1 Corinthians 12 (NIV)
1Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
14Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
And now I will show you the most excellent way.
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January 3rd, 2008 at 6:09 am
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
Here is our old word “phaneroo” again. The Holy Spirit showing up in your life and my life is a gigantic display of God at work.
What part of the body are you?
How will that be MANIFESTED in 2008?
January 3rd, 2008 at 1:33 pm
What gift do I hold and what part am I to play in the church? Those 2 questions are HUGE. I wonder about those 2 questions quite often. I know that I was placed here at Grace for many reasons. I found that people here at Grace accept me even with all of my faults. I love the kids at Grace and want for them what I didn’t have as a young kid. My family stopped going to church when I was 5 years old so I didn’t have the church environment/influence to help me navigate through my crazy teen years. I hope I can be here for these kids to come to and feel comfortable enough to ask me questions or even just listen to what they have to say. Thankfully my Mother was there for me to talk to and almost every problem or concern I brought before her she would tell me to pray about it or even stop what she was doing and say a pray for me if I didn’t know what to say. I find myself still practicing that with every decision, problem, or concern I pray and let God take over those areas. Sometimes I still try and find a way by myself but I always end up giving it back to God and saying “alright you’re right please help me again” I guess what it all comes down to is whatever the answer is to those questions are for me, I’m open to it. God is good and he knows whats best for me and I shouldn’t resist it. I’m just going to follow God’s lead and pray often. Thank you God for who you are and what you do!