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Reinhard Bonnke with George Canty: Mighty Manifestations. Kingsway Publications Eastborne, England: "Almost the whole chapter 12 (1 Corinthians) concerns the Church and the gifts for the common good of all members. The Church is Paul's ceaseless concern."
Harold Horton: The Gifts of the Spirit. Assemblies of God Publishing House. Nottingham, England: "The gifts are diverse and the Giver one. The streams are many, the source is one. Or the river is one and full of water: the streams thereof are nine; they assuredly make glad the city of God!"
1 Corinthians 12:7 "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all" (NKJV)
Manifestation is the showing forth of the Holy Spirit in one or more of His supernatural abilities. Individual responses or reactions do not of themselves profit all. The "all", referring to the believers, come together in worship, which is borne out in the context of chapters 11 to 14 of First Corinthians. Individuals operating in allotted spiritual gifts DO profit all. This is the reason and purpose for which the Holy Spirit graces with His abilities. Exercising spiritual gifts is never for indulgence of self. The profit of others, in love, must be the motivating factor. Each one is responsible to fulfill the role of one who profits all, and to co-operate in the maxim stated in
Things can be done in an acceptable way because "the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets" (1 Corinthians 14:32 KJV). No matter how great the joy, ecstasy or prompting awareness that a gift is available to be exercised - the emotion is not uncontrollable. There is an insistence that gifts are to be controlled by the recipients themselves, otherwise there could be no restrictions placed on them, as indeed there are (1 Corinthians 14:26-28).
Such is the control of the recipient of a "tongue", it is possible to choose to be quiet in church and speak to himself and to God (1 Corinthians 14:28). It may then be logically concluded that the human response is also under the affected one's control - the greater is said to be, so the lesser must be.
All must be done for strengthening (1 Corinthians 14:26). Anyone speaking in a tongue must be limited to two or not more than three (1 Corinthians 14:27). Each should speak one at a time (1 Corinthians 14:27). Someone must interpret (1 Corinthians 14:27). Should there be no-one with the gift of interpretation, the one with a message in a tongue should keep quiet (1 Corinthians 14:28).
With the profit of all in mind, we should passionately desire manifestations of the Holy Spirit in spiritual gifts, that we may be His instruments of:
Strengthening, encouragement and comfort (1 Corinthians 14:3 ) Revelation, knowledge, word of instruction (1 Corinthians 14:6,19 ) That sinners will fall down before God (1Corinthians 14:25 ) To inspire worship of the Lord (1 Corinthians 14:25 ) So that all may learn (1 Corinthians 14:31 ) And to be used for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7 )
