God calls His people to be unified. This daily devotional discusses how Paul explained that unity in the Spirit to the Corinthians.
Nuggets
- God made all of us alike, but we are given different spiritual gifts.
- Just as Paul said unity came in one Spirit, He also wrote that unity came in one Lord and one God with variety of ways to serve Him.
- One reason why we may have differing levels of abilities when it comes to performing that gift is because we are at different stages of mastering the growth in those gifts.
Devotions in the Never Alone: The Holy Spirit in Our Lives series
In several of his letters, Paul stressed the concept of unity within the church. He saw that as a foundation.
The church was to worship the same Spirit. We are to have one faith in one Christ. “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph. 4: 4-6 NIV).
Paul also acknowledged the diversity of the disciples. No, he didn’t base it on race or ethnicity.
What Paul was talking about was what each disciple brought to the church. We are all given different skills and abilities to use to further the gospel of Christ. “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it” (Eph. 4: 7 NIV)
Paul talked about this in 1st Corinthians. Let’s dig in.
Let's Put It into Context #1
Here is a running list of nuggets for the series.
Let's Put It into Context #2
Spiritual gifts are skills and abilities given to us by God through the Holy Spirit so that we can serve Him.
There are several lists identifying spiritual gifts. They are found in Romans 12: 6-8, 1 Corinthians 12: 8-10 and 28-30, Ephesians 4: 11, and 1 Peter 4: 11.
Of course, they are not all the same. Here is a compilation of the lists.
- Faith
- Apostle
- Prophecy
- Pastor/preaching/speaker
- Evangelist
- Teaching
- Miracles
- Healer
- Tongues and interpretation of tongues
- Serving
- Exhortation
- Giving
- Leadership/administration
- Mercy
- Word of wisdom
- Word of knowledge
- Distinguishing between spirits
Unity and Diversity of Gifts
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit” (I Cor. 12: 4 ESV)
God made all of us alike, but we are given different spiritual gifts.
We all are made in God’s image. We all have brains, hearts, ears, eyes, and noses. We have the capacity to gain His character.
Glossary
The Holy Spirit works in all our hearts the same way. There is only one salvation.
But we are all different, too. God doesn’t make everyone the same. We all have different experiences.
We each have our own strengths and weaknesses. We each have our own knowledge, skills and abilities.
God uses all of those to grow His church.
The key is the Holy Spirit. Riddle put it all into perspective. He wrote, “The glory of the Apostolic Church was not merely in her faith, zeal, conversions, or martyrdoms; but above all, and as their source — in the possession of the Holy Spirit.”
Resource
The Holy Spirit gives each of us gifts. Yep, some may have more than others, but all of us have at least one.
God is a God of order, but He believes in natural order. He knows some of the gifts are perceived as higher on the hierarchy ladder.
Doesn’t matter. All gifts are important.
Riddell reminded us that even the least gift is useful and valuable. He wrote, “The humblest gifts of grace have a use and a value, surpassing all gifts of genius and wealth, and are not to be despised.”
Resource
All gifts are needed to grow the church. That is the profit to which is sometimes referred. In fact, it is through the lower gifts that we can see it is really God working in the church.
We shouldn’t be envious of other’s gifts. When we start thinking we need that gift that Tom or Sally has, we start splitting the unity of the church.
Also, we shouldn’t think that our gifts are given to us in its mature form. Some gifts we may have to grow, such as teaching.
The first time I taught a Sunday school class, I was a horrible teacher. I was barely older than the children I taught, I had no guidance in how to be a Sunday School teacher.
When I was an adult and was provided with more resources to teach an adult class, I was able to learn how to teach. I became a better teacher.
So many of the gifts are given and grown.
One thing we have to remember is that God is more interested in our spiritual condition than our physical condition. That means the unity He is seeking is spiritual unity.
God is not interested in worldview societal unity.
Unity and Diversity of Service
“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” (I Cor. 12: 5-6 ESV)
Just as Paul said unity came in one Spirit, He also wrote that unity came in one Lord and one God with variety of ways to serve Him.
Thomas gave us a list of different types of service. He listed
- Bodily
- Mental
- Moral
- Spiritual
- National.
Resource
The call to missions in Acts 1: 8 shows us that we need to share the gospel with all people regardless of what identifier we place on them. “… and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Ac. 1: 8 ESV).
Just as there is no limits as to the location of those we witness to, there is no limits as to age or socioeconomic status.
God wants everyone to hear the gospel story. Our motivation for sharing this story with them is love.
I think we should add here that we can have the same gift but at different levels of ability. There may be several teachers within the church. They may have differing levels of abilities when it comes to performing that gift.
Gifts Given for Good
“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (I Cor. 12: 7 ESV)
One reason why we may have differing levels of abilities when it comes to performing that gift is because we are at different stages of mastering the growth in those gifts.
We will not necessarily start growing our gifts at the same time. Nor may we necessarily rise to the next level in the same time frame.
Cooke had an interesting take on this. He noted that, at times, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, such as Balaam and Samuel were, in special occasions. We should continually be walking in the Spirit and led by Him. Cooke argued that we should grow to be continually filled with the Spirit.
Resource
Sanderson reminded us that it doesn’t really matter what gift we have or what level we are on at the current time. He wrote “… that howsoever manifold they are, either for kind or degree, so as they may differ in the material and formal, yet they do all agree both in the same efficient and the same final cause.”
Resource
What matters is each disciple is given one, if not more, gifts. Spiritual gifts comes from God through the Holy Spirit to clearly show us God. We are to use them to expand His kingdom.
Sanderson argued that we do not have reason to complain about the level of the gifts we receive from the Spirit. We owe God much for saving us, not the other way around.
Making the Connections
Elaine-speak of something Momerie said. We need to cooperate with God. But others need to do the same.
We aren’t going to all have the same opinion. If we do, we can still have different opinions on how to accomplish something.
That means we have to follow God‘s lead.
Momerie made another good observation. He wrote, “It is sometimes imagined that a clergyman, as such, is in a unique degree under the guidance of the Spirit. In spiritual matters there is no exclusive prerogative. I pity the clergyman who has never been ministered unto when he went to minister. Profitableness is the test of spiritual gifts. He is the most highly gifted man who does the most good.”
Resource
God uses the Pastor Steve types to be the shepherds of His church. He gives the pastors the directions in which He wants the churches to grow.
But God gives gifts to everyone. He talks to everyone.
We are to judge our gifts in the same way — how are they profiting the church? How are we doing the most good? How are we preserving the unity?
How Do We Apply This?
- Make sure we use our greater gifts for the welfare of others.
- Play our part in the function of the church just as the many parts play a part in the function of the body.
- Be a praying church.
Resource
Father God. You give us the skills and abilities we need to complete the service You have decreed that we should do. Thank You for entrusting us with these important assignments. We know the end goal is to win other souls to salvation. Help us to be successful in our work to expand Your kingdom. Amen.
The ABCDs of Salvation
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the
Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to
live the way in which God has called us
The Disciple’s Job Description
Searching for and Seeking God
Hearing His Word (Rom. 10: 17).
Reading His Word (Rev. 1: 3).
Praying to Him (Heb. 4: 16).
Studying His Word (Ac. 17: 11).
Meditating on His Word (Ps. 1: 1-2).
Memorizing His Word (Ps. 119: 11).
What do you think?
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