“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:”
Paul now proceeds from the Trinity’s role in giving the gifts, bestowing ministries, and producing the results to those who have the gifts. God gives each believer a function to do, and each function is different.
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given
The word “manifestation” carries the ideas of clear, evident, make known. Each of the believer’s gifts makes obvious the Holy Spirit endowment of capacities to the church. God wants each believer to manifest his gifts in the local church. If he does not use his gifts, then he hides the rich diversity of gifts received from the Holy Spirit. This is a supernatural dynamic, not a natural dynamic. It goes beyond natural function and natural talents such as leading, speaking or singing. The Holy Spirit supernaturally confers gifts upon believers, not an institution.
to each one
God gives gifts to each believer and leaves no one out. Each believer has a supernatural capacity to serve the church.
for the profit of all:
God designed gifts with a view to the good or edification of the church. God did not design gifts for selfish use but the good or profit of the entire church.
PRINCIPLE:
Spiritual gifts are for the profit of all believers.
APPLICATION:
We should not think of the local church as a human organization doing human things. It is a spiritual organism functioning under the Holy Spirit. The church is not an organization but an organism, a living group of children of God edifying one another. If God gifts us to preach and we go out and preach “better housing and sanitation,” then we prostitute our gift.
Hi Grant. I was in a Bible study last night when the subject came up of HOW to use our spiritual gifts. Is it correct to say that we should/can use our gifts in the areas of work or recreation OUTSIDE of the Body–that is, not connected to the church or direct ministry but in a more “holistic” sense? I understand that we should not become “puffed up” or proud in flaunting our gifts within the church, but the question here is more about the division between “secular” and “sacred”–if that distinction applies in this case. So, for example, if I have the gifts of helps, does using this gift to (say) serve my customers in a business “qualify” as correct use of my spiritual gift? (The point is that as believers we are always ministering–aren’t we?–and so why would we not call this working with clients in a store exercising our spiritual gift of helps?)
Deb, the context of gifts in the New Testament is primarily set in the context of the church. However, a number of gifts pertain to functions outside the church such as the gift of evangelism. Although the gift of helps relates to the church, there is no reason to negate the idea that “helps” cannot apply to helping non-believers.
Thank you so much. This clarifies your last statement in the reading above. I was going in a wrong direction with this and you have steered me back on the right road! : )