wisdom
- Word of knowledge
- Gift of faith
- Gift of healing
- Working of miracles
- Word of prophecy
- Discernment of spirits
- Tongues
- Interpretation of tongues
- Your job
- Learn your gift - Pray about it. You will instinctively know when you grow in relationship with the Holy Spirit.
- Use your gift - Don’t just hope you have one and sit on the sidelines; let that gift become active.
- Desire more gifts - 1 Corinthians 14 says we can ask for the gifts.
- Why do we have the gifts? - For the common good!
2. The SERVICE of the Son
- Jesus came doing acts of service.
- Mark 10:45 (NASB95) — 45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
- The Body of Christ works best when
- When each member serves each member (acts of service)
- When each member doesn’t need recognition for every service.
- When each member does it’s function without pride.
- When each member rejoices and weeps with each member.
- Your job
- Do your function.
- Appreciate every function.
- Pray for our missing functions.
3. The WORKS of the Father
- The Spirit gives gifts, The Son gives service, and the Father has works.
- The working of Creation
- The working of Redemption
- The working of Salvation
- The gifts make sense when they are serving the Body, and the Body makes a difference when it is serving the Father.