ICS Daily Devotions
Serving with Various Gifts

1 Cor 12: 7-11, 31 (NKJV) 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……… But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

Being part of the Spirit-empowered body, we use spiritual gifts to serve the Living God. Spiritual gifts are not meant for us to have a big ego. They are designed for service. We need to serve God through the gifts that He has given us. God has given His Spirit-empowered body different gifts to serve Him and His purpose. We need to understand that the gifts and talents that God has given us are meant to be a blessing to others. It is always about being a conduit for God to those people who are in need.

The more excellent way is love because the Holy Spirit does not flow without love. Therefore, the church must not allow any divisive spirit to cause dissension. Spirit empowered us to serve and to love one another while serving the body of believers and the community.

There are different gifts in the body of Christ. But we are still one body even though the gifts differ one from another! We need to use the gift and talent that have been given to us by God in proportion to our faith. We cannot emphasize on the administrative gifts and ignore the spiritual gifts. Every gift and talent have to be in place in the body of Christ and does its share so that the body of Christ can grow.

We may be common and ordinary folks in the eyes of men but when a church is filled with the Holy Spirit, the spiritual gifts can bring down strongholds in the lives of people and turn the world right side up!

Romans 8:14 (NKJV) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

1 John 2:27 (NKJV) But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

The Holy Spirit communicates to us through our spirit man and not the mind. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. The mind has to be renewed with the word of God with an understanding of spiritual matters, or else it will be a hindrance to us to serve the Lord with the spiritual gifts. The natural mind cannot understand spiritual things. If we want to operate in the gift that God has given us, then we need to take a bold step of faith to say and act out what we perceive in our heart, as the Spirit of God speaks to us. Do not be afraid to make mistakes because the more we yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit, the sharper we get. Let us serve the Lord with our gifts and trust in His lead!

Sermon series: Our Church experiencing God Together (CG campaign 3)