Ramblings On What We Share: One Spirit

Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,  to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

I Corinthians 12:1-11

There is only one Spirit – not many. In most pagan religions multiple gods or spirits are given reverence. Christianity, Paul says, is different. There is only one God and only one Spirit. The one God is a Trinity, which includes Jesus Christ, who is the Lord. The Trinity also includes the Holy Spirit – the one and only Spirit.

This Spirit works through various manifestations among mankind by giving believers gifts, services and workings. He gives them to each person according to His determination of what that person needs. Each gift, service or working is from the same God.

The test of whether a manifestation is from that God is whether it glorifies Jesus Christ. Any manifestation that speaks against Jesus is not from God. The second test is whether the manifestation works for the common good of the whole group. There is no place for selfishness nor pride in the work of the Holy Spirit. The very nature of the Holy Spirit shows us this as He deflects all glory for His work to Christ.

Ramblings on What We Share: No Cliques

In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night 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, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions.                                 I Corinthians 11:17-34

The world is full of cliques – groups of people who are exclusive to themselves and resistant to inviting others into their circle. In this passage, Paul says there is no place for cliques in the church. When the Body of Christ gathers, all should be equally welcome. Hospitality is key for the church. We are to be looking out for the interests of others (Phil. 2:4).

This doesn’t mean we can’t have special friends. It just means that the time and place to meet exclusively with those friends is in our homes and on our own time.

Jesus died for the world. Everyone in it is welcome at His house and deserving of equal consideration. To do otherwise is to violate the heart of what Jesus death was all about.