"A Diverse Unity"
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OPENER:
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 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.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 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. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
Explain context - vs. 1 & 2 - pagan idols/gods - I believe the Bible teaches that these are demonic...
No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.
Different cultures would have different gods & worshippers would have various “spiritual experiences” - again, I believe demonic. Some would fall into trances, perform signs, speak in different languages - and it was believed that these “experiences” validated both the idol/god AND the worshipper - so you had people chasing a “spiritual experience.”
Listen - Satan can give you a spiritual experience.
And, so, that’s the context we find ourselves in here in as Paul is now moving into this topic of spiritual gifts and he addresses their old way of life vs. their new life in Jesus. They had been saved & brought from darkness to light. Paul is saying, “You were caught up in paganism/idol worship and now, you have been rescued from that life of being led by demonic powers to now being under the Lordship of Jesus.
Summarizing the Bible in one sentence:
God is King.
God is King.
Old Testament - YHWH is King over, above and against the gods of Babylon, Canaan, Moab, Assyria, etc. he is more powerful, more sovereign, etc.
New Testament - Jesus is Lord - this is the message of the apostles....this is the gospel! Jesus Christ is Lord. He is King. He is sovereign, all powerful, etc. Listen to what one author says:
The Message of 1 Corinthians 1. Proclaiming Jesus as Lord (12:1–3)
EACH DIFFERENT CULTURE HAD ITS OWN DEITIES, AND THEY DEMANDED THE LOYALTY AND ALLEGIANCE OF THEIR DEVOTEES. CHRISTIANS STAND OUTSIDE, OVER AND AGAINST THESE ‘LORDS’ AND PROCLAIM BOLDLY TOGETHER: ‘JESUS IS LORD’, IDENTICAL WITH YAHWEH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, SUPREME OVER THE ROMAN EMPEROR, THE RISEN CONQUEROR OF EVERY CONCEIVABLE COSMIC OR DEMONIC PRINCIPALITY AND POWER. TO ENTER THE WATERS OF BAPTISM AND TO DECLARE ‘JESUS IS LORD’, TO MEAN IT AND TO ADHERE TO IT THROUGH EVERYTHING UNTIL DEATH—THAT REQUIRES THE INSPIRATION OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD HIMSELF.
Earliest baptismal confession...
The Holy Spirit bears witness, through the Church, that Jesus is Lord.
The Holy Spirit bears witness, through the Church, that Jesus is Lord.
{Misunderstandings then & now about spiritual gifts} - SO MUCH GREATER.
God gives spiritual gifts to MAKE MUCH OF HIMSELF.
God gives spiritual gifts to MAKE MUCH OF HIMSELF.
Corinthian pride - “look at me, how spiritual I am, how important I am.”
Look again at vs. 4-6 - varieties - same Lord, Spirit, God, who empowers - The gifts don’t point to and magnify the recipient but the GIVER! THE TRINITY!
ILLUSTRATION:
“gifts” - grace // “service” - Jesus // “activities” - God working
vs. 8-11 - through/by the Spirit as HE wills - GOD gives spiritual gifts…empowered by the Spirit - not my talents or abilities that God says, “thanks for letting me use!”
God gives spiritual gifts to GIVE OF HIMSELF.
God gives spiritual gifts to GIVE OF HIMSELF.
As some of you know, just a couple of weeks ago, Kristy’s grandmother passed away. I know she wants to thank each of you who texted, called, sent a card, prayed for her and her family - it’s always a really tough time. Her mom and aunt have spent the last several days doing the really hard thing of going through her house and belongings. So, this past week, her mom and dad drove over here from Demopolis with a whole bunch of stuff that they knew Kristy would want. Drinking glasses, pictures, a large - and really nice - globe, other stuff that belonged to her grandmother. These aren’t just things - they are pieces of/reminders of her grandmother.
And this, in a sense, is what spiritual gifts are. This truth has really been transformational for me this week. I’ve grown up in the church - been a good church goer for 32 years, now. I’ve heard hundreds of sermons and bible studies on spiritual gifts…If you’re saved/a Christian, the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in your life. He has “moved in” and renewed you, transformed you from the inside out - made you a new creation. And, we know that if he has moved in and is indwelling your life, he has given you a spiritual gift!
So many times, like I said earlier, we view spiritual gifts as something God gives us because we have a “job” we’re expected to do within the Church - everybody’s supposed to pitch in, right? But, is it just that or is it more than that? Are spiritual gifts more than “abilities” that allow us to perform some kind of role within the Church?
I think so. First of all, I want you to look back at the three general characteristics of spiritual gifts in vs. 4-6…now, look at the list of spiritual gifts:
Wisdom -
Knowledge -
Faith -
Healing -
Miracles -
Prophecy -
Discernment -
Tongues & Interpretation -
You know, if you’ve heard preachers preach on this topic before, I’m sure you’ve heard them say, “No one single person possesses all of the spiritual gifts.” That’s true - except for the fact that one person has. All of these characteristics/gifts have been true about one person - Jesus Christ. Wisdom greater than Solomon, all knowledge belongs to Him...
Colossians 2:
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, opened the ears of the deaf to hear the gospel.
Here’s the transformational truth for you this morning
Spiritual gifts are not given to you to equip you for a “job” but so that you can be an extension of the ministry of Jesus Christ to His Church.
Spiritual gifts are not given to you to equip you for a “job” but so that you can be an extension of the ministry of Jesus Christ to His Church.
This is, what I believe, Paul is talking about in vs. 7 - the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good…Manifestation = revealing.
This is part of the reason, I think, why Paul uses the metaphor of the Church being the body of Christ.
Casting Crowns:
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way, there is a way
Gifts of mercy, as Paul says in vs. 4 - grace, serving, acting.
YOU ARE A VESSEL.
God gives spiritual gifts to CONFORM US TO HIMSELF.
God gives spiritual gifts to CONFORM US TO HIMSELF.
As I exercise my spiritual gift(s) I am becoming more like Jesus. Spiritual gifts aren’t my talents just being used to encourage or for the church. You may be a talented artist or dancer or athlete. Is that a spiritual gift? No. It’s a talent. So, a spiritual gift is not just a natural ability that’s been spiritualized.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
It’s the character and nature of Jesus being developed in me.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
As I live out my spiritual gifts in the Church, I am becoming more like Jesus and the church is becoming more like Jesus.
APPLICATION:
Being > Doing…I need you to exercise your gifts…I need mercy, I need wisdom, I need.....I NEED THE MINISTRY OF JESUS THROUGH YOU IN MY LIFE!
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Like children running to open their gifts on Christmas morning, followers of Jesus should have the same anticipation and excitement to unwrap their spiritual gifts. God is a gift-giving God. He does not give simply to secure our eternal relationship with Him, but He gives the gift of salvation and spiritual gifts so we can participate in what He is doing to redeem people to Him.