1 Cor 12:7-11 “For the Common Good”

1 Cor 12:7-11 “For the Common Good”

“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 
To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 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. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.”

Previously, I talked about who the Holy Spirit is, and that the one Holy Spirit gives many different gifts to us. We should not expect to have the same gifts as someone else. Nor should we judge someone else because of gifts they have received or not received.

Today I want to look at why we have spiritual gifts. Vs7 “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

Ephesians 4:12 “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

God’s desire is that the Gifts of the Spirit equip, grow, and mature the church. Therefore we must be careful in the use of our gift.

If you have the gift of discernment-
If you have the gift of knowledge
If you have the gift of preaching

Any gift of the Spirit is a powerful thing like a gun, sward, electricity, or a lazer.

In the very nature of their power lies a danger, because the receiver of the gift is still influenced by the sinful nature. So we must ask how our Spiritual gifts can be used for the “common good”. We must insure that when we use our gifts that we have the common good in mind.

Again God’s desire is that the body of Christ is equipped, grow, mature, and minister. What happens if we neglect our gift?

If you have the gift of healing
if you have the gift of teaching
if you have the gift of leading
if you have the gift of giving

Favoring one hip forces the damage of the other hip as well as the knee, foot and even your back. When one part of the body fails to use their gift, stress comes to the rest of the body.

When any one person does more than they should they break down. “You can not ride a dead horse.”

God calls each of us to carefully use our gifts for the common good.