The purpose of spiritual gifts is to express His love and be an essential part of God's work to make His presence known on earth and edify the Body of Christ. These gifts of the Spirit are given by the Holy Spirit, enabling believers to manifest God’s power, wisdom, and love in tangible ways. Spiritual gifts are supernatural tools that help reveal the living God to believers and unbelievers, displaying His glory and drawing people closer to Him. Ultimately, they exist to glorify God and fulfill His divine plan and purpose on earth. Let's dig deeper into the purpose of spiritual gifts.
What Is The Purpose Of Spiritual Gifts?
1 Corinthians 12:7 says, "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all." Jesus Christ is our perfect example; He exemplified and manifested the presence of God through the words He spoke and the actions He carried out. Jesus said to Philip in John 14:9, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?" After His death and resurrection, He ascended on high and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father. So, Jesus is no longer the physical presence of God on earth. We, the Church, have been given that responsibility. Just before ascending, Jesus said, "you shall be witnesses to Me" - Acts 1:8. In Mark 16:15, Jesus instructed, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." We are now the body through which God's presence is active and working. The Holy Spirit being manifested through the Church is revealing (making visible) the presence of God on the earth. In short, as the gifts of the Spirit are distributed and active in believers, a manifestation of God's Spirit is given, and His presence is revealed.
To Build Unity in the Church
In Paul’s discussion of spiritual gifts, he repeats the theme of the unifying work of the Holy Spirit. We might think that people who have differing gifts would not readily get along with each other, but Paul’s conclusion is just the opposite: differing gifts draw us together because we need and depend on each other. 1 Corinthians 12:21 says, "And the eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you'; nor again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.'" If you read further down in that chapter, Paul talks about the different appointments God makes in the Church and that not everyone will have the same giftings. It is not about who has the greater gift or is, the more honorable part of the body. Everyone is needed and has a function. Each part of the body should see the need for every other part and work together.
Spiritual Gifts Edify the Church—Individually and Corporately
As God distributes His gifts among His people, His power, love, and wisdom are displayed, which results in the Body of Christ being edified. “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all” - 1 Corinthians 12:7. 1 Corinthians 14:12 says, "Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel." The gifts of the Spirit are never an end in themselves. They are not for the fame or profit of the person being used in a particular gift. They are supernatural tools with which we can articulate the love of God to all people. They are giftings that bring edification, the building up, of the person receiving the ministry of the gift. They are given to help, to bring healing, to bring victory, to set the captives free, and to see the power of God actively at work. The Church itself should be built up. The manifestation of the Spirit should bring an increase in faith and the things of the Kingdom of God in the Church.
To Reveal the Living God to Unbelievers
Again, from Acts 1:8, it says, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” One reason for the display of the power of the Spirit is to be a witness to the earth. Related to spiritual gifts are tongues, and Paul said that tongues are a sign to the unbeliever. 1 Corinthians 14:22 - "Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe." The Spirit of God works through spiritual gifts in ways that both believers and unbelievers can experience. Believers are encouraged through the manifestation of spiritual gifts because they are reminded that God truly is near and is actively, diligently, carefully, and thoroughly carrying out His will on earth. Unbelievers face the reality of the living God as He displays His power, His love, and His wisdom as a manifestation of Himself is made through His Church, inspiring awe and reverence.
Spiritual Gifts Bring Glory to God
1 Peter 4:10-11 speaks of many things related to serving and ministry. Still, it would certainly include spiritual gifts, and it says, "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." In everything that we do, the outcome should be that God receives glory. Every display of a spiritual gift should cause those witnessing it to look to God and give Him glory.
We could say other things about the purpose of spiritual gifts, but these are the primary reasons that God manifests His Spirit through spiritual gifts in His Church.
In the next post, we will begin to look at each of the nine gifts of the Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12.
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