5-28-23 Sermon "Working Together" 16 Minutes

1 Corinthians 12:3-13

This morning I'll be reading 1 Corinthians chapter 12 verses 3 through 13. And I'll be reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. 1 Corinthians 12:3-13 1 Corinthians was a letter written by Paul and to the church in Corinth. He had just reprimanded them in the previous chapter because they weren't respecting others as they come together for the Lord's supper. In these verses he is speaking about the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:3–13 (HCSB) — 3 Therefore I am informing you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person. 7 A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial: 8 to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9 to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of languages, to another, interpretation of languages. 11 But one and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as He wills. 12 For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. The word of God for the people of God,,, thanks be to God! God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning. Let us pray: Dear Lord,,, as we begin this morning,,, with everyone here today and all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen. ___________________________________ Last Sunday we looked at Acts 1:6-14 and we learned that one of the secrets to the disciples answered prayer,,, was that they were all,,, continually united in prayer!

This is proof that,,, by being,,, united,,, and continuing in prayer,,, this is one of the keys that unlocks the secret of answered prayer!

Now,,, as then,,, God works when people pray.

A lot of times,,, it seems like,,, we would rather do anything than pray.

But it is only when we wait before God in desperate,,, believing,,, fervent,,, unhurried,,, united prayer,,, that the reviving,,, energizing power of the Spirit of God,,, is poured out.

We should continue to be united in things that we need God’s help with,,, and through our unity,,, and our continuous prayer,,, we can confidently come to God in prayer,,, through faith,,, that God will answer us as we pray!

We come to Him in confidence and rejoicing that our prayer will be answered,,, just as the disciples did in obedience to Jesus’ command!

And if we can master this important,,, but easy to miss,,, point,,, it will help us to even greater things in our church,,, our personal lives,,, and our communities,,, as we continue each and every day,,, in obedience to God’s word!

As we spread the “Good News” of Jesus Christ,,, to all the ends of the earth!

This morning we will look at these verses in 1 Corinthians 12:3-13 and see how they will help us in our walk with God this week.

___________________________________ Verse 3 said: 3 Therefore I am informing you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

The Corinthian believer’s had been pagans,,, believing in useless idols,,, wooden or metal,,, manmade objects,,, that were not alive,,, incapable of helping them in any way.

They apparently were dealing with the presence of false teachers that were easily leading the gullible people astray.

Paul therefore laid down a simple test related to the person of Christ.

The false teachers obviously claimed that their visions,,, revelations,,, and messages,,, (cf. 2 Cor. 12:1) were from God,,, but they apparently denied the humanity of Christ,,, as expressed by the words,,, “Jesus is cursed”.

So Paul is telling them that,,, no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,”

Also,,, Jesus who had suffered,,, was now the Jesus who reigns as Lord,,, whom Paul represented (1 Cor. 1:1) and who was to be obeyed.

Only believers,,, speaking by the Holy Spirit,,, acknowledge that “Jesus is Lord”.

Nonbelievers—including false teachers—deny His sovereign lordship.

Therefore,,, anyone who tries to controvert Jesus’ authority and His Word,,, will suffer the consequences (14:38; 16:22).

___________________________________ Verses 4-6 said: 4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person.

Paul had referred to God,,, Jesus,,, and the Holy Spirit in verse 3.

Now in reverse order he stressed the unity of the Godhead in relation to the different spiritual gifts.

The Holy Spirit gives a diversity of gifts,,, so that individuals can serve the Lord and His body, the church,,, in various ways,,, all empowered by God and exercised under His control or guidance (cf. vv. 18, 24).

Though there are different kinds of gifts … service, and working,,, the same Spirit … the same Lord (Christ),,, and the same God,,, are involved in all of them.

___________________________________ Verses 7-10 said: 7 A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial: 8 to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9 to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of languages, to another, interpretation of languages.

The gifts had a unity in source,,, and,,, they also had a unity in purpose.

They were given,,, not for personal enrichment (cf. 14:4; 1 Peter 4:10),,, but for the common good of the body of Christ,,, the building up of others (1 Cor. 10:24; 14:12).

Paul listed some of the gifts here.

Others,,, along with some of these,,, are given in Romans 12:6–8; 1 Corinthians 12:28–31; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 4:10–11.

___________________________________ Verses 11-12 said: 11 But one and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as He wills. 12 For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ.

The gifts were not meant to be selected by individuals or personally asked for,,, but were instead given by the … Spirit … as He determined.

“The Spirit” is referred to six times in verses 7–11.

Verse 12,,, forms an excellent three-part summary of the rest of the chapter.

(1) The human body is a unit! (cf. v. 13 on the unity of the body of Christ).

(2) The human body has many parts,,, with a necessary diversity in its members! (cf. vv. 14–20).

(3) The parts of the human body work together as one,,, with an overall goal,,, as each part fulfills an important function towards that goal! (cf. vv. 21–26).

Likewise the body of Christ has a diversity of parts functioning together! (vv. 27–30)

___________________________________ Verse 13 said: 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

My Believer’s Bible Commentary says that,,, Paul goes on to explain how we became members of the Body of Christ.

By,,, (or in),,, one Spirit,,, we were all baptized into one body.

The more literal translation here is “in one Spirit.”

This may mean that the Spirit is the element in which we were baptized,,, just as water is the element in which we are immersed in believer’s baptism.

Or it may mean that the Spirit is the Agent who does the baptizing,,, therefore,,, by one Spirit.

This is the more probable and understandable meaning,,, according to this commentary.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit took place,,, as we know,,, on the Day of Pentecost.

The church was born at that time.

We make use of the benefits of that baptism when we are born again.

We become members of the Body of Christ.

Christians of all walks of life are members,,, —whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

It is available to all that accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior!

___________________________________ The last few weeks we learned that through “Unity and Continuous Prayer”,,, the “Holy Spirit”,,, and “Living Stones”,,, we are tasked with a job that Jesus left,,, for us to finish.

This morning we see that we may all be different,,, and unique at the same time,,, but as Christians,,, the ones responsible for the church,,, we all have one goal,,, to work together for the benefit of building God’s kingdom!

And we will accomplish that much easier,,, if we work together,,, as the “Living Stones”,,, with a common goal,,, through “Unity and Continuous Prayer”,,, and,,, through the strength and power of the Holy Spirit!

Not relying on our power,,, but on God’s power,,, and the church will grow,,, the way that Jesus intended,,, when He left,,, so that the Holy Spirit could come,,, on Pentecost Sunday,,, and continue to help us,,, along the way,,, even still,,, to this day!

___________________________________ Today is Pentecost Sunday,,, and we know that Jesus Christ died on the cross,,, was buried and resurrected,,, and ascended into heaven,,, so that the Holy Spirit would give us the power that we needed to accomplish the job that Jesus began when He came to earth!

Monday is “Memorial Day”,,, a day set aside to honor those that sacrificed their life for the many freedoms that we have in this country today!

We need to remember as we celebrate tomorrow,,, their ultimate sacrifice,,, and take the time,,, to honor them with our thanks by attending any ceremonies that we know of,,, as a way of showing their families that they are not forgotten,,, and we truly appreciate what they have done for our country,,, and others around the world!

And never forgetting our Lord and Savior,,, for His sacrifice,,, for each and every person,,, in the whole wide world!

Since our relationship with Him means eternity in heaven,,, and that relationship is available to all,,, if all,,, will accept Him!

___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Hymn: 337 - Oakdale Hymn: 337 - Seminary Benediction -----------------------------------------------------------