The Biblical Context of Spiritual Gifts
Notes
Transcript
The church in Corinth was a young church filled with “babes in Christ”. Much was happening in this church, and Paul knew that the organisation and service in the church was chaotic and dysfunctional.
The black church in NJ
10-15 minutes after the service was supposed to start and suddenly someone started talking a little louder at the back of the church - Holly and I were looking around as we couldn’t quite tell what was happening - Suddenly it hit us, he was praying
After praying - a queue of people began walking from the back of the church with tamborines and singing - no song books - no words on a screen
The queue of people stretched from one side of the church to the other, and people began to join them in singing, but we had no idea what the words were to the song
When the song ended, one singer would start singing another song - we found a song book, and started searching through it - someone sitting behind us saw us looking and directed us to a song
The process kept happening over and over again
The service was supposed to end at a certain time, and I was supposed to preach. The time drew nearer and nearer. I was left with 10 minutes to preach.
The spirit of the people was so giving and generous, but the service was chaotic and confusing to anyone coming in
A gift is not the same as grace.
Unsaved people can have natural gifts, even gifts of genius. Shakespeare, Einstein, and Beethoven
Morality is not the same as morality.
Some men and women have tremendous ability are wholly without ethics or morality. Some have used their gift without conscience.
A believer can have spiritual gifts without any regard to spirituality or Christlikeness
A successful evangelist, a brilliant Bible teacher, or a compassionate pastor may or may not be spiritual.
The Corinthians had all the gifts, and, yet, they were also the most carnal and worldly of believers.
Some great Bible teachers have been tyrants at home
Some admired pastors have run off with the church pianist
Some evangelists have been taken with greed an pride
Just because someone is spiritually gifted does not mean that they are like Christ.
Paul addresses this problem with the church in Corinth.
The Introduction of Spiritual Gifts
The Introduction of Spiritual Gifts
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
Paul did not want then to be ignorant of spiritual gifts and their purpose
Ignorance is the mother of all kinds of mischief
Even today there are whole movement of Christians focusing on the misapplication and out of context of spiritual gifts
The focus of chapter 12-14 is to bring the context of spiritual gifts into the Biblical perspective that furthered the Gospel instead of promoting how spiritual one may or may not be
The focus of the Bible is pointing to Jesus
How we take these 3 chapters and apply them indicates where our hearts focus is and what we want to point people towards
There have been some good people who have made the focus an experience or a feeling.
There is a hostile world around us eager to exploit our ignorance in this area of the Christian life
Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
Those reading the very words of Paul in his letter to them were called to remember where they were once… unsaved and following dumb idols.
Paul knew that they gave their gifts to dumb idols.
They followed the focus of society and ended up carried away into things they never thought they’d do.
Satan and his demons deceived them with counterfeit gifts and demonic oracles.
Paul reminded them of what they had been saved from, and warned them that the same practises can be brought into the church.
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Stolen Computer:
Listed a computer on eBay - sold from someone that lived nearby
Paid promptly with Paypal with an address listed very near where we lived
He asked if I could meet him after work and he just pick up the computer
The money was in my account, Paypal verified it, so sure, why not?
I met him, and he went away with the computer
The next day I get an email from Paypal stating that the account that paid had been hacked and I had to pay the funds back
What?! Long story short, the man I met was the hacker, and because he collected the item I was not covered under Paypal’s protection because there was no shipping tracking number
The man who I thought was a buyer turned out to be a thief
The Holy Spirit is well aware of that there are people who say anything to deceptively work their way in to the church
Paul relays the test - They must say, Jesus is Lord
Anyone can say these words
This is where context is so vital!
Paul was speaking about the spiritual gifts, specifically public ministry gifts like prophecy, speaking in tongues, and interpretation
The HS recognises the danger of deception and puts in tests and safeguards when someone is using a spiritual gift
Deceptive spirits know Jesus and and even confess Who Jesus is
Jesus saw this:
And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.
Paul saw this:
And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
Paul reinforced this thought in:
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
John gives us a test
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
Confess that Jesus was put in the womb of a virgin named Mary, born of the flesh, lived on this earth like you and me, was tempted and yet never sinned, died on the cross, was buried, rose bodily from the grave, and ascended bodily to Heaven
A confession of the humanity of Jesus leads to the confession of the deity of Jesus.
An evil, deceptive heart and spirit will not confess this
The Holy Spirit will:
If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Indwells the believer
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
teaches and guides us in the words of Jesus
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
Testifies of Jesus - confirms, validates, and gives evidence
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
The HS points us to Jesus, affirms in our hearts Who Jesus is, encourages our hearts to believe and hope in Jesus as Saviour, quickens (brings to life) our spirit when we by faith call upon Jesus as our Saviour, brings us into the family of God, and then directs our heart to help people know Jesus as their Saviour
The role of the HS is to help our hearts to be focused upon Jesus Christ and strive to bring testimony of encouraging people to come to Jesus for salvation
Therefore, those that have a premise, a plan, to promote themselves through their gifts, is not doing following the HS.
When the focus becomes all about a gift instead of Jesus Who enables the gift, then that person is speaking or using their gift contrary to the leading of the HS.
When Jesus is not Lord, Master, of one’s heart; they will not direct others to Jesus
Jesus is Lord - The HS points to Jesus - the gifts points others to Jesus
A premise that takes that glory, that direction is not of the HS
Wisdom - apply the knowledge with understanding
Knowledge - Teaches to help others know what they believe