THAT’S THE SPIRIT
Play Audio
If you prefer listening to today’s Bible guide reading, play this audio file.
If the audio bar is not appearing, click here to play the audio.
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for calling me to follow you. Help me to be faithful in telling others of the grace and mercy that you offer, knowing how privileged I am to be part of their faith journey.
Read 1 CORINTHIANS 12:1–11
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Concerning Spiritual Gifts
12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 12:10 Or languages; also in verse 28
- 1 Corinthians 12:10 Or languages; also in verse 28
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How do you expect God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to bless you today?In those days it took great courage to say, ‘Jesus is Lord.’ It could be fatal to insist on it or to refuse to say ‘Caesar is Lord’ at an emper- or worship ceremony, for instance. This brave testimony, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ came from the Holy Spirit (v. 3), and it still does today across the world.
Some of the spiritual or supernatural activity in Corinth was pagan (v. 2). But the Holy Spirit was active there in an amazing variety of ways, as he still is in a fellowship of believers today. Through the Spirit, the Lord gives each believer some gift for the good of all (vv. 7, 11). Opinions may vary as to what precisely Paul was referring to in the gifts he mentions at Corinth (vv. 8–10). I always associate the popular author, CS Lewis, with having a gift of imparting ‘knowledge,’ a gift which has greatly strengthened many Christians in the English-speaking world. James Hudson Taylor’s gift of pioneering ‘faith’ established a great enduring church work in Southeast Asia.
In your local church, the same Holy Spirit is working through people he has gifted: perhaps, as in verses 8–10, someone can bring words of wisdom, someone else can speak from God, and others bring healing or discernment, or work wonders in all they do!
Apply
Do you know what gift(s) the Holy Spirit has chosen to give you? Have you asked other Christians what they think your gift(s) might be?
Closing prayer
Thank you, Father, for the gifts you have given me. Help me use them to bring you glory—to encourage my fellow believers and faithfully show who you are to those who are yet to put their trust in you.
Book and Author Intros
Extras
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2025 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.