The Spirit Regulates the Gifts

1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 11
“Now there are varieties of gifts (of the Spirit), but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills.”

When the gifts are used in a local body of believers, the church is functioning as the Lord wanted it to. When a local body does not have all the gifts working and in operation of the church, that body is fragmented and suffering.

I have seen a church that operated where the gifts of God were in full operation and it flourished. I have also seen many churches that did not operate in the gifts and in fact sometimes, the gifts were stifled.

We generally think of the gifts of the Spirit as supernatural gifts, but I’m speaking of all the gifts. The gifts of serving, leading, giving, exhorting, mercy, teaching, miracles, healing, faith, administration as well.

The point of this devotion is not to understand all the gifts, but that the Holy Spirit is in charge of distributing these gifts as He wills. Should the need arise that someone needs to be encouraged, the Holy Spirit will provide that gift to someone in the body.

If I have one gift today, I may have another gift tomorrow, it is up to the will of the Holy Spirit. What does this say to us? Be open and receptive in the body of Christ as a whole, the Holy Spirit needs a willing vessel.

That also creates an avenue for us to better understand the Holy Spirit. When we are open and receptive to the moving of the Holy Spirit in our lives we can achieve great things for God. Build up the Body of Christ, and be used to win souls for the kingdom.

Prayer:
Lord according to an old song, “to be used of God to sing, to preach, to pray. To be used of God to show someone the way. I long so much to feel the touch of His consuming power, to be used of God is my desire.” I ask to be used by You Lord Jesus. Amen!