I recently shared a message called “The Gifts of the Holy Spirit,” in which I spoke about each gift and how it works. However, I also want to share how each spiritual gift has a valuable place in the body of Christ.
I Corinthians 12:4-7 says, “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.” The manifestation of the Spirit is given for all—not just for my benefit or yours.
In I Corinthians 12:8-11, we read: “For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”
This chapter goes on to compare the Christian church to the human body. Just as our bodies need eyes to see and feet to walk—different parts which do different things—the body of Christ needs different people. “But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body” (I Corinthians 12:18-20).
All members of the body of Christ are meant to work together, even if some are stronger than others. If you know someone who has walked through shame or mistakes, don’t participate in hurting or ridiculing them. I Corinthians 12:22-25 describes how we are to “bestow great honor” even on “members of the body which we think to be less honorable.” Carnal humanity’s normal reaction is to do the opposite, but when someone is repentant after having done something dishonorable, we should honor them.
Just as all parts of the body of Christ are important, all the gifts of the Spirit are important. I Corinthians 12:28 says, “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongue.” Everyone’s gifts may not involve a microphone, but we can all assist the church.
Think of the Holy Spirit like electricity. Electricity goes through an entire house empowering all its appliances. What we have in common with those appliances is we cannot operate in spiritual gifts without being plugged into the power source. I Corinthians 13 tells us our power source, or what causes God to entrust and empower us with spiritual gifts, is love.
I Corinthians 13:1-3 says, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”
Though we may “speak with the tongues of men and of angels,” our gifts need God’s perfect love to empower them. So, spiritual gifts without God’s true love in operation are incomplete. Love is the source from which all the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit originate.
Click here to watch my message “The Gifts of the Holy Spirit” in its entirety and download the audio to enjoy wherever you go.
Also, check out my program Prophetic Chronicles with Chris Reed. You will see real-life testimonies of how people's lives are being touched by the supernatural power of personal prophetic ministry. Click here.
Blessings,
Chris Reed | President & CEO
MorningStar Ministries
