God distributes spiritual gifts according to His own will, not equally to all believers.
Scripture teaches that gifts differ according to the grace given, and the Holy Spirit decides who receives which gift. Les Feldick emphasizes that believers should not ask for specific gifts but let the Holy Spirit determine them, as each believer has a unique role in the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:11 — This verse states that the Holy Spirit distributes gifts to each believer as He wills, directly answering why not all receive the same gifts.
The Bible teaches that spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit to every believer, but not all receive the same gift. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul explains that there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit, and that each believer is given a specific gift as the Spirit wills. The body of Christ is like a human body with many members, each having a different function. Not all are apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, or healers; not all speak with tongues or interpret them. This diversity is intentional, for the body to be balanced and for each member to care for one another, so there should be no division.
Les Feldick teaches that God imparts spiritual gifts to believers according to His grace, and the Holy Spirit is in control of gift distribution. Believers should not beg for or request specific gifts; instead, they should allow the Spirit to determine their gift. Les illustrates that every believer has a unique capability to serve God, whether as a prayer warrior, teacher, administrator, or in other roles, and these gifts are to be exercised with love and without pride.
Les Feldick explains that the Holy Spirit is the one who decides which gift each believer receives, not the believer themselves. He emphasizes that believers are not to beg for a particular gift or ask for it, as the Holy Spirit gives as He wills. The diversity of gifts is part of God's plan to build the body of Christ, with each member having a unique function.
Les uses the analogy of the human body to explain that just as all parts have different functions, the body of Christ has members with different gifts. If everyone had the same role or gift, the body would be unbalanced or lopsided. He stresses that every believer deserves the same love and care, and when one member suffers, all suffer together.
Les Feldick firmly teaches that believers should not ask for specific spiritual gifts. He says, 'We are not to beg for a particular gift. We are not to ask for it.' Instead, believers should leave the choice up to the Holy Spirit and focus on using the gift they have been given. This aligns with the teaching that the Holy Spirit distributes gifts according to His will.
Les encourages believers to discern their own gifts and use them for the Lord, not to be afraid or prideful. He shares personal examples of people with unique gifts, such as approaching the unapproachable or teaching, and emphasizes that every believer can serve God in some capacity, whether seen or unseen. The attitude should be one of humility, recognizing that the gift is from God.
Body Analogy and Care
Les explains that the body of Christ is like a human body where every member is deeply connected, and all members should have the same care for one another, so when one suffers, all suffer.
Gifts Differing
Les teaches that gifts differ according to God's grace, and God is in control of who gets which gift, giving to each believer as He builds the body.
Not Beg for a Gift
Les explicitly states that believers are not to beg for or ask for a particular gift; it is given by the Holy Spirit as He wills.
Gifts of Healing and Faith
Les points out that even Paul could not heal his friend, showing that gifts are not given to all equally, and some gifts were for the early church.
Unique Gifts
Les uses examples like Elsie's gift for approaching unapproachable people to illustrate that every believer has a unique gift, not the same one for everyone.
Holy Spirit Controls Distribution
Les repeats that believers should leave the choice of gift up to the Holy Spirit, and it is not permitted to ask for a specific gift.
Use Your Gift
Les encourages believers to determine their own gift and use it, giving the example of his own teaching gift, and warns against pride.
Different Roles in the Church
Les lists various gifts like visiting the sick, prayer, giving, administration, and teaching, and says believers can determine what they are comfortable with.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6: Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
Paul introduces the diversity of spiritual gifts within the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:7: But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
The Holy Spirit gives to every believer a gift for the common good.
1 Corinthians 12:11: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
The Holy Spirit determines the distribution of gifts to each believer.
1 Corinthians 12:18-20: But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body.
God places each believer in the body as He pleases, indicating different roles.
Romans 12:6: Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Paul says gifts differ according to the grace given to each believer.
1 Corinthians 12:25-26: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
The diversity of gifts promotes unity and mutual care, not division.
Scripture teaches that God gives different gifts to different believers according to His will and grace. The Holy Spirit distributes gifts to each as He wills, and the body of Christ needs diversity to function properly, just as the human body has many parts with different functions.
Les Feldick teaches that believers should not ask for a specific gift. The Holy Spirit determines the gift, and believers should leave that up to Him. Instead of requesting a gift, believers should seek to use the gift they have been given for God's glory.
Les suggests that believers can determine their gifts by what they are comfortable with and where they can serve effectively. He mentions gifts like prayer, giving, administration, teaching, and helping others. You can discern your gift by serving and seeing where God uses you.
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