![]() You are needed, because one of the Spirit’s gifts is the gift of ecstatic communication with God, and we need to remember, God’s ways are not our ways, and God’s gifts can come tumbling out of our mouths unbidden, mysterious, and glorious and you are needed, because they can also come like a lamp kindled in a darkened room, giving both comfort and illumination. You are needed, because sometimes, there are things that look like faith and devotion, but which can really be quite demonic or self-serving, and the Spirit has given you the gift of knowing, one from the other. You are needed, because the prophets of old are among us in your ability to speak the truth, even when it isn’t popular, even when it isn’t welcome, but always because it is the Spirit’s gift, to us, through you. You are needed, because our God is a God of miracles still, and the Spirit has placed that particular gift on you. You are needed, because the Spirit has given you a healing touch, or a healing word, or a healing presence, voice, smile. You are needed, because the Spirit has given you faith that builds ours up when it is crumbling, and that encourages us when we think we can’t go on. You are needed, because the Spirit has given you some particular knowledge we wouldn’t have otherwise. You are needed, because the Spirit has given you a word of wisdom for us. God has given you something that shows the Spirit to the world, and whatever that is, it is something we all need to see. ![]() All we have, spiritually speaking, every gift, is from God, even the one that enables us to open our mouths to recite the Lord’s prayer or sing a hymn or say “I’m a Christian.” We have the ability to do that because God has given it to us.Īnd then, Paul notes, a manifestation, or demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good (1 Cor. I’m going to pause here, and say that this is one of the core beliefs of our particular stream of Protestantism, the Reformed tradition. Paul explains: The Spirit of God has been given to us-in fact, none of us could even open our mouths in praise or prayer without it. They-some of them-have decided that, while all spiritual gifts are wonderful, some are more wonderful than others. “But some animals are more equal than others.” That seems to sum up what some of the Corinthians are about as they vie for position in their congregation. “All animals are equal,” wrote George Orwell in Animal Farm, his brilliant takedown of fascism. If we read through this long letter from Paul to the Corinthians, we find that they are at odds over many things, and at this point, Paul is responding to a very specific allegation: the allegation of spiritual superiority. That’s not the prevailing attitude of the folks in First Church of Corinth, unfortunately. 13 For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-Jews or Greeks, slaves or free-and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 11 All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.ġ2 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. ![]() 8 To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Let Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.Ĥ Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit 5 and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. ![]()
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