The Holy Spirit Equips Each Member to Function in the Body
Memory verse: “In Christ, we who are many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others” (Romans 12:5)
The first part of 1 Corinthians 12 says the Holy Spirit enables each member. Verse 7 says, “To each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1 Cor. 12:7). The Holy Spirit is the Gift (see Acts 2:38). The Holy Spirit manifests (makes visible, clear, known; reveals) Himself to each member of the body for the common good of the body. All members of the church— Christ’s body—are gifted with the Holy Spirit’s presence. Each person’s experience of the Holy Spirit is for the good of the entire body, not for himself or herself. That is why we need one another. Without a healthy, functioning body, a church will miss much of what God provides for a church.
The Old Testament is the kindergarten for understanding the Holy Spirit’s work. In the Old Testament the Spirit came on individuals to help them achieve particular assignments God had given them. Moses had a task as an administrator, so God equipped him by His Holy Spirit to administer. God gave each of the judges an assignment. Then the Spirit of God came on each one and equipped him or her to complete the assignment that was given. David was called to be the king when he was a shepherd. How could such a young, inexperienced man rule during that dangerous time? The Spirit of God came on him and equipped him for the task. Ezekiel was called to be a prophet. How could he be a prophet? Scripture says the Spirit of God came on him and caused him to do every thing God asked of him (see Ezek. 2—3).
The workmen who built the tabernacle clearly illustrate this pattern. God gave Moses specific details for building the tabernacle (see Ex. 25—31).Then God said, “I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab ... to help him. Also, I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you” (Ex. 31:2-3,6). How would Moses know whether the Spirit of God was on those men? He watched them at work. If God enabled them to carry out the assignment He had given, Moses would know God’s Spirit was on them.
Throughout the Old Testament the Spirit of God was always present to equip individuals to carry out divine assignments. God didn’t give things. He gave Himself. The Spirit manifested His presence by equipping people to function where God assigned them.
When members of a church begin considering spiritual gifts, they sometimes run into difficulty by thinking God gives them a thing, like an ingredient called administration. He doesn’t give a thing; He gives Himself. The Gift is a Person. The Holy Spirit equips you with His administrative ability, so His administration becomes your administration. When you see a spiritual gift exercised, you are observing a manifestation of the Holy Spirit—the Holy Spirit equipping and enabling an individual with His abilities to accomplish God’s work. A spiritual gift is a manifestation of God at work through you.