September 25, 2022

Understanding Spiritual Gifts

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Service Type:

Introduction

  • Looking at 1 Cor 12:1-11
    • We are missing out 11:17ff because this is about Communion
    • Better to return to this at our next Communion Service)
  • Chapter 12 - beginning a new section 12-14
    • Speaks of spiritual gifts
    • One of the most controversial parts of the Bible today
    • People have very strong views about gifts
      • Charismatic churches
    • The central chapter (13) reminds us the key is Christian love
  • Reading from the UFM Statement
    • This should not become a point of division
    • This should not to cause problems
  • Reading Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Cor 12:1-11
    • Different gifts
  • Gifts of the Holy Spirit
    • Revealed at Pentecost
      • Tongues of flame and speaking in tongues
      • The focus in Acts 3 is not on the manifestation but on what happened ...
        • people were convicted of their sin and their need for Jesus Christ
        • 3000 people were baptised
      • The Spirit had come to glory Christ
    • After Pentecost, the Holy Spirit continued to move in great power - examples
      • Acts 14:3
      • The signs and wonders were to attest the apostles were from God
      • They were to draw attention to the preaching of God's word
    • Miracles were provided to establish a new church
  • In Corinth
    • Gifts were given to the local church - e.g. miracles, healings
      • Comparison between Romans and 1 Corinthians
      • The gifts given to one church were not the same as given to another church
      • The lists are not exhaustive
    • They had supernatural gifts yet they were an immature and carnal church
      • Paul had to write 1 Cor 13 - without love the gifts avail nothing
      • Chapter 13 is central to chapters 12 & 14
  • Overview:
    • Differing gifts - one giver (v1-7)
    • Identifying gifts (v8-11)

Differing gifts - One giver (v1-7)

  • The Corinthians are mainly Gentiles - from a pagan background
    • They had followed idols - often in ignorance
    • They are not to be swept along by this ignorance (v1-3)
  • People were being carried along in church
    • Think about what people are saying
    • Consider what is a work of the Holy Spirit
    • Would anyone say Jesus is accursed?
      • Examples
    • There must have been false teachers
  • Diversity of gifts but only one Lord (v4)
    • There are different gifts given to the Church
    • No one person posses them all
    • No one can boast because the gift is given by God
    • No one should compare themselves to anyone, nor one church to another
  • The Trinity - Spirit (Holy Spirit), Lord (Jesus Christ), God (the Father) (v4-6)
    • Jesus ascended on high and gave gifts to men - Eph 4:8
    • All three persons of the trinity are involved
  • Any gifts are given for God's glory
    • We should be careful in saying 'aren't they are gifted'
    • God has gifted people in other ways
  • The gifts are given for the profit of all (v7)
    • Example of Magus the Magician
    • For the building, edification and growth of the Church

Identifying gifts (v8-11)

The Word of Wisdom (v8)

  • An ability to read and weight complicated matters
    • Example of King Solomon
    • Jesus lived and did miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit
      • In His humanity he was limited
        • The Spirit gave Him words of wisdom
        • Example to the Pharisees, Sadducees, His teachings ("no-one spoke like Him")
    • Examples today:
      • A word from God for a situation
      • Insights into the word of God
      • Bringing light into darkness
  • A gift to a few but not everyone because people have differing gifts
  • Given through the Spirit (v8)
    • Not just though study

The Word of Knowledge (v8)

  • Examples:
    • Peter had a word of knowledge when Ananias and Sapphira came before him
      • The Spirit of God revealed this to Peter
    • Paul said that savage wolves would come
    • Paul preaching in Lystra saw a man had faith to be healed
    • Paul certain he would be delivered from prison
  • Does this happen today?
    • Of course it does
    • Example of Hudson Taylor
    • God gives this intermittently
  • A special understanding of the word of God
  • Always that the Church would be encouraged, edifying and for the prophet of all

Faith (v9)

  • Given by the same Spirit
  • Every child of God has faith - a gift from God
    • This is a difference faith - not saving faith in Jesus Christ
    • An extraordinary faith - a deep assurance and trusting in God
      • Example of George Muller
      • James 5:14-15

Miracles (v10)

  • God still does this today
    • Often in Missionary situations
    • They are not common
  • There seem to be epochs of miracles - times when they occur and when they did not occur
    • Moses - the exodus
    • Elijah and Elisha
    • Daniel and the time of the exile
    • The ministry of Jesus Christ (for 3 years)
      • Quantity, quality, power
      • Unprecedented miracles showing He was the Son of God
    • Time of the apostles - even in the book of Acts
      • This seems to be diminishing
  • Just as it happened

Healings (v9)

  • From sickness, disability and demon possession
    • We see this in the New Testament - example with Peter at the Beautiful gate
      • For the healing of the man and the subsequent proclamation of the gospel
    • No faith healers or healing campaigns
      • In fact, rare occasions in the New Testament often on virgin territory where the gospel had not been preached
  • Different from miracles - raising a person from the dead e.g. Eythcus, Dorcas)
  • It reminds us of the power of God
  • Healings seem to be diminishing in the New Testament
    • It is no longer needed - the letters of the apostles (the full revelation of God) had been given
    • Signs are no longer needed for confirmation

Additional Gifts

  • Discerning of spirits - to detect evil spirits
  • Tongues - is it speaking or hearing in a different language?
    • Always at the bottom of the list - 1 Cor 14:19
    • Prophecy and the forth-telling of God's word is to be valued more than tongues
  • Interpretation of tongues - there must be an interpreter
    • We will look at this more in Chapter 14
  • Prophecy - the difference between Old and New Testament
    • Eph 2:20 - no more apostles, therefore no more prophets - since it was foundational
  • To look at this further next time

Closing Remarks

  • The Spirit distributes gifts as He wills (v11)
  • The life of the Church is dependent primarily on the work of God / the Spirit
    • Examples of gifts to the Roman Church
  • The work of the Church is primarily spiritual
    • Not about physical action or social care
    • Many gifts are speaking gifts to build up the people of God and to help understand revelation
  • We should pray for gifts
    • We need to stir up the gifts within us
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