“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.”
Romans 8:11 NLT
The Spirit of God, who raised Christ Jesus from the dead, lives in you! This same power fell on the disciples at Pentecost, and this same power is in you when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. This power allows you to do miracles, speaking words of knowledge, prophesy, and do all sorts of wonders.
The Holy Spirit is available you, sent by the Father; He is God Himself. He is the Spirit who heals and gives words of knowledge. He advocates for us. He leads us into all truth. In John 14:16, Jesus, talking about the Holy Spirit before He came, says this:
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.
john 14:16 nlt
The word ‘another’ comes from the Greek word ‘allos’, meaning ‘another of the same kind’. The Spirit of God who raised Christ Jesus from the dead, is the ‘same kind’ as Jesus. All these miracles that Jesus did, and all the things He continues to do, the ‘same kind’ is within you. The Spirit of God is the same kind, yet distinct; two Persons of the Godhead. He is with you, and speaks to us what He hears from Jesus.
Do you really understand this?
God is living in you and with you. If you understand this, consider this: how is this changing your life? What are you doing differently because of it?
4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:
first are apostles,
second are prophets,
third are teachers,
then those who do miracles,
those who have the gift of healing,
those who can help others,
those who have the gift of leadership,
those who speak in unknown languages.
29 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? 30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! 31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.
But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.
There are a lot of spiritual gifts, and a lot of ways to use your gifts and talents. Verse 7 says a spiritual gift is given to each of us, so we can help each other. There is a purpose to receiving our spiritual gifts. There are different kinds of service, but the same God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – who equips us and gives us spiritual gifts. We all have a gift, whether we are aware of it or not. No one has less or more of the Holy Spirit; we all have equal access to Him irrespective of our background, age, or size. No one has a monopoly on the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is for everyone, and gives each person spiritual gifts. As we read in verse 7, these gifts are for a purpose, and the purpose is to help each other.
Consider the gifts God has given you.
How are you using your gifts to help others?
How are you using your gifts to build up the church?
How are you using your gifts to reach the lost?
How are you using your gifts to be a witness?
We, as the Church, are one body with many parts. We have to work together, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit enable us to work together.
How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
1 corinthians 12:20-21
We all have a role to play and we need each other. Everything in your body works for a purpose; so it is with the church. We might not explicitly see each others’ gifts, but we should work together for the health of the body of Christ. That means that we all work. We all do our part, in small ways and large ways. In accounts of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, it is very rare that the Holy Spirit falls on one person at a time – it usually happens to a group of people. This tells us something about how the Spirit wants us to act. When we are together, the Holy Spirit is with us and moves in us and through us as we pray and worship.
Therefore, we do not leave the work of God to a few people; we all have a part to play, and a purpose. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) was a call to all of us, not just a few. The commandments of Jesus are for all of us. We are all disciples of Jesus; so think about how you can use your gifts collectively, and holistically as a church to further God’s kingdom.
Consider verses 23-27. Are you looking to provide special care for anyone the Church, as the body of Christ? There are people who need special care; people who need to come around them and help build their faith. Are you helping to protect people from the attacks of the enemy? Are you standing with people and using your gifts for good? Are you using your gifts to honour God in this way?
This kind of caring leads to harmony amongst believers. Conversely, when we don’t care for others, this causes division. Jesus said, “Love your neighbour as yourself.”, and “Love as I have loved you.”. To love as Jesus loves us means to love sacrificially; to put our needs and wants down to care for others, and to love somebody who hates you. To love your neighbour as yourself is to treat others to way we want to be treated.
We are also taught in Scripture to build each other up in the most holy faith. God meant it when He said these things in scripture. Be encouraging. Use your gifts that God has given. Don’t use your words to tear others down. Love your neighbour as yourself. How would you want to be treated?
We are each a part of the body of Christ, we must all function. It is not enough to be passive; if the body is passive id does nothing. We cannot go out and disciple. We cannot reach the lost. We cannot go out and pray. Doing nothing is a choice; being active is a choice.
When one part suffers, all suffer. When one part is honoured all are glad. Think about that with the words you use and your actions. Think about how you use your spiritual gifts. Your actions can cause the body of Christ together to suffer or to be glad. When we honour each other, and when we encourage each other, we can all be glad.
There are different roles in the body of Christ; roles to serve God, help others and build up the body. You have a gifting and role. So if you don’t know what it is pray about it and ask God to reveal it to you – it might not be one of the roles listed in the passage above. We don’t all have the same gifts so that we can work together. If you’re not working together, why not?
The passage ends with this:
“So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.”
1 Corinthians 12:31 NLT
When you eagerly desire something, you work towards it. You prepare for it. You invest in it. You pursue it. You read about it. You put it into action. In your earnest desiring, there is an excitement and a preparation in the waiting. There is an expectation that it will be come, and it will good.
Translate this to earnestly desiring the Spirit: He is there 24/7. He has the best gifts available. Make space for Him to speak, and for Him to move. Eagerly desire the most helpful gifts; the goal is to be helpful. It is not for our own power or glorification, but for the glory of God and the building and support of His body.
Are you eagerly desiring to be helpful? Do you eagerly desire God’s gifts, with a specific purpose? Are you using the gifts you have to be helpful in service to God? If you are not, start today!