The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Now concerning what comes from the Spirit, brothers, I do not want you to be unaware. You know that when you were pagans, you used to be led off to the idols that could not speak. Therefore I am informing you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is cursed," and no one can say "Jesus is Lord," except by the holy Spirit.
Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person. A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial.
To one is given a message of wisdom through the spirit,
To another, a message of knowledge in the same Spirit,
To another faith by the same Spirit,
To another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
To another, the performing of miracles,
To another, prophesy,
To another, the distinguishing between spirits,
To another, different kinds of languages,
To another, interpretation of language.
But one and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as He wills.
1Cor 12:1-11
 
Having dealt with the sin in the camp Paul now turns to teaching about the gifts given by the Holy Spirit. Only when I am clean can I truly appreciate, desire and receive gifts that the Holy Spirit wants me to use for the benefit of the Body of Christ.
 
Those who take Jesus as another idol cannot truly say He is Lord over all and give Him pre-eminence. Paul is laying down the path to greater things.
 
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are available to all who ask, who seek Him and are open to His working. The gifts add the Spirit's power to the Body of Christ and are what makes it stand out in our heathen world.
 
Seeking hearts find and receive. Seeking to know the Holy Spirit is a start and love for the Body and the community you live in is a good motivator. The gifts are not just for us to hang as trophies on the wall, but for use as the Spirit leads.
 
As we read the Acts of the Apostles we see these gifts in motion. They were used for the benefit of the Gospel and the preaching of the word. The pagans took notice when the power of God was manifest.
 
Going out into a lost world with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, now there is a journey worth taking.

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