On a pizza, you can have many different toppings. You have the normal cheese and tomato sauce, and then you have the other toppings: pepperoni, sausage, olives, peppers etc. And you also have different specialty pizzas like breakfast pizza with eggs or hamburger. All of these toppings are different from each other, but together they are all a part of and make up a whole pizza.
There are many different gifts of the Holy Spirit. Tongues, prophecy, healing, faith, each one of them different from the other. The gift of healing is not the same as prophecy, but it is still a great gift. Each gift is important, because they are each a gift from the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.”
The Apostles of the Lord had many spiritual gifts, some different than the others. The Apostle Paul didn’t baptize many people. He felt that he was called to preach to others, and he left the baptizing to others. The Apostle John had the gift of prophecy, and wrote the book of Revelation. He may have had a gift that someone else didn’t, but he used the gift that he had to further the gospel of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:29-31 “Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.”
In most instances in the Bible, covetousness is a sin that we need to keep ourselves from, but when used in this passage it means to greatly desire something that is good. Instead of coveting something that is not yours, we are taught to covet the best gifts. God wants to give us spiritual gifts, and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Spiritual gifts are a special talents, or abilities, that Jesus awards to His followers. Just like the gift of God’s forgiveness and mercy, we need to use those gifts worthily. We need to use them instead of letting them lie untouched like a dusty book on a shelf.
What are your gifts?
In Christ,
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 