We are ready to put our Swedish furniture into place. We have toiled over the directions, we have studied each part, and we have studied the manual. When we initially set out to buy our piece of furniture we had a space for it in mind. We didn’t buy it on a whim and then put it together and realize we have no room for it. We took the time to consider it in the space we wanted it. We likely measured the area and made sure it would function properly where we wanted it located. Now that we considered all the aspects of the free gifts of the Spirit, we can put them into functional use as the Spirit leads. We are always subservient to the Holy Spirit which means we have to resist the push to do what we want and follow the directions instead. Paul gives us a new category of ministry and explains it to us. He also gives us guidance and direction. Paul then reminds us that we are all of one body and no one is better than another. Paul tells us to burn with zeal for the eteros gifts but that there is a superiority from heaven to earth in love. With this in mind lets look at practical ministry from 1 Corinthians 12.
Paul wrote this section of the gifts of the Holy Spirit right after correcting a few mistakes in the Corinthian church. If we step back we see that while they had love feasts, they were doing them incorrectly. They also thought that their love feasts were communion, they were not. We have to imagine what someone was telling Paul so that we understand his response. Paul says that if you are hungry at the love feasts then eat at home. That seems silly but we can understand that some people were eating before others, maybe while the set up was going on, claiming that they were hungry. This meant that they got a “free meal” without fellowshipping with the body of believers. Paul says no more of that. He is citing manners and decorum. Then he says he wishes they were all like the spiritual brethren. Why? Because someone related the situation that the spiritual brethren were ministering by way of the Holy Spirit and the people didn’t understand it. Paul gives them the breakdown of the gifts so that when they would gather as a body of believers they would have operations of the gifts of the Spirit. Today we do have potluck’s and fellowship and other church events for the assembly, but do we allow the spiritual brethren to minister? If the spiritual brethren were asked to minister to someone would they be accepted by the body at large to minister healing?
If you look at structures in the church we all like to categorize people in positions, functions, or offices. We like to divide people so we can judge people. We would look at someone and say that person is a pastor, or an evangelist, or an apostle, and give them a dedicated title and an ordination ceremony. Some people we title as “servants”, such as intercessors or helps. Yet the spiritual brethren didn’t have a “title” until Paul gave it to them. Paul added the “title” of spiritual brethren because people wanted everyone categorized, organized, and sanctioned. In other words, pastors don’t evangelize, teachers don’t pastor, and apostles do not prophesy. Everyone was thought to have to stay in their lane. This is how Israel functioned. The Pharisees did their thing, the Priests did their thing, the Sadducees did their thing, and the temple Scribes did their thing. No mixing or crossing of functions. But in the church the category of “spiritual brethren” supersedes all the offices and services. Someone could be an intercessor and not be a spiritual brethren. Someone could be an evangelist and not be a spiritual brethren. Someone could be serving tables and yet be a spiritual brother. Someone could be directing traffic at church and be a spiritual brother. Likewise in our churches someone could be an elder but not be a spiritual brethren. An elder may have human wisdom, societal connections, and be a generous giver, but he may not function under the direction of the Holy Spirit. This could be because that person doesn’t know or doesn’t fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Or it could also be that the person may not have or may not want that level of spiritual maturity. A pastor can shepherd people without being a spiritual brethren. We imagine this should not be the case but many times pastors are not spiritual they are counselors, encouragers, managers, and comforters. The spiritual brethren are not dependent on someones college degree, seminary degree, or denominational background. They are dependent on the Holy Spirit. Holiness is the key. Elisha was farming when Elijah was told to tap him as a successor. Elijah was both a priest of Zadok and a Levite out of Heshbon and it was prophesied that he would be taken up. Yet Elisha the farmer had twice the miracles of Elijah, so much so that his dead bones raised someone to life. Consider all the other priests from the city of priests, and yet it was a farmer who was Elijah’s spiritual successor.
We may attend a church that has a vibrant worship service, with upbeat music, smoke, and lights. The pastor may be a gifted speaker who motivates the laity and evangelizes the lost. But it’s possible that neither minister or operate the spiritual gifts. They may utilize unacquired languages, but they may not go out ministering healing or deliverance for others. This is left up to the laity to minister among themselves. While this seems strange, the elevated people in the assembly are the pastors, the worship leaders, and the elders, but none of them may be spiritual brethren. The Holy Spirit doesn’t look for someone with a title to operate the gifts, the Holy Spirit looks for someone humble and holy.
In the case of Corinth, we probably had the assembly leaders, then the people with titles, but no spiritual brethren until some came to town. This is why it seemed strange that there were spiritual brethren ministering at Corinth, but they were not “church sanctioned, titled, representatives”, but somewhat common people. The spiritual brethren are not looking for permission to minister. They do not need approval from pastors and religious leaders. They are commissioned by the Holy Spirit. They can minister when and wherever the Holy Spirit directs.
Once I was at a potluck gathering of church people and someone asked me to pray for him. We were sitting in a large circle around a table and this individual wasn’t feeling well. Some people were mingling and there was lots of conversations. I asked the Holy Spirit if we should go somewhere else or stay where we were. The Holy Spirit said to stay where we were. Now all the people present believed in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They taught the gifts of the Spirit, but they were not happy that I prayed for someone who got healed, in their presence. It was simple, I prayed with one hand on his shoulder. There was no jumping, hollering, screeching of demons, just a simple prayer at the root of the sickness. The people present started making excuses as to why it was wrong to minister to this individual. It was remarkably eye opening. Every excuse imaginable was made, the hate and vitriol was quite surprising, but in the end it was the beginning of a new era for me and a few others. We thought these people believed in the operations of the free gifts but we found out that they only believed someone with a title should minister. As painful as separations and divisions are in the body of Christ, the blessings on the other side of separating are far more wonderful because of obedience. The Holy Spirit knew what was in the hearts of the people around that table and put those hearts on full display. While some had no opinion, others were vicious. Even people who were not present had opinions. The Holy Spirit had a clear picture as to who would be a servant and who would not. This took place thirty years ago. Sometimes what seems like a bad thing is really a blessing if we are following the Holy Spirit.
Today, with maturity, it would be easy to walk away, but back then it was painful. My perception was off. So the Lord orchestrated a couple of confirmations through people. I asked the Lord if this was of Him, that someone specific would call me, because I knew that person listened to the Lord. Within about five minutes the phone rang and that person was on the line. Then I asked again if someone else would call me, not someone specific but anyone else, and within a few hours someone else who I never talked to on the phone, did call. She had to ask someone for my number. She heard about the situation and had a few colorful words to encourage me. She said “f-them. Just f-them.” I always giggle when I think about that. I have never spoken to that person since that phone call but her obedience to the Lord that day was a great blessing, confirming that I was on track with the Holy Spirit. We put too much emphasis on leaders. They are not the Elohim and most times they are subject to emotionalism, they feel threatened and insecure. We will all face these situations, but age has its own wisdom and I would suggest that anyone in that position not be stopped by the schemes of Satanas. Stay humble and just keep moving forward with the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:1 “But about the spiritual brethren, not wish you not to know.”
1 Corinthians 12:4 “But variety free gifts they are but the same Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 12:5 “And variety service they are and the same Yahweh”
1 Corinthians 12:6 “And variety operations they are but the same Elohim the operative all in all.”
1 Corinthians 12:7 “But everyone given the manifestation the Spirit towards the bring together.”
Very clearly the decision for the divisions of the free gifts comes from the Holy Spirit. Yahweh chooses people for services. The Elohim, the collective Father, Son, or Holy Spirit, chooses operations. We saw that eight of the nine gifts are feminine nouns, while one, cures, is neuter. This shows us the Operative for cures could be one of the Elohim, while the other eight are parsed by the Holy Spirit. Two of the gifts are another different kind of gift. Faith and kinds of unacquired languages are for the operator. The other seven are operated for the laity. The manifestation of the spirit, operated by the spiritual brethren are to bring people together.
1 Corinthians 12:8 “That truly for by means of Spirit give logos sophia (word wisdom) but another different logos gnōsis (word knowledge) downwards the same Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 12:9 “But another different kind (eteros) faith in the same Spirit but another different free gift healing in the one Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 12:10 “But another different energēma dunamis (operation power) but another different prophecy, but another different judicial estimation spirits but another different kind (eteros) genos glōssa (kinds/race unacquired tongues) but another different explanation unacquired tongues”.
1 Corinthians 12:11 “But all these things operate the one and the same Spirit distribute one’s own, each one just as intends.”
These free gifts are not for the elevation of the ministers but for the healing of the laity. Healing of the laity is always evangelistic. We have a title “healing evangelist” but not everyone who ministers healing stands on platforms calling for repentance, confession of Jesus as Lord, and sicknesses to be healed. It also doesn’t mean that people will be added to your church. People may not go to a church, choosing instead to read their Bible on their own. Healing someone who has a need is for the individual. We are introducing them to the Elohim and the power of the Elohim. We then step aside and allow the Elohim to work with them. It is not up to us to drag them to church, but if they would like to go we can bring them.
About forty years ago a friend and I took on the challenge to be led by the Holy Spirit. We ministered to people all over the small town that we lived in. We were working for a lady and mentioned to her that we were ministering to people and so she asked us to minister to her. To us there wasn’t anything spectacular. She had a lump on her wrist that we ministered to and a couple of other things and that was it. We didn’t see her the next day, but two days later she was ecstatic. She was so excited she communicated how wonderful she felt and mentioned that the lump on her wrist was gone. She said it was not waking her up at night and her arm wasn’t falling asleep. We had no idea that this was her situation. I was curious and asked how long she had that issue, she replied that ever since her son was born, about thirty years. I was twenty-two at the time, so the Holy Spirit had us minister to an issue this lady had that was older than we were. She went on to search out a Bible study and faithfully read her Bible. In our minds we were so amazed that we ministered to a lump that had existed longer than we had. This energized us to minister to more people.
How then do we put this together? Simplicity in listening to the Holy Spirit is the way forward. We can start in small groups or with one or two people as prayer partners. Personally and individually praying and fasting is our base. Then meeting and praying for one another in a small group. Have a short teaching and prayer, then ask if someone wants to be ministered to. Lay hands on that person or not, it is as directed by the Holy Spirit, then pray quietly in your own prayer language, unacquired languages, until the Holy Spirit shows someone something. Speak it out. Early on there might be more explanation as “I see a seatbelt pressing into your side, were you in a car accident?” Then ask the Holy Spirit what you are to minister to, you can ask out loud, or to yourself, the Holy Spirit knows the thoughts of our heart. Or “I feel like the Holy Spirit is saying toxic relationships, are you struggling with a toxic relationship?” Ask the Holy Spirit what to speak next, wisdom, knowledge. As people get more comfortable with hearing from the Holy Spirit they will skip that part and if they see something like hips that are crooked and causing knee pain they will say “hips be straightened” or whatever. Speak to the problem.
As people get confident in the voice of the Holy Spirit invite other people with needs to come to your small group to be ministered to. First and foremost people coming for prayer should be saved, they don’t have to be saved when they get there but should be saved when they leave. They should have some foundation in the word of God. Give that to them first. Also there may be people you do not want in your home that are asking for prayer. Get the group to go to them, either go to a public place and meet to get the person saved, and then maybe go to a park to pray for them. Not everyone coming into our homes for deliverance is coming because they are truly in need of prayer, sometimes they are there casing for demonic spiritual attacks.
Once people are saved, ministry can start. It doesn’t mean that they will be instantly healed, it does mean that the process of their healing will start. Sometimes the Elohim heals instantly, sometimes the Holy Spirit has to correct wrong thinking, bad behavior, or demonic influence. In this case I would suggest inviting only one or two people at a time. Someone might have a word of wisdom for the person being ministered to. Someone else might have a prophecy. If the Holy Spirit is leading the ministers the person will receive ministry. If they are not healed on that day invite them next week. Build on this foundation. Now if the people in the small group are part of a church that does not believe in the gifts of the Spirit this might cause some divisions. Even if they do believe in the gifts of the Spirit it still might cause divisions. All we want to do is minister to people not take over someone’s church. Keep in mind that Jesus is the head of the church and he is very willing to send his people wherever they need to go to get healing. Even if that means going to an outside home group. We should all be thankful for the healing and not persecute the operators.
Paul goes on in 1 Corinthians to talk about the Body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12 G2509 For just as G1063 G3588 the G4983 body G1520 is one, G1510.2.3 G2532 and G3196 [3members G2192 1has G4183 2many], G3956 but all G1161 G3588 the G3196 members G3588 of the G4983 [2body G3588 G1520 1one], G4183 being many, G1510.6 G1520 are one G1510.2.3 G4983 body; G3779 so G2532 also G3588 the G5547 Christ.
13 G2532 For also G1063 G1722 in G1520 one G4151 spirit G1473 we G3956 all G1519 in G1520 one G4983 body G907 were immersed, G1535 whether G* Jews, G1535 whether G* Greeks, G1535 whether G1401 slaves, G1535 whether G1658 free; G2532 and G3956 all G1519 into G1520 one G4151 spirit G4222 given to drink.
14 G2532 For also G1063 G3588 the G4983 body G3756 is not G1510.2.3 G1520 one G3196 member, G235 but G4183 many.
After the day of Pentecost a new era emerged. The people who followed Jesus and believed he was Lord and that he rose up on the third day became Followers of the Way and later known as Christians, meaning “Christ-in”. Then the people who saw that those Followers of the Way had miraculous power and heard Christ preached also became Followers of the Way no matter if they were Jews, Greeks, Romans, and no matter what jobs they held in society, all different nationalities and races were added to the church, the Followers of the Way. Paul is reminding people that we are all of one Body and we are in one Spirit. Paul just pointed out that there is a new distinction of believers who may or may not be pastors, teachers, apostles, prophets or evangelists, but the new group of operators of the free gifts of the Holy Spirit are called spiritual brethren. We are all part of the Body with different functions.
This new category of operations in the Body of Christ has been ignored by some denominations who believe that the gifts are not operational today. Some denominations do believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit operating today, but they want to control the movement. No one controls the Holy Spirit. Pastors and religious leaders think this makes gifts of the Holy Spirit dangerous, as it might bring unwanted attention when demons scream out and people throw up during deliverance. Nonetheless, we have to ask what is best, to leave people hurting and sick, or minister to them and let the Elohim work in them. Is it wrong to heal someone on the Sabbath? Jesus didn’t think so. He thought healing was for every day. Are we aligned with Jesus or cowering in fear of what the unsaved might think?
Once again the spiritual brethren is a different category of operations of the Holy Spirit from the offices and services ministries. Anyone can be a spiritual brother if they choose. We somehow automatically think that anyone in an office or anyone in service will be a spiritual brethren but what we find out is that many times they are not. They could be if they want to be, but we should not elevate offices and services as if they are spiritual leaders. I was talking with a woman who had a very abusive past. Her son stopped speaking when he was young because he saw the abuse his mother received by his father. She was confident that there was nothing wrong with him because the “elders” prayed for him and he was not healed. I didn’t believe that was accurate. The “elders” were not spiritual brethren they were managers or in administrative positions, not out in the field ministering. Their title made them seem elevated but in fact they were the wrong people to rely on in her sons case. I would have loved to minister to this boy but the mother was adamant that he didn’t need any more prayer. What can we do when that happens? Nothing.
1Co 12:15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1Co 12:16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1Co 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
1Co 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
1Co 12:19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
1Co 12:20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
1Co 12:21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
Paul’s point is clear. There isn’t a position that is more important in the body than another, no matter how different a hand is to a toenail.
1 Corinthians 12:22 G235 But G4183 more G3123 rather, G3588 the G1380 [4which seem G3196 1members G3588 2of the G4983 3body G772 6weaker G5224 5to be] G316 are important; G1510.2.3
23 G2532 and G3739 the ones which G1380 seem G820 to be exceedingly without honor G1510.1 G3588 of the G4983 body, G3778 these G5092 [3honor G4053 2more extra G4060 1we invest]; G2532 and G3588 G809 [2indecent parts G1473 1our G2157 5decency G4053 4more extra G2192 3have];
24 G3588 G1161 but G2158 [2decent parts G1473 1our G3756 4no G5532 5need G2192 3have]. G235 But G3588 G2316 God G4786 mixed together G3588 the G4983 body G3588 to the part G5302 lacking, G4053 [2more extra G1325 1having given] G5092 honor,
25 G2443 that G3361 there might not be G1510.3 G4978 a split G1722 in G3588 the G4983 body, G235 but G3588 [4the G1473 5same G5228 7for G240 8one another G3309 3should have 6concern G3588 1 that the G3196 2members].
Whatever we think ourselves to be, we probably are not the most important part of the Body of Christ. When our religious leaders think of themselves as more important than others then they are in error. When our religious leaders demean those who do the will of the Holy Spirit they are in error. When religious leaders want to lord over the spiritual brethren and attempt to control the working of the Holy Spirit they are in error. One might say that they are just protecting the sheep, but truly the evidence is in the results. Some have even gone so far as to say that the devil is healing people and the people ministering are practicing witchcraft, to which it seems odd that when people are healed they give the glory to Jesus and accept him as Lord and Savior. If the devil was healing people he most certainly got the wrong result when people became Christians. All the excuses of bad leaders with sick congregations will stand before Jesus, pride will be exposed, and that truly is a shame. If a pastor or leader is not spiritual or operating the gifts of the Holy Spirit that pastor/leader can learn by submitting to the Holy Spirit if they desire. If not they should not hinder those who have submitted themselves to the Holy Spirit because the spiritual brethren are just as important to the Body of Christ as anyone else.
1 Corinthians 12:26 G2532 And G1535 whether G3958 [3suffers G1520 1one G3196 2member], G4841 [4suffer along G3956 1all G3588 2the G3196 3members]; G1535 whether G1392 [3be glorified G1520 1one G3196 2member], G4796 [4rejoice along G3956 1all G3588 2the G3196 3members].
27 G1473 But you G1161 G1510.2.5 are G4983 the body G5547 of Christ, G2532 and G3196 members G1537 in turn. G3313
28 G2532 And G3739 whom G3303 indeed G5087 [2appointed G3588 G2316 1God] G1722 in G3588 the G1577 assembly, G4412 first G652 apostles, G1208 second G4396 prophets, G5154 third G1320 teachers, G1899 thereupon G1411 works of power, G1534 then G5486 favors G2386 of cures, G484 assistance, G2941 guidance, G1085 types G1100 of languages.
Notice how Paul mixes the gifts, the services, and the offices together still in the context of the one Body. Apostles prophets and teachers are offices. Powers, gifts of cures, and unacquired languages are gifts of the Holy Spirit used by the spiritual brethren. Assistance or helps, and guidance, aka governments, and services. All of these things are important. All of these things can be used interchangeably among themselves. A pastor can be a servant, an apostle can govern a church body. Wouldn’t it be better if pastors who are servants were also spiritual brethren? It would be better if apostles who govern were spiritual brethren as well. However Paul understood that all people do not do all things, some do one thing in the Body of Christ. Hence the need for spiritual brethren. If someone spends their time in their office of calling they may not have the time to sit in a room of people who need healing. This is why the recognition of the spiritual brethren is an important function in the Body of Christ. There are people who have the time and the compassion to operate the gifts of the Holy Spirit among the laity.
1 Corinthians 12:29 G3361 Not G3956 all G652 are apostles. G3361 Not G3956 all G4396 are prophets. G3361 Not G3956 all G1320 are teachers. G3361 Not G3956 all G1411 are works of power.
30 G3361 Not G3956 all G5486 [2favors G2192 1have] G2386 of cures. G3361 Not G3956 all G1100 [2languages G2980 1speak]. G3361 Not G3956 all G1329 interpret.
Paul confirms that people do not do all things. Notice that Paul pairs the speaking in unacquired languages with interpretation, they go together in public ministry in the church service.
1 Corinthians 12:31 G2206 But be zealous for G1161 G3588 the G5486 [2favors G3588 G2908 1better]. G2532 And G2089 yet G2596 [3that exceeds G5236 G3598 2a way G1473 1I will show to you]. G1166
“But zealous the gifts the greater and still downward throwing beyond path I show.”
Paul tells us to be zealous for the greater gifts of the Holy Spirit. What are the greater gifts? The two eteros gifts for the believer, internal faith and kinds of unacquired languages. Why are these greater or better? Both of these eteros gifts build individuals up in their spiritual walk. Faith matched with perfect prayer has more benefits than prayer with no inside faith. Being zealous means to burn with zeal or to desire earnestly. We are to exert ourselves in the free gifts of the Holy Spirit by fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit and understanding the voice and directions of the Holy Spirit.
Paul then says ‘and still downward superiority, (kata huperbolē) is the path I will show’. What is this downward superiority or downward throwing beyond? It is love. Love, agapē, makes us better people. When we love our brothers and sisters in Christ we are giving a free gift to someone else. Loving others whether believers or unbelievers, lets those people know that they are valued, they are wanted, and they are important in the eyes of the Elohim. Our love towards others draws them to the Messiah. This is a better way than prophesying or knowing mysteries, or having knowledge, because someone who feels lost, alone, enslaved, and broken, responds to love not prophecies. When we love others we show them their value so that they rise up and take authority over their own lives. They can then pursue the greater gifts zealously and the full operations directed by the Holy Spirit.
We are short on loving others because love takes time. It requires that we meet more than once to encourage people in the Messiah. Love is not a quick fix, like saying a prayer and walking away. Love is better because it develops a stronger foundation in people. How many of us have known pastors who would call people forward for salvation, and after having the unsaved repeat what he prays, then he just lays hands on each one praying in his own understanding, and moving quickly down the line. This is not operating the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This is a loving act but not a superior act from heaven to earth of love. Superior love from heaven to earth requires time. Pastors do not have time. This is why the spiritual brethren should be doing the ministering in the church.
Paul tells us to burn for the eteros gifts, not dismiss them. There is no dismissing of any of the free gifts, they are for the laity. And while we can love people so that they too want to know Jesus as their Messiah and Lord, there is still great need for the operations of the Holy Spirit in the assemblies. While gifts of healing are not what we center around and focus on, we focus on Jesus Messiah, but the spiritual brethren are a vital ministerial position in the assemblies. We should be excited that there are people willing to do the messy business of ministering to those in need. The Holy Spirit is on the earth today and has given us free gifts to utilize in order to bring together the Body of Christ. We can rejoice that we have not been left powerless.
