Holy Spirit 10

The aim of this devotional study if to review our relation to the Holy Spirit and the church with regards to spiritual gifts and ministry.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 12:1-31

1  Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.  2  You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.  3  Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

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.

12  For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13  For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–Jews or Greeks, slaves or free–and all were made to drink of one Spirit. …

29  Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30  Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31  But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

Observation

1. What does Paul try to convey to the Corinthians in this portion? (v1)
2. What main things do we learn from the Holy Spirit in the life of the congregation? (Hint: Verse 3 / Verses 4-11 / Verses 12-13)
3. Why does Paul say the gifts of the Spirit is distributed in the congregation? (v7)
4. List the gifts Paul mentions. (v7-11)
5. Related to spiritual gifts among the congregation, what is Paul’s point regarding “one body, many parts”? (v4, 11-13, 29-30)
6. What is the one key Paul gives for the manifestation of these gifts in an individual’s life? (hint: v 31)

Reflection

1. In reading this portion of the letter to the Corinthians, would you say that the operations of spiritual gifts was normal to the Corinthian church assembly? Why/ why not?
2. Look at the list of spiritual gifts Paul mentions
   1. Which of these have you practiced? How and where?
   2. Which of these have you experienced as someone ministered to you? How and where?
   3. Which of these have you witnessed in person as someone ministered to another in your presence?
3. When did you experience the operation of the Spirit most in your life? Why do you think that the Holy Spirit operated through your life the most during that time?
4. Which gifts do you desire most to minister to others? Why?

Prayer and Application

Express your earnest desire to God to bless others with ministry through the gifts of His Holy Spirit, and tell him what you felt like as you partnered with Him in serving His people.

Now pray for a word of encouragement and/or direction for someone specifically – wait on God, write it down and send it to that person as soon as you feel you have the message right.

Then thank God for the privilege of hearing his voice and working with him

Remember to expect God to speak and minister to his people though the gifts of the Spirit every time you gather.