Finding Your Function, Part Two (1 Cor. 12:27ff)

Intro:

That there was much to profit for the Gospel's furtherance through the genuine manifestation of spiritual gifts in the Church at Corinth was evident, first by the reality of their undeniable existence among the believers there.

When a local group of Spirit-filled believers uses the spiritual gifts given them, there is much to gain for the propagation of the Gospel.

Understand - not only the reality of your spiritual gift, but which have been given to you individually

Obey - walk filled with the Spirit, utilizing that which you've been given, for the edification of the church and the furtherance of the Gospel.

Reproof - don't be ignorant concerning spiritual gifts.

Rebuke - any who would use them amiss, selfishly, sensually or perhaps even satanically.

Exhortation - toward the importance of each individual's proper use of their spiritual gift for the glory of God.

Main Thought: Find your function for the furtherance of the Gospel by the filling of the Holy Ghost.

Sub-intro: [Previously]

I. Paul's Invitation to Consider the Spiritualities in the Church at Corinth (1 Cor. 12:1-3).

A. An Intimate Call to Listen (1 Cor. 12:1).

B. An Intentive Audience (1 Cor. 12:2).

C. An Intelligent Audience (1 Cor. 12:3).

II. Paul's Proposition for the Purpose of Spiritualities in the Church at Corinth (1 Cor. 12:4-7).

A. Based on the Involvement of the Triune Godhead (1 Cor. 12:4-6).

1. The Role of the Spirit (v. 4).

2. The Role of the Lord Jesus (v. 5).

3. The Role of God the Father (v. 6).

B. Based on the Incentive of the Profitability of a Spiritual Church (1 Cor. 12:7).

Body:

III. Paul's Confirmation of the Purpose of Spiritualities in the Church at Corinth (1 Cor. 12:8-27).

A. Argument One: The Reality of Spirituality (1 Cor. 12:8-27).

1. The Truth Confirmed (1 Cor. 12:8-11).

a. Gifts Imparted By the Spirit (vv. 8-10).

i. The Best Gifts Toward Edification (v. 8).

ii. The Lesser Gifts Toward Edification (vv. 9-10a).

iii. The Least Gifts Toward Edification (v. 10b).

b. Given Individually By His Sovereignty (v. 11).

2. The Proof Conveyed (1 Cor. 12:12-27).

a. Illustrated By Anatomy (vv. 12-26).

i. One Organism Made Up of Many Different Organs (vv. 12-14).

ii. Each Organ Vital for Full Functionality (vv. 15-23).

iii. All Fitted and Framed together, Undivided and Unified (vv. 24-26).

b. Inferred By Application (v. 27).

B. Argument Two: The Identity of Spiritualities (1 Cor. 12:28-13:13).

1. Defining Spiritualities (1 Cor. 12:28-13:3).

The Spiritualities are Defined By Love.

a. The Placement of the Gifts in the Local Body (1 Cor. 12:28-29).

i. The Best Gifts Defined (v. 28).

1 Corinthians 12:28 KJV 1900

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

ii. The Best Gifts Desired (v. 29-31).

1 Corinthians 12:29–31 KJV 1900

Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

b. The Profit of the Gifts Apart from Love (1 Cor. 13:1-3).

i. The Best Gifts Are Ultimately Useless Apart from Love (v. 1).

1 Corinthians 13:1 KJV 1900

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

ii. The Lesser Gifts Are Ultimately Vain Apart from Love (v. 2).

1 Corinthians 13:2 KJV 1900

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

iii. Human Life Itself Is Ultimately Worthless Apart from Love (v. 3).

1 Corinthians 13:3 KJV 1900

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

2. Defining Love (1 Cor. 13:4-13).

An Explanation of What Genuine Biblical Love Is:

a. The Graphic of Love (1 Cor. 13:4-8a).

i. Longsuffering, Kind, Not Envious, Not Rash, Not Prideful (v. 4).

1 Corinthians 13:4 KJV 1900

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

ii. Not Rude, Not Selfish, Not Easily Provoked, Thinks No Evil (v. 5).

1 Corinthians 13:5 KJV 1900

Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

iii. Rejoices Not in Evil But in the Truth (v. 6).

1 Corinthians 13:6 KJV 1900

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

iv. Bears, Believes, Hopes and Endures All Things (v. 7).

1 Corinthians 13:7 KJV 1900

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

v. Never Ends (v. 8).

1 Corinthians 13:8 KJV 1900

Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

b. The Greatness of Love (1 Cor. 13:8b-13).

i. The Temporal Nature of Gifts (vv. 8b-11).

a) Limited By Time (v. 8).

1 Corinthians 13:8 KJV 1900

Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

b) Limited By Tendency (vv. 9-11).

1 Corinthians 13:9–11 KJV 1900

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

ii. The Permanence of Love (vv. 12-13).

a) Looking for Perfection (v. 12).

1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV 1900

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

b) Living for the Prize (v. 13).

1 Corinthians 13:13 KJV 1900

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

C. Argument Three: The Qualities of Spiritualities (1 Cor. 14:1-11).

The Importance of Clarity in Spiritual Communications.

1. Proper Patterns for Spiritualities (1 Cor. 14:1-5).

a. Foundation of Clear Communication (v. 1).

1 Corinthians 14:1 KJV 1900

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

b. Failure of Clouded Communications (v. 2).

1 Corinthians 14:2 KJV 1900

For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

c. Framework of Constructive Communications (v. 3).

1 Corinthians 14:3 KJV 1900

But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

d. Focus of Christocentric Communications (v. 4).

1 Corinthians 14:4 KJV 1900

He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

i. Corrupted = Self-edification.

ii. Uncorrupt = Church-edification.

e. Favorable Counsel for Communications (v. 5).

1 Corinthians 14:5 KJV 1900

I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

2. Possible Pitfalls of Wrong Patterns of Spiritualities (1 Cor. 14:6-11).

a. The Blundering Blather-er (v. 6).

1 Corinthians 14:6 KJV 1900

Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

b. The Mystifying Musician (v. 7).

1 Corinthians 14:7 KJV 1900

And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

c. The Mistaken Motivator (v. 8).

1 Corinthians 14:8 KJV 1900

For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

d. The Thin-Air Talker (v. 9).

1 Corinthians 14:9 KJV 1900

So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

e. The Variable Vocalist (v. 10).

1 Corinthians 14:10 KJV 1900

There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

f. The Confused Congregant (v. 11).

1 Corinthians 14:11 KJV 1900

Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

D. Conclusion: Concerning the Profitability of Spiritualities (1 Cor. 14:12).

Zealously Excel in Spiritualities to the Edification of the Church

1 Corinthians 14:12 KJV 1900

Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

Conclusion:

Are you aware of the REALITY of spiritual gifts in your Christian life?

Can you see the IDENTITY and characteristics that make your spiritual gift(s) genuine? namely, when examined, does LOVE supersede all as timelessly indespensable? or have temporal things corrupted your motive for what you do?

Do you strive for QUALITY in how you demonstrate your spiritual gift? As you use your spiritual gift to communicate the love of Christ in the Gospel, does Christ's compassion become clouded by your carnality? or does your life communicate clearly what a lost soul needs to hear in the Gospel?

Will you commit to find out, portect, and use your gift from the Holy Spirit for the edification of the church unto the PORFITABILITY of the furtherance of Christ's Kingdom?

Find your function for the furtherance of the Gospel by the filling of the Holy Ghost.