1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-11There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 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: 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. Our Lord gives us a multitude of spiritual gifts, and the diversities of gifts we see here in 1 Corinthians, represents a map of the plan of God, for these gifts are of the Holy Spirit — the one gift beyond price, from which all the gifts mentioned are but a part. We can receive these benefactions as Our Lord deems fit, distributing to each one individually as He wills. The test of whether or not the gift, or gifts, are of God, lies in the outworking. There are many spirits in the world, but only The One Spirit of the Living God is Holy, and that One Holy Spirit is given individually for the benefit of every one. So far I am merely reiterating what you can read and hear for yourselves. What are these diversities of gifts? Paul gives the list …
Does anything strike you in this collection of gifts? For myself, the first thing that hit me was that Faith is a gift from the Almighty. I cannot have faith in God, in Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit unless our Heavenly Father freely and personally chooses to impart that gift in me. And it is the third gift that the three-in-one God fills me with, having already shown me His wisdom and led me to know Him. Having given me those three gifts they become part of my spiritual being through Jesus Christ, and growing in Him I can share His wisdom His knowledge and Faith in Him with those around me, thus building up His church. Likewise others bless me with their sharing in the Spirit, so that all benefit, one with another. These nine gifts are set in three groups of three. I believe that the first three are found in most believers in varying degrees, but for the benefit of all. And when we look at the second and third, our Heavenly Father distributes the gifts in another way. Healings, miracles and prophecy are gifts that my experience reveals to be of a different order — in effect that not all manifest these gifts, or at least not all the time, but that the Holy Spirit will use one here and one there to achieve His purpose. This second grouping seems to me to indicate The Lord using a faithful one open as a channel to facilitate a healing, or a miracle, or to give voice to a prophetic utterance. And the third grouping? The discerning of Spirits opens the deeper pathways of the Spirit so that the expression of tongues — the speaking of that Heavenly Language becomes evermore fluent, leading eventually to the gift of being able to translate these outpourings to reveal the heart of God in that moment. Like so many things with Our Lord, there is a progression inherent in these revelations. Not every one will see or experience the fullness of these gifts, but all will be touched by them in different degrees — of that there can be no doubt. There is much more that can be said of this subject, and we shall return to it again soon. MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS…how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? HEBREWS 2:3-4 HOLY SPIRIT LIVING BREATH OF GOD — Keith and Kristyn Getty Words and Music by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend and incorporating the melody of “Gabriel's Oboe" written by Ennio Morricone PRAYER requires OBEDIENCEMEDITATION MEANS GETTING to the middle of a thing; not being like a pebble in a brook and letting the water of thought go over us; that is reverie, not meditation. Meditation is an intense spiritual activity. It means bringing every bit of the mind into harness and concentrating its powers; it includes both deliberation and reflection. Deliberation means being able to weigh well what we think, conscious all the time that we are deliberating and meditating. "My heart consulted in me" is exactly the meaning of meditation. [from ‘Biblical Philosophy’ by Oswald Chambers] LISTEN TO THIS MEDITATION BELOW…
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