The Christian should be
informed of the various gifts given him by God. Gifts are given only to those
who believe in the true faith, and not to those who have gone astray by
interpreting on their own or to those who believe in superstitions. There is no
neutrality in matters of belief; either one believes in the "True
God" or in his own man-made gods, such as astrology, fortune telling,
witchcraft, greediness, etc., all as objects of worship (cf. John 17:3). The
difference between the belief in the True God and in others is the acceptance
of the gift of the Holy Spirit. For "No one can say
'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:3). The
acceptance of Christ as the Savior through confession in Christ as the True God
is the highest gift given to the believer by the Holy Spirit. If one does not
wish to accept this gift, he does not allow himself to understand the reality
of the True God as opposed to his own ideas. This acceptance is his own choice
though his own free will. This is why one is responsible for his own fate. As a
result, those who believe in superstitions are enslaved in thoughts and
feelings by their choice. Their preoccupation with superstitions, astrology,
etc. does not permit them to accept the True God. This is true slavery of the
mind. If one opens his mind and heart to accept the gift of the Holy Spirit in
the belief in the True God, he will realize a great difference in himself,
having peace of mind and harmony of living which bring about a living faith.
"There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit," (1
Cor. 12:4). It is the Holy Spirit from Whom every gift
is given with certain abilities and understanding. The faithful one is called
to undertake the responsibility of gifts or charismata which are
bestowed on him. "And there are varieties of service, but the same
Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires
them all in everyone" (vs. 4-6). In addition to the "varieties
of gifts" of faith, there are the "varieties of service"
by which the faithful one serves his fellow man with love and almsgiving. The
one who receives the gifts of "service" consider himself a steward of
the Lord. He devotes all his abilities with love in the service of God's
commandments. The "varieties" of "service" in everyday life
include: medicine, hospital care, nursing, social work, care for the elderly,
teaching, missionary work, honest government and in general all services which
deal in helping others when done in the name of the "same Lord." The
"varieties of working" are the results of the energies and the
actions of the "varieties of service." They are the wonderful results
which come either in the everyday life of the people of in the spiritual world,
when done in the name of the "same God." The
varieties of gifts of service and of working, "All these are inspired
by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he
wills" (v. 11).
"To each (person) is given the manifestation of
the spirit for the common good" (v. 7). Each person is given
the energy, charisma and grace to work for the common interest of the people.
The successful achievements of this "service" and "working"
should be attributed to one and the same power 3/4
the Holy Spirit 3/4 Who
bestows them. These "varieties," although separate, contribute to the
same goal 3/4 the helping one another 3/4 and depend upon the same authority, the
Holy Spirit, the Lord and God. These are not varieties for destruction, but
energies of unification in the service of the Will of God. They are fruits
coming from the same root 3/4 the
inspiration of God Himself.
The "varieties of gifts" are many: "To one is given
through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom and 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 inspired by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to
each one individually as he wills" (vs. 8-11). The gift of the
"utterance of wisdom" means the deeper understanding of the will of
God and mysteries of salvation; the "utterance of knowledge" means
the good sense of knowledge; "faith" means the supernatural
achievements through the Spirit; "healing" means the ability to heal
various sicknesses; "working of miracles" means supernatural
achievements; "prophecy" means the miracle in the form of preaching; "ability
to distinguish between spirits" means being able to distinguish between
good and evil spirits by which various spiritual expressions exist;
"various kinds of tongues" means the gift of speaking in many
dialects of which the meaning is known only to him who speaks them, not even an
interpreter; "interpretation of tongues" means the ability to
interpret the language of the speaker of "tongues" to the people who
do not understand what is being said.
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