Gifts for Everyone!
SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 14:1-19 
Read the passage
BIO: My name is Barbara Francis. I love being married to Bob for 35 years. It’s a delight to be a mother of 2 grown children: Bryan married to Alison, and Brooke. But being “Nana” to my 2 grandchildren—priceless. I have been on staff with Campus Crusade for 32 years and sit on the National Team for the Campus Ministry giving leadership in the area of prayer. I am involved in the Women’ ministry, sit on the Women’s Ministry council, and on the Prayer and Spiritual Formation Committee at FPCO.
KEY VERSE: 1 Corinthians 14:3 "But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement, and comfort."
CENTRAL TRUTH: The Corinthian church was planted in a sin-soaked city—full of idolatry, licentiousness, and self-centered living. Sound familiar? In chapter 14 Paul continues to address a series of questions the church posed to him in light of his upcoming visit.
DEVOTIONAL: Gifts for Everyone!
I am still amazed that God not only saved me by grace but has gifted me my grace, too. There are gifts for everyone!
I Corinthians 14:1-19, cannot be viewed isolated from chapters 12 and 13. Viewed together they give wise and balanced insight into spiritual gifts—to strengthen, encourage, and comfort the body. In chapter 12:11 we learn that all gifts are distributed according the Holy Spirit’s will and that no gift is greater than another. What a grand call to ask God: what gift (s) have you given me?
Chapter 13 so beautifully communicates love is the greatest gifts of all. This causes me pause: Do I love others as I should? Is it a patient love? A kind, trusting love? I need to grow here, to be sure.
Chapter 14 drills down on how the gifts of prophecy and tongues function in the gathering of believers. Paul wanted one thing and one thing only—that those assembled would hear and understand the truth of God’s word. There would be a time and place for each of these gifts to be used. It was up to the maturity of the believer to determine if the time was right to exercise the gifts given by the Spirit.
So, I am left thinking: are we fully engaged in the ministries of FPCO, using the gifts God has given each of us to strengthen, encourage, and comfort? Now, none of us can do everything but are we doing something? At the end of the day, we are not serving FPCO but the very Distributor of the gifts. Every time we feed the hungry, visit the prisoners and the widows, serve in leadership at church, lead a bible study or Sunday school class we are telling God we love him with all our heart and soul and mind and strength.
How about making it a point of prayer to discover the gifts God has given you? Talk to one of the ministers and see where you can serve. Everyone has been gifted. So, let’s put up the stop sign of the cross when Satan and his evil workers come with lies like, “God can never use you!” Truth is we cannot thrive without you!
QUESTION 1: In the following four references spiritual gifts are listed. As you read the passages, pray, asking God which one(s) he has blessed you with. Read Romans 12:3-8, I Corinthians 12:4-11, Ephesians 4:11-13, and I Petere10-11.
QUESTION 2: As you survey the various places to server at church which one peaks your interest? Talk to someone involved in that ministry. Would God have you honor him there?
QUESTION 3: Close in prayer using the glorious Roman Doxology as your guide found in Romans 11:33-36.
Share
