1 Corinthians 12:1–7 NASB95

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Discovering the Gifts

Pray

Recap Principles leading to this

Foundation: Jesus

Learning to chew: Going deeper with biblical concepts

Trust: Can you be trusted with the gift God wants to give you?

Clean out the leaven: Ridding ourselves of pride and focusing on building each other up

TS: This week is the culmination of all that Paul was leading up to in 1 Cor. and he begins his exposition with, “Now...”

1 Corinthians 12:1 NASB95

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.

Word Study: Gifts: Charismata = "concrete expressions of grace" (12:1)

The gifts are physical expressions of God’s grace in our lives…

Grace because we can’t do it on our own, we don’t deserve it, merit can’t earn it, yet God chooses to use us in the gifts…

1 Corinthians 12:3 NASB95

3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

V. 3 - It's all about Jesus, to bring glory to Jesus, and to spread the Gospel of Jesus

(all the gifts are either directly evangelistic or evangelistic because they build up the Church to do her job correctly)

Not for thrills, chills…

1 Corinthians 12:4 NASB95

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.

Varieties of gifts…

there does not exist an exhaustive list of gifts, but Paul makes a point that there are a varieties of gifts.

He uses the same illustrative tool he uses when describing other things - lists...

Romans 12:6 NASB95

6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;

We have been given a portion of grace and that grace comes with the possibility of working in the gifts…

But in order to know how God is trying to use you, the question must be asked…

What are the gifts?

V. 5-7 Includes 3 different terms:

Ministries, effects, and manifestations…

1 Corinthians 12:5 NASB95

5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.

ministries="acts of service"

Your acts of service…

Cooking,

cleaning,

serving as secretary,

serving in the nursery,

fixing floor tiles and electric outlets,

picking up a trash,

mowing the yard,

driving the bus,

arranging funeral dinners....

ACTS OF SERVICE are GIFTS of the SPIRIT!

Paul doesn’t differentiate between the miraculous, transcendent, or spontaneous gifts and those that are more mundane, indicative of a regular function performed in the Church, or that overlap with latent talents possessed by members of the Church...

1 Corinthians 12:6 NASB95

6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.

effects="activities, workings"

When the Spirit works through someone, it may look differently in different people…

Loud or quiet...

Big and demonstrative or still and subtle…

In front of people, or behind the scenes…

Direct and bold, or gentle and humble…

1 Corinthians 12:7 NASB95

7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

manifestations="to make known, announcement, to make plain"

Can mean disclosure or announcement;

to declare or reveal;

A physical embodiment that declares the work of God…

But ONE SPIRIT... ONE LORD... ONE PURPOSE... ONE MISSION... ONE CHURCH...

No matter what gifts we see manifest, we know that they are from One Spirit and the same God, and done for the same purpose mentioned in v. 3 (message of Jesus/gospel sharing)

Some Gifts…

Go through gifts listed explaining each one, but note:

It seems likely that some specific gifts actually encapsulate or overlap with several others;

for example, the gift of prophecy probably includes similarities with words of knowledge and words of wisdom.

Paul groups the first few gifts in sets that are often overlapping…

1 Corinthians 12:8 NASB95

8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;

Word of Wisdom

is a word of advice or direction

i.e. “I feel like God is telling you to take that job…(or go to school)”

i.e. Story about girl asking for a word and God showed me that the boy she was with was not her husband..

the second half of the word I gave that girl was a word of knowledge:

Word of Knowledge

is a word containing knowledge you wouldn’t have any other way

i.e. “I think God is showing me that you need to lay down that worry you’ve been carrying...”

i.e. The second half of the word I gave her was that they were not living up to the standard they knew they should live as a couple and using the excuse, “well we are probably going to get married”

These two often overlap and work together.

Prophecy is described by Paul as some variation of these gifts…

1 Corinthians 14:24–25 NASB95

24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.

Prophecy brings conviction and accountability…

and reveals the secrets of the heart are disclosed…

1 Corinthians 12:9 NASB95

9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

Faith

is a gift of supernatural faith, often faith for a specific miracle, or faith in the face of difficulty…

We are all given a measure of faith, but this is a special gift of faith…

a gift of faith can often be the faith for specific types of healings…

Healing

I’ve seen this gift in action, usually for specific ailments.

Marolyn Dragg - headaches

1 Corinthians 12:10 NASB95

10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

Miracles

Miracles can take many different forms…

i.e. unusual miracles through Paul; healing through Peter’s shadow; prophecy of no rain by Elijah, then rain again at the word of the Lord;

(story of girl whose grandfather was abusing her and died)

(story of Pops praying in the night when robbin and other guys were held up and gunpoint)

Distinguishing of spirits

Discernment

can operate differently in different people, but the outcome is that the person with the gift of discernment has a sensitivity to the spirit realm and can sense the influences of it.

Some sense it with feelings, some sense with an inner sense, some, like Casia, are visually sensing.... Seers (O.T.)

Various kinds of tongues

Tongues that require interpretation

Different from the initial physical evidence of the Holy Spirit.

This type of tongues is usually in the form of a message of edification for the church, which is then interpreted

Interpretation of tongues

similar to prophecy and words of knowledge or wisdom in that you’re hearing or sensing the word from the Lord, but that word is the interpretation of what was said when the gift of tongues was active.

Romans 12:6–8 NASB95

6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Prophecy

Service

Serving, gift of helps (also mentioned in 1 Cor. 12:28) (what we spoke about earlier in that your gift could be where you serve)

Teaching

Some are gifted to teach, anointed by God to teach.

This can be teaching adults, or youth, or children, but their gift is to teach.

Exhortation

Some people are gifted in lifting other people up.

Any time you’re around them they are encouraging and uplifting

This can also spill over into a “ministry” of exhortation. I’ve seen people with this gift use it to encourage people in their praise and… in their prayer life…

I think every good worship leader has the gift of exhortation, encouraging all those around them to express their worship to God

Generosity

v. 8 “he who gives, with liberality

Some of you are wondering what your gift is, but you’re always finding ways to give into the church and sow into others lives and you don’t think of it as a burden or obligation, you do it out of joy… that’s a gift of generosity…

Leadership

Some people are anointed to lead. They have the gift of leadership.

You can take someone who has the spiritual gift of leadership and put them in a room full of people they don’t know, but before they walk out, they have a group of people on their team and ready to execute a plan..

Mercy

There are some who just have a heart of mercy… Mercy beyond comprehension or logic.

They feel the need for mercy in their own lives and in the lives of those around them

They are usually advocates of the less fortunate, take the role of caretaker and helper to those who are in need

There are many gifts, just as there are many parts of the body… And we need all the gifts in operation to see a healthy church.

We wouldn’t think a body missing parts is healthy, no something has gone wrong when the body functions without its intended parts…

We need a variety of gifts, just as there are a variety of parts..

Paul’s teaching suggests that every member of the Church receives at least one gift (1 Cor 12:7, 11, 18; 14:1, 26; Eph 4:7

1 Corinthians 14:26 NASB95

26 What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

This is the picture of a healthy, vibrant church! That all the members are active, not just the pastor.

We need everyone! Everyone has some kind of gift and some people may possess more than one (e.g., 1 Cor 14:13, 18)

1 Corinthians 14:13 NASB95

13 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.

Paul tells them, pray that you could do both!

Christians should also pursue certain gifts, and, ostensibly, may obtain them through prayer; 1 Cor 14:1

1 Corinthians 14:1 NASB95

1 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

What are your gifts?

Altar call - begin journey of pursuit of spiritual gifts now with prayer...