By Pastor Mark Quick
Nestled among the rebukes, admonitions and instructions of 1 Corinthians chapters 12, 13, and 14 lays a gem of encouragement that makes me realize our walk with God can greatly bless others.
I’ll confess that for many years, even though I’m a Pentecostal believer, I read those chapters with a certain eye on the negative. That is actually reasonable. After all, the Apostle Paul spends a great deal of energy in this letter addressing error such as divisions, sexual sin and now disorderliness in worship. But there are a couple of profound positives I’d like to note.
First, the MANIFESTATION of the Spirit is given to EACH ONE, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:7. Just a few words prior to this he wrote that there are differences of “gifts,” “ministries” and “activities.” “BUT,” he follows, “the manifestation of the Spirit is given to EACH ONE.” It is true that we may have different jobs, do various tasks and possess varying levels of responsibility in the body of Christ. Too many times though people lump the gifts listed in Romans 12:6-8, Ephesians 4:11, and 1 Peter 4:10 into a mixed up pile with the manifestations of 1 Corinthians 12:8-11. No, the manifestations of verses 8 to 11, he says, are given to each one. No matter whether we are a pastor, a Sunday school teacher, a greeter, a janitor or a nursery worker (different gifts, ministries and activities), we can ALL be used in the manifestation of the Spirit how and when the Spirit wills – these are given to EACH ONE.
Second, is the glorious question of 1 Corinthians 14:26, “How is it then, brethren? When you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” Granted, he is exhorting them to order. But, Wow! Imagine a church family where people COME to church already stirred in their heart with something to contribute from the Spirit because of their personal prayer, worship and Bible study!
Here is the deal breaker – will we personally seek and make room for the manifestation of the Spirit? Doing so will make the church into an edifice of edification. Failing to do so will relegate it to host status for a weekly gathering of parasites.
