1 Corinthians 12

V. 28-30, Holy Spirit administers to whom He wills

Paul continues his teaching on how the Holy Spirit functions and this time he speaks of the position that God has appointed to govern the church. The list goes like this apostle, prophets, teachers, miracles, healing, helping, guidance, and speaking in tongues. Paul mentions this immediately after his analogy of the human body being like the church implying that we all have different jobs. There are different positions with in the church that are designed to work together for the church to be successful. All are equally important for the success of the church and all are chosen of God for their service. Verse 28 says that God has placed these individuals in the positions they are in and this means we should respect and honor those individuals. Individuals are called of God and ordained with power and skills necessary to complete the task God has assigned them.

We live in a democratic society here in America and sadly sometimes we allow this process into the church, but the church is not a democracy it is a theocracy. Individuals appointed by God lead under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit with Jesus Christ as the supreme authority and guiding figure. God is in complete control and doesn’t have to ask our opinion on who serves where or how long they are aloud to do what they have been appointed to do. We must have faith that God can call and anoint the right individuals lead and direct His church. I know this may sound foreign to many who are used to a democratic system with in their denominations, but this is the way God’s Kingdom functions. God doesn’t need our approval or recommendations when it comes to appointments to serve in ministry and their assignments.