1 Corinthians 12:8-14 Many Spiritual Gifts, One Body
8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.14 For the body is not one member, but many.
There are many different Spiritual Gifts given to members of the church, who have been baptized by the Holy Spirit. The Spiritual Gift are simply talents the Lord gives, to help the His church to spread His love to the lost people outside the church. There is a list of Gifts listed in this passage. It really doesn’t tell what else one does, but it does say each Gift serves God’s & His church purpose. The list doesn’t put one Gift above the others, & it doesn’t say that everyone in the same church will receive the same Gift, but a different Gift per individual of His church. A Christian may not know his or her Gift, unless someone else recognizes their Gift, or if he or she has more than one. A Christian should shouldn’t take pride in their Gift, but be humble enough, God gave them the ability to share His Gospel & love with lost souls, who we should want to have everlasting life & to let him/her they are simply loved, just because they live. Something amazing I find in this passage is that it doesn’t matter if we are Jew, Greek, slave or a free person. These churches had a mix of people, not just one group or one race or people, they were all one part of the body of Christ, that all drank of His Living Water. One of the Spiritual Gifts is Hospitality, how can the church of Christ have Hospitality, if it is picky about who they worship with, share the love or the Gospel with, that is all I have to say. God bless you all, the Lord loves you & so do I. Sam H.
