1 CORINTHIANS
Chapter 12
STUDY: 4-6 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
12-27 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. Verses 8-11 in this chapter list the spiritual gifts that God empowers in each believer. These verses are a great encouragement for all members in a church body. I love the use of body parts to explain the importance of all the gifts in the church. We can be easily discouraged when we compare our gifts and abilities with others. But God, through Paul's teaching here, explains rightly that all gifts are just as important as eachother- and all are needed in the body of believers. So whether you teach Sunday school, pastor a mega church, greet people at the door, lead a Bible study, serve coffee and donuts, visit the sick, speak in tongue- all gifts, services and activites are given by God and are needed in the church. If you don't know your gifts and want to serve in your church, ask God to reveal to you what they are! There are also many online spiritual gift tests that can help figure them out. I am not familiar with one or another that I would recommend one to you. You can also ask people around you who worship God with you and know you well. They may have a good idea as to what your gifts are. Whatever the gift- do it all for the glory of God! Jesus, thank you that my gifts are needed. Thank you that You have given them to me to use for Your glory. Lord I ask that for those who don't know what gifts they possess, that they would come to You so that You might show them. I pray against the enemy who may try to tell us what gifts we do have, aren't important. Thank you that Your Word says that all are given by You and all are needed in the church. Amen. APPLICATION:
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HIGHLIGHTED TEXT:Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. {Verses 4-6}
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