But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good

 Good morning. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. Remember that we are talking about spiritual gifts. These are not things that you go to school to learn how to do, though through the years you learn how to better make use of them. The individual does not get to choose which one(s) that he or she receives – it is decided by the Holy Spirit. Not everyone has the same gifts; that would be useless in many cases. However in a particular meeting, there may be several that normally operate in the same gifts. Also in a meeting there may not be anyone who normally operates in a certain gift, but that is the gift that is most needed at that time. Then the Holy Spirit may choose a person or persons to operate in that gift for that particular situation. It is possible that that may be the only time in that person’s life that they operate in that gift. Unfortunately, people sometimes think that they “now have the gift of…“ Sadly that makes some people think that they are “some big deal” because they operated in that gift. It is, after all, God that gives the gift and makes it work; the person is merely a channel through which God works. As a prelude to something we will say later, the gift is for someone else, not the person operating in it. Father thank You that You are in charge of the gifts. You decide who needs what and supply our every need.

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