Paul said it very plainly: everything became more complete, enriched, hopeful and imbued with power when the Holy Spirit poured out His gifts on the Corinthians. Paul told them this would happen, it was part of his testimony of Jesus to them, and He was pleased to see that it had come to pass.
Even more exciting for us today, Paul said “you are full of hope as you wait for the return of Jesus Christ.” In saying this he was referencing their preparedness and encouragement obtained by the gifts God had bestowed on them through His Spirit while they waited expectantly for the return of Jesus Christ.
The return of Jesus Christ has not yet happened, of course, so we fall into the same ‘waiting period’ as did the Corinthians in Paul’s time. We are the same body of Christ, living in a different time frame as spiritual ancestors, in a sense. While we’re waiting we, too, can be imbued and equipped, confirming the testimony of Jesus Christ in ourselves.
Paul later told the Corinthians that he didn’t want them to fall behind [be lacking, ignore or be ill-informed] concernng these gifts, but to be fully filled and operational in using them as part of their kingdom responsibility toward one another (1 Cor 12). They were to fully load their arsenal with these weapons of grace and serve the Body through them as a testimony of Christ in them and evidence of their love for one another.
In short, Paul told them to load their spiritual arsenals with the gifts of the Spirit, and let love be the platform for the operation of these gifts – until the return of Jesus Christ! (1 Cor 13).
Are you loaded?
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