One spirit, one body, many gifts
S - 1 Cor 12:4-11,17-20 (NASB)
⁴ Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. ⁶ There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. ⁷ But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. ⁸ For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, ¹⁰ and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another thedistinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But one and the same Spirit works all these things,distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
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¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. ¹⁹ If they were all one member, where would the body be? ²⁰ But nowthere are many members, but one body. 


O- Just to remember in this letter to the Corinthians, Paul has been correcting many behavioral problems within the church, likely many different factions and interpretations where coming together from withing and slowly dividing the church because of their different interpretations of the how to be a follower of Christ.  They had begun to let the local culture seep back in,  they had begun to default to their Jewish religious roots, and slowly they began to disintegrate.   So he chooses to teach them about the uniting power of and the single mindedness of the Holy Spirit.  While this chapter does describe some of the gifts given to believers,  I think focus is in on describing that unity of the spirit of God.   And since we have accepted Jesus as  Lord we have the Holy Spirit living in us.   We only need to remember this and be led by the spirit, and there will be unity of action and purpose.


A -  The application for me is to recognize this in my life and in the churches and body of believers I belong to.     Being Holy Spirit led is the surest way to be free,  free from myself and my selfish tendencies.  It is the surest way to ensure I am operating in God's will, and not within my own.  Some of the practical aspects required to make this a daily reality, is the daily seeking of the Spirit's guidance, trust in the Spirits prompting, and obedience to the guidance.   Secondly we must know our own spiritual gifts from the spirit, and if we are a hand, stop trying to the job of a foot.   We are to seek to know and encourage the use of the spiritual gifts of those around us. The eyes and hands need to work together, not independently and therefore you must know the other parts and press forward with them in the direction the spirit is guiding.


P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for the lesson today, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord your spirit would guide me today, and forever,  help my heart, mind, and soul be attuned to the spirits promptings.   I pray for a clarity and sharpening of the spiritual gifts you have imparted upon me to include teaching, pastoring,  discernment, prophecy.   I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.