The Spirit & His Gifts 3

THE SPIRIT & HIS GIFTS 3

1 Cor. 12:8-11

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: WHAT FOOTBALL POSITION?

1. An elementary school girl was known for her bragging about her older brother who was on the Huntsville Hornets football team.

2. Of course, most people know that the Hornets have struggled in recent years to win any kind of title/ trophy.

3. Recently, during show and tell, the girl held up a picture of her brother in his football uniform and talked about how he was probably the best player on the team.

4. Someone asked, “What position does your brother play on the football team?”

5. She replied, “I’m not sure, but I think he’s one of the drawbacks!”

B. TEXT

“For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” 1 Cor. 12:8-11.

C. THESIS

1. We are having a continuing series on the Holy Spirit. We started in Genesis and have worked through the Books of the Bible, down to the Apostle’s Epistles. Tonight we’re on Part 3 of the Spiritual Gifts.

2. “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant” 1 Cor. 12:1. There are many people who don't understand the gifts of the Spirit and/or mistakenly teach that God has done away with the gifts. But they are real & vital for the Body of Christ today!

3. The title of this message is: "The Holy Spirit & His Gifts 3."

III. GIFTS OF UTTERANCE

INTRODUCTION

Utterance is the logical, spontaneous outflow of the SPIRIT OF GOD. In the Old Testament, when the Spirit of God fell on people, they prophesied (Num. 11:25-26; 1 Sam. 10:10). In the New Testament, the Spirit is vocally manifest through prophecy, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues. Through these gifts we hear the VOICE of the Holy Spirit (John 15:26) speaking to the church.

A. PROPHECY

1. Definition of the Gift

The Hebrew words for prophecy are “Naba” – "to FLOW FORTH;" “chazah” – "to gaze" (mentally to perceive, contemplate); and “nataph” – "to let drop" (ooze). The Greek word is “prophetes” – "to speak for another." A prophet is one who proclaims, by the Spirit, a divine message for God.

2. Mistaken Notions about the Gift:

a. Is not identical with the office of Prophet. The Prophet Office = Jesus’ gift to the Church; the Gift of prophecy is given by the Holy Spirit to individuals. The Prophet office is inseparable from a person; the Gifts are given as the Spirit wills.

b. Is not always PREDICTIVE (not just fore-telling, but also forth-telling).

c. Is not intended for guidance of believers (but is for confirmation; 13:1-2; 21:10.

d. Should not be confused with Preaching (is a revelation, “apokalupsis,” 1 Cor. 14:30).

e. Is not the mere repetition of Scriptures.

3. Purposes of the Gift:

a. Vehicle for God to Speak to Men (1 Cor. 14:3).

b. To EDIFY the Church (14:4). The blessing of Prophecy is evident in Ezra 6:14, “…and they (the Jews) prospered through the prophesying of Haggai.”

c. To Exhort the Church (14:3).

d. To Comfort the Church (14:3, 31).

e. For Instruction ("learn," 14:31).

f. To Convict the unbeliever and make manifest the SECRETS of his heart (14:24-25).

4. Scriptural Guidelines Governing Prophecy

a. Prophets are limited to two or three in a service.

b. The audience EVALUATES the message (judged as to their genuineness (14:29).

c. Prophets speak one at a time.

d. Will have SELF-CONTROL for the sake of order in the Assembly (1 Cor. 14:32-33, 40). “The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets” 1 Cor. 14:32.

The believer doesn’t become a mindless conduit for the Spirit. The Holy Spirit in no way violates the self-control of the believer. Timing is important in a church service.

B. DIFFERENT KINDS OF TONGUES

1. Nature of Tongues:

a. The word "tongues" means languages, so the word is speaking of actual LANGUAGES, whether of men or of Angels (1Cor. 13:1), which are inspired as the Spirit gives utterance (Acts 2:4). The Holy Spirit is the author of them.

b. Tongues serve as a Sign. "Wherefore tongues are for a sign…" 1 Cor. 14:21-22.

1). They serve as a sign of the Holy Spirit BAPTISM (Acts 11:15-17, 2:4).

2). A sign of the supernatural to unbelievers (1 Cor. 14:21-22).

c. Tongues were prophesied of before the day of Pentecost (Isa. 28:11-12; Joel (Acts 2:16-18); Mk. 16:18.