Spotting a Spiritually Gifted Church

Introduction

MAIN-INTRODUCTION

[Get Attention | Raise a need | Orient Theme | State Purpose]

ATTENTION GETTER

There are over 66 churches just in Bedford County alone. I would imagine if you counted the neighboring counties, you would have about 420 additional churches within our region. That is a total of 486 churches within driving distance of ours. I often joke with people that you could literally visit a different church in our county and go a whole year visiting different churches. If you take the number that I just gave you, it would take a little over nine years to visit all the churches within driving distance. That is a lot of churches. I feel for people who are moving into our area looking for a new home church. I imagine that it is quite a chore to visit different churches seeking to find a new home.

NEED

Unfortunately, not every church is worth joining. I say that based on what I know about churches and what God says a church should be. So many churches today do not even teach God’s Word and are caught up in the political “wokeness” of today. Others have turned their attention to providing food banks and doing community events more so than helping their members grow spiritually. Some churches are without pastors and are drifting aimlessly without leadership. In many churches, there are obvious power struggles. When it comes to churches today, the list of issues seems to be enormous. The question is how does one know a church is doing what God designed them to do? How can we determine if a church is a spiritually gifted church? What are the indicators that make spotting such a church easy for those desiring to find a good church home?

THEME

That is the theme of today’s message. In our text, the Holy Spirit provides us with some identifiable indicators of a spiritually gifted church. Using these indicators, a person or family can find a churches that are spiritually gifted as long as those churches are seeking to do God’s will and not their own.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the message this morning to share those indicators with you. If you are looking for a church, knowing these indicators will help you find a spiritually gifted church. For us, as a local church, these indicators become a good litmus test to see if we meet those qualifications. Are we, as the Holy Spirit teaches, a spiritually gifted church? Well, we are about to find out.

SUB-INTRODUCTION

By the way, it is important that you find the right church and it is important that we be the right church. Why it is important? There is a lot at stake especially in today’s world. All around us the world has lost its mind. Evil and wickedness is on the rise. The battle for the soul of men and women is raging around us. Satan desires to sift all of us like wheat. Note Scripture’s description of this great war.

Ephesians 6:12 KJV 1900

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

1 Peter 5:8 KJV 1900

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Speaking of Satan, Christ warned Peter of how dangerous Satan can be.

Luke 22:31 KJV 1900

31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

May I say that Satan is just as powerful and treacherous now as he was then. This war for our souls still rages and the enemy’s advancement is growing greater each day.

Thus, finding a church that will help you grow spiritually and provide you with the spiritual tools to combat the depravity around us is extremely important. It is important for you personally. It is important for your marriage. It is important for your children. It is just important.

Spotting a spiritually gifted church is essential if you desire to protect yourself, your marriage, and your children from Satan’s onslaught.

As we come to end of this great chapter, let me remind you that it’s theme was the correct use of certain spiritual gifts in the local church. In fact, chapters 12-14 were all about spiritual gifts. God has given to each believer a spiritual gift or gifts. Our duty is to use them within the framework of the local church as we seek to edify (build up) other believers in Christ. Thus, the preaching and teaching of God’s Word must be paramount. A spiritually gifted church understands these principles. The church at Corinth had a lot of problems. Now, as we conclude this chapter, the Holy Spirit gives them a synopsis of what a spiritually gifted church should look like.

The Holy Spirit identifies:

Four Dead Giveaways Of a Spiritually Gifted Church

They Exhibit Selfless Behavior

1 Corinthians 14:36 KJV 1900

36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

As I was studying this verse, I sensed a certain amount of sarcasm coming from the Holy Spirit here. Note that His questions are really just one question. Both center around His Word. He asks did God’s Word come from you. Second, did it come to you only? These are rhetorical questions. A rhetorical question is one asked simply to drive home a point. The answer is obvious. No, God’s Word did not come from them and it was not for them only. Now, in my outline this morning, I note that a spiritually gifted church is one that exhibit’s selfless behavior. The sense from this verse is that the Corinthian church was not exhibiting selfless behavior. They did the opposite. They were a very selfish group of believers. Thus, with these questions, the Holy Spirit sarcastically is saying don’t be stuck on yourselves. God’s Word is from God. We are not the ultimate authority on what God says or commands. He is. He is God. It is His Word. Thus, we are to set ourselves aside and simply obey His Word. This is a theme that runs throughout of God’s Word, but one especially noted in this letter to the believers at Corinth. Note how many times the Holy Spirit encouraged them to be selfless, not selfish.

1 Corinthians 1:26–31 KJV 1900

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 3:18 KJV 1900

18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

1 Corinthians 4:18 KJV 1900

18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.

1 Corinthians 5:2 KJV 1900

2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 KJV 1900

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

1 Corinthians 10:12 KJV 1900

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV 1900

31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 12:25–26 KJV 1900

25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

1 Corinthians 13:4–5 KJV 1900

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Now, note that I stayed only in Corinthians. There are a multitude of passages within Scripture that encourage us to set aside self. In its place, we are to seek God’s glory and the edification of others. It is the essence of the entire word of God. Christ himself stated this.

Matthew 22:36–40 KJV 1900

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

What is the essence of the entire law? Love God first, and, then, love others. No where in Christ’s answer do we see love yourself. Thus, one of the first indicators of a spiritually gifted church is a selfless attitude pervading its membership. Any church that sets itself up as the authority of all things is church filled with pride. They have not learned to set self aside. Unfortunately, the church of Corinth was, at the time of this letter, a spiritually gifted church. It is the whole reason why the Holy Spirit led Paul to write this particular letter.

Here is another indicator of a spiritually gifted church.

They Entertain God’s Word as His Commands

1 Corinthians 14:37–38 KJV 1900

37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

As we have discovered, chapters 12-14 deal specifically with the topic of spiritual gifts. Now, as the Holy Spirit wraps up His teaching on this topic, He concludes with this thought about prophecy. Now, remember, prophecy is, in a nutshell, the preaching or proclamation of God’s Word to men. Thus, a prophet is one who proclaims or preaches God’s Word to others. In these two verses, the Holy Spirit clearly states that everything written within this letter are the “commandments of the Lord.” In other words, they, the believers of Corinth, were to accept this entire letter as God’s command just as they did with anything Christ commanded during His earthly ministry. The phrase “let him acknowledge” literally means to recognize something clearly and distinctly as true and valid. Consequently, God expected every prophet (aka preacher) within the Corinthian congregation to clearly and distinctly recognize this letter as the true and valid commandments from God. Verse 38 simply states that if any man “be ignorant, let him be ignorant.” The word “ignorant” means to have total disregard for something. If then, any person within that congregation disregarded this letter as anything other than God’s commands, the entire congregation were to disregard him or her. Such a person was not allowed to speak within the congregation. God forbade it. Thus, another indicator of a spiritually gifted church is one that entertains God’s Word as His commands to them.

There are many church engaged in all kinds of things these days. Some churches are actively involved in feeding the poor while others are all about concerts and entertainment. There is wide range of opinions today about what a church should or should not be doing. However, as I study God’s Word, is quite apparent that the preaching and teaching of God’s Word as God’s commandment is His requirement. Thus, any church that does not treat God’s Word as His commandments is not church following His commands. It is a church that falls short of God’s expectations.

Here is a third indicator of a spiritually gifted church.

They Enjoy the Preaching and Teaching of God’s Word

1 Corinthians 14:39 KJV 1900

39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

The key word in this verse is the word “covet.” This word is a word that conveys passion. In fact, it means to be or become marked by active interest, passion, enthusiasm for something. Here, the Holy Spirit again emphasize that we must be passionate and enthusiastic about the preaching of God’s Word over the use of languages. The instruction “forbid not to speak with tongues” was for that day when the gift of languages was actively used. As we know, God desires that we use our gifts. Thus, God did not want them to suppress anyone’s desire to use the true spiritual gift given to them. Yet, what was more important than the use of any gift was the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. I believe I have demonstrated that God desires that His Word be clearly communicated to all who will listen. Now, the Holy Spirit says once again “covet” the preaching and teaching of God’s Word.

Go with me back to the very first verse of this chapter.

1 Corinthians 14:1 KJV 1900

1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

Note that from the beginning the Holy Spirit set the tone of this entire chapter. He said “desire spiritual gifts, but RATHER THAT YE MAY PROPHESY.” What is the ultimate goal of all speaking gifts? In case you are not aware, spiritual gifts can be categorized into two categories. There are speaking gifts and serving gifts. Speaking gifts are teaching, prophecy (preaching), words of knowledge, words of wisdom, and exhortation. The serving gifts include administration, helps, giving, mercy, faith, and discernment. Now, note that in the list of speaking gifts that I did not list tongues/languages. My reason for not including it is that it as a spiritual gift not valid for today due to the completion of Scripture. I have already preached that particular message. If you want to hear it, I would encourage to look it up on our YouTube channel. My point for now is this. One of the greatest indicators of a spiritually gifted church is their love for the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. If you walk into a church that is has 45 minutes of worship music and only 10 minute sermonette, you are not in a spiritually gifted church as the Holy Spirit teaches. True spiritually gifted church emphasize the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. In fact, I would stress that they enjoy and eagerly anticipate the preaching of God’s Word.

Here is the fourth and final indicator of a spiritually gifted church.

They Encourage Graceful, Well-Ordered Activity Within Their Congregation

1 Corinthians 14:40 KJV 1900

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

We have already spent some time in another message talking about this last verse. However, it is the final indicator of a spiritually gifted church and worth repeating. There are two key words here. The first is the word “decently.” In Greek, “decently” means to do things in a manner characterized by decorum. The other key word is the word “order.” “Order” is defined as actions done in a sequential arrangement. In other words, one thing is done and completed before the next thing begins. In combining these words, the Holy Spirit gives us one last vital indicator of a spiritually gifted church. It is a church that encourages graceful, well-ordered activity in every ministry and action of that congregation.

Over the last decade, many churches abandoned traditional church worship. Often the argument is that such worship is too rigid and does not allow for the individual believer to worship God in a personal way. One of the things we must be careful about is confusing personal worship with local church worship. As a believer, I have the responsibility to worship God with my life. I do that through my personal commitment to obey God and glorify Him in all that I do. The Holy Spirit noted that when states in 1 Corinthians 10:31

1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV 1900

31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Everyday is day to glorify and worship the Lord individually. However, when we come together into one place as a congregation, our worship must be done differently for a variety of reasons. At the top of the list is this. There is not to be confusion within the local church. Remember that congregational worship and activity is to reflect God’s nature.

1 Corinthians 14:33 KJV 1900

33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Our corporate worship must not be confused mess. Instead, it is to be “done decently and in order.” We have a testimony that we must maintain. Our testimony is that we belong to God. We are His people. Thus, as His people, we must reflect His nature. If He is a God of peace and not confusion, then we are to people of peace and not chaos. Such a spirit must also be reflected in our congregational worship. This rejection of traditional worship goes against the very nature of God. A spiritually gifted church is one that embraces and encourages order in all things.

Here are:

Three Benefits to Finding & Joining a Spiritually Gifted Church

Your faith is increased by the teaching and preaching of God’s Word.

Your spiritual growth is intensified through the support and encouragement of like-minded people.

The many opportunities to serve and grow within the church’s ministries improve your service to the Lord.

Conclusion

I for one believe that is our church. We are not perfect. Unfortunately, you will not find the perfect church. However, I can assure that here at Calvary Baptist Church we try our best to be selfless in our behavior by putting the things of God and the need of others first. As pastor, I decided early in my ministry that our focus would always be on the teaching and preaching of God’s Word. We are determined, as believers, to know His Word and live His Word as best was can. Additionally, we work hard at being a graceful, well ordered congregation in all areas of ministry. All of this is extremely important. Being part of church is quite different than being a part of a country club. We are here to help each other grow in our love for the Lord and others. Any church that does not make this the center of all they do is in danger of being nothing more than a club, not a church. Thus, let me encourage you to make a decision today. If you are member of this church, be more than just a knot on a log. Be actively helping our church be a spiritually gifted church. You can do this by your commitment to learn, understand, and exercise the spiritual gift God has entrusted to you. If you need help discerning that gift, set an appointment with me. I can help direct you to discovering God’s gift to you. Then, commit to using that gift in our church as a means of encouraging others in their own spiritual growth. Second, if you are not a member of our church or you are visiting for the first time seeking a church family, I encourage you to look for a spiritually gifted church. You now have 4 wonderful indicators from God that you can use in determining such a church. Use His criteria, not man’s. And, by the way, my prayer is that you discover those criteria right here at our church.