I Corinthians 12:1-31
Yesterday my comments had to do with the Sacramental Stream in our Three Streams theology. Today it is the Spirit Stream – specifically the gifts of the Spirit. There were some real hesitations in our Men’s Group’s initial discussions of the Spirit Stream. Changing the wording to “Spirit-filled Stream” helped a bit. But it is my observation that people who are troubled over this Spirit Stream are looking at the manifestations of the Spirit (the Pentecostal/Charismatic speaking in tongues, hand-waving, healing ministries, etc.), not the gifts of the Spirit or the fruits of the Spirit. Paul’s lesson in today’s reading focuses on the gifts of the Spirit. In verse 28 hand-waving is nothing, healing is listed fourth, and tongues comes last of all: And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. I think this is the only place where Paul places a ranking on these spiritual gifts. He has a similar listing in Ephesians 4:11: And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers… , but no ranking anywhere else of which I am aware. (See also Romans 12:6-8.) So let’s embrace this Spirit Stream and the gifts that He gives. We’ll deal with the fruits later.
See also: May 7 / I Cor. 12:1-14; May 8 / I Cor. 12:15-31