Have you ever noticed how displays of intrigue draw people to stop what they are doing and watch the object of interest? From television to stage shows, in every community around the world, people are stopping to watch when their interests are captured.
Advertisers depend on finding the latest marvel in hopes people will buy their products, come to their business, or buy their goods. When they have captured their audience, they decrease their spending on the entertainment and increase their spending to find the next gimmick to keep the audience and build upon it. They want new people to accept their brand.
This is how our economies survive; it's all about branding and having people recognize your brand as the best brand.
In Corinth, the cities commerce involved, shipping and tourism. Of the two highly successful endeavors, tourism brought people from all around as the fame of the Corinthian temples grew and thus tourism could arguably be the most lucrative.
So what was the draw which brought in the tourists? What were people coming to see? The draw was food, alcohol, promiscuity, music, and mystical charming. When a person would leave Corinth, they would have their imaginations and faith in the gods increased, having seen things they could not explain.
The Christians of the city had a faith founded on much the same. The stories in scriptures of the miracle of the one true God were taught. The church also told the stories of Jesus, the Messiah, and of the miracles He did. The church could even compete in the mystical, having miracles occur in their own church. However, there was no telling when a miracle would happen and no way to produce it upon command, to compete with the temples of the gods.
In the temple of the Gods, the miracles were trickery; enhancing illusions with mind altering drugs.
However within the Corinthian church, the Holy Spirit was busy shaping, teaching, comforting, and encouraging Christians in their service to God. This often led to the miraculous occurring; yet the miraculous was not for show or proof, but of need, compassion, and in the wisdom of God.
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 1 Corinthians 12:1(NKJV)
Paul used the word "ignorant" to explain a person can literally be out of the will of God and missing the mark of God for their life if they do not seek spiritual gifts.
Did you know if we do not seek spiritual gifts it is sin? God wants us to know He is able to change our life and do the unexplainable. From this you can see why there is such a cloud of darkness surrounding spiritual gifts for the enemy does not want the Kingdom of God built and does not want you to reach the potential God has for you.
Thus we must realize God has saved us from our sinful nature to create in us a new life; one different than before. He wants us to be mighty through Him and busy doing His work. We have the opportunity to be His hands, His feet, and to be examples of His power to save. Thus He grants to us spiritual gifts to do His work.
You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:2-3 (NKJV)
God has designed each and every one of us to meet Jesus and receive a new life. The old life, it's thoughts, it's ways, and it's passions, are no longer to be our focus and the new life of joy, worship, prayer, and service is. This is not a manufactured illusion; it is a reality which comes by receiving power from the Holy Spirit.
There are people who call themselves Christians who do not believe in the power of the Holy Spirit or do they believe in the gifts we are encouraged to seek and use. They feel their worship is to understand the scripture, attend church, and live a nominal life.
However, the scriptures tell us Jesus, Himself, sent the Holy Spirit and told His disciple they would do greater works than He, through the awesome power to come. Therefore, to deny spiritual gifts is to say the work of the spirit in our life is a an illusion created by those who use them. The very denial is to say it is accursed.
Yet to say Jesus is Lord is to accept everything He preached, shared, and does to help us. People using spiritual gifts are committing to Christ as Lord, thus it is only through the Holy Spirit this can be said.
How could one say Jesus is Lord and not seek spiritual gifts?
There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 1 Corinthians 12:5-7 (NKJV)
The church has been so confused about spiritual gifts that many churches have said that spiritual gifts are not for this age. These churches found some people were seeking gifts so hard, they were focused on speaking in tongues, healings - which never occurred, and words of knowledge which made the person a stand out in the crowd. Thus they created doctrines saying gifts were not for today's church.
However, these churches seeing abuse were and are right; there are those who manufacture illusions and have whole denominations devoted to drawing attention to themselves. Some churches are abusing the scriptures and the intent of God for spiritual gifts. They preach faith, but are not faithful to God's use of spiritual gifts in the church.
Paul tells the Corinthians gifts enable people to do different ministries within the church and all are to allow God to enable them to minister. Gifts are used to minister to others.
for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.1 Corinthians 12:8-11 (NKJV)
It is important to understand Paul is speaking in general terms. When Paul says, "one is given the word of wisdom," it is important to understand this may not be a lifelong ministry and a gift one is to grandstand on. This may be only one word, one sentence, and one instance, where God enables a person to understand and guide another person. It is not to be thought of as "their ministry" in the church.
A Christian and the church is told to go into all the world and preach the gospel. Thus it takes much work and many people who are willing to let God use them where they are at, to do the work need. Thus today a person may need wisdom, the next day a miracle, and perhaps even being able to overcome language barriers at times which is not a sign or wonder, but something necessary to continue to minister.
“What do I do today, Lord?” This is a question which can only be asked by the person who expects God will give direction and ability to build the kingdom.
Paul was encouraging the Corinthian Christians to think beyond their knowledge, beyond their ability, and become a person of God used in great ways.
Paul was teach them, God will give those miracles of discernment, prophesies, and even other languages to lead people to Christ when needed. But Paul had concerns they did not manufacture magical, mystical, displays of nonsense to compete with the temple of the gods.
The greatest of all spiritual gifts is the gift of God making himself know to us in love through His son, Jesus. Therefore, we should believe in gifts.
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