Gifts of the Spirit 4: The Word of Wisdom, word of Knowledge and Faith. 1 COr 12:7-9 WBC 12/9/4 pm (Read vs 1-11)
INTRO
Robin explained well last Sun pm
- different kinds of Gifts (lit gifts of grace)
- service. God enables people to serve differently
- workings: lit ¡¥energentia¡¦. Ie energisings, empowerments to do work
means: many different ways in which you can serve God, build the body, bring the spiritual dynamic.
- lists stacks of examples (not exhaustive) in these passages
o very diverse. Not exhaustive
- and the HS is behind them all.
o The gk mystery religions would have told them different powers and spirits
MANIFESTATIONS OF THE SPIRIT
Now he moves of to a new word. Manifestations of the spirit
- applies to all three: gifts, services and empowerments
= ¡¥thanerosis¡¨
- means literally ¡¥appearings¡¦, ¡¥showings¡¦ of the Spirit
- ¡¥manifestations¡¦ = good word
So, in the body of Christ, the Holy Spirit manifests, shows Himself, in someone. His presence becomes ¡¥evident¡¦. And
- a gift of grace is given (ie a healing)
- someone goes on to serve
- someone is energised to work
- * it covers a whole range of things
And all because the HS has ¡¥shown up¡¦
- which should and DOES happen in a spiritual dynamic
So, here it is NOT talking specifically about someone who has a ¡¥gift¡¦ (ie prophecy)
- = the manifestation (gift?) has THEM
- = about spontaneity
- = orchestrated by the Spirit. As He wills (v11), determines
- explains what happens in the spiritual dynamic among spiritual people (pneumatikon, v1)
o here and now
But, v27 f- someone can go on to move so regularly in these manifestation that they are said to have
- ¡¥the gift¡¦- (of healings, prophecy for example)
- ¡¥the office¡¦ ¡V (of healer, apostle, prophet. For example)
This might answer the question: I keep having these manifestations, God DEFINITELY shows up, but people aren¡¦t healed every time
- that¡¦s okay. You are just having the manifestations of the HS¡¦s presence. It doesn¡¦t mean you have the gift or office, yet
o that might come. Time will tell.
o Right now: God¡¦s just showing up: that¡¦s enough, and a good start.
FOR THE COMMON GOOD
This is a real eye opener
The manifestation is not the end. Goal. Measurement.
- Illustr: Nigeria. Manifestation = enough for them! Why?
o Maybe wrongly, to them manifestation = measurement (won¡¦t wash to western mind)
o Probably rightly- they have realised that manifestation is synonymous with RESULTS! Fruit!
But actually, here, the manifestation is not the main thing or measurement
- it¡¦s whether it ends up being for the common good that is
o then you¡¦ve hit target
o ¡§the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good¡¨
Seriously: how often do you hear that preached? Hardly ever
- = ¡§the manifestation of the Spirit is for YOU. He comes to bless YOU¡¨
Maybe that¡¦s why we miss out. It vanishes like dew.
- we have not understood the ways of the Spirit. Pneumatikon
You see, a manifestation can be given, but dissipated, diverted or distracted by us as channels
- hence being a ¡¥spiritual person¡¦ is very important
- the character of ¡¥love¡¦ (ch 13) is very important
- * a good channel= a bigger, truer, blessing
Understanding that these manifestations, blessings, aren¡¦t for you, rather for the BODY
- = v important
- because we fail to understand this we can divert a genuine flow of God¡¦s HS¡K a manifestation into
o a trickle. Impotence. Consumer titillation
- (we think it is only about me: therefore it IS only about me)
So- the measurement is not ¡V
- whether it seems powerful (¡§I got blasted¡¨)
- even whether I got encouraged (good though it is!)
= whether it ends up being for the common good. The fruit
- hence why prophecy > tongues
If it doesn¡¦t do others good- we¡¦ve dissipated it, diverted it, dug channels that take it away from God¡¦s intention
- don¡¦t get distressed about this. Just knowing will improve the flow and fruit
Illustr: the Spirit always flows IN a culture that channels and conforms the flow. We are these cultural channels
- So- welsh revival= Wales and singing. So tell us a testimony and sing us a song
- Toronto= consumer culture. So-lie on the ground and just receive. Very few conversions
- Pensacola = Pentecostalism. So- come to the front and repent (= healthier as had an emphasis on salvation)
- Nigeria = best channel I¡¦ve seen so far (though still conformed the flow). Channelled the manifestation of the Spirit to the whole package: healing, salvation, justice
o But added ¡¥unquestioning acceptance/ obedience¡¦
o Over reverence for western whities!
So- to mix my metaphors: this series is to try and build the best fireplace possible into which God can deposit His fire
- give off the most heat
- benefit OTHERS the most
As we learn to think: ¡¥God¡¦s given this¡Kme¡K for OTHERS¡¦ ¡V we¡¦ll experience greater things
- but it¡¦s up to us!
God¡¦s work and gift may start with a manifestation, but doesn¡¦t end there.
Now some examples:
WORD OF WISDOM
=x message of wisdom. = Logos, word
to a small degree = the wisdom of the mind of Christ
- but = distinct from that. This is a spontaneous manifestation of the Spirit
Can you think of Biblical examples? ASK
LK 13:14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath."
LK 13:15 The Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?"
LK 13:17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.
*****
LK 20:20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. 21 So the spies questioned him: "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
LK 20:23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24 "Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?"
LK 20:25 "Caesar’s," they replied.
He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s."
LK 20:26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.
*******
AC 6:8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)--Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen, 10 but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.
Definitive example:
1 Ki 3:16-28. Solomon¡¦s word that saved the baby¡¦s life
It¡¦s a divinely given wisdom that breaks a deadlock. Reveals the way forward. Silences a critic
Any personal examples? Annie and radiator
¡§I want this all the time!¡¨
- well, you can develop the mind of Christ
o the wisdom that comes from knowing God, intimacy with Him, saturation in His revealed wisdom (word)
- but if you¡¦re not prepared to do this it¡¦s grace that will get you a W.O.W
- but note= ¡§to one there is given¡¨
o X= permanent possession, or even regular
o Explains why we don¡¦t get them all the time
o Might be someone else next time
And it¡¦s a greater WOW (W.O.W) if it builds up more people
- so want a goodie? Aks God for a WOW as to how to reach this whole city!
WORD OF KNOWLEDGE
It¡¦s not talking about the knowledge from a book, or ¡¥reading¡¦ someone
- = humanly unknowable. Revealed
- it¡¦s a subset of prophecy (will cover more in ch 14)
if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, 25 and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"
- this is where you see it in it¡¦s fullest form. For the greatest common good
o if it¡¦s like this it is MUCH to be desired!
o Great for evangelism!
It¡¦s something I have had a good number of over the years
- but really they are small grade things as they haven¡¦t edified many people
- have just encouraged m e and one or two others
- (I want/need to grow)
Biblical examples? Practical examples?
JN 4:17 "I have no husband," she replied.
Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true."
JN 4:19 "Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. 2
MK 2:8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, `Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, `Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, 11 "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."
John 5: 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"
**
Acts 5: annanias and sapphire
- good one as ¡¥great fear came over¡¨
Ever just ¡¥known¡¦ you have to phone, visit, pray for someone?
- = a manifestation of the Spirit. A Word of Knowledge
FAITH
¡§To another, faith¡¨
- the Spirit can come and manifest faith
X= saving faith. All Christians have that. That¡¦s the grace of faith that God gives
- this is a specific manifestation
X= faithfulness, optimism, denial (¡§she won¡¦t die¡¨, ¡§I am healed¡¨). N or is it credulity or gullibility
= something special. Unique.
- it¡¦s calm and settled. It¡¦s something GIVEN, not something you can produce (indeed mustn¡¦t!)
- it¡¦s a revelation from God as to how things will be, and brings the confidence that God will move in apparently impossible situations
o in a low level form it¡¦s this sense ¡§It¡¦s going to be okay¡¨
o in it¡¦s best, most edifying form, it affects others IN YOUR CONTEXT
„X when you just KNOW they are going to be well
„X (but I¡¦m cautious of this when it is from someone outside the context)
o it is often linked with miracles and healing (hence where it falls in the text here)
Biblical examples
- Peter walking on the water (then it got channelled away and dissipated, though the manifestation of faith was real)
- Jesus & Lazarus
Practical examples?
- Alan tell re Peter and his wife?
- George Muller + food.
Songs: Release your power oh God
Lord, let your glory fall
