I Corinthians 12: 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
When we are baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit, we are given good gifts so we can witness for Him and to build up the body of Christ. Our Heavenly Father longs to give us His Spirit. “To each one” mean to everyone. No exception. Everyone born of the Spirit and filled with the Spirit has a gift. It is not only a select few ones that has passed the tests that are rewarded with a gift. The gift is not a reward, it is a present. You did not earn it, you were given the present and you need only receive, with the condition that it is used to bless others. When you receive a birthday present, you did not do anything to earn the present apart by being born, and your mum did all the hard work. My son told me that the birthday present should be given to the mother, not the child. I will be expecting a present from him on his birthday!
Our Heavenly Father longs to give us the Holy Spirit. We need only ask and receive.
Luke 11:13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Our Heavenly Father longs to give us the Holy Spirit. He knows that we need the Holy Spirit to live life to the full, fulfilling our ministry to the Lord and to one another.
1 Corinthians 12: 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gift of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous power, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
I have read the above passages many times but failed to notice that the plural word of “gifts” rather than the singular word of “gift” is used in many instances. The plural use of a word usually denotes several diverse elements. Gifts of healing and note gift of healing. Gifts of tongues and not gift of tongue. Miraculous powers, and not miraculous power. I think you got it.
When I think of someone with a gift of healing, I picture and expect someone who can heal all diseases and sickness. Not necessary. There are ones that are gifted with healing for sore backs, ones that are gifted with healing for headaches, ones that are gifted with healing for broken bones, etc. I know there is a pastor whose wife is gifted with healing broken bones and joints while he is good with healing other sickness. So whenever someone asks him to pray for bad backs or joints, he will send them on to his wife.
What do you expect of someone who is gifted with miraculous powers? We expect him to call down manna from heaven or to do impossible exploits. Not necessarily all the time. He or she might be gifted with one aspect of the miraculous, or the impossible. You might be the one gifted with one aspect of the miraculous.
As we faithfully exercise the gift that we have been given, our faith increase, and we will be given more. If you are gifted with healing headaches or sprained joints, or praying for one type of miracle, or speaking in one tongue, etc, be courageous and use the gift. As you see the healings or miracles, your faith increases, and the Lord can give you more.
1 Corinthians 14: Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
The Spirit gives us gifts, not to puff us up, but for the benefit of others. The gift is not to benefit you, it is to be used to fulfill the command to love one another. Maybe you do not know what gift you have been given, or maybe you do not think you have been given any gift.
Why don’t you pray today that the Spirit will show you the gift that you have been given? The Spirit is not limited to just one gift to give you. We are told to desire or to long for spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy, with the aim to build up and minister to others. Ask and you will receive. Use whatever gift He gives you and not be limited and held back by what you think it should look like. The Spirit determines the gifts, and He has the right ones for you. Imagine a church where all the members meet, and every single member has a gift to bless someone or the whole congregation. The church would be quite spectacular and might just turn the world upside down!
Blessings
Xandria
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