I CORINTHIANS: Spiritual Gifts, Ministries and Activities; "But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills!"

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. (I Corinthians 12:1-3)

Paul started out this part of the letter regarding spiritual gifts by first making it clear that there is unity in God the Father, Christ Jesus our Lord, and the Holy Spirit.  God is not like the dumb idols the church in Corinth used to worship when they lived as Gentiles.  ...we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. (I Corinthians 8:4-6)

And there is one Holy Spirit, from God, whom Jesus said, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." (John 14:26) He will also empower each of us with spiritual gifts.  There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. (I Corinthians 12:4-6)  The Greek word translated gifts means to receive a divine gratuity, a spiritual endowment, religious qualification or miraculous faculty.  The Greek word translated ministries or administrations in the KJV, means to attend as a servant, to provide service as a Christian teacher.  The Greek word translated activities or operations in the KJV, means an effect of operation, working.

Therefore, in the Christian church, the body of Christ, each one of us has been blessed with a spiritual gift to be use in a specific ministry and manifested in various activities. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 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.  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. (I Corinthians 12:7-11)

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? (I Corinthians 12:12-19)

But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. (I Corinthians 12:20-26)

God couldn't have had Paul explain it any simpler.  Thinking of our own bodies, we know how important each member is to the whole body.  If one member suffers, for example our little toe, which we could say seems to be weaker, don't all the members suffer with it? The same is true in the body of Christ.  No matter what one of us may be feeling or experiencing, whether suffering or honor, we all experience it because we all are a part of the body of Christ, the church, regardless of which church we go to or where it's located.  We are united through God's Holy Spirit, and that transcends space and time. 

Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. (I Corinthians 12:27-31)

Remember, God is a God of order, and everything He does is done in order, from the creation of the world and everything and everyone in it (Genesis 1-2); to leading the children of Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 13:17-18); to all the prophesies concerning the details of the coming of Christ - to the time that Christ was to be crucified and where, to the time of Christ's resurrection and ascension (read "351 Prophecies Fulfilled"); and to the time that the church would be formed (Acts 1-2).  There must be order in our churches that represents the order of God, so that the church will function properly.  But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 

All of us may not have the same gifts, but we each have been given a spiritual gift, and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. Whatever our gift - word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in different tongues, interpretation of tongues; whatever our ministry - being an apostle, prophet, teacher, performing miracles, healing, helping, administration, speaking in various tongues (or languages); and whatever our activity - ...may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21)