Episode 203 - "Many Spiritual Gifts - One God" - 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

1 Cor. 12:4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Let me begin by saying that I believe this section offers us some of the most foundational and important truths concerning spiritual gifts, enablements of the Holy Spirit, within the life of a person who has trusted in the person and work of Jesus Christ. I will also be upfront and add that I believe these truths expose egregious errors in the teachings of some Christian groups. Without naming specific groups, I don’t question their passion or sincerity. There are people within those groups who do not subscribe to those errors, and there are people who hold those same errors while belonging to Christian organizations that don’t believe or teach the errors. But I do suggest they, whether individuals or formal groups, need to allow this Holy Spirit-inspired revelation to correct their beliefs and practices with respect to spiritual gifts. Let’s take a look.

What do you see or hear repeated in verses 4 through 6? First, there is the word “varieties.” It speaks of the broad work and enablements of the Holy Spirit. That variety is explained in verses that follow: utterances of wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, working miracles, prophecy, ability to distinguish between spirits, tongues (languages), and interpretation of tongues. I don’t believe this is an exhaustive list. In Ephesians chapter 4, Paul, the same person who wrote this letter, speaks of leaders in the Church as “gifts.” The point is that what the Holy Spirit does in and through a believer can look different from that of another believer. Both of them will confess that Jesus is Lord. But each of them may, and likely will, be gifted differently. Why is that? We’ll come back to this question.

The second thing that is repeated in verses 4 through 6 is “same.” It’s the same Spirit, same Lord, and same God who empowers believers in a “variety” of ways. This is important to understand because Paul is not saying that there is only one spirit. He is saying there is only one Holy Spirit who provides true God-created and enabled gifts to His Church. There are other spirits who, at times, imitate some of these enablements. Think about the story of the Exodus when Moses and Aaron went before Pharoah to bring the LORD’s command to “Let me people go!” When they performed a few signs, Pharoah’s magicians also performed what was perceived as miraculous signs. Yet, there is a limit to what they could do. Look at Exodus 8:17-19 for example. When God turned dust into gnats, the magicians could not do that. They said, “It is the finger of God.” (A reference to the Holy Spirit.) Paul wants the Corinthian believers to know that there are not different spirits, lords, or gods behind the different works. Therefore, they need to be discerning. We need to be discerning in our churches today. Just because someone appears to be a great leader or has special abilities, it doesn’t mean they are being led by the Holy Spirit.

Verse 7 gives us two important truths. First, Paul says, “To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit.” Every single person who places their faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ is given a spiritual gift. Secondly, Paul tells us why the Holy Spirit gives each believer at least one spiritual gift. It is “for the common good.” Spiritual gifts are to be exercised within the community of faith to correct, strengthen, and encourage other believers in their faith and work out God’s mission through that group of believers. This explains why there is a variety of gifts that are given from the same God. God understands the complexity of our lives, and He wants us to work together in unity for His mission to the world. God doesn’t build “superChristians” who can do everything. He gifts everyone in the church to offer something for the others within the church to work together to be a light to the world.

In verse 11, Paul reemphasizes that all these gifts are empowered by the same Spirit and then adds one more detail. He says the Holy Spirit “apportions to each one individually as he wills.” This tells us that we don’t get to pick what spiritual gifts we are given. That is decided by the Holy Spirit. I think it’s entirely possible that the Spirit may gift people with different gifts and even change their gifts at times for whatever God deems necessary for His work.

God does not and will not feed our egos. These truths, if we really believe the Holy Spirit, should humble us in knowing that we are subject to the Spirit’s will and, in receiving what is given to us, we are to use that for the benefit of other believers around us and for God’s mission in the world.

Much more could be said on the nature of the gifts Paul listed. However, I felt the important truths centered more upon the nature of the Giver and the purpose and manner in which these gifts are distributed.