“A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other” (1 Cor. 12:7 NLT). God wants us to be channels of His power to restore His people so he infuses gifts into us so we can build up one another. He gives gifts of hearing words from Him to edify believers (prophecy, words of knowledge, words of wisdom) he gives gifts that alter the physical world (healing, miracles) gifts that connect directly to the world of the Spirit (discernment of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues) and gifts that are not manifestly supernatural (helping, administration, service, encouragement, mercy, giving). This generous endowment from God is rooted in the kingdom of God that Jesus brought to earth.
When Jesus came he did more than just teach us how to live and then die for our sins. He also came to inaugurate the inbreaking of the power of God to heal and restore the bodies and souls of people. He is pursuing the eventual full recreation of people into new Adams. This power is an essential feature of the arrival of the kingdom of God on earth, for God’s kingdom includes His power which is infinite. Thus, Jesus told the skeptical Pharisees “if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matt. 12:28 ESV). The kingdom has come.
But when Jesus ascended into heaven he did not leave us without the power of the kingdom of God. In fact, he did the opposite and promised that since he was going to be gone God would give Jesus’ followers the power to carry on Jesus’ work. The Father is committed to the spread of the kingdom on earth with power and he wants to empower us to make it happen. Jesus said “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father” (John 14:12 NLT). Later, just before he ascended to heaven he told his apostles that you “will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you” (Acts 1:8 NIV).
All who receive Jesus are “made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:13 ESV) and the Spirit “apportions to each one individually as he wills” (1 Cor. 12:11 ESV). These spiritual gifts that God gives to all believers are a continuation of Jesus’ ministry to restore humans.
This is why it is so important to “earnestly desire the spiritual gifts” (1 Cor. 14:1 ESV) and “earnestly desire the higher gifts” (1 Cor. 12:31 ESV). God is giving us the tremendous honor and privilege of being channels of his power to build up people and spread his kingdom. I hope you pursue this with your whole heart.
