seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
1 Corinthians 12:1 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Here's the link to the commentary.Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed: Here, Paul lays down a broad principle for discerning matters regarding spiritual gifts - judge things by how they relate to Jesus Christ. Does a supposed spiritual gift glorify Jesus? Does it promote the true Jesus or a false one?
If you decide to go read the commentary, make sure you have a nice cup of coffee and a comfortable seat. It goes really well until they get to the speaking in tongues part.... and then it goes into long diatribes about the divisions in the Christian Community over the gifts.I guess people forget that God sculpted all of us. He counted out the very hairs on our head as He was sculpting.
I guess people forget that God knows the future. God knows where I will be when something happens that will require a Spiritual Gift.
If John Doe needs someone to cross his path at 3PM on a Monday afternoon, God will make sure there is another person there to meet that need. The decision to make that happen could have been made before either John Doe or the other person were a twinkle in their mommy's eye. The person who is to meet the need will be equipped with the proper Spiritual Gift for the encounter. The Gift or the Talent is perfect for the moment.... and it might never appear again.
Have you heard about the mother who lifted a car off her son? Have you heard about the father who pulled a tractor off of his dad? Have you heard about people who miraculously knew where to hit someone to knock a choking dumdum out of their airway? How could they do all that???? Spiritual Gifts! Why can't they do it all the time??? Spiritual Gifts!
Think about it.... Haven't you thought "how did she know that?" Spiritual Gifts!
God knows when He might need you. He's equipped you for the event. You can change your ways a million times but somehow, if you have to be at the right intersection at exactly 3PM on a Monday afternoon, you will be there. The task will be accomplished.... even if it's only to say "Jesus loves you". Spiritual Gifts!
Yes... you have free will. You can decide where you go and how you get there. But.... God knows the future and He knows you and John Doe will meet on that corner. He will make sure you have the voice and the correct tongue to say "Jesus loves you". It will just work out! Spiritual Gifts!
Spiritual Gifts!
