Cornerstone Church June 26, 2016
“ALL HANDS ON DECK”
1 Corinthians 12:4-7; 14-26
“All hands on deck” – This was an order for everyone on the ship to assemble on deck, perhaps for a Sunday church service, or to convey news to the crew. Its nautical origin should seem obvious, except that in the past few years it’s been shortened to just “all hands” by jargon-loving businesspeople. A company might hold an “all hands” meeting, which requires all employees to attend, for example.
“What the Navy Gave English” Jim Cofer - www.jimcofer.com
“All Hands on Deck” was a call for everyone to participate!
* It was a call to action!
* In the church it is a call to stop being a spectator (consumer).
“College Football Hall of Fame coach Bud Wilkinson popularized a description of the spectator sport of American football: ‘Twenty-two boys on the field badly in need of rest being watched by 40,000 people in the stands badly in need of exercise.’
I (Ray Johnston) heard that and thought, What a great description of the American church! A few people (badly in need of rest) frantically run around, while a vast majority of people (badly in need of exercise) sit in the stands and watch.
…And to live our faith, we go to church and watch preachers preach (wow are you going to be disappointed). The number one need in American Christianity today may be to move Christ-followers from being apathetic spectators to passion-filled participants.”
“Jesus Called: He Wants His Church Back”, Dr. Ray Johnston, pg. 139
Praise the LORD for the testimony and report this morning from the Living Water International Team and their trip to El Salvador.
They are ordinary people who allowed God to do the EXTRAORDINARY through them by the mighty power of the Holy Spirit.
Last week’s message was “Stay the Course”
Our assignment comes from God:
* Reach people for Christ
* Teach / Train those reached to know how to live for Jesus
* Repeat!
We are not to allow discouragement or circumstances to knock us off course!
“STAY THE COURSE”
The second part is: “All Hands on Deck”
In order to carry out God’s mission we need help!
Jesus after His return to Heaven sent the Holy Spirit (exactly on time fifty days after the resurrection and ten days after the ascension) on the Day of Pentecost!
* The Comforter (counselor).
* The One who guides and directs us by God’s Word.
* The One who has given a Spiritual Gift to each one of us for the common good of the church (the Body of Christ).
* The One who empowers our efforts when our spiritual gifts are being used.
Without the divine enablement and empowerment of God the Holy Spirit what hope do we have at being successful?
* How else will lives be changed?
* How else will people be set free from sin and bondage?
Our topic this morning is Spiritual Gifts.
Gifts, given to each one of us by God for the following purposes:
* So that we might Glorify God
* So that we might minister to one another
FOR A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS READ:
* 1 Corinthians 12 – 14
* Romans 12:3-8
* Ephesians 4:7-13
* 1 Peter 4:10-11
Paul wrote to answer a question raised by the Corinthians.
Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this.
1Cor. 12:1 NTL
Paul’s answer goes from 1 Corinthians 12:1-1 Corinthians 14:40
Two distinct problems were occurring within the church.
* A lack of unity existed because many were seeking after the experiential sign gifts or showboating the prominent gifts over the less visible gifts.
The result: The quieter gifted people with less visible gifts felt intimidated which prohibited their participation within the church.
* It was difficult to discern the true manifestation of the Holy Spirit within the church from the rituals of the pagan mystery religions in Corinth filled with all sorts of sensational practices.
PAUL GIVES A SIMPLE TEST:
So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.
1Cor. 12:3 NLT
THE SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS
1 Corinthians 12:1-13
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.
1 Cor. 12:4-6 NLT
The call for unity in the Body (based on the tri-unity of God)
* Different Gifts – same Spirit (God the Spirit)
* Different Service (ministries) – same LORD (God the Son)
* Different Works (outcomes) – same God! (God the Father)
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS?
A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other (for the Common Good).
1Cor. 12:7 NLT
* Everyone is a contributor!
* No one is a consumer!
* It is for the common good of the church (the Body of Christ).
“Why is this such a serious matter to the Lord? Because when the Lord departed from the earth He left behind a way for the world to continue to see Him…through His church. That’s why we call the church the ‘Body of Christ.’ God intended every quality of Jesus Christ should walk through your fellowship doors on Sunday morning. His compassion. His care. His leadership. His teaching. His encouragement. His mercy. His generosity. It’s all there, through the gifts distributed by the Holy Spirit. It is a picture, or portrait, of God’s Son.”
“The Church: What We Are Meant To Be” by Ken Kutcherson, pg. 114
WHAT ARE SPIRITUAL GIFTS?
* Spiritual gifts are NOT TALENTS! Many people, including unbelievers, exude many talents.
* Spiritual gifts are supernaturally given (Divine power).
* Spiritual gifts are given for the specific purpose and intent to minister to one another in the body.
They are to build each other up!
They are to build up the church (Body of Christ - Eph. 4:11-12).
19 Spiritual Gifts are listed (compare the three accounts)
the word of wisdom through the Spirit teaching
the word of knowledge exhortation
faith giving
gifts of healing administration
the effecting of miracles showing mercy
prophecy
distinguishing of spirits {as} apostles
{various} kinds of tongues {as} prophets
the interpretation of tongues {as} evangelists
serving {as} pastors and teachers
In recent days the Spiritual Gifts have been grouped into three main groups that parallel Jesus’ three offices: Prophet, Priest, King!
Sample (not a complete listing):
* Prophetic Gifts: Evangelism, Teaching, Discerning spirits, Discerning truth and error.
* Priestly Gifts: Encouragement, Helps (counseling), Healing (emotionally, spiritually, physically).
* Kingly Gifts: Understanding direction and group needs, vision, administration
Spiritual gifts come in gift clusters or gift mixes.
Much like an artist blends colors from their pallet when painting.
Pastor-teacher + public speaking/exhortation = encourager – nurturing
Pastor-teacher + prophetic gift = dynamic – challenging
Pastor-teacher + teacher = thorough explanation of the Word
Pastor-teacher + counselor = healer – restorer
WHO DECIDES WHICH SPIRITUAL GIFT (S) WE ARE TO RECEIVE?
It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
1Cor. 12:11 NLT
The Holy Spirit decides and distributes!
Not only is this true of an individual.
* It is true of a church!
* It can be true of various eras in church history.
Different views:
* All gifts continue today (including supernatural gifts).
* Supernatural gifts ceased at some point.
* Hybrid: Foundational gifts (Apostles and Prophets) used to establish the church until the Word of God was complete ceased but other supernatural gifts continue.
Whatever view you might have on this subject this point must be guarded and protected.
God is no longer giving new revelation.
* Nor will God give more revelation adding to His Word in the future.
* The Word of God has been fully given and it is compete.
We have the complete authoritative Word of God given to the World.
We must pray and ask the Holy Spirit for spiritual insight and understanding (illumination) of the Word of God that has been given.
Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions. Psa. 119:18 NLT
And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. 1Cor. 2:12 NLT
The Holy Spirit decides and distributes according to His sovereign plan, design and purpose but can also discontinue.
Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 1Cor. 13:8-10 NASB
Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. Eph. 2:20 NLT
The foundational work of the Apostles and Prophets was temporal until the Word of God was completed. The perfect is the end of the age!
THE DIVERSITY OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS
1 Corinthians 12:14-31
Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part.
1Cor. 12:14 NLT
The Apostle Paul wants us to think about the human body. We are made up of all kinds of different parts: arms, legs, fingers, toes, teeth, hair, eyes, nose, ears, cells, nerves, tissues, organs and much more.
The diversity of these parts function as an organism.
* All work in harmony to keep us alive.
* We breathe air and take in fuel that feeds and nourishes the cells of our body.
Jesus accomplished His earthy mission to secure eternal redemption with a physical body (died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead).
Jesus is now accomplishing His mission on earth through a spiritual body – the Body of Christ.
Now the parts start talking! Let’s listen in:
If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body
because I am not a hand,”
1 Cor. 12:15b NLT
THE FOOT SEEMS TO BE HAVING AN IDENTITY CRISIS!
The foot seems to think that being a hand is more important than its calling to be a foot!
It admires something about the hand that makes him want to become a hand.
The foot feels inferior to the hand!
This is what happens when we promote the idea that the more visible and flashy gifts should be sought after instead of being content with what the Lord has given to us!
“…that does not make it any less a part of the body.”
1 Cor. 12:15b NLT
Common sense tells us that our feet help us to get around!
NOW THE EAR STARTS IT!
And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body
because I am not an eye,”
1 Cor. 12:16b NLT
THE EAR IS HAVING A CRISIS AS WELL!
The eye must be more important than I am
I’m not going to serve any more!
Or worse, I’m going to try to minister with a gift not given to me and without God’s enabling me (in the power of the flesh – ex. Ananias and Sapphira).
It is time for me to pack up my toys and go home or go to another church!
“…would that make it any less a part of the body?”
1 Cor. 12:16b NLT
If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear?
1 Cor. 12:17b NLT
Imagine that! A big giant eye! A Cyclops! You would be great at seeing what is in front of you but have no hearing, smell, and way to get around or to touch something!
Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
1 Cor. 12:17b NLT
He repeats the illustration! What if you were a big giant ear? You could hear everything and say nothing!
If we are no longer a body made up of parts we are no longer and organism. We are just a part (or a gift)!
Comparison atrophies the whole body! The body is paralyzed and ineffective!
But our bodies have many parts,
and God has put each part just where he wants it.
1Cor. 12:18 NLT
How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
1 Cor. 12:19-21 NLT
1 Hallucinations 12:21: “The eye cannot say to the hand ‘I do not need you,’ unless of course, your church has plenty of hands. Then just sit and spectate.”
“Jesus Called: He Wants His Church Back”, Dr. Ray Johnston, pg. 74
“All Hands on Deck!”
You are needed!
God gifted you and raised you up for a purpose that only you can fulfill!
ARE YOU STILL NOT CONVINCED?
In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
1Cor. 12:22-26 NLT
“The fact is, every Christian is called. Every Christian is gifted. If you are a Christ-follower, then you are called to serve!”
* Stop being intimidated by what you don’t have.
* Stop thinking you don’t have what it takes!
* Stop thinking you don’t matter [because you do].
* Start serving!
“Jesus Called: He Wants His Church Back”, Dr. Ray Johnston, pg. 137
“When the Christian church gets it right… it is the most powerful force for God and for good on this worn planet.
Because when the Christian church gets it right…
* Communities are transformed.
* Marriages are healed.
* Lost people have their lives and eternal destinies changed.
* The poor are helped and lifted.
* Racial barriers are blown away.
“Jesus Called: He Wants His Church Back”, Dr. Ray Johnston, pg. 173
“ALL HANDS ON DECK!”
Your spiritual gift is unique to you
and God wants you to use it for His Glory!
