I Corinthians 12:1-7 (NIV) 1 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know 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. 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
If we have ever wondered about what God is calling us to do, or how Christ is calling us to serve, we are not left to wonder and to wander. When God calls us to serve, God calls us according to the spiritual gift given to us. In seeking to answer God’s call to serve we must become aware of our giftedness. It should be fairly easy to know our spiritual gifts. Our gift is found in doing what we delight in doing. When we serve according to our spiritual gifts we are not simply doing what we ought to do, we are doing what we were created to do. The gifts are given for the common good, and the people of the community can help us recognize our spiritual gifts.
When we surrender and let go of what we want or what we think is best, when we surrender the situation into God’s hands we begin asking what God would have us to do. It is important that we raise up a sense of call out of the business of our lives, out of the day to day ordinariness of our lives, even out of our sense of responsibility that motivated us to accept a responsibility in the first place. We can get worn out in using our gifts. We still need balance between serving and rest so that if get worn out we do not get burned out.
In Corinth, the mystery religions were popular. The mystery religions promised that if you went through their secret, sacred ritual you would experience a spiritual ecstasy of pleasure and that experience would make a special, very religious person. So, Paul writes to inform them. Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. Each one is given a spiritual gift that can be used to help the whole church. A spiritual gift helps other people experience the presence and ministry of Jesus. Each person has a piece of the puzzle. As we each contribute our piece, the presence and power of Jesus is effective in the congregation and community. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope October 8, 2000
© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell
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