Use gifts without imitating gifts

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (1 Corinthians 12:1–11)

A college course and seminar material shared with me from my sister have taught me that spiritual gifts come in three categories: motivational, manifesting, and ministry, based on the three NT passages that mention them. While some lump the gifts listed in those passages, I’ve found this three-fold distinction very helpful.

The gifts in the above passage are called manifestation gifts. The Spirit gives them to God's people on various occasions. They are not permanent but for the need of the moment. That is, some one who demonstrates them this week may not do the same thing next week.

The reasoning behind that could be related to the old nature’s tendency to take a skill and make it a trademark. That is, if I was involved in working a miracle, I might want to become “a miracle worker” for the rest of my life. This is the same with healing and speaking in tongues and others of this list of gifts. They are for “common good” yet easily grasped and even imitated by the flesh. (Read Watchman Nee’s book, “The Latent Power of the Soul”)

I remember blurting out advice on how to sleep well to a medical student. Saying what I said was a shock to me, and he could have been angry or retaliated, but he was not. The Spirit gave those words that hit a hot button, yet he was glad. That was a “word of wisdom” completely a surprise, yet obviously not from me and not a usual way I would talk. Besides, most of the time, wise words are not my forte.

Speaking in tongues is another example. The Bible says they are given only with an interpreter. It is not given to be a requirement for salvation as some claim. If this gift or any other gift does not make people more like Jesus, then it is a flesh imitation.

Lord, I’m cautious to write this, yet do realize that our old nature has the ability to look good, even seemingly do good, yet what does not come from faith is sin. True goodness comes only from You and glorifies You. Anything else is ego-serving and only looks good to us. No wonder You sweat blood as You felt the weight of our sin. Yet the gifts of the Spirit are necessary. In many ways we cannot bless others without them.
 

The Lord’s Supper

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:23–32)

After moving many times and taking communion in many churches, it has become a great blessing to be involved in this special event. Various churches do it in a variety of ways: every Sunday, one Sunday a month, ushers passing out the elements, members coming forward to take the bread and wine from the pastor, or from a table. Most give the instructions from this passage.

While at least one congregation hurried through and seemed to treat it as a nuisance ritual, most congregations treat it as seriously special. In our church it is serious, but so much a coming together of God's family that watching a few hundred people remembering what Christ has done always blesses my heart. 

The warning is important. It isn’t just for those who do not believe in Jesus but for anyone who is in conflict with others, or who has other unconfessed sin in their lives. I remember a mother upset with her adult son for not participating although he usually did. He told her he had a bad attitude that day and needed to get right with God first. Rather than taking the bread and juice and hiding a sin issue is to be admired.

Our rules are not otherwise strict. If people are watching at home on YouTube, they are encouraged to participate when it is okay for them to do so. This stresses that the Lord’s supper is a time to focus on the sacrifice Jesus made for our salvation, no matter where we are. 

The church at Corinth had other problems. Some were weak, ill, or had died because they had not dealt with their sin. Communion is a good reminder that Jesus died for that sin and I must therefore die to it — and live for Him.

Lord God, how I am blessed to participate with several hundred people in this most precious ordinance. While thinking about the Body of Your Son who died for me and who lives for me is not limited to one Sunday a month, in the busyness of life, the reality of all that You have done can easily slip out of my mind. Thank Your for keeping me me close with such an important and special ritual.