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Daily Devotions

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 
Day 
Day 154

"To another the working of miracles..."

Text: 1 Corinthians 12:10

THE APOSTOLIC AGE

As we read 1 Corinthians, we need to remind ourselves that we are reading about life and ministry in the first century. It was called “The Apostolic Age” because the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ were present.

“To another the working of miracles, to another prophecy,
to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues,
to another the interpretation of tongues.”
1 Corinthians 12:10

1. Five different gifts from the Spirit of God are identified here

a) “The working of miracles”
i) The word “miracle” is the translation of the word “power”.
ii) This phrase, in context, is a reference to a spiritual power at work producing “a miracle”.
iii) The word “miracle” is more of a derived meaning.
iv) The Apostles certainly were able to work miracles.
v) A few individuals were also empowered (Philip- Acts 8:13).
vi) Often “miracles” were “signs” to indicate the power of God was at work (Acts 5:12).
b) “To another prophecy”
i) Agabus was the most frequently mentioned “prophet”.
ii) However, his prophetic ministry was very limited compared to the ministry of the Apostles.
c) “To another the discerning of spirits”
i) Peter was able to discern the false spirits of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11).
ii) Paul was able to discern the spirit of divination in a demon possessed damsel (Acts 16:16-18).
d) “To another different kinds of tongues”
i) The word “tongues” simply means “language”.
ii) This same word was used to describe the phenomenon of being able to speak different languages (Acts 2:4).
iii) There were many ethnic groups present at Pentecost when the Spirit of God fell upon the one hundred and twenty disciples in Jerusalem (Acts 2:1-4).
iv) Those present were amazed that the Galileans were able to speak in their own native tongues (Acts 2:5-11)
e) “The interpretation of tongues”
i) There were occasions when interpretation was necessary.
ii) This gift was mentioned here (1 Corinthians 12:10).
iii) It was technically the same gift of knowledge and ability to speak in another tongue.

Here, they were applying this gift by interpreting the language spoken.