Spiritual Gifts- The Source Series

Spiritual Gifts- The Source

June 6, 2021

Scripture- 1 Cor 12:1-6

This morning we're going to be getting a new series for the month of June about a subject I haven't spoken often about since I've been here as the pastor.

Since I've been here, I've talked a lot about the basic theology and apologetics- two of my favorite subjects. Apologetics is the defense of the Christian faith

I also like prophecy, because it informs us about our current world scene, and now we are to live as we anticipate Jesus’ return.

That anticipation is important, but we can’t live for Christ without HIS power. We talk about resurrection power, and the Holy Spirit making us into the image of Christ.

But what are the ways HE does so?

That’s what I want to answer in the next several weeks.

Part of it will be discovering how we function as a church family.

The apostle Paul dedicated three chapters about this subject in his first letter to the church in Corinth. First Corinthians chapter 12, 13 and 14 are all about how the church family interacts, serves, and coexists with one another.

One of the big ideas I want to show you today is that

Paul shows us that church is not a competition to see who the most spiritual is, but instead a group of people who's personalities, talents, giftings, life experiences, and even individual faults bring greater depth to the whole.

One of the ways this happens is through the talents and abilities God gives out to each individual person. In the church this is known as the spiritual gifts.

During my ministry here I have not focused a lot on what we know as spiritual gifts. Tammie and I did not come to know Jesus as LORD, God savior and KING in an AG church, but in an independent Pentecostal church that closely mirrored AG beliefs, but then went a bit off the rails into some things that were not biblical and I’d even say borderline heresy, and they used many of the spiritual giftings in ways that did not follow biblical guidelines as an excuse for their behaviors.

Because we saw Spiritual gifts abused and used in ways that did not bring glory to God and lead to division in the church, I've always kind of shied away from putting those first and forefront.

Saying all that we are an Assembly of God affiliated church. By definition the Assemblies of God is a Pentecostal Christian fellowship, which means we believe that the spiritual gifts described in the Bible are available and for us today.

So over the next few weeks we're going to look at these gifts, what they are, what their purpose is, and how we use them to glorify God and strengthen the body of Christ.

1 Cor 12:1-6

Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

Prayer-

Because many people here might listen to radio or TV pastors, many of whom may not believe that they spiritual giftings are for today, I’m going to start out with saying that are two different beliefs about them that exist today.

The first one is the cessationist (to cease or stop) belief that teaches the spiritual gifts ceased to be necessary or used after the death of the Apostle John. Those who believe this will point to the writings of the ante Nicene fathers. Ante Nicene means that which existed before the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. These writing rarely refer to the spiritual gifts, and people who are cessationist will conclude that they must have died out after the Apostolic age. The Anti-Nicene books are writing from the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generations of Christians that existed after 100 AD to the council of Nicaea in 325 AD.

It’s important to note that the ante Nicene church did not have a central, agreed upon theology at this point because it was under the constant threat of death from the Roman Empire, at varying degrees depending who was emperor.

One thing is clear about these writings- they offer a rich history and insight into the early church after the last of the apostles died, up to Emperor Constantine becoming the ruler of Rome and ending the persecution of Christians.