Photo by Eradio Valverde
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Let Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 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 discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. 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. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:1-13)
Take this simple test; say, "Jesus is Lord" out loud. Could you say that? Pat yourself on the back, for your are filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul, as he instructs the people at Corinth teaches about the Holy Spirit. There was much confusion about who was filled with the Holy Spirit and who was not. There were those that said, "If you don't or can't do this, you don't have the Spirit!" And the next chapter in that same letter addresses that problem (1 Cor. 13). Paul wanted all to know that everyone who asks for the Holy Spirit to dwell within them, receives Him. Where it gets confusing, Paul says, may be in understanding the different ways that the Spirit expresses Himself in you; Some have expressions of work or teachings for the common good; some have the ability to say wise and important things; some have incredible amounts of faith; some have the gift of healing; some can work miracles, some can share prophecy, some can discern spirits, another can speak in divine tongues - all are different gifts, but the same Spirit. All are still members of the one Body of Christ; everyone the same.
What's your gift? More importantly, how are you using it? There's a world of need out there that needs your gift. Share it with God and God will share you with others.
PRAYER: Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me; melt me, mold me, fill me, use me; Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me. Amen!
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Prayer Update: Welcome to the world, Kaylee Jayne Copeland, born last night at 7:09 p.m. Praise God and pray for this precious child of God, for her mom, and for her dad!
