THE KING’S BUSINESS
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of gifts further down in the chapter (v. 28, cf. Eph. 4:11). This was a gift bestowed upon very few. The next gift mentioned is the “Word of knowledge,” i.e., the under standing of the truth of God already revealed through apostles and prophets and the prophets and the power to declare it to others (cf. ch. 14:6). This refers espec ially to the gift of the teacher, who in the catalogue of gifts in verse 28 comes next after apostles and prophets (see also, Eph. 4:11). This is a gift very widely bestowed and there is reason to believe that God would bestow it much more wbidely, if many would much more desire it (v. 31, R. V.). Following after “the word of wisdom” and “the word of knowledge” comes “faith.” The context plainly shows that by “faith” here it does not mean sav ing faith, but miracle working faith (cf. ch. 13:2; Mark 11:23; 16:17, 18; James 5:15). The faith here mentioned is the divinely given confidence that certain won derful things are going to be wrought by God’s power, and this confidence is a gift of the Spirit and is not bestowed upon every one, but “to another.” After this miracle working faith come “gifts of heal ings.” In the early church there were those who like the apostles and the Saviour Himself, had the gift of laying hands upon the sick and they recovered (Mark 6:5; 16:17, 18) ; but these gifts are not bestowed upon all believers, but “to another." There are those who read Mark 16:17, 18 as if the gifts and powers there mentioned would follow each and every believer, but the verses do not say so. The verses say “these signs shall follow them that believe," i.e., some of these signs will manifest them selves in one believer and others of the signs in another believer. It is evident from the passage immediately before us that the “gifts of healings” were to some and not to all. Many are asking the question, do these “gifts of healings” exist today? To this we would answer, there is no revealed reason why they should not. It is simply a question of evidence as to whether they do or do not. The fact that there are so
ministrations” and "diversities of work ings.” Tuesday, Nov. 27 . 1 Cor. 12 : 7 . While there are diversities of gifts' as we have just seen, according to the differ- ent lines of service to which we are called; nevertheless, “to each one (i.e., to each individual believer), is given the manifes tation of the Spirit to profit withal (i.e., for his profit and the profit of the whole church).” In God’s purpose there is one or more gifts by the Holy Spirit’s power for each and. every member of the church. Alas, many have either not claimed their gift or else they do not exercise it, While the individual believer may not claim his gift or may not exercise it, nevertheless, it is provided for him. Spiritual gifts are provided, not only for pastors, evangelists and other leaders in the church, but for “each one” (v. 7 R. V.), for each father, each mother, each humblest member of the body of Christ. In the plan of God there is to be no member of the church who is not to be baptized with the Spirit (cf. v. 13; Acts 2:38), and consequently endowed with some gift for the building up of the body (cf. Eph. 4:11, 12, 16). Doubtless this plan of God is not realized in the experience of each individual believer, and beyond a question there are many members of the body who are practically inoperative and useless, but that is our fault and not God’s. The baptism with the Spirit and the consequent gifts of the Spirit, are for “each one,” for each and every member of Paul now takes up the various gifts which the Holy Spirit imparts to different believers. First of all he mentions “the word of wisdom,” i.e., the revelation of the truth of God and the power to declare it to others (cf. ch. 2:6, 7; Eph. 18:3, 10; 6:19; Col. 2:3). This probably refers pri marily to the gift of inspiration bestowed upon apostles and prophets (1 Peter 1:21), as these are mentioned first in the catalogue the body of Christ. Wednesday, Nov. 28 . 1 Cor. 12 : 8 , 9 .
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