1 First Corinthians “Solving Church Problems” Lesson 16, Section Sixteen Problem Fourteen: “Misunderstanding Spiritual Gifts: Their Importance” First Corinthians 12:1-11 Page 79

2 Let’s look back.... Paul did not want the Corinthians to be ignorant concerning spiritual gifts (12:1) In chapter 1:4-7, he told them that God’s grace was given to them in the form of gifts The gifts provided them with utterance and all knowledge which confirmed “the testimony of Christ” in them In chapter 2:10-13, he told them that the Spirit searched the deep things of God These things were given to the apostles Paul passed them on to the Corinthians These “gifts” were “divine gratuities, free miraculous faculties”

3 Spiritual gifts were important.... Knowledge about spiritual gifts were so important that Paul used three chapters to cover his points Chapter 12 addresses their distorted values on various gifts and their relative importance Chapter 13 focuses on love. Without love, he was nothing and all his good works profited him nothing Chapter 14 discusses the functions of the gifts, how each gift enhances the performance of the church, and how they should keep order in the worship

4 Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-3 1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

5 Concerning Spiritual Gifts 1 Cor. 12:1 Paul did not want them to be ignorant on the subject “Ignorance” means “without knowledge, uninformed” They needed to know: How the apostles received the power of spiritual gifts Gifts could be conferred upon others by the apostles Gifts enabled the church to know and to make known God’s will, and to confirm it Gifts were intended to be a blessing to those who could employ them in the furtherance of the gospel

6 Concerning Spiritual Gifts 1 Cor. 12:2-3 As Gentiles, they needed to know:...the difference between “professed” miracles of the pagan religions they had come from, and the real and different gifts bestowed on them from the true God No one speaks with the Spirit of God and calls Jesus accursed “Accursed” is “to utter a wish of evil against one” No pagan teacher would ever confess “Christ crucified” No true preacher of the gospel would ever fail to say that “Jesus is Lord”

7 Concerning Spiritual Gifts 1 Cor. 12:3 The Spirit of God controlled gifts of true preachers The term “Spirit of God” is used in all versions (in the first part of verse 3) The last part of verse 3 used the term “Holy Spirit” “Holy Spirit” is used 93 times in the New King James “Holy Ghost” is used exclusively in the King James

8 Concerning Spiritual Gifts 1 Cor. 12:3 The same Spirit who was responsible for the singular truth about Jesus was also the singular source of all spiritual gifts in the church (p.80, f.) “Many gifts, one Spirit” ensures a unity of purpose and a cohesive function among all the available miracles in the church

9 Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

10 Spiritual Gifts Come From God 1 Cor. 12:4-6 There is but one God from whom all gifts come God is the Godhead The three persons in the Godhead are a unity (1) The Holy Spirit is the immediate giver of all the diverse gifts (v4); (2) The Lord [Jesus] is the governor of the function [ministry] of the gifts (v5); (3) The Father [God] is the coordinator of the giving and use of gifts (v6).

11 Read 1 Corinthians 12: But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 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.

12 Different Gifts to Different Members 1 Cor. 12:7 The Spirit’s work in the church was “manifested” [“open to sight; shining” - Vine] by the different gifts He gave to different members Everyone was expected to profit from each others gift The gifts were not given for the personal benefit of any recipient, but for the spiritual health of the whole church Paul lists nine specific spiritual gifts distributed by the Spirit among the general membership of the church

13 Different Gifts to Different Members 1 Cor. 12:8-10 The Word of Wisdom “Wisdom” is “the ability to see things as God sees them” A supernatural ability to understand the word of God exactly how God saw it and to transmit it to others

14 Different Gifts to Different Members 1 Cor. 12:8-10 The Word of Knowledge The word of knowledge [gnosis - “seeking to know...divine truth” - -Vine] could have been supernatural power to enable others to teach effectively the revelation that had been received by the prophets This knowledge was gained through supernatural power, not thought study or learning

15 Different Gifts to Different Members 1 Cor. 12:8-10 Faith Faith obviously was more than the faith that “comes by hearing the word of God” This faith was clothed in power that could cast out demons and could even move a mountain if its removal was necessary to the execution of God’s will (Matt.17:19,20)

16 Different Gifts to Different Members 1 Cor. 12:8-10 Gifts of Healings Gifts of healings were frequently used to restore the sick to health Instances of the apostles healing the sick are prominently recorded in Acts [e.g.,5:15,16] Some elders were probably endowed with similar power (Jas.5:14,15)

17 Different Gifts to Different Members 1 Cor. 12:8-10 The Working of Miracles The working of miracles was power to perform various miracles other than the “healing” made possible by the previously mentioned gift Typically, this power was used to confirm the spoken word to impress the listeners that the gospel message was not from man, but God

18 Different Gifts to Different Members 1 Cor. 12:8-10 Prophesy Prophecy involved receiving direct communications from heaven This gift was used for edification, exhortation, and comfort (14:3)

19 Different Gifts to Different Members 1 Cor. 12:8-10 Discerning of spirits Discerning of spirits perhaps played a significant role in distinguishing between false and true teachers of the gospel In the early church it was not always easy to detect an evil spirit claiming to be from God

20 Different Gifts to Different Members 1 Cor. 12:8-10 Different Kinds of Tongues Different kinds of tongues were useful when the early disciples encountered different nationalities of people in the preaching of the gospel Speaking in “tongues” were commonly-spoken languages that the speaker had never learned Not the ecstatic gibberish so often associated with that term today This gift was highly prized by many of the Corinthians

21 Different Gifts to Different Members 1 Cor. 12:8-10 The Interpretation of Tongues The interpretation of tongues was needed when some spoke in tongues that others could not understand Paul forbade saints to use tongues in the local assemblies unless someone could interpret Sometimes this gift was given to a person who also could speak in tongues (1Cor.14:13) He was to pray that he could interpret

22 Read 1 Corinthians 12:11 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. These gifts, though different from another, were given by the “same Spirit” Each gift worked harmoniously with the use of all the rest The remainder of this chapter emphasizes that all gifts work together in unity