1 Corinthians 12 (3)

Pray Psalm 68.19, 20.
Blessed be the Lord,
Who daily loads us with benefits,
The God of our salvation!
Selah
Our God is the God of salvation;
And to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death.

Sing Psalm 68.19, 20, 32, 33.
(O Store Gud: How Great Thou Art)
Blessed be the LORD, our burden daily bearing,
O God, our God, our Savior and our King!
With us salvation and deliv’rance sharing,
He life from death His people daily brings.
Refrain vv. 32, 33
Sing to the LORD, O kingdoms of the earth!
Ancient of Days—praise Him on high!
Behold He speaks; His Word is going forth;
Ancient of Days—praise Him on high!

Read 1 Corinthians 12.1-11; meditate on verse 11.

Preparation
1. What does the Spirit work?

2. What guides Him in distributing gifts?

Meditation
It seems to me that David composed Psalm 68 at the time he was preparing to build the temple. Perhaps he sent this all around the nation, calling the people to give whatever gifts they could to God on high for use in constructing His dwelling place:
You have ascended on high,
You have led captivity captive;
You have received gifts among men… (Ps. 68.18; cf. vv. 29-35).

The people all had something to give, and they gave lavishly for the project which Solomon would bring to completion.

Paul picked up on this idea of gifts for building the Church, but he turned it to reflect the great significance of the coming of the Holy Spirit: “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says:
‘When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.’” (Eph. 4.7, 8)

Paul depicts Jesus as the One Who gives gifts. He daily loads us with benefits from on high, in and by the Person of the Holy Spirit (as symbolized in Acts 2.4). He gives all the gifts to the Church, distributing them as He will, that the people of God might work together with the gifts of God to build the Church for the glory of God.

If we were but as faithful in our work as the children of Israel were in the days of David and Solomon, our churches would be growing in unity and maturity, rejoicing in the work of the Lord and abounding in grace for their communities.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“What did you get for Christmas?” That was the penetrating question upon return to elementary school after the holidays. Were we waiting to hear that the class bully got charcoal and rocks in his stocking? After all, wasn’t the prerequisite for good gifts the naughty or nice litmus test?

But here’s the deal. God gave us the Holy Spirit when we were just on the cusp of naughty. Just saved and new to living for Jesus, and boom! We get the greatest gift of all—after of course, the gift of our underserved salvation—the Holy Spirit and His accompanying gift bags.

Wouldn’t it be a fun exercise to ask our fellow-believers: “What did you get from the Holy Spirit?” Or maybe just as fun, to observe these same people, and ask the Lord what gift they have, and how I can best encourage them to use it to the full?

David, in the throes of having been found out in one of his darkest sins, prayed: “Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me” (Ps. 51.11). This was what he feared the most, knowing full well that without Him, he could do nothing. And without God, his life would have no meaning or purpose. None. Ditto for us. So we pleadingly pray the same.

“For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another” (Rom. 14.17-19).

“But you have an anointing from the Holy One…” (1 Jn. 2.20). And so do I. We are gifted by the Holy Spirit, Who has distributed to each one of us—individually—as He wills (1 Cor. 12.11).

“What did we get from God for Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, and Kingdom Calling?”

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things…” (Ps. 103.2-5).
Who fills you with His Holy Spirit (Acts 1.8; Jn. 16.7).
Who gives you gifts to regift for others (1 Cor. 12.11).

Working in all for all.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou are the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting yielded and still.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me!
Adelaide A. Pollard, (1902)

For reflection
1. When did you first begin to discover the gifts God’s Spirit has given you?

2. How have other people used their spiritual gifts to bless you?

3. What can you do to encourage others to discover and use their spiritual gifts?

He again calls the Corinthians to unity, by reminding them that all have derived from one fountain whatever they possess, while he instructs them, at the same time, that no one has so much as to have enough within himself, so as not to require help from others. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on 1 Corinthians 12.11

Pray Psalm 68.26-35.
Pray that God, by His Holy Spirit working within us, will revive His churches and renew us in our mission to make disciples, build His Church, and advance His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

Sing Psalm 68.26-35.
(O Store Gud: How Great Thou Art)
Bless God in all His holy congregations,
even the LORD, the Fountainhead of grace;
He calls His people forth from all the nations
and gathers them before His glorious face.
Refrain vv. 32, 33
Sing to the LORD, O kingdoms of the earth!
Ancient of Days—praise Him on high!
Behold He speaks; His Word is going forth;
Ancient of Days—praise Him on high!

To You, O God, are strength and exaltation;
You fill the skies and dwell in holy awe!
To us You give strength, pow’r, and full salvation.
Blessed be Your Name, our strong, majestic God!
Refrain

T. M. and Susie Moore

The Church in Corinth was in need of revival. But there was much to be done before that would happen. The Church today is in need of revival, and the same is true for us. Our book, Revived!, can help us to discern our need for revival and lead us in getting there. Order your copy by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available by clicking here.