FOCUS TEXT: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, 27-31

On Sunday we continued in our “We Are Family” series where we discovered that God works through engaged and Spirit-filled people for the common good of His family. We were reminded that the spiritual vitality of God’s family grows through the essential and foundational work of speaking truth to one another. The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:2-3 reminds us that our God speaks truth to us and through us by the Spirit. Additionally, down in verses 27-31, Paul emphasizes the significance of speaking truth by prioritizing truth-speaking gifts.

Then, in verse 4, Paul reminds us that there are a variety of gifts, opportunities for service, and ministry activities that God also uses for the common good. He goes on to say: “to each God has given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (vs. 7).  In other words, the Spirit works through truth-speaking, other gifts, acts of service, and the activities of the Church to accomplish the common good.

But we have a problem, a way of thinking in the Church today, that stands in the way of the family being used of God for the common good. The text says that God gives the manifestation of the Spirit to “EVERYONE” of us. But most well-meaning people in the church today say: “No, I won’t do that unless the Lord clearly says, ‘YES, you are supposed to do that.’” The problem with this way of thinking is that God has called ALL of us away from our self-directed lives to join in the life and work of His Kingdom. He has placed us in a particular Church, with a particular vision, under the leadership of particular Elders. And He has filled us with the Spirit, given us His Word, and called us to obey. When opportunities arise it is then right to instead say a prayerful ‘YES' to opportunities until the Lord clearly says ‘No, you’re not supposed to do that.’

This is a major shift in our thinking and posture. It requires we be filled with the Spirit, that we be led by the Spirit, and that we show up in the body.  We must no longer say “no” to engaging because we’re unsure what we’ll receive. Instead we must say “yes” to showing up, to using gifts, to serving, and to the activities of the Church so that we don’t miss out on being used of God for the common good of His family.

God made us all different and has gifted us all differently for the common good. He wants to use us to speak wisdom and knowledge, encourage faith, participate in healing and miracles, speak hard truth, help others be spiritually discerning, and speak and bring understanding to languages (verses 7-11). But God can only do these things if the Spirit is at work in you and if you are actively engaged with the family. So give God your YES.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

• Is shifting from automatic “no” to prayerful “yes” difficult? What stands in the way?

• How might God uses your life (speaking, gifts, service, & activities) for the common good?

• How have you seen the God-given “manifestation of the Spirit” deployed in your life? What about in the lives of others around you in the Church?

PRAYER RESPONSE

Ask God to help you adopt a prayerful “yes” mindset. Ask him to remove all hinderances in your life to building the kingdom and making disciples.

MEMORY VERSES: 1 Corinthians 12:4-7