It’s simple—the church is spiritual, doing spiritual things and raising up people who believe in the spiritual side of things.
As Christians, we believe that there is one ultimate being—God—who is a spirit.
He has given us His Holy Spirit, making us “spiritual beings.”
Since we are spiritual, we believe in the spiritual realm, try to bring it to the world and educate people about it, and do spiritual things.
But here’s a shocking truth: The church could do a better job at presenting itself like this—a spiritual place.
Not just a place full of nice people who smile a lot and do positive things for the community.
But a spiritual place where the number one mission is to know God more and comprehend the spiritual side of life more accurately.
When the church is just another organization that happens to believe in God, it is not fulfilling its mission.
Today, I would like to invite you to recognize the spiritual side of life.
1 Corinthians 12:1 ESV
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
In the original Greek text of this scripture, the word “gifts” isn’t there.
It literally says, “Now concerning spirituals.”
This is because the Greek has something called substantive adjectives.
A substantive adjective is basically when the writer uses an adjective (like “spiritual”) but does not include the noun that they’re describing.
It would be as if I said, “I like salty.” You would probably respond by asking, “You like salty what?!”
Well, in Greek, this was a standard way to write something.
They would usually use a substantive adjective if what they were describing was a normal, generic word.
Those generic words could be “one, thing, man, woman, or person.”
So, when I said, “I like salty,” what I meant was, “I like salty things.”
One proper way to translate a substantive adjective from the Bible to English is to add one of these generic words.
For example, we all know the part in the famous Lord’s Prayer:
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
But what most people don’t know is that “evil” is a substantive adjective, not a noun.
It’s not “Deliver us from evil,” as if “evil” is a noun by itself (person, place, or thing).
It literally says in Greek, “Deliver us from the evil.”
Again, the question becomes, “Deliver us from the evil what?!”
The correct way to translate it is to add a generic word; in this case, it would be “one.”
It should read, “Deliver us from the evil one.”
This makes more sense because, if you think about it, God doesn’t always deliver us from evil, as in “evil situations.”
Sometimes, we just have to go through things.
But He will (and has) delivered us from the evil one—Satan.
Now, back to our scripture, 1 Corinthians 12:1.
Another proper way to translate a substantive adjective is by using a word that would fit the context.
For example, if I said, “Caleb is over there talking about tasty cakes. He loves tasty cakes. I also love tastys.”
Did you catch the substantive adjective? That’s right! “Tastys.”
I know. In English, that doesn’t make sense. But this would be perfectly understandable to Greek-speaking people in the first century.
“I also love tastys.” Tasty what?! According to the context, I love tasty cakes.
So, we would not use a generic word here (“I love tasty things”). It would be better to use the word we’re positive of—the one that fits the context.
“Cakes.”
This is why 1 Corinthians 12:1 says “spiritual gifts.”
Even though “gifts” is not literally written in the original Greek, some translators feel that it fits the context because Paul goes on to talk about spiritual gifts.
It would make sense if Paul’s flow was indeed something like, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, here’s everything you need to know. There are tongues, prophecy, and so forth. These are all gifts…”
However, some translators think the added word should be “people.”
If you read carefully, look at what Paul goes on to say in the next couple of verses:
1 Corinthians 12:1-3
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
Notice that Paul begins by talking about certain kinds of people.
It’s as if he were saying, “Now concerning spiritual people, I want you to be aware of the people who call themselves “spiritual.” No person speaking by the Spirit will say that Jesus is accursed.”
Still, others feel that the added word should simply be “things,” as if Paul was saying, “Now concerning spiritual things.”
This translation makes sense. Maybe Paul simply wanted to address spiritual things or spiritual matters, which would include gifts, people, and all things related to the spirit.
The point of all this is to say one thing: There is a big category in the church that could be neglected—spiritual things.
The Greek word is pneumatikōn (spirituals).
Today, I simply challenge you to acknowledge the Spirit. Know that His presence is in the room with you right now.
Know that there are spiritual things going on in a spiritual realm around you.
These spiritual things give you the power to overcome in life and do great things for God.
It’s not by might or power, but by His Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).
The church doesn’t prevail by being liked by the world, but it prevails by God’s Spirit.
If there is no Spirit in the church, then there is no difference between it and the world.
Once you do that, take a moment to realize that you’re a spirit, encased in a body.
And that spirit is one with God’s Spirit (if you’ve been born again).
Today, rejoice in spirit and in truth!
This was a guest post by:
Pastor Jamey Escamilla
New Covenant Church in El Campo, TX
https://www.newcovenantway.com
Courage With Grace Ministries 
We are grateful for your nice message, God bless you all.