God Through You!
Notes
Transcript
Reading:
12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
Introduction:
Scripture talks a lot about the bride of Christ.
Christ sacrificed Himself to bind it together.
It is of great importance to God.
The bride is all believers everywhere.
It is what we consider the global church body.
It was consummated at the moment of Pentecost and completed with the Gentiles in Acts 10.
44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.
45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.
The church is together in our mission and calling.
We are told we are many and represent one and that all of us have different roles to fulfill in the body.
The first thing we needed to fulfill that role is a:
A Renewed Spirit (1-3)
A Renewed Spirit (1-3)
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.
3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
These verses are directly following what we read for our communion time And here are the last 2 verses.
33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another—
34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.
Communion is a reflection on Christ, not to be fed.
The covenant was observed in 11 then Paul starts this next section with a word that indicates a change in the subject matter.
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians to clear up some bad doctrinal practices and the struggle against those who wanted believers to revert back to the Jewish traditions, sprinkled with some schisms amongst the church body.
Along with clearing up issues about communion, some of those divisions
seem to deal with spiritual gifts.
It seems like some wanted the gifts for themselves to abuse.
It’s not too far fetched to think this since:
We can observe what happened in Acts 8.
9 But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great.
10 They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.”
11 And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.
12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.
14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,
15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Simon wanted the power to give the Holy Spirit to anyone he laid his hands on.
He wanted the fame and prestige.
People may have desired the fame and believed the gifts would bring it.
So what is happening in this first verse?
On the surface verse 1 talks about spiritual gifts; but below it isn’t really about the gifts we receive from God.
It is more focused than that.
Transition:
When God saves us He gives us more than just spiritual gifts.
26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
At salvation we are given a new heart and a new spirit.
We are changed and have a new way to live our lives.
The context in 1 Corinthians 12:1-3 teaches us that spiritual gifts aren’t abilities given but the outward evidence of the inward change.
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.
The once pagan humans, the Gentiles, who were led by man made figures who were not alive are now part of a family who’s Father is God!
This is the reason that they can live differently than before.
There is a new heart to love as Jesus did!
There is a new mind to think as Jesus did!
It is what makes repentance possible.
Illustration:
Back in 2018 and 2019 I had the privilege of going to Rwanda.
On our way to Rwanda we had an layover in N.Y.
Before our group left Fort Myers I talked a few people into using our time on the layover to head into N.Y. City, Manhattan.
We got into our hotel, left then we rode the subway into Manhattan at 1 am.
While we were waiting I noticed something on the pillars of the subway stop: there was newer paint.
I could see that the pillars had a lot of rust, and instead of grinding the rust to bare metal they painted right over the rust.
Seems pointless to do a job halfway.
Connection:
As I prepared for this message it reminded me that:
We are no different than the pillar with painted over rust.
We make changes to our lives in our own efforts for ourselves which is just painting over the rust.
The change that is real and that lasts is when our hearts and minds change.
At every point in our life where God is pointing out our sins and we are struggling against them:
God is grinding away the rust from our lives.
It hurts and is difficult; but we can trust His will and His process.
He is changing us from the inside out!
People who know us best will notice the changes quicker; but may be skeptical since humans are really good at covering up sin.
When God changes you people will notice the change, or as in verse 1 the manifesting of the spiritual gift you received.
The only way you can claim that Jesus is Lord is because you are his child and the Holy Spirit attests to that, by changing you into a reflection of Him.
Transition:
As you begin to change you recognize that it’s not just affecting you.
It is affecting anyone around you.
Have you ever heard the stats about the impact each individual can have in a home when they get saved?
(Stats of the people in the home getting saved and their effectiveness to win the rest of the family.)
The way God reveals Himself through you is with the gift of the Spirit.
The gifts are
Diverse; But With One Source (4-7)
Diverse; But With One Source (4-7)
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
Paul highlights a biblical truth to squash any divisions created by men and their categorization of gifts.
One commentator says:
“The Corinthians had evidently regarded the possession of such gifts as a matter for pride and had set one believer against another on the basis of the possession of this or that gift.” - Moris Leon
Basically speaking: People measured the gift against another.
This isn’t something that is weird.
Humans categorize a lot in life.
Illustration:
What is the worst sin?
Murder?
Rape?
Lying?
We all have in our minds a category that is worse than another; but in reality from God’s point of view:
It is all a perversion of perfection and is a sin before Him, there are no categories.
How about this:
What jobs are most honorable?
Doctor?
Lawyer?
President?
Many categorize garbage man low on the list as less honorable:
That’s just silly.
(What’s the point of a job? To ear a living and provide for your family and help those in need.)
A job is a necessity of life, thanks to the fall of man!
Connection:
Paul squashes the pride right out of their categories.
We are told the Spirit gives these gifts, but many forget the Spirit is God and has all deity.
People could think that maybe the Holy Spirit is only part of the most important gifts since the seem “magical”.
The Holy Spirit is the only Spirit providing many different gifts to mankind.
If there were others it would be a contradiction.
God would seemingly be fighting against Himself for importance or a hierarchy.
God doesn’t fight Himself’
God does His will and He gives perfectly.
4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
God tells us that there are many services, many activities and many gifts.
All of which are connected to the source: God.
Kind of goes back to the illustration of the vine and the branches doesn’t it.
Without the source vine there can be no fruit.
Point:
That fruit is for the world to see that God is power and He can change someone.
Why does it say we are given these gifts?
7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
The way God reveals Himself to others through you isn’t for you, it is for the common good.
That common good is to build up the body of Christ.
It is for the ability to fulfill the calling of the great commission.
It is for God to reach into this world through you.
He doesn’t need us to do it; but He desires that we do and provides everything we need as a church body and also individually to fulfill it.
Maybe you don’t believe God isn’t using you; but the truth here is that:
Everyone Is Equipped (8-11)
Everyone Is Equipped (8-11)
8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
Here we kind of get a list for the way God equips the church to fulfill His will.
Wisdom
Knowledge
Faith
Healing
Miracles
Prophecy
Discernment of spirits
Languages
Interpretation of Languages
This isn’t an exhaustive list.
This list represents ways that only God could be doing these things in the world and we are just a human vessel.
We could get into each “spiritual gift” we could even give you a test that kind of leads you towards knowing yours.
? What is the best way to find the ones you were given?
Use them.
Illustration:
When I was in middle school my friend’s brother really wanted to be a veterinarian.
He was a freshman at MSU and for spring break was a volunteer at a vet clinic.
His whole life he wanted to be a vet.
This is what he learned while volunteering.
He didn’t want to be a vet any more, it wasn’t for him.
One day he had helped the vet de-claw a cat and that was it, no more.
He realized that medical wasn’t for him.
The more things we attempt for the edifying or building up of the church the easier it is to see what gifts the Spirit gave us to reveal Himself through.
Either way we know the Lord wants to express Himself to the world through us; which means that each one of us are given at least one gift to reveal Him through.
How will we recognize the gift?
Pay attention to the different ways these gifts are shown.
He may also give you a desire for specific things that also reveal the gifts He has for you.
How are we able to utilize and strengthen these gifts?
11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
If we don’t depend on the spirit to do these things then we are attempting it through our own power.
It will fail when we do it that way.
Illustration:
Before the year 1866 most of the mining process was done by men who drilled into rock about 6”-8” in depth and compacted black powder into the hole.
It was effective; but black powder wasn’t an huge explosion.
There could be approximately 8-10 holes done in a 10hr day.
Not very quick or effective.
1866 Alfred Nobel invented Dynamite.
Revolutionizing the mining process.
Imagine if the miners only had chisels and hammers.
How long would have the Hoover dam taken?
Instead they utilized the “power” at their disposal: Dynamite.
Connection:
The only way for us to have the power and authority to do what God has called us to do is by relying on His power.
The dynamite inside of us to explode and effect anyone in the blast radius.
Transition:
How are we to use the gift?
By trusting Him even though you feel ill equipped and are scared.
Satan doesn’t want you showing everyone what God is capable of.
He will try and discourage you, blind you, get you to believe lies.
Remember:
He doesn’t have any power over you!
You are a protected child of the King who also gave you armor for defense and a sword for offense.
Conclusion:
There are a lot of people in Bad Axe who when they die are going to hell.
They are taking their punishment on themselves when they don’t have to.
How will they learn the truth?
God placed you in their lives to tell them.
They can believe in Him because they witness your life that testifies of His power to change people.
Don’t be afraid, don’t make excuses.
Don’t allow Satan to tell you a lie and believe him.
Remember what Moses’ excuses were for his fear of what God called him to do?
Israel might not believe me, or listen to my voice when I tell them God appeared to me in a bush burning with fire; but isn’t consumed.
He gave Him signs to show them.
I am not an eloquent speaker, I speak slow.
God gave him Joshua as a mouthpiece.
Look what God did through Moses’ faith in God to use Him?
All of Israel was saved, and the whole world was blessed because of the gifts revealing who God is.
Imagine what God wants to do through you?
Let Him.
Pray and ask God to reveal what gifts He gave you at salvation?
Look for and pay attention to the desires you have and also where you are being affective either encouraging other believers or reaching the lost.
As you learn what gifts best reveal God to the world: Fine tune them so that you are a sharp shooter!
Pray!