1 Corinthians 12:4-6 

⁴There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. ⁵There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

Most Important

         If you go fishing or just a joy riding, inspect your vehicle. Which part of vehicle you’re concerned to inspect as most important? Is it the wheel, seat, A/C, brake or engine? If you say engine is important, do you drive a car without brake or A/C? If you say tire, do you drive your car without wheel or seats? We could agree that for us to enjoy driving, all parts of the vehicle are important, right?

         Most often, we are more attentive to the most important part. And then we relegate minor or trivial parts into obscurity. Such mindset to know who the most important is or who the greatest is, had also pre-occupied the disciples, and they asked the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 18:1-4, ¹“Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” ²He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. ³And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

         Almost everyone admires achievers for their achievements. Well obviously, children have no accomplishment yet that adults could be envious of, but Christ compared greatness in the kingdom of God to the lowly position of little children. How is that? Faith in Christ is practically manifested in transformation like little children. How do little children behave that Christ wants to see in us? They crave for milk. So, we have to crave for our spiritual milk, the word of God. Together, let us reflect meditatively on what it admonishes us in 1 Peter 2:2, ²Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.

         Like little children, we drink spiritual milk to grow spiritually. We follow the prescription of the Lord diligently in the Scripture as we grow spiritually mature.

Indirectly, Christ suggests children can have faith to trust him as Lord and Savior. Realistically, it is very advisable to practice sharing the gospel of Christ to little children because they are not very philosophical and not very argumentative, yet.

         Argumentative and philosophical behaviors are repulsive. But curious little children are inquisitive; they also try to help with household chores. As children of God, we should curiously get involved in ministry activities. What do you think? Together, let us learn the different kinds of gifts from the same Holy Spirit.

1.  Kinds of Gifts

⁴There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 

        The church of Corinth had faction and division. One possible reason why the church in Corinth had no harmony was that, they may have different spirits. Division among them practically exhibited that they did not have the same Spirit.

The gifts of the Spirit distributed in the church manifest the presence of Christ among us and also prove that the grace of God favors us. The Holy Spirit distributes different kinds of gifts to his church as he deems fitting and necessary, for believers to work together in unity, harmony and for common good. We talk more in detail about these gifts distributed by the same Holy Spirit next Sunday.

Can we practically know that it is not human exerted effort but the gifts of the Holy Spirit that function in us? The result of participation in the ministry can reveal it. How? When everyone praises the Lord for ministry accomplishment or ministry performance, it practically proves that spiritual gifts had been utilized.

In comparison, when performers get the praise, human effort was exerted.

         When human effort is exerted, there is comparison, envy and frustration if not appreciated; disappointment for mistakes; irritation if others are not involved.

         Listen: When Christ is at work in us, we praise God, and the gifts of the same Holy Spirit are actively utilized. There’s no competition when the Holy Spirit is active among us. Instead, we praise the Lord for each other’s performance.

         Together, let us reflect on how Apostle Paul viewed the ministry of Apostle Peter. Paul declared in Galatians 2:8, ⁸For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles. 

         Paul admitted that Peter was more effective among Jewish people than him. Initially, Paul tried to minister among Jewish people, but later he focused his mission works among the Gentiles. Most often, mission focus may confuse us.

My Personal Confusion

When I started practicing faith in Christ, I read several missionary stories, and I was inspired to serve him in missions. So initially, I presumed that I was called into mission. Indeed, I joined short-term missions. And all the more, I was convinced that the Lord provides for my needs if I serve him in fulltime missions.

We went to fulltime missions as a family for thirty months only. There was longing in me to serve the Lord much longer, but the mission point we went to has no provision for permanent residency. So, I interpreted that the Lord may have prepared another mission point where I can serve him all my life. Now, I can confirm that God has prepared where I am right now to serve him fulltime.

There was great conviction in my heart that God called me to follow him all the days of my life when I was reading the calling of Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3.

¹The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. ²I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. ³I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse.

Confidently, I can testify that several times when the Lord blesses people who blessed me, and I am not bothered much when people are not kind to me.

I truly believe that God will take care of them. Keep reading the Scripture to hear it very clearly when the Lord calls your name to serve him fulltime now or later.
How can we pragmatically confirm that the Lord called us to serve him in a particular ministry? Nobody can confirm at the beginning of ministry. But, when the Lord allows us to stay longer time in a ministry with peace and gladness, it is when we can confirm the kind of service he had prepared for us to serve him.

So, get involved in ministries that you may sense urgency to get involved with. When you sense contentment, tranquility and cheerfulness in your ministry participation, and God is praised, that is the kind of service he designed for you.

2.  Kinds of Service

⁵There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 

         To serve a master is denial of freedom to mindset that desires to do things on its own volition. Deprivation of independence cannot appreciate serving the Lord. Yet, Christ expects Christians to serve him. So, where does free will fit in? Instinctively, human free will is inclined to resist and oppose commands of God.

         When by faith we believe in Jesus Christ as Savior, he freed us from the slavery of sin; when we accepted and serve Jesus Christ as Lord, we become servants of godly righteousness. Therefore, we follow Christ, not human instinct.

         Together, let’s reflect on what it commands in 1 Peter 4:10-11, ¹⁰Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

The same Holy Spirit of Christ distributed different kinds of gifts among us, as he deems fitting and necessary, to help us be effective in the kinds of service that the Lord had prepared for us to participate in. Most often, we are not very sure which ministry we should get involved with to serve God. We prefer to join where we are comfortable, and we reject ministries we assumed we are not able.

         God calls you to join the worship team, you respond, “I don’t have musical talent; I don’t have beautiful voice!” God calls you to teach, you say, “I don’t even have children, or my children are grown up!” God calls you to leadership ministry, and you reasoned out, “I am introvert; I am scared of standing before a crowd!”

         Whenever we look at our ability, we always find reasons to refuse the Lord. That is valid and natural human instinct. When the Holy Spirit is active, and your name is nominated to leadership ministry, pray about it and learn from Daniel.

Daniel

         When the Israelites were exiled, it may have been huge insult to their pride as God’s chosen nation. They believe that the Lord is Mighty Powerful God.

But the Babylonians took them as captives. Nevertheless, Daniel did not waver in his faith in God while in exile. He resolved to do anything acceptable to the Lord.

When Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon ordered his officials to choose young men from the exile to be trained to serve him, Daniel and his friends were chosen. Together, let us seriously reflect on what it narrated in Daniel 1:8-9;

⁸Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. ⁹Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel. 

         Daniel resolved to follow the Lord’s prescription; he did not defile himself with any food or drinks that were not prescribed by the Lord. The term “resolve” is interpreted that Daniel had trusted that the Lord’s prescription is best for him.

         Being exile could be most embarrassing situation for the Israelites, but Daniel resolved to do what is right before God; and so, he rose to prominence.

What situation do you have that causes you to refuse your calling to leadership?

Personally, how do you practically apply what it declares on 1 Peter 5:5-6?

          ⁵God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. ⁶Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

Humility is great asset for church leadership. It is godly humility to depend on the Lord. How is that? When we admit that we are not gifted enough, but we seek empowerment of the Holy Spirit to serve the Lord, it’s humility before him. In comparison, if you accept nomination as leader because you expect members to elect you, does it prove dependence on the Lord? What kind of working is that?

3.  Kinds of Working

⁶There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

Listen carefully: Anything attained by our human effort, any achievement accomplished from human initiatives, is not considered as great in the kingdom of God. How? When you heard someone say, “I am doing this for the Lord; I am serving the Lord!” the pronoun “I” represents who? The pronoun “I” represents myself not the Lord! “I initiated my service. I did my best, and God did the rest!”

Logically, if I did my best, the best appreciation belongs to “I.” And if God did the rest, does God deserve only the rest of appreciation? It’s wrong! Reflect again on 1 Peter 4:11, ¹¹If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

God is praised when we harmoniously serve in different kinds of working utilizing the different kinds of gifts distributed by the same Spirit in the different kinds of service. And, the same Holy Spirit of God empowers us to serve him in unity. Ministry services by human volition and initiatives are not pleasing to God.

Actually, human righteousness is considered filthy rags before God. Can you accept that? It is biblical truth! Let’s reflect on Isaiah 64:6, ⁶All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.

Many are confused and presume that their goodness will save them on Judgment Day. Politicians donate much money to charity thinking that they can pay back for their wickedness. Yet, the Scripture declares everyone is sinful, and human righteousness is rejected as filthy rags. Sin compared to filthy rags, why?

In biblical times, even before commercial diapers were manufactured, rags or old clothes were used as diapers for infants and during monthly period for women. Do you wish to keep filthy rags or filthy diaper as souvenir? Yew! That’s disgusting, right? Do you expect God to keep disgusting things for himself? No!

ZERO Value

Biblically, human righteousness is also disgusting filthy rags to the Lord. Human righteousness is not valuable to God. If by human initiatives and volitions we add righteous deeds upon righteous deeds, they are still ZERO value to God. Even other people cannot appreciate human righteousness, how?

Will you give away your brand new cellphone? How about secondhand? If you give your secondhand cellphone to a billionaire, will he appreciate it?

Likewise, God can create anything he wants. He does not need our help.

Human righteousness won’t reach the glory of God. Reflect on Romans 3:23:

²³All have sinned and come short of earning God’s praise. (Complete Jewish Bible)

         So, how can righteousness becomes valuable to God? Righteous efforts done through faith in Jesus Christ! For simple illustration: Number 1 represents Jesus Christ, and ZERO represents human efforts. Human effort is ZERO value, but through faith in Christ and sacrifice on the cross, our efforts become valuable to the Lord. It’s like all ZERO added after the number One have more value.

The more righteousness we do through faith in Christ is recorded by Christ Jesus our Lord, the One who makes our good work counted as valuable to him.

Righteous deeds through faith in Christ become valuable treasures stored up for our eternal dwelling. Always keep in mind what Jesus Christ warned in Revelation 22:12: ¹²Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.

         Let all our kindness and goodness count for our reward. Prayerfully know the kind of Spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit distributed to you and gladly serve the Lord. Prayerfully seek empowerment of the Holy Spirit to participate in the kinds of working and services that the Lord will reward when he returns.

         The Lord’s Supper celebration reminds us that as we wait for the return of Christ, we also proclaim the purpose of his sacrificial death on the cross until he comes and takes us to live with him in heaven forever and ever. Amen!

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