Day 21 - Empowered by the Spirit

Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Empowered by The Spirit

There is a supernatural ministry of the Holy Spirit often referred to as the empowering of the Holy Spirit. This is when the Holy Spirit fills a believer in a unique way to use a gift or ability that natural man does not possess on his own. There are a variety of manifestations of these gifts: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. We are told in 1 Corinthians 14:1 that we are to desire and ask the Lord to manifest these spiritual gifts among us. However, the Lord is the one who determines and distributes gifts among believers as He wills.

Paul presents two main principles here when it comes to the use of spiritual gifts. First, although there are a variety of gifts and manifestations, there is only one God and one Spirit who works in all. Therefore the use of the gifts of the Spirit should only lead others to God. Unfortunately many people today abuse the gifts of the Spirit as tools to have influence over others or to bring themselves some sort of social “spiritual” status in the church. The goal of these gifts Is not that we are to be drawn after the men who use them but that we “may grow up in all things into Him who is the head–Christ” - Ephesians 4:15

The second principle Paul presents here is the purpose of spiritual gifts. “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all” (1 Corinthians 12:7). Our desire to be empowered by the Holy Spirit should be for the edification and building up of others. “Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel” (1 Corinthians 14:12). Paul himself sets an example for us in this regard. “Yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue” (1 Corinthians 14:19). The purpose of spiritual gifts is the building and edification of the Church. If our motivation for using a spiritual gift is for selfish ambition or gain then we are misusing and abusing our gifts. May we seek to excel in spiritual gifts, not for personal gain but that we may build up and edify our brothers and sisters in Christ.

If there is not an opportunity for the gifts to be used in an orderly fashion so that all who are present may benefit from the gift then we are not to use the gift at that time. Instead, we are to wait until a proper opportunity presents itself so that it may edify all who are present. Paul details instructions on how to use the gifts of the Spirit in an orderly fashion in chapter fourteen so that when we gather together our services would be edifying and orderly not chaotic and confusing. The underlying principle behind these instructions is this: “God is not a God of disorder but of peace–as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people” - 1 Corinthians 14:33

As we finish these 21 days of prayer and fasting may we earnestly desire to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. So that we would put our gifts of the Spirit to work for the building of His kingdom and the edification of His Church.

by Nathaniel Perea