I Corinthians 12:4-7: "The Source of our Spiritual Gifts"

In the first 3 verses of this chapter Paul had given the Corinthians a warning about counterfeit spiritual gifts and the tests they can use to make sure that the spiritual gifts are true. Paul continues his discussion on the spiritual gifts in this section to help the Corinthians understand their source and purpose. Paul starts off by explaining, "there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit". Paul lets the Corinthians know that there are various gifts that are given to each believer in order to carry out the divine work of God, however, they all draw their power from the same source, the Holy Spirit. Paul had already confronted the Corinthians on their divisiveness and quarreling. It is no doubt that they were misusing and misapplying the spiritual gifts to further cause these divisions. MacArthur writes, "The Spirit gives gifts (capacities for spiritual ministry) to believers to express and strengthen the unity they have in their Lord Jesus Christ. But misuse of those gifts shatters unity, divides believers, ruins their testimony before the world, and short-circuits their growth and effectiveness in the Lord's service". Apparently the Corinthians did not understand that there were various gifts. Some may not have been as visible and powerful, however, they were just as important (as will be discussed later). The main point Paul is trying to establish here is that although we may all have different gifts we must understand that they all come from the Holy Spirit, and because of that they must all work together to use them to grow and encourage the church.

Paul continues, "and there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord". Paul reiterates that not only do we have various gifts, but we also have different ministries. Even two people with the same gift may use them in different capacities to best serve the ministry he is given to. One may be better with children, while another is more gifted with the handicap. One may be better teaching in groups, while another is better teaching one-on-one. What we must understand is that all these gifts come from the same Lord, and we are to work together to find our gift and use it for the glory of God. Here we also see that the purpose of gifts is to serve, or "minister" to others. Gifts are not given to us by God to whord them or use them for self-gain. This was the problem with the Corinthians. They were not recognizing the author of their gifts and the purpose of having them. Gifts should always be used to benefit others, never ourselves. MacArthur writes, "A gift exercised in private is a perverted gift. God gives His gifts to us but for others. We are personally blessed when we use our gifts in the Spirit's power to serve others in His name, but that blessing is the by-product not the purpose".

Paul then reiterates what he has been saying throughout this section, "And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons". This shows that not only do our gifts come from God, they are energized or empowered by Him as well. Just as with salvation, every part of our gift from receiving it to being empowered to use it comes from God. It is only when we humbly allow Christ to use us, that our gifts can be effectively used in the church. MacArthur writes, "Like the gifts themselves, the energizing of spiritual gifts is sovereignly varied (cf. Matt. 13:23). The same gift may be used by the Lord in countless ways, in many varieties. Even the same person exercising the same gift will not always see the same kind or extent of result. We should not all expect to have the same gifts, nor should we expect them to operate in the same ways or produce the same quantity of fruit". Because of the various nature, visibility and success of the various fruits, the Corinthians were more concerned with which fruit they had, then exercising it properly. Apparently the Corinthians were seeking out to have the more visible fruits that would bring more focus on them rather than God. MacArthur points out, "The emphasis here on varieties seems to imply that the Corinthians thought that the more dramatic gifts were the only gifts, or at least the only gifts worth having. But Paul tells them that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to all Christians, that He gives a variety of gifts, and that every gift is as spiritual and important as any other". As Christians, our desire should never be to bring success, recognition and glory to ourselves. Therefore, we should be grateful and faithful with the gift that God chooses to give to us. God has seen fit to give various gifts to various people for a reason.

In the last part of this section Paul concludes, "But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good". Again, Paul here is emphasizing the goal of our spiritual gifts and that is for the "common good" of the church. "Manifestation (phanerosis) has the basic idea of making known, clear, or evident", according to MacArthur. The very purpose of the gifts that God gives to each is to make clear or evident the working of the Holy Spirit within the believer. It is to be a testimony to the lost and make manifest the living Spirit which dwells within each of us. It is for the common good of the church that these are made manifest in us. We make a mockery of God and the church when we try to use our gifts for anything other than the edification of the body.