“But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” I Corinthians 12:11 NKJV.
Reflection: what is the purpose of the gifts of the Spirit?
You might have heard some preachers declare that “everyone who has received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior can and should speak in tongues”. Some might mention with a caveat about the need to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, or something close to that. And, if you walk into some churches, it can seem like everyone around you is speaking in tongues. And if you don’t speak in tongues, you can start to wonder, “there must be something wrong with me, with my faith”. So, are these preachers right? Can we as believers “claim” gifts of the Spirit, like speaking in tongues, prophecy, or heal the sick? Let me be clear, I do not claim to be an authority on this topic, which is a very controversial topic. But I want to raise our awareness to some points for us to consider, starting with the idea of a “gift”.
In the focus verse today, we read a very important aspect of spiritual gifts. They are gifts. And, as any gifts that we give, it is up to the giver to hand the gifts to those we want to have them. In a similar way, the Holy Spirit also hands out spiritual gifts as he pleases, “as He wills”, as Paul wrote. Think of the parallel of gift giving at Christmas. There are typically name tags on each gift, with “to” and “from”. You cannot just take a gift that is intended for someone else. That would not be right, correct? And, we receive the gift that is intended for us, that the giver of the gift has specifically made or purchased for us. In a similar way, the Spirit hands out gifts to us, based on how he wants. These gifts are custom for each of us, to be used for the common good of the whole body of Christ.
Paul gives us here some examples of gifts of the Spirit, “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.” I Corinthians 12:7-10 NKJV. None of these are coming from ourselves; they are God working in us and through us. There is always a temptation, a danger lurking that, in the application of spiritual gifts the focus becomes on us, as opposed to God. It is the Spirit of God who decides, who hands out, and who works through us. We are only the vessel, if you will. A humble servant of the Lord.
Now why is the Spirit handling out these gifts? What is the purpose? It is to function as a body of believers, the church, and to build each other up. If we read ahead, “What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.” 1 Corinthians 14:26 NIV. This work of the Spirit, through the believers, when working properly, will yield fruit. Fruits of the Spirit, through the believers.
Paul relates spiritual gifts to how our bodies function, with many parts working together to achieve something. “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.” I Corinthians 12:12, 27-31 NKJV.