1 Cor. 12:1-31
Understanding The Gifts Of The Spirit
The church at Corinth was a church filled with people who had Spiritual gifts !
1 Cor 1:5-7 "That in everything ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1. They were enriched.
The word "enriched" has the meaning of "wealth". Not wealth from a material perspective, but rich as far as the Spiritual gifts are concerned !
2. They were educated.
They possessed all kinds of knowledge...both in the Spiritual sense, and in the scientific sense.
3. They were eloquent.
The word "utterance" refers to the ability to speak !
Yet in spite of their spiritual gifts.....................
4. They were carnal !
5. They were confused !
I heard about one preacher that always testified that God had called him to heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out devils. On one occasion he got in a back way and said, "God has called me to heal the sick, cast out the dead, and raise the devil."
There was alot of confusion at Corinth about Spiritual gifts, and there continues to be today !
6. They were contentious !
1 Cor 3:1;3 "And I brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meant: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men ?
How could a church with so much potential be filled with so many problems ? The answer I believe lies in their misuse, and misunderstanding of their spiritual gifts ! Pride was a major problem with them. Five times in Corinthians Paul refers to them being "Puffed up". They were arrogant, and boastful of their spiritual gifts, and argued about which one was of most value !
In this present church age, the problem still exists. There is still much misunderstanding, misinformation, misuse, and neglect of use regarding the gifts of the Spirit !
In our text tonight Paul addresses the church concerning spiritual gifts saying that he would not have them to be ignorant of spiritual gifts. He then reminds them of their past lives when they as gentiles were carried away with dumb idols.
The Charismatic movement is now the fastest growing segment of Christianity. David Barrett of Regents University estimates that there are 20 million charismatics in the United States and as many as 460 million world-wide.1
As believers we need to understand........
I. The Endowment Of The Gifts Vs 4-7
a. determined by the Spirit.
They are not received through effort.
They are not received through education.
They are not received through emotions.
V7 "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal."
Manifestation = exhibition, evidence, bestowment
b. distributed to every Saint.
V.7
"to every man" Not in the sense of every person alive...but to the saints of God. Paul is speaking to the church, and providing information concerning spiritual gifts, and there purpose. This is not directed towards lost people
V13 "For by one Spirit are we (all) baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been (all) made to drink into one Spirit.
Rom. 8:9 "............Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."
1 Cor 12:11 "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."
Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ
c. desired by the Saints.
1 Cor 12:31 "But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way."
1 Cor 14:1 "Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophecy."
The contrast in Paul, and present day Pentecostals........
Paul preferred the gift of prophecy over that of tongues. 14:5
1 Cor 14:12 "Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church."
II. The Examination Of The Gifts. Vs. 8-11
There is listed in the writings of Paul three different lists of Spiritual gifts. One is found in our text. One is found in Romans 12:6-8, and the other in Ephesians 4:11-12 In looking at these lists we will develop some understanding of the Spiritual gifts. Not every gift is listed in the different lists. The lists vary according to the gifts that God had given to each of the individual churches. The point is that God will gift each local church with what it needs to mature, and minister. Some of the gifts listed are permanent. They are still at work today while some of the gifts of the Spirit are no longer in operation today !
a. Word of Wisdom
The word "wisdom" refers to the application of truth ! This gift may be one given to help the pastor, teacher, counselor to properly discern, and deliver the word of truth.
b. Word of Knowledge
This gift no doubt is close kin to the "word of wisdom". However, this gift seems to have to do with not only knowledge, but helps those who have knowledge to understand, and to share it.
1 Cor 13:2 ........"understand all knowledge"
c. Faith
Though saving faith itself is a gift from God, Paul is referring to some special endowment of faith to individuals that would enable them to overcome difficult odds, and to work through difficult times, and accomplish mighty works for the Lord.
d. Gifts of healing
Notice the word is plural "gifts" implying that there were more than one gift of healing. This gift that Paul was referring to enpowered the one who was given this gift the unique ability to heal certain diseases, and afflictions. Does God still heal today ? The answer of course is yes ! We have seen people healed that we have prayed for, we have seen those that should not have recovered do so ! God still heals ! This seems to be a gift that served it’s purpose, was very unique, and which has now ceased. Remember that Paul was accompanied practically everywhere that he went by Dr. Luke, and that James says that the sick should call for the elders of the church for annointing of oil, and prayer !
I have seen many good doctors, and nurses who have studied, trained, and prepared in order to be able to assist the sick, and help them to recover, but I have never seen one doctor, preacher, nor Christian that I thought possessed the gift of healing.
e. Working of miracles
What is a miracle ? It is a supernatural act which is contrary to nature ! Jesus turning the water into wine was a miracle. The feeding of the five thousand plus with five loaves of bread, and two fish was a miracle ! Does God still work such miracles today ? Have you seen or experienced something that could only be described as a miracle ? All of us would probably answer yes. However, how many of us have seen miracle workers today ? I know a God who is still all powerful, and can confuse, and confound the laws of nature, and science, but I do not know of anyone who possesses this gift today. This was probably a gift that was limited in period to the days of the early church for a sign to unbelievers particularly unbelieving Israel !
f. Prophecy
Prophecy was the gift that enabled the one who possessed the gift to share the words of God which had not been revealed. The gift of prophecy has ceased being that the word of God is complete !
Illust. Justin’s experience
g. discerning of spirits
This gift enabled the one who received the gift to be able to discern between what was real, and what was counterfeit on a spiritual level. Now that the word of God is complete we can all have proper discernment by employing the word of God.
h. Tongues
This was a miraculous gift through which the one possessing the gift could speak a language they had not learned.
i. Interpretation of tongues
The one possessing this gift worked in cooperation with the one possessing the gift of tongues so that what was said might be interpreted to those who did not know the language being spoken.
III. The Employing Of The Gifts. Vs 12-31
a. Employed to solidify.
V. 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
b. Employed for service.
....have the same care one for another
......for the work of the ministry
1 Pet 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace to God
c. Employed for spiritual maturity.
for the perfecting of the saints,
d. Employed to strengthen
..........for the edifying of the body of Christ
Romans 1:11-12 "For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me."
e. Employed for stability. Eph 4:14
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, wehreby they lie in wait to deceive.
f. Employed for sharing.
We must always remember that the main work of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus, so it only makes sense that the gifts that he bestows upon believers will further enable us to share Christ with unbelievers !
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the great preacher of the last century, tells this story: He visited a woman who had lived in the poor house for many years. She was totally destitute and dependent upon others to care for her in her poverty. In her meager room Spurgeon found a "Last Will and Testament" neatly framed and hung on the wall. When he asked the woman about it she explained that it was "just a keepsake," something given to her by a man whom she had once nursed until his death. When Spurgeon read the will, he found that the woman, was heir, to quite a large fortune!
