When it comes to computers, some people hardly know a gigabyte from a mosquito bite. Just ask any technical support person at any of the major computer companies. Here are some of their stories:
One computer company considered changing the command "Press Any Key" to "Press Return Key," because a lot of callers were asking where the "Any" key is!
In another case, technical support told a caller to put his disk back into the drive and close the door. The caller asked the technician to hold on, who heard him put the phone down, get up, and cross the floor to close the door to his room!
Another caller complained that his computer's fax didn’t work. Apparently, he'd been holding a document up to the screen and hitting the "send" key!
Still another caller said she couldn’t turn her computer on. She explained, “I pushed and pushed on the foot pedal, and nothing happens.” The “foot pedal” turned out to be the computer's mouse!
Finally, here's a real conversation between a caller and a technician:
Tech: "How may I help you?"
Caller: "The cup holder on my PC is broken and I am within my warranty period. How do I go about getting it fixed?"
Tech: "I'm sorry, but did you say a cup holder?"
Caller: "Yes, it's attached to the front of my computer."
Tech: "Please excuse me if I seem a bit stumped. Did you receive this as part of a promotional? How did you get this cup holder? Does it have any trademark on it?"
After a few more minutes, the techie figured out the caller had been using his CD-ROM drive as a cup holder and had snapped it off the machine! ("Strange World," Campus Life, Vol. 56, no. 6; www.PreachingToday.com).
Ignorance can be frustrating, but when it comes to spiritual matters, ignorance is downright destructive. The First Century Corinthian believers prided themselves in their knowledge and special abilities (1 Corinthians 1:5-7). But their pride blinded them to their own ignorance, which nearly destroyed their church.
Such ignorance can also destroy our church unless we learn to appreciate what we do not know. So, if you have your Bibles, I invite you to turn with me to 1 Corinthians 12, 1 Corinthians 12, where the Bible addresses such destructive ignorance.
1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed (ESV).
Paul does not want his readers to be ignorant of matters pertaining to the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led (ESV).
Before they came to Christ, their culture led them astray to worship speechless, worthless idols. Such worship included ecstatic utterances. Now, they may have given up their worship of mute idols, but not the ecstatic utterances.
William Barclay says, “In an age of ecstasy and of enthusiasm, there can be hysterical excitement and self-delusion as well as the real thing” (Barclay, W. 2002, The Letters to the Corinthians, 3rd ed., p. 124, Westminster John Knox Press).
So how do you discern the difference the real thing from a mere emotional outburst
1 Corinthians 12:3 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 (ESV).
If someone blasphemes Jesus in their speech, it’s part of a mere emotional outburst or something worse. However, If someone proclaims, “Jesus is Lord,” then it’s an obvious work of the Holy Spirit. Barclay says, “There was the possibility that, even in the Church, someone, half-mad with frenzy, might cry out: ‘Accursed be Jesus.’ In that hysterical atmosphere, anything might happen” (Ibid.).
On the other hand, if someone cries, “Jesus is Lord,” their utterance likely comes from the Holy Spirit. That’s because the Roman government required all its citizens to proclaim, “CAESAR is Lord.” Thus, to say “JESUS is Lord” was an act of treason, which opened you up to arrest, persecution, and death. So you proclaimed “Jesus is Lord” only if the Holy Spirit led you to submit to Christ’s rule over Caesar’s rule in your life. It was a sure test of Spirit-led speech as opposed to some emotional outburst.
When Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven (Matthew 16:15-17).
Only God prompts you to proclaim “Jesus is Lord, so when it comes to spiritual matters, learn to…
APPRECIATE THE SURE MANIFESTATIONS OF THE SPIRIT.
Distinguish the real work of God’s Spirit from the fake. Recognize the Holy Spirit’s authentic expressions above the phony ones.
Several years ago, astrophysicist Michael Hart compiled a list of the hundred most influential people in history.
Hart's list includes Sigmund Freud, the originator of psychoanalysis. You may not like Freud's theories, but he opened up the entire new field of psychology, and people still use the words that he coined—ego, Oedipus complex, death wish.
Hart also includes Louis Pasteur. According to Hart, Pasteur ushered us into the realm of modern medicine. He convinced the scientific community that these tiny, unseen things called germs caused a lot of diseases. Pasteur also figured out how to inoculate human beings so we don't get terrible diseases. The fact that you're here alive and well is in some measure owed to this French biologist and chemist from 150 years ago.
But Hart not only listed the top one hundred world-changes, he ranked them. To be sure, Jesus Christ made Hart’s top 100. Hart said that Jesus was the inspiration for the most influential religion in history. Hart even wrote, “Jesus had an extraordinarily impressive personality.” However, based on Jesus' impressive influence throughout history, Hart ranked Jesus as the 3rd most influential person, right after Muhammad and the scientist Isaac Newton. Incidentally, Newton was also a Christian. (Michael Hart, The 100, Citadel, 2000; www.PreachingToday.com).
Where do you rank Jesus in your life. Is He in the top 100? The top ten? Is He number one on your list? Or does Jesus belong to His own list—the list called Lord and Savior of your life? The way you answer that question affects everything. It is THE critical question of your life. If you can honestly say, “Jesus is Lord of my life,” then the Holy Spirit is leading you. Otherwise, some other spirit is misleading you.
Please, don’t be ignorant. Instead, learn to appreciate the sure manifestations of the Spirit. Then learn to…
APPRECIATE THE SINGLE SOURCE AND PURPOSE OF YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS.
Recognize that your special abilities come from God to be used for the common good. Acknowledge that the Lord gave you supernatural powers to serve His church.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone (ESV).
Every person of the Trinity is involved in your ministry—The Holy Spirit (vs.4); Christ, the Lord (vs.5); and God, the Father (vs.6).
Your unique abilities do not originate with you. They come from the Triune God, Himself. Philippians 2:13 says, “GOD works in you to will and to work for His good pleasure.” So there’s no room for boasting. There are many different gifts, but they all come from the same source, so no one gift is more important than any other gift.
Madeleine L’Engle says, “Trouble always comes whenever we begin to take credit for any of the gifts of the Spirit… (Madeleine L'Engle, The Irrational Season; www.PreachingToday.com).
Matthew Eldridge has appeared in numerous high-profile movies, but you'll never see his face or hear his voice. That's because Eldridge serves as a "body double." For example, his hands, feet, and body were used as stand-ins for Jason Bateman in the film Identity Thief. Bateman gets most of the attention and fame, but Eldridge doesn't mind. Eldridge says:
“Bateman has become a household name, growing up a child star and moving on to lead roles in [a lot of movies], but you've certainly never heard of me, Matthew Eldridge, though you may have seen my hands on screen. How many of us know the names of anyone behind the scenes in Hollywood? The directors or the directors of photography? Camera men? Great films rely not just on acting talent, but a team of talented individuals who work in lighting, gaffing, sound, special effects, painting, props, and so on. And that's just production.
“While close to 100 crew members tirelessly work 15 hours a day so Jason Bateman can shine, they have an understanding that their work will be underappreciated and likely go unnoticed by those watching the show. But they do it anyway. Why? Because they love being a part of the creation process. There's something magical about creating something collectively larger than ourselves” (Matthew Eldridge, "The Hands of Jason Bateman and the Hands of Christ," Christianity Today, 3-18-13; www.PreachingToday.com).
That’s how it is with those who serve in the church. The hands of capable people build its ministries, but they often never receive the recognition they deserve. Why then do they serve? They serve for the glory of God, not their own glory. Thus, their satisfaction comes from knowing that they are the hands and feet of Christ, building something beautiful for God’s kingdom.
Pastor John Piper puts it this way, warning believers about attempting to "do great things for God." He says:
The difference between Uncle Sam and Jesus Christ is that Uncle Sam won't enlist you unless you are healthy, and Jesus won't enlist you unless you are sick. What is God looking for in the world? Assistants? No. The gospel is not a help wanted ad. It is a help available ad. God is not looking for people to work for him but people who let him work mightily in and through them (John Piper, Brothers We Are Not Professionals, p. 39; www. PreachingToday.com).
So recognize that your unique abilities come from God.
Then use those abilities to serve the common good. Utilize your special God-given gifts for the benefit of the church.
1 Corinthians 12:7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good (ESV)—i.e., for the benefit of all.
God gave you special abilities for the benefit of others, not for your own benefit. He wants you to be a conduit of His blessings, not a container.
To put it another way, God calls you to be a tugboat, not a cruise ship. Cruise ships sail on big, blue oceans with immense reserves of power and degrees of freedom. They are massive, independent, floating islands of power. They navigate "strategically"—based on large-scale charts, covering vast distances, driven by economic considerations.
Tugboats, on the other hand, are limited to a specific harbor. Tugboat masters, though well-paid, are committed to that harbor, which they know intimately. The tugboats, themselves, must be nimble, maneuverable, and responsive to the slightest variation in the local currents. Tugboats are not especially impressive, mechanically or visually. But they are indispensable. Tugboats, you might say, are servants. They don't navigate for themselves—they navigate to bring other ships safely to shore (Andy Crouch "Navigate… like a tugboat," Christianity Today FYI blog, 4-11-17; www.PreachingToday.com).
In the same way, God has gifted you to serve, not to enrich yourself. You may not be impressive, but you are indispensable to the body of Christ if you choose to serve with a humble attitude.
So #1, Appreciate the sure manifestations of the Spirit. #2, Appreciate the single source and purpose of your spiritual gifts; and #3…
APPRECIATE THE ASSORTMENT OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS GOD GIVES TO BELIEVERS
Recognize the variety of special abilities God’s Spirit distributes to the church. Realize the various kinds of supernatural powers God’s people have.
1 Corinthians 12:8-11 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills (ESV).
The Bible lists nine spiritual gifts of various kinds—some flashy, some more mundane, but all come from one Spirit, who distributes those gifts as HE wills.
Many believers favor the more flashy gifts like the ability to heal, do miracles, and speak in a foreign language (Acts 2:4,11,26). But God wants every believer to know that every gift comes from Him. Therefore, every gift is vital to the proper functioning of the church.
A word of wisdom and knowledge from a brother in Christ is just as important as the ability to do miracles or to heal. The ability to believe and proclaim God’s Word is just as important as the ability to speak and translate a foreign language without previously knowing that language. The flashy and the mundane gifts all come from the same Spirit who gives to each believer as HE wills, not as they deserve.
In fact, the word “gifts” in verse 9 is the Greek word charismata, which describes a free, undeserved gift. It comes from a related word, which is often translated grace. So there’s no boasting about your special abilities, only humble gratitude for what God has freely given you to benefit His church.
Please, don’t be ignorant of this aspect of your spiritual gifts. Otherwise, your ignorant pride could harm God’s church.
He wanted to conduct. His conducting style, however, was [peculiar, to say the least]. During soft passages he'd crouch extremely low. For loud sections, he'd often leap into the air, even shouting to the orchestra.
His memory was poor. Once he forgot that he had instructed the orchestra not to repeat a section of music. During the performance, when he went back to repeat that section, they went forward, so he stopped the piece, hollering, "Stop! Wrong! That will not do! Again! Again!"
For his own piano concerto, he tried conducting from the piano. At one point he jumped from the bench, bumping the candles off the piano. At another concert he knocked over a choir boy.
During one long, delicate passage, he jumped high to cue a loud entrance, but nothing happened because he had lost count and signaled the orchestra too soon.
As his hearing worsened, musicians tried to ignore his conducting and get their cues from the first violinist.
Finally, the musicians pled with him to go home and give up conducting, which he did.
He was Ludwig van Beethoven, the greatest composer of all time, but he was no conductor (David Sacks in Fresh Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching, Baker; www.PreachingToday.com).
No one person can do it all. Rather, it takes all of us doing just what we can to benefit all. So don’t think so highly of yourself that you wreak havoc in the church. On the other hand, don’t think so poorly of yourself, that you don’t participate at all. Just humbly serve with the abilities God has given you, be they great or little.
S. D. Gordon says, “We have nothing to do with how much ability we've got, or how little, but with what we do with what we have. The man with great talent is apt to be puffed up, and the man with little [talent] to belittle the little. Poor fools! God gives it, much or little. "Our part is to be faithful," doing the level best with every bit and scrap. And we will be if Jesus' spirit controls” (S.D. Gordon in “The Bent-Knee Time,” Christianity Today, Vol. 32, no. 6; www.PreachingToday.com).
Please, surrender to God’s Spirit, and be faithful with whatever gift He has given you.
Don’t be ignorant about your spiritual gift(s). Rather, appreciate the sure manifestations of the Spirit, the single source and purpose of your spiritual gifts, and the assortment of spiritual gifts God gives to the church.
Patti Greenman, from Saint Louis, Missiouri, talks about a time when her niece, Toni, turned six. Patti had spent extra time shopping for some special gifts to give Toni, which she excitedly gave her.
Two weeks later, Patti asked Toni if she was enjoying her gifts and was disappointed to learn she Toni had decided to return some of them. Patti said, “Even after my careful selection of those gifts—intended especially for her—she hadn't really appreciated them.”
Then, when she asked God to help her get over her disappointment, she remembered some of the gifts God had given her. They were gifts she disdained, whishing she could have exchanged them for others (Source: Patti Greenman, St. Louis, MO, “Heart to Heart,” Today's Christian Woman; www.PreachingToday.com).
My dear friends, just appreciate what gifts God has given you, and use them for His glory!
I close with this benediction from Richard Halverson, former chaplain of the United States Senate:
Wherever you go, God is sending you.
Wherever you are, God has put you there.
God has a purpose in your being right where you are.
Christ, who indwells you by the power of his Spirit,
wants to do something in and through you.
Believe this and go in his grace, his love, his power.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
