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Paul was answering a question put to him in writing by Greek Christians in Corinth. The question was 'Explain to us about all things spiritual. What are the signs and gifts of the Holy Spirit.' Paul's written answer covers three chapters of First Corinthians, Chapters 12, 13 and 14, and he makes the point: that spiritual gifts are only for Christians. They are not to be confused with natural talents or aptitudes.They are God's free gifts to those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ.They are given to enable them to serve, to minister in His name and under His Lordship.
So that's the first gift - their faith in Christ. We call it conversion.
The second is the church-No don't laugh. I don't mean the average Englishman's idea of church, which is a joke for being boring, irrelevant and out of touch with anything important. The church is, said Paul, the body of Christ, and just as a human body has millions of different parts all working as ONE - that's what the church is meant to be.
To be baptised into Christ as a disciple means that you are baptised into the Christian Community of faith in which God 'grafts' you to be an essential part of the body. Discovering your spiritual gifts is a vital part of growing up as a disciple of Christ.If you are not sure how to find out what spiritual gifts God has given you, try one test: just one out of many.Ask a group of Christian people, who you know well, to help you find out about your spiritual gifting. It may surprise you.I've known people be so surprised when the one thing they prided themselves on was not even mentioned, but something about which they were totally unaware, which had never even crossed their minds till then, was mentioned.
Oh yes, and there is one gift so vital that all Christians must have - we'll look at it tomorrow. This is how Chapter 12 of I Corinthians ends:
"Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way." I Corinthians 12: 29-30
P.S. It's a great day in a man's life when he sees that he is not God's gift to the church, but is gifted by God to serve the church in the world.
A Prayer:
Show me, O Lord, what you would have me to do-for you always provide the resources to do what you command.
Now read I Corinthians Chapter 12 right through.
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