Building upon the context of the previous article, let’s take a look through examples of spiritual gifts that are listed in 1 Corinthians 12. Specifically, let’s consider how each of these, 1) require the Holy Spirit’s help, 2) show God working through His people, and 3) help the common good.
To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 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.
1 Corinthians 12:8-10 NIV
Wisdom – As has been discussed elsewhere on this site, wisdom includes knowing the right things to do in a particular situation. Human wisdom is limited, but God’s is infinite, and a wise answer can have a great impact on the trajectory of an individual or a community.
Knowledge – Sometimes, we need people who just “know things”. Maybe this is Bible knowledge, or maybe the church needs an understanding of finance, law, manufacturing, or even engineering. I’m convinced that the Holy Spirit grants some people the ability to learn and use what they absorb, even if it still pales in comparison to His knowledge.
Faith – Not all of us have faith that is as strong as others’ is, but those who are strong can help those who are weak. And, as we saw in verse 3, even our faith in Jesus is aided by the Holy Spirit.
Healing – Some people extend this idea to those who help in the medical field, but regardless of how the Holy Spirit works healing through God’s people, this restoration of health (as a pastor at our church mentioned in a past sermon) brings us back, closer to how God created us in the first place, before our sin broke things.
Miracles – Whether this is changing water into wine, walking on water, or something else, miracles are reminders that there is a world beyond the material one we see, and that God can comfortably reach into any part of it and intervene, confirming the testimony of His people.
Prophecy – This can involve telling what will happen in the future, but might also be telling God’s truth about the present. If God has a message for His people, it’s important that those who receive this message accurately pass it on to the right audience.
Discernment – This term doesn’t appear here in the NIV or NASB, but being able to tell the difference between truth and lies (or just ignorance, per Oster, p.287) is still important today. While we have the Bible as a reference, sometimes we may need additional, divine help to ensure that we’re not following the wrong teaching.
Speaking in Tongues – Here, we have a sticky one. First off, this could mean speaking in other human languages, like Spanish, Arabic, or Chinese. Or, it could mean speaking in a special language that only God (and maybe angels) can understand without help. Regardless, if someone claims that they have this gift, their use of it must fit with the purpose of gifts, providing good for others.
Interpreting Tongues – If speaking in tongues is related to other natural languages (like German, Swahili, or Portuguese), then being able to understand others can have value in ministering to them, for instance. If speaking in tongues refers to a spiritual language, then interpreting it for the rest of us could result in getting to hear a message from God.
So, what do you think? Would you agree that these are truly gifts of the Holy Spirit, where those who use these gifts pass along God’s power and love to others, while supporting the common good (especially in the church)? Based on what we find elsewhere in this book of the Bible, I think that’s how were supposed to read these (and not as “achievements” of our own or “superpowers” that anyone should seek for their own benefit).
From Sunday School lesson prepared for April 14, 2024
References:
- The Lookout, April 14, 2024, © 2024 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – 1 Corinthians, by Richard E. Oster, Jr. © 1995 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 