by Timothy W. Burnett
"But the manifestation of the spirit is given to every man for profit. For to one is given by the spirit the word of wisdom. To another the word of knowledge by the same spirit. To another the faith by the same spirit. To another the gifts of healing by the same spirit. To another working of miracles. To another prophecy. To another discerning of spirits. To another different kinds of tongues. To another the interpretation of tongues." (1Corinthians 12:7-10).
The ability to manifest the spirit from God is given to every man for profit. The word "man" refers to all people in the category of mankind and includes women. It is given to everybody who is filled with hoy spirit. One of the popular beliefs in many churches is that different people are gifted with certain abilities.
It is said that one person has the gift of speaking in tongues, while another person has the gift of discerning spirits. The general belief is that other people will not be able to do what they are not gifted with. If the word says that the manifestation of the spirit is given to every man, then that means everybody who is filled with holy spirit will be able to profit from the manifestation of the spirit in all nine ways.
There are nine ways that Christians can profit from the manifestation of the spirit of God. The verses use the word "another." There is a minute detail that must be addressed in this study. The word "another" was translated from two different Greek words. They are allos and heteros. Seven of the nine are joined with allos and refer to another of the same kind, where as two of the nine are joined with heteros and refer to another of a different kind (The Companion Bible, Appendix 124 1&2).
The two that are joined with heteros (another of a different kind) are faith and different tongues. These two are a different kind because they are unique to the administration of the grace of God that we currently live in. Speaking in tongues was not available prior to the events of Acts 2:4 when the spirit of God was poured out in the temple launching the beginning of the new spiritual administration. Also, it was not possible to have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the meaning of the word faith here.
Romans 3:21-22, "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnesses by the law and the prophets. Even the rightesousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe. For there is no difference." This fits perfectly with the above reference to the manifestation of the spirit being given to all.
1Corinthians 12:7-10 destroys all confusion concerning what God's people are spiritually capable of during this fantastic administration of the grace of God.
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