The Sovereignty of the Holy Spirit

Introduction to Spiritual Gifts

Paul turns his focus to spiritual gifts after correcting the Corinthian church's misuse of the Lord's Supper. He does not want them to be ignorant about this subject. From chapter 12 onward, there is a huge emphasis on how Christians should function within the church. The Corinthians were not using spiritual gifts correctly, just as they had mishandled communion. They were immature, prideful, divided, and not gospel-focused.

Paul sets the tone in the first 11 verses by instructing on the essential nature of the Holy Spirit and his sovereignty. This is necessary for proper function within the church, for gospel-focused living, and for Christians to behave as they should in a congregation.

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

1 Corinthians 12:1-11 (ESV)

We must recognize the essential role of the Holy Spirit, submit to his sovereignty, and focus on him. This leads us to focus more on Jesus Christ, as the Spirit testifies about him. Ask yourself: What am I doing for the church? What should I be doing? Is it just showing up with a consumer mentality? Christians gather to hear the word, minister to one another, and build up the body of Christ.

The Holy Spirit impacts our lives in salvation, service, and spiritual power.

1. Submitting to the Holy Spirit Requires Us to Be Real About Our Salvation

To properly understand spiritual gifts, we must understand our salvation. Regeneration—passing from spiritual death to life—is completely the work of the Holy Spirit. We contributed nothing in our spiritually dead state.

When you were pagans, you were led astray to mute idols. No one speaking in the Spirit of God says “Jesus is accursed,” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. This is not mere utterance; anyone can mouth words. It is a spiritual reality: no one believes and confesses “Jesus is Lord” with saving faith apart from the Holy Spirit's regenerating work.

The Holy Spirit sovereignly controls salvation. He prevents blasphemy against Christ and enables genuine confession. We did not initiate or contribute to this; it is solely his work. Glory goes to God for empowering even our profession of faith.

Without the Holy Spirit, the gospel would seem moronic. He changes us internally, enabling us to submit to Christ's lordship—bowing the knee to his rule, regardless of pain or pleasure. In a culture declaring “Caesar is Lord,” confessing “Jesus is Lord” was a death warrant. The same Spirit empowers us today amid potential persecution.

2. Submitting to the Holy Spirit Requires Us to Rely Upon Him for Our Service

The Holy Spirit manifests himself in believers for the common good. No spiritual gift elevates one Christian above another. Every person here has a manifestation of the Spirit for the benefit of all God's people.

You are not given more of the Spirit than others to become a super Christian. It is the same measure for all. Any good I do is God in me; the same empowerment is in you for common good—beneficial, profitable, useful for holiness, gospel focus, and maturity.

Church membership matters because you provide what is useful to pastors, deacons, and the congregation. You bring a manifestation of the Holy Spirit to benefit others spiritually—through suffering, sin, or trials. Ladies can bless other ladies; everyone has something to contribute.

There are varieties of gifts (supernatural acts advancing the gospel), but the same Spirit; varieties of service (diaconal acts opening doors for the gospel, like meals, conflict resolution, or social events), but the same Lord; varieties of activities (gospel-impacting actions), but the same God who empowers them all.

This makes sense only because God is Triune: Spirit distributes gifts, the Lord directs service, God empowers activities. Everyone has a role.

3. Submitting to the Holy Spirit Requires Us to Rely Upon Him for Our Spiritual Power

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. Specific gifts include:

• Utterance of wisdom: Seeing circumstances from God's perspective, counseling properly.
• Utterance of knowledge: Supernatural knowledge beneficial to others spiritually (not natural learning or vague prophecies).
• Faith: Supernatural trust empowering others, like mountain-moving faith.
• Gifts of healing: Supernatural physical restoration.
• Working of miracles: Supernatural alteration of the natural realm.
• Prophecy: Pronouncing previously unknown revelation about God for edification.
• Distinguishing between spirits: Discerning good and evil spirits.
• Various kinds of tongues: Speaking an unlearned language.
• Interpretation of tongues: Understanding an unlearned language.

All are empowered by one Spirit, who apportions to each as he wills. Not every gift is for every believer; he distributes sovereignly, perhaps for a time or context, in an orderly way.

Ministry and activities must focus on the gospel, not just physical help. Gifts build up the body; they are not wholesale to all, nor do they make anyone superior.

There is a superior way to function in the church—beyond gifts alone—which Paul will show in chapter 13. Pursue gifts, but prioritize this better way of maturity and unity. Do not feel inferior without certain gifts; using them to tear down others counterfeits their purpose.