Dave spoke last night from 1 Cor 14, continuing our focus on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Often, there are two extremes we feel concerning spiritual gifts, either believing we are deficient because we do not speak in tongues, for example, or believing that such gifts are unnecessary because we have seen them misused. Paul urged the Corinthians to ‘eagerly desire’ these gifts (with passion and fervour), but stressed that they must be used in love.
Jesus reminded His disciples that the supernatural and miraculous are not of themselves proof of God’s favour (see Matt 7:21-23) and clearly God gives these gifts as He determines (1 Cor 12:11), even to those we may not consider mature (see Acts 10:44-48.) Nonetheless, the fruit of the Spirit in our lives demonstrates the work He carries out and our reasons for desiring spiritual gifts is important. Their purpose is to build up the church. They are not something we earn, but are freely given by God to empower the church to do His will.
The gifts mentioned by Paul include:
- words of wisdom (specific words or empowerment when needed)
- words of knowledge (when we know something that normally we would not know and cannot necessarily explain ‘how’ we know)
- gifts of faith (something considered impossible that we can believe for and receive)
- working of miracles (when God intervenes in ways beyond the ‘normal’)
- prophecy (God’s direction and correction, sometimes involving ‘foretelling’ as well as ‘forthtelling’, though it should be noted that prophecy will never add or subtract from God’s word and needs to be tested)
- discerning of spirits (releasing of understanding which spirit is at work)
- speaking in tongues (a gift which has caused much controversy but which builds up an individual, and, when interpreted, builds up the whole church)
We are called to continue the work Jesus did on earth. He worked through the power of the Holy Spirit and we must too. God wants to give us good gifts and we need to be continually filled with the Spirit so that we can do the works of God.