Have you ever been surprised by what you find in the Bible? Has God ever given you a revelation through the study of His word? Well, that happened to me this week and it was such a wonderful gift from above.
This summer our home group has been having a phenomenal study on spiritual gifts. This last week, most of the text that we studied was out of I Corinthians 12. The first few verses of that section of scripture are so rich and full of great insight, but there were three simple verses that really caught me.
4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.5And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.
6There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.
I Corinthians 12:4-6 (NASB)
Read that several times and really take it in. Each verse describes something different, but they are so similar as well. The first verse states that there are different kinds of gifts, but they are all given by the Holy Spirit. Elsewhere in this passage (I Cor. 12:11) it says that each gift is given as the Spirit wills. The gifts that each of us are given as Christians are under the authority of the Holy Spirit.
I Cor 12:5 demonstrates the difference between having gifts and having ministries. The gift is the ability to serve in some way, but a ministry is actually putting that gift into use. We could have many kinds of spiritual gifts, but if we don’t use them what good are they? This verse shows that Jesus is the authority over the ministries.
Now for the really good part. The Holy Spirit is in charge of gifting you to be able to serve. Jesus establishes a ministry for you to serve in. What happens after that? I Cor 12:6 tells us that the are a myriad of results, of which God the Father works through all people.
Do you see why that is so powerful? If I’m working within the gifts given me by the Spirit, in the ministries that Christ Himself established for me, I don’t have to worry about results. In case that isn’t clear yet, let’s say it one more time. I don’t have to worry about results. Whatever happens through the ministry Christ has given has nothing to do with me. I can rest in the knowledge that by serving Him in the right place, I don’t need to concern myself with the results.
As a worship leader this is such a comforting and freeing message. Often I come off the platform after worship wondering if everything was done right in order to produce the results that I expect to see. Did we sing the right songs, did I play all the right chords, did I do everything possible in order to direct people in worship? I don’t have to do that anymore. So long as I continue to be gifted in this by the Spirit and placed in this ministry by Christ, I don’t have to worry about what happens. The results are in God’s hands.
Now, I still need to do the best that my talents allow. I can’t just mail it in every week thinking it will be taken care of. I have to spend time alone with God, seeking Him for the guidance to choose the right songs and to make sure that I am in His will. If that is done though, I can leave the rest of it up to Him. Such a wonderful gift of freedom in Him.
What do you think? Let me know your thoughts on this.
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