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.