Side by Side Hand in Hand… Sshh!

1 Corinthians 12:4-10 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. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

Variety! Yes!! “Different strokes for different folks” … Variety IS the SPICE OF LIFE!

Gifts! Yes!! The MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT… Whoa; words of wisdom – words of knowledge – faith – healing – effecting of miracles – prophecy – distinguishing of spirits – various kinds of tongues – interpretation of tongues… GOOD STUFF!!

Same Spirit… Same Lord… Same God – who works all things in all persons!

Yes! Lord! We believe! You ARE and You are the rewarder of those who seek You! (Hebrews 11:6)

God gives – gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 

But, did you catch it?

FOR THE COMMON GOOD… wait, this isn’t just my toy to play with when and where I want to?????

The common good of WHO???? Oh yah, my family… (bigger) my play group – I mean my church family… (bigger) my classmates – I mean my denomination… (bigger) YOUR people… wherever and whenever You bring us together? WHOA!!! REALLY???

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 

YEP!!! Side by Side!!! Come On, take ahold, make it Hand in Hand!!!

What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate. Mark 10:9

Sounds like… marriage???

It is like marriage! When we are baptized into one body, we leave our first birth with all it’s Adam-like natures, and we become BORN AGAIN into God’s FAMILY; 1 John 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. 

Not only joined BY God but joined WITH God!

1 Peter 2:10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Now I ask you… FOR THE COMMON GOOD… WHO are these “commoner” ?????  As the Oxford Dictionary states,  the common good would be – the benefit or interests of all (might I just add) the people of God.

I know! I know! It is not easy for us to leave our cozy kingdom of comfort. We have spent so much time, and effort, and costume changes, in putting together our gang of merry men and women. We have found the perfect “pastor” – our Robin Hood of stealing (not really stealing – just borrowing) meaning from the Word of God and replacing (not really replacing – just interpreting differently) with feeling good.

THOSE people… yes, we MIGHT be related by the blood of Jesus Christ… but THEY are scary different! If I spend TOO much time around THEM – well let’s just say IT could be contagious. Sshh… no, no… ONLY people who look like me!

ONLY people who PLAY NICE and RIGHT with… the my toys. ONLY people who KNOW HOW to use the my toys correctly – BY THE  MY RULES!

Maybe this could be the reason your the toys are few and far between… just sayin…

Sshh – Side by Side… who are you standing beside? At God’s table there will be someone of HIS choice sitting beside you.

Sshh – Hand in Hand… whose hand are you holding on to? Whose hand are you grasping and raising high in worship and praise of our Messiah?

Sshh… See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are… 

Sshh… it’s not a secret… if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9)… WE ARE… Side by Side and Hand in Hand!

To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Let the GIFTING begin!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.