1 Corinthians 12:7 - Spiritual Gifts 101.
1 Corinthians 12:7 - Spiritual Gifts 101.
1 Corinthians 12:7 (TNIV) Now to each one the manifestation of
the Spirit is given for the common good.
CONTEXT
Spiritual Gifts: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11.
COMMENTARY APPLICATION with Emphasis on V. 7:
When you place your trust in Christ, he places his Spirit in
you. And when the Spirit comes, he brings gifts, housewarming gifts
of sorts. "Something from the Spirit can be seen in each person,
for the common good" (1 Corinthians 12:7). Remember, God prepacked
you with strengths. When you become a child of God, the Holy Spirit
requisitions your abilities for the expansion of God's kingdom, and they
become spiritual gifts. The Holy Spirit may add other gifts according
to his plan. But no one is gift deprived.. [Grace For The Moment SB
By Max Lucado re 1Co. 12:7]
As a new believer, you may wonder what gift God gave you. You
can find out by (1) being available to God and seeking to serve
others for Christ's sake, (2) helping out in your church when needs
arise, (3) finding out what you're good at and what you enjoy, (4)
asking for feedback from fellow believers. As you serve in various
capacities, your gift will come to the surface.
The church, like a body, needs all the parts working together
to get the job done. So be a willing servant, use your gifts, and
help when needed. The ultimate goal is always that more people will
come to know Jesus. [The One Year Bible for New Believers
1Co.12:4-30]
First Corinthians 12:7 tells you why God gave you such unique
gifts and attributes: "The manifestation of the Spirit is given to
each one for the profit of all" (1 Cor. 12:7). God gives you
distinctive abilities because the church needs you. The Lord could do His
work in the world without you, but because of your need for
relationship with Him, and His desire for fellowship with you, He includes
you in His work.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, "The only gift is a portion of
thyself." This is especially true when considering the work of the church.
There is no greater gift you could give to the Lord or to the church
than yourself. Others in your community of believers will learn about
Jesus through you, as you gain knowledge of Him through them. Are you
willing to take up the work God has for you and give a portion of
yourself to be Christ's body in the world?
Is there any area in which you could use your gifts and
talents in the service of other believers? Write down any areas you can
think of and pray that God will reveal what place He has for you in
the body. [Life Principles SB By Charles Stanley re 1Co. 12:1-31]
The moment you are born again you receive the Holy Spirit. The
Holy Spirit is the gift. God doesn't give you some thing, He gives
you Himself. The Holy Spirit is God. As He lives out His life
through you, you have almighty God dwelling within you, carrying out His
purposes. The Spirit will manifest Himself through your life, not for your
good alone, but for the benefit of those around you.
The Spirit will lead you to a church body where He can
minister through you to each person in that body (1Co 12:18). God does
not add you to a church body so you can be an observer. The Spirit
has an assignment for you within the body, and He will equip you by
His presence for this work.
In the Old Testament, God gave specific assignments to His
servants and then placed His Spirit upon them to enable them to
accomplish their work. In the New Testament, God placed each member as a
vital part of a living body. He placed His Spirit within each believer
and manifested Himself through the believer to encourage and equip
every other member of the body. What an exciting commission from God!
Today the Holy Spirit equips believers because He has given each of
His servants a task.
How is the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life benefiting
those around you? God has equipped you with exactly what is needed for
the edification of the body in which He has placed you. If you allow
the Holy Spirit to work freely within you, others will be blessed as
a result. [Experiencing God Day by Day by Henry and Richard
Blackaby re 1Co. 12:7]
As in the natural, so in the spiritual world: every power unused
will weaken and decay. Activity is the law of life; idleness is
death. "The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit
withal." 1 Corinthians 12:7. Employed to bless others, his gifts
increase. Shut up to self-serving they diminish, and are finally
withdrawn. He who refuses to impart that which he has received will at last
find that he has nothing to give. He is consenting to a process that
surely dwarfs and finally destroys the faculties of the soul. {COL
364.1}
EXCELLENT SPIRITUAL GIFT INVENTORY SITES (identifying your
spiritual gifts):
http://buildingchurch.net/g2s.htm
http://www.churchgrowth.org/analysis/intro.php
http://ardisonbernardo.com/?p=292
