- Romans 12:3-8 - 3 For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. 4 Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, 5 in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. 6 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts:
If prophecy, use it according to the standard of one’s faith;
7 if service, in service;
if teaching, in teaching;
8 if exhorting, in exhortation;
giving, with generosity;
leading, with diligence;
showing mercy, with cheerfulness.[2]
    - “Just do it” – Do what you are lead to do… this is obedience.
   - 1 Peter 4:10-11 - 10 Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, it should be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, it should be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. [3]

Each believer has at least one (1 Corinthians 12:7), and each person is specifically gifted for the acts of service God has prepared for him or her (Ephesians 2:10 - 10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.[4]).

The gifts are given to allow the church to work together to meet needs, make disciples, and glorify God.

The Spirit distributes spiritual gifts and manifestations of His presence to and through the body
   - 1 Corinthians 8-10 - 8 About food offered to idols: We know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up. 2 If anyone thinks he knows anything, he does not yet know it as he ought to know it. 3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.
4 About eating food offered to idols, then, we know that “an idol is nothing in the world,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth—as there are many “gods” and many “lords”—
6 yet for us there is one God, the Father.
All things are from Him,
and we exist for Him.
And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ.
All things are through Him,
and we exist through Him.
7 However, not everyone has this knowledge. In fact, some have been so used to idolatry up until now that when they eat food offered to an idol, their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 Food will not make us acceptable to God. We are not inferior if we don’t eat, and we are not better if we do eat. 9 But be careful that this right of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone sees you, the one who has this knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, won’t his weak conscience be encouraged to eat food offered to idols? 11 Then the weak person, the brother for whom Christ died, is ruined by your knowledge. 12 Now when you sin like this against the brothers and wound their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never again eat meat, so that I won’t cause my brother to fall.

1 Corinthians 9… 10:22

1 Corinthians 10:23 - 23 “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything builds up. 24 No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person.
25 Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake, 26 for the earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it. 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This is food offered to an idol,” do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake. 29 I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person’s. For why is my freedom judged by another person’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thanks, why am I slandered because of something I give thanks for?

31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory. 32 Give no offense to the Jews or the Greeks or the church of God, 33 just as I also try to please all people in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, so that they may be saved.[5]
   - Hebrews 2:4 - 4 At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions of gifts from the Holy Spirit according to His will.[6]

The Spirit anoints us for ministry
   - Luke 4:18 - 18 The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, [7]
   - Acts 10:38 - 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the Devil, because God was with Him.[8]

The Spirit brings unity and oneness to the body
   - Ephesians 4:3 - 3 diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds us.[9]
   - What keeps us united? Being united in the Spirit.
   - Ephesians 2:14-18 - 14 For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh, 15 He made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that He might create in Himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. 16 He did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross and put the hostility to death by it. 17 When the Messiah came, He proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.[10]
   - Here the Holy Spirit plays the same role that He plays in the Godhead.
   - The Spirit is the life that unites Father and Son.
   - The Spirit plays the same role in the church.
   - When the Holy Spirit is operating in a group of people, He unites them in love.
   - Therefore, a sure evidence of the Holy Spirit working in a group is Love and Unity.
   - Not signs and wonders (those are seasonal and can be counterfeited).

The Spirit enables some to preach the gospel
   - 1 Peter 1:12 - 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you. These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Angels desire to look into these things.[11]

The Spirit makes some overseers in the church and sends some out to the work of church planting [through the body]
   - Acts 13:2 - 2 As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work I have called them to.”[12]
   - Acts 20:28 - 28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock that the Holy Spirit has appointed you to as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.[13]
   - 1 Peter 2:5 - 5 you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.[14]

[1] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (1 Co 12:1–31). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ro 12:3–8). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (1 Pe 4:10–11). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Eph 2:10). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (1 Co 8:1–10:33). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Heb 2:4). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Lk 4:18). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.


[8] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ac 10:38). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.


[9] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Eph 4:3). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.


[10] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Eph 2:14–18). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.


[11] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (1 Pe 1:12). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.


[12] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ac 13:2). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.


[13] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ac 20:28). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.


[14] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (1 Pe 2:5). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.