"Spiritual Things" Pt 2

(12:1) – “…I do not want you to be ignorant.”

To combat ignorance of “spiritual things,” I would like to continue this morning by sharing the second of two foundational truths:

A. The Holy Spirit Is the SOURCE of All Spiritual Blessing

David Jeremiah: “…just about everything we count important to us in doctrine and practice is rooted in some aspect of the ministry of the Holy Spirit.”

B. The Holy Spirit Is the PROMISE from The Father!

Ezekiel 36:25–28 CSB

I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.

First spoken on (in the NT) by John the Baptist –

Mark 1:8 CSB

I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

John 7:37–39 CSB

On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.” He said this about the Spirit. Those who believed in Jesus were going to receive the Spirit, for the Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Luke 24:49 CSB

And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.”

Acts 1:4–8 CSB

While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

They [the disciples] were waiting for the Promised Holy Spirit!

WHILE YOUR STILL IN ACTS…turn to chapter 2.

NOTICE that when Pentecost came, and Peter stood and preached the first Gospel message, notice what Peter did NOT say: He didn’t say, “Receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior…”

Acts 2:38–39 CSB

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

WHAT did Peter tell them to receive? – (Acts 2:38-39) – “…you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

The church I grew up in read Acts 2:38 nearly every week! But the emphasis was not our need of the Holy Spirit, but so that we would be baptized for the remission of sins!

The PROMISE of God was HIS PRESENCE in our lives through the HOLY SPIRIT!

Yet because of fear, or ignorance, or misunderstanding, WE’VE NEARLY removed the Holy Spirit from evangelism!

Think of it this way…When’s the last time you asked a person, “How would you like to have the Holy Spirit of God in your life?”

COMPARE that to the times have you heard/said, “Would you like to receive Jesus as Savior?”

AND YET, the Bible only talks about receiving Christ in two places:

John 1:12 CSB

But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,

Revelation 3:20 CSB

See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

(John 1:12) – “But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name.”

(Revelation 3:20) – “See, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

CONTRAST THAT to the twenty-four passages (I’m sure there’s more) that speak of receiving/being sealed with the Holy Spirit of God and you might change the way you present the Gospel!

NOW DON’T WRITE ME OFF as a heretic, or lunatic [just yet]! I understand that salvation comes through the Person and work of Jesus Christ alone! I’m NOT changing the doctrine of salvation.

MY POINT is that God doesn’t “save us” simply to qualify us for an eternal room in Heaven!

Jesus died, was buried, was resurrected, presented His blood before the judgment seat of God in heaven, to CLEANSE US, to make us HOLY, so we can experience the PROMISE of the HOLY SPIRIT!

All the Triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) desires for you to know and love Him!

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” – (John 17:3)

AND THAT is accomplished through the work and ministry of His Holy Spirit in your life and mine!

SO, LET’S BEGIN…

I. The CHARGE to NOT REMAIN IGNORANT – (12:1)

II. The CONTRAST Between FALSE GODS & the TRUE GOD – (12:2-3)

(v.2) – B.C. [Before Christ], Paul describes the Corinthians as “pagans” – in other words, “lost and separated from a relationship with God!” Not only were they without God, but they were worshiping NO-GODS (dumb idols)!

CONTRAST THAT with the entrance of Jesus into a person’s life – (v.3)

Romans 10:9–10 CSB

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.

III. The ACTIVITIES of the Holy Spirit in the Believer – (12:4-6)

A. Gifts – [χαρισμάτων] from the “same Spirit”

B. Ministries – [διακονιων] from the “same Lord [Κύριος]”

C. Activities – [ένεργημάτων] (KJV – “operations”; NAS – “effects”; NIV – “workings”; NKJV – “ways God works in our lives”) from the “same God who works all in all.”

God does not work ONLY through “gifts.” DON’T LIMIT the ministry of the Holy Spirit!

Anyone notice the Trinity represented in those three verses?

(v.4)“…the same Spirit” (v.5) “…the same Lord” (v.6) “…the same God”

IV. The PURPOSE of the MANIFESTATIONS of the Holy Spirit – (12:7)

The “manifestation of the Spirit” [not of ‘gifts’] is given for our spiritual “profit.”

V. The DIVERSITY of the MANIFESTATIONS – (12:8-10)

A. Gifts that INSTRUCT – (v.8)

1. Word of Wisdom – [λόγος σοφίας]

2. Word of Knowledge – [λόγος γνωσεως]

B. Gifts that SUSTAIN – (v.9)

1. Faith – [πίστις]

2. Gifts of Healing – [χαρισμάτα ίαμάτων]

C. Operations that AMAZE – (v.10a)

1. Working of Miracles – [ένεργήμάτα δυνάμεων] Lit. ‘operations of works of power’

D. Ministries/Gifts that PROCLAIM – (v.10b)

1. Prophecy – [προφητεία]

Lit. ‘to speak for another’ It includes both forth-telling as well as fore-telling.

2. Discerning of Spirits

Called the ‘policeman of the group,’ this gift distinguish among the three possible sources of operation: the Spirit, Satan, or the human spirit. (1 John 4:1-6; Matthew 7:15-23)

3. Tongues – [γένη γλωσσων] – Lit. ‘kinds of tongues’

4. Interpretation of Tongues

VI. The CONTROL Exercised by the Holy Spirit – (12:11)

Don’t forget that the Holy Spirit is God!

There seems to be a tendency to treat the Holy Spirit like an un-predictable family member (who makes reunion’s interesting). You’re glad he or she is here, only everyone’s watching him/her out the corner of their eyes…

Have you ever noticed how people are very COMFORTABLE talking about God the Father (even the world is ok with references to a Supreme Being).

Mention Jesus Christ, and the room grows quiet…Jesus evokes a little more emotion!

However, mention the HOLY SPIRIT…parents start spotting their children in case they need to bolt for the door!

WHAT’S WRONG WITH US?

Let’s be clear on this important point—there is no difference between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit!

(1 Corinthians 12:11) (Ephesians 1:3-14; 2:10)

God is accomplishing His sovereign will on the earth. He has chosen to WORK HIS WILL through BELIEVERS!

Believers are SEALED with the Holy Spirit so we might KNOWand be PREPARED to do His will!