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Introduction
Last week we began our conversation from God’s Word about Spiritual Gifts.
We spent considerable time understanding a spiritual gift versus a natural gift.
Let’s review for just a few minutes, and then we will pick up where we left off, talking about 3 potential dangers surrounding spiritual gifts.
What is a Spiritual Gift?
A quick word study reveals the following.
The word “spiritual” is anything related to or given by the Holy Spirit.
He is a Spirit, and thus anything related to Him is spiritual.
Yeah, I know that was really deep.
But, hey, I am a deep, kinda guy.
A “gift” is just what you think it is.
It is freely given or, as in this case, endowed upon someone.
The Holy Spirit at salvation gives or provides each believer with a special gift.
Now, for a second, let me give you this thought.
Spiritual gifts are not natural gifts.
In other words, when we are born, we are not born already spiritually gifted.
Spiritual gifts are not something we develop over time from birth.
Some people are mathematically gifted.
I am not one of those.
However, a mathematically minded person is someone who, over time, developed a love for math and learned on their own the importance of numbers.
A mathematically gifted person has a NATURAL gift.
Natural gifts are different than spiritual gifts.
Yes, natural gifts should be used for the Lord, and it would be a waste not to use them for Him.
My point is this.
Spiritual gifts are only given to believers at the time of salvation and are provided by the Holy Spirit.
Several passages speak to this thought.
Pay attention to the spiritual gifts mentioned.
There is the gift of prophecy, ministry, exhortation, and ruling.
The passage in Ephesians said apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.
All of these are characterized as spiritual.
It is not natural for a person to desire the office of a pastor.
It is a desire and a gift that comes only through the spiritual endowment of God’s Spirit.
Now, look again at verse 1 and note something further.
The Holy Spirit says, “I would not have you ignorant.”
In other words, there are some things that you need to know.
Unfortunately, too many believers do not take the time to learn what the Holy Spirit wants them to know about their spiritual gifts.
We often ignore or refuse to learn what He teaches for several reasons.
One of the main reasons is this.
We feel guilty if we know what we are required to do and don’t do it.
So, in our minds, we convince ourselves that if we just ignore it, we don’t have to deal with it.
So, we do our best to ignore what God says until the pastor stands and preaches on it.
So, here I am preaching and teaching what God wants you to know about your spiritual gift.
There are three ways believers are often ignorant about spiritual gifts.
The believer often does not know that the Holy Spirit has endowed them with a spiritual gift because they fail to read and study His Word.
A believer may know that the Holy Spirit gifts His people but may not know what specific gifts the Holy Spirit gave them.
Many believers know the Holy Spirit gives gifts and may even know his/her specific gift but may not know how to properly use their gift(s).
Here is a question for you to consider.
It is a rhetorical question.
What is the solution to ignorance?
The answer is knowledge.
When you know about something, you are no longer ignorant about it.
Here is another rhetorical question.
For the believer, what is the source of spiritual knowledge?
The answer is simple.
It is the Word of God, the Bible.
If God requires us not to be ignorant concerning spiritual gifts, He expects us to study His world so that we are not uninformed.
If you, as a believer, claim ignorance, you are admitting that you do not effectively study God’s Word as you should.
Therein lies the problem.
The solution is to stop claiming ignorance and start studying God’s Word.
By the way, when we get to Heaven and stand before Christ, our claim of ignorance will hold no weight with Him.
He will simply say to you and I, “Did I not give you my Word in plain English, and did not I give my Spirit to guide you?”
What can we say then in our defense?
We can say nothing.
Ultimately, we must admit our own laziness and, ultimately, our selfishness before Him.
There is no doubt that God’s Word teaches us everything we need to know about living for the Lord.
The subject of spiritual gifts is no different.
Through His word and the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we can learn about spiritual gifts, what they are, and how they can be used appropriately for Him.
Now, there are several dangers associated with spiritual gifts.
In our text, the Holy Spirit warns about three genuine risks.
I will give you one now, and we will return to the other two next Sunday.
Here is the first real danger.
The Danger of Falling Back into False Worship
Look again at our text and note verse 2.
Throughout our study of this remarkable book, we have often mentioned that the city of Corinth was a hotbed of worship to false gods.
You may recall that many of the Corinthian believers were Gentiles.
They were saved from the heathen religions of that day.
Here the Holy Spirit reminds them of their past.
Yes, they HAD BEEN Gentiles.
Now, however, they were Christians, followers of Christ.
Yes, they HAD BEEN worshippers of “dumb idols.”
The false gods of the Roman and Greek empires were genuinely dumb.
They had no voice and could not communicate and relate to anyone.
However, now, these believers served the only true and LIVING God who communicates with His people and indwells them through His Spirit.
Yes, they HAD BEEN “led” by the wiles and ways of this world.
However, now, things are different.
God’s Spirit leads them and us.
Here is the point.
The world offers meaningless and worthless gifts.
The world’s religions are full of dumb stuff like spiritual meditation, spiritual attunement with one’s inner self and nature, and even stupid prophecies concerning man’s evolution.
Today’s world constantly pushes us to worship mother nature and be at peace with our inner selves.
The world accepts the mumbo jumbo of Asian religions.
Unfortunately, too many churches and so-called pastors attempt to merge the worship of false religions with the true worship of God.
In doing so, they have led many believers into false worship.
This danger is prevalent in the area of spiritual gifts.
Let me give a couple of examples.
The gift of prophecy is a gift that has many worshipping a false religion.
The gift of prophecy centers NOT on telling the future but is solely about preaching God’s Word.
Yet, many people claim they can tell the future or teach things outside God’s Word.
By doing so, they set themselves as an authority outside God’s Word.
They often lead people to follow them instead of God.
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