1 Corinthians 12:7-11
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 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 gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, 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.
When I was a child I used to watch a cartoon called Captain Planet. In this show, a team of young adults had powers which they would use to fight against the ecological challenges of the day.
“Earth, Water, Wind, Fire, Heart!”
At some point in every episode, they would realise that he challenge was too great for them and they would combine their powers into a superpower that would become Captain Planet! The challenges that they faced were all so great that their only hope was unity.
The show was pretty terrible in all honesty but the clear underlying message that it wanted to instill in children was that the problems of our generation will not be fixed alone. We need each other.
In today’s passage we discover that God gives us spiritual gifts. They are not personality traits or natural abilities but are supernatural ways that the Holy Spirit wants to work through you. While many of the gifts can be used in isolation, none of them are intended to be. The gifts that he give us are not so much for us but through us. They are the way in which God wants to use you to bless the church.
This is why he does not give each of us all the gifts, despite us each having the fullness of God within us through the Hoy Spirit. He blesses us with some of what we need so that we will use them together to serve one another and to minister to the world around us. The Power of our gifts is only truly realised when we use them together. So, in many ways, the underlying gift is that our spiritual gifts draw us together, bringing value for one another and working in harmony beyond the sum of their parts.
Your gifts will point you towards your purpose and how God wants to use you. They will also be the source of your greatest impact as well as deep joy. If you do not know your spiritual gifts, there are some great tests online: https://giftstest.com/ Although, I would encourage you to pray and ask God to reveal where he wants to bless you.
It is definitely worth the time to explore if you are unsure. It is also worth noting that these gifts are like seeds and they grow through investment, prayer and use. As you steward them well, God blesses them more.
Where can you use them better for others and how can you develop them further?
