The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 12:8-12, “For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;

9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.”

Large families often give separate responsibilities to each of their children. No one is expected to do everything, but everyone is expected to do something. Parents, being older, are usually the best to say who is to do what. Responsibilities vary according to the ability of the child.

It is the same with the Church. The LORD, having established the Church, is the obvious One to assign responsibilities. No one knows who is best suited to do his assignment; he simply accepts what the LORD gives him to do. In the five verses above, the Apostle Paul cites nine spiritual gifts the LORD assigns to His children within the Church.

Some have a greater mastery of the Bible than others. But the person of wisdom knows best how and when to approach a lost person with the Gospel. To another there is the gift of faith. He possesses absolute confidence in what the LORD has spoken and will not be moved to doubt it. Still to others are given the gift of healings. Such healing gifts are to be seen in Acts 5:12, 15-16; and 19:12. To others were given the gift of miracles, such as were other than healings, such as in Mark 16:18.

Prophecy is both preaching and the foretelling of coming events –events not otherwise known. Discernment of spirits means “reading” pretense in someone else declaration. It also concerns the assessment of demonic spirits from which comes lying concerning the LORD Jesus Christ and His Word. Tongues are languages; some persons adapt to languages not native to themselves.

We are never to self-assign a spiritual gift. The very work “gift” suggests that such comes to one from the Holy Spirit Himself. Spiritual gifts are no more our doing than salvation. The LORD balances His Church through these gifts, enabling the lost to be saved and the saved to be empowered to share the Faith with others.

We have no choice in selecting which gift we might want. We are assigned spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit alone. But once assigned, we are to use and develop the gift to bring glory and honor to Christ.

Have you discovered your spiritual gift? Are you allowing the Spirit to use the gift through you? Such is our responsibility. Let’s get started!

Prayerfully yours,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”