We have been examining the apostle Paul’s epistle, 1 Corinthians, where he addresses unity in the church, sexual immorality and how to be more effective in evangelizing (see Third Missionary Journey of the Apostle Paul, Are You Drawn to the Flesh and Meeting People Where They Are At).
Paul now shifts his teaching to focus on how to carry on a church service that honors God. The first thing he tackles is ‘Communion’ – the taking of the Lord’s Supper.
He had received reports that the wealthy Corinthians had been getting drunk off the wine and ate all the bread – leaving nothing behind for the poorer parishioners. Paul is not happy:
Don’t you have your own homes for eating and drinking? Or do you really want to disgrace God’s church and shame the poor?
For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people – an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”
For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. 1 Cor. 11:22 – 26. NLT
So, it is a good thing that we celebrate Communion often. It freshens our remembrance of all that Christ has done for us.
Now, the apostle upbraids those Corinthians that have vilified the offering:
So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. 1 Cor. 11:27 – 29. NLT
Thus, it is necessary to examine ourselves first, for any sin that we have not confessed and repented for before we take Communion – praying to Jehovah first, seeking a pardon for that transgression(s). Then, we are freed to partake.
If God also decides that you need a chastening for your disobedience, take comfort in knowing that it’s strictly Father’s way to keep you on your heavenly path:
If we were properly judging ourselves, we would not be judged, but when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined, so that we may not be condemned with the world. 1 Cor. 11:31, 32. CSB
Next, the apostle turns his teaching towards the ‘gifts of the Holy Spirit’ that are given to empower us – bringing us closer to God. The Holy Spirit’s prime mission is to produce a closer kinship with our Father – in the arena of His word, His love, and His redemption, which deepens our understanding of His Son as well.
You can feel the Holy Spirit at work within you, in those moments when you are filled with an unction to seek Jehovah God on a deeper level.
Paul begins:
Now there are [distinctive] varieties of spiritual gifts [special abilities given by the grace and extraordinary power of the Holy Spirit operating in believers] but it is the same Spirit [who grants them and empowers believers]. And there are [distinctive] varieties of ministries and service, but it is the same Lord [who is served].
And there are [distinctive] ways of working [to accomplish things], but it is the same God who produces all things in believers [inspiring, energizing, and empowering them]. 1 Cor. 12:4 – 6. AMP
One God, one Son, and one Spirit – working together harmoniously, to bring these gifts to you. Why?
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit [the spiritual illumination and the enabling of the Holy Spirit] for the common good. 1 Cor. 12:7
The expression of the Holy Spirit is a gift available to any believer. It is not a supernatural enhancement of an ability that you already have; it is God Himself working through you.
The apostle now lists the gifts of the Spirit, tells us what they are for, and illuminates the proper practice of them with regards to nurturing the church service (1 Cor. 12:8 – 10):
THE WORD OF WISDOM
This has been presented in two ways. The first, as an imbuing power of the Holy Spirit that gives one a heightened understanding of the wisdom of God, to bring others to a greater comprehension of that same wisdom, and how it applies to the specific situation for which the power has manifested.
Secondly, it may show up as a prophetic word of God regarding a future event.
THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE
This is a gift of revelation about a present fact that could not have been revealed in the natural sense – a message from Jehovah that applies to a situation or person, usually related to an immediate need.
THE GIFT OF FAITH
It is a Holy Spirit injection of faith that bolsters the recipient’s own belief – beyond their present level. This is a faith that assures one of God’s abilities to accomplish the seemingly impossible. Indeed, it opens the door for Him to do so, for a specific situation.
GIFTS OF HEALINGS
People can be gifted with a healing moment of God, through the Holy Spirit, to bring a supernatural healing to others. It may also manifest as an immediate healing or as a healing ‘boost,’ e.g., as an anointing of healing over a physician’s intervention.
GIFTS OF MIRACLES
An occasion where the Holy Spirit works through the recipient, allowing them to perform a supernatural act that defies natural physical laws.
PROPHECY
It is defined in three ways. First as a revelation in a particular moment for edifying or comforting a congregation, or a particular congregant. Secondly as a revelation given to one to be able to see into the heart of another, often used to help evangelize. Thirdly, as a revelation of things to come.
DISCERNMENT OF SPIRITS
A supernatural ability to distinguish between the Holy Spirit, and the demonic spirits of Satan – especially to be able to differentiate which spirt is motivating another’s thoughts, speech, or actions.
SPEAKING IN TONGUES
This Spirit-filled gift enables one to speak in a language that one does not normally speak, as what happened to the first church on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1 – 18.)
A variation of this, is referred to as ‘speaking in a heavenly tongue’ or ‘praying in the spirit.’ It is commonly unassociated with any known language. It is used mostly to augment the efficacy of our private prayers.
INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES
Within a church service, sometimes one is allowed to speak in the aforementioned heavenly language if the speaker feels that they have a message that God meant for him or her to give to the congregation.
But, and it’s a BIG butt, there must also be present one whom can interpret what is said, (it could be the speaker him or herself), so that the congregants can benefit from the truth brought forth by the Holy Spirit.
Paul then addresses all the gifts:
It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. 1 Cor. 12:11 NLT
So, your gift is whatever the Holy Spirit imbues you with, and it may be different from what others have. Do not worry about the gifts that you do not have. It doesn’t make you any less of a follower of Christ:
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! 1 Cor. 12:30 NLT
Whether one possesses a particular gift or not, no one in the Kingdom of God is unimportant:
For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body – so also is Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – and we were all given one Spirit to drink. 1 Cor. 12:12, 13. CSB
Now, the apostle qualifies that use of the spiritual gifts, saying that if the use of them is not grounded in love, they are meaningless:
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of the angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 1 Cor. 13:1 – 3. NLT
What kind of love does God want to see in our Christ-like walk?
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 1 Cor. 13:4 – 8. NLT
Furthermore, Paul tells us when the spiritual gifts will no longer be necessary:
Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless. 1 Cor. 13:9 – 12. NLT
That is, when Christ returns…
Goodnight and God bless.