“There are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit everybody.”  Unless we just quickly read by these words, pause for just a moment and see what he said.  “The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man, every man.”  Every one of us should be filled with the Holy Spirit and ready to be used.  Desiring to be used that God would be magnified, that the body would be edified.  Every man to profit everybody.  “For to one is given by the Spirit, the word of wisdom…”  We’ll look at these very quickly.  The word of knowledge, the gift of faith, the gifts of healing, the working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits.

We’ve talked about that so often in the church in years past.  How many people over the years I’ve heard come to me and say, “Pastor, I believe I have the gift of discerning of spirits.”  Being critical and having the discerning of spirits is not the same thing.  Being suspicious and having the gift of discernment is not the same thing; amen?  Remember, it is not the discerning of your brothers and sisters, it’s the discerning of spirits.  “For we war not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers…that are in the heavenlies” (Ephesians 6:12).  There are demonic influences right at this moment trying to capture minds, take our thoughts away from the Word of God, bring up every kind of distraction, fiery darts that are constantly being hurled at our minds.  We’re thinking about what our first thing is to do on Monday morning, and we’ve got to get to work.  We’re thinking about what might be taking place in one of our favorite activities or plans we have around the house or whatever it is.  Beloved, when we come together, let the Holy Spirit rise up inside of you and capture your mind to bring glory and honor and praise to God; amen?  To sit and hear what the Word of God would be speaking to us for our edification.

“To another…tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these, all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit dividing to (say it) every man severally as he will.”  You’re not limited to one.  We should be available to God and be used in any of these that God might choose.  Some among us will have several gifts, as God wills.  As God wills.  Well, first of all, we understand He’s willing for you to have at least one; amen?  We find then that these gifts are in place, he tells us what they are.  We’re not going to go into a definition of these at this time.  That’s not what this study is about.  But we’re to come together with an expectation, then, that each of these gifts will manifest themselves to the edification of the body.  God puts these gifts, verse 18, and sets each member into the body, as it pleases Him.

So, we have gifts of offices, we have apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers.  We have administrations, we have helps, we have these different functions that operate within the church, and we have the gifts of the Spirit which are available to all and will work readily in the lives of all of those other gifts to the church.  If you’re in eldership, if you’re an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher, these gifts should be working severally in you.  It’s funny, because sometimes people don’t even realize that these gifts are working in common day situations, in conversations.  You’re talking to somebody and suddenly your spirit is troubled.  This person just keeps singing our praises.  “That’s the greatest church you’ve ever seen and it’s going on….”  You’re just not comfortable with that.  “These are the men of the most-high God, that show unto you the way of salvation.”  Amen?  It says Paul finally got grieved and turned and cast that devil out of her.