聖靈的恩賜
哥林多前書十二章4至11節
4恩賜原有分別,聖靈卻是一位。
5職事也有分別,主卻是一位。
6功用也有分別,神卻是一位,在眾人裡面運行一切的事。
7聖靈顯在各人身上,是叫人得益處。
8這人蒙聖靈賜他智慧的言語,那人也蒙這位聖靈賜他知識的言語,
9又有一人蒙這位聖靈賜他信心,還有一人蒙這位聖靈賜他醫病的恩賜,
10又叫一人能行異能,又叫一人能作先知,又叫一人能辨別諸靈,又叫一人能說方言,又叫一人能翻方言。
11這一切都是這位聖靈所運行、隨己意分給各人的。
信息分享
令人遺憾的是,哥林多的信徒卻誤解恩賜的目的,竟然用它們來炫耀自己,和搏取別人的讚賞,以致某些信徒會嫉妒別人所擁有的恩賜。
保羅在此糾正他們這種錯誤的心態。信徒若要認識甚麼是聖靈的恩賜,和聖靈賜下這些恩賜的目的,這幾章經文將提供極大的幫助。
聖靈所賜的恩賜,是為了讓信徒服事教會和傳福音之用。信徒運用這些恩賜的目的,是要用來榮耀基督、建立信徒,和贏取更多人信主。我們不可隨便濫用這個名詞,把不屬於這範疇內的才能都稱為「聖靈的恩賜」。
聖靈的恩賜包括些甚麼呢?它們就如身體的不同部分。留意本章28至29節所列出的恩賜。有些人蒙召作宣教士,聖靈便會將需用的恩賜賜給他們。有些人蒙召作教師,他們的事奉便跟宣教士有所不同。另一些人喜歡做幕後工作,所以聖靈便賜他幫助人的恩賜。有些信徒得著傳福音的恩賜,他們擁有特殊的愛心和能力去贏取失喪的人歸主。每個人的恩賜都各自不同,可是,只要我們聽從神的呼召,並按著祂分給各人的恩賜去努力事奉,教會就能按著神的心意發展。
你有甚麼恩賜呢?你若然未能肯定,可嘗試詢問其他信徒,尋求他們的引證,或親自祈求神向你顯明。只要你立志事奉神,神終必讓你找出自己的恩賜。
禱告:
「主啊,感謝你將恩賜給我。求你幫助我認識自己的恩賜,並用這恩賜來事奉你。」
THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,
10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
Message
Unfortunately, in the Church at Corinth the members had misunderstood the purpose of these gifts and used them to try and impress others. Some seemed to have been envious of the gifts other people had.
Paul tried to correct this situation. These chapters are most helpful in understanding the place and purpose of the gifts.
The gifts given by the Holy Spirit are for service within the Church or in evangelising the world. We cannot say that too often. They are to be used to glorify Christ and to build up other believers or to win men or women to Christ.
What are some of these gifts? They are as different as the various parts of the human body. Look at the list given at the end of this chapter in verses 28 and 29. Some are called to be missionaries and are given the gifts that they will need. Some are called to be teachers and have a far different ministry. Some are to help behind the scenes and are given the gift of helping. Some are evangelists and have a special love and ability for winning the lost. We are all different. When we are all doing what God has called and enabled us to do by the gifts he has given, then the Church is functioning as it should.
What gift do you have? If you don't know the answer could you ask another Christian to think about that question, and then tell you what they think? Could you ask the Lord to make clear to you what your gift is? Make yourself available to him and you will soon find out what your gift is.
A PRAYER:
'Lord, I thank you for my gift. Help me to see it and use it for you.'

