The Fundamental Test of Spirit-Indwelt People
Let's be a Christ-Centered Church • Sermon • Submitted
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Title: The Fundamental Test of Spirit-Indwelt People
Title: The Fundamental Test of Spirit-Indwelt People
Text:
Series: Let's Be a Christ-Centered Church
Introduction:
The context is corporate:
The context is that of the corporate gathering of the church. Blomberg makes a great point when commenting on this chapter:
“In a land still heavily influenced by a heritage of rugged individualism, believers need to work ever harder to demonstrate that Christianity is not a merely personal religion but fundamentally corporate.”
A quick reminder of how the context has led to this understanding can be grasped by looking at . These are activities of those gathered together. Look also at , which clearly speaks of them coming together.
But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
The context is a plea for order:
The context is also a plea for order according to God’s design. Again, points to God’s created order. confirms this fact of God’s orderliness. Remember that a distinction in function is not a distinction in value.
For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
Let all things be done decently and in order.
The order is to be one in which we are considerate of each other
Remember that the way the Apostle points to this selflessness is by using the Lord’s Supper as the foundational account for how the corporate gathering of believers should look like. To gather without consideration of each other is to gather in an manner that is unworthy.
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
The entire book has a context of God’s Gifting:
indicates one of the things that Paul would be addressing, and now he does. This gifting has come by the Spirit of God. IOW - God has given His Spirit to believers for a particular purpose. Notice the development of the Spirit of God in I Corinthians. Beginning with , Paul is showing that his preaching was by the Spirit of God. See , where Paul affirms the Spirit that God has given his people. shows the fact that God’s Spirit does not just inhabit individuals, but God’s Spirit inhabits the corporate gathering of believers. points to the Spirit’s work in salvation. The question that Paul seems to be answering by this passage is, “How do you know if someone actually has the Spirit of God inside of them?”
Another problem in the Corinthians Context:
Remember that there was a problem with the exaltation of men within the church. Apparently, there were some who were standing up in the corporate assemblies and speaking in tongues that were unknown to the parishioners. The opening of the chapter does not indicate that these were ecstatic utterances. The opening of the chapter indicates that there were some who thought that when someone spoke in an inspired manner, this showed that they were spiritual. Paul is going to point out that what a person does, does NOT necessarily mean they are indwelt by the Spirit of God. Function does not equate to spirituality.
This is a common mistake we make. We tend to think that because someone has a particular responsibility in the church, this automatically means that they have the Spirit of God inside of them.
When people think this about themselves or about others, division becomes a problem. Why? Because when people think that a particular ability or function is more important or more evidence of God’s Spirit, then they:
#1 - Think that they really don’t matter to the body because they can’t do that certain thing.
#2 - Think too highly of other people and don’t feel they can fellowship with them.
#3 - Think less of other people because they don’t have the same ability.
Because of this happening in that church, the church sent Paul the letter and asked the question. His response to this question is just as important to us today as it was back then. In our churches today, we have a diversity of people:
#1 - There are those who some consider to be sticks in the mud because they think that there is only one right way to show forth the Spirit of God’s work. (i.e....
* We’ve always done Sunday school this way, and it always worked...
* We’ve always had the orders of service this way, and it always worked...
* We’ve always had preaching like this, and it always worked...
#2 - There are those who consider others to be liberal because they show their gifting in ways that they cannot find explicitly given in the scriptures.
* Let’s try running vans instead of busses...
* Let’s have an addictions ministry...
The point is that no matter the ministry and no matter the spiritual gifting, there is a fundamental test that Paul gives.
1. (12:1) Christians, in the church, should be able to tell whether someone has the Holy Spirit of God dwelling inside of them or not.
1. (12:1) Christians, in the church, should be able to tell whether someone has the Holy Spirit of God dwelling inside of them or not.
The word he uses for “spiritual gifts” is the word “pneumatikos”. “Pneuma” is the typical word for “spirit”. There are two primary words, and here Paul does not use the same word as he will. In , he will use the word “charisma” which is the word he will typically use for particular gifts. There are a few things important because of this differing usage:
(i) When Paul uses the word from “pneuma” this can refer to the PEOPLE WITH THE GIFTS or to the GIFTS THEMSELVES. See . In other words, this question that Paul had received not not just about the gifts themselves but about the people who were showing these gifts. The question would seem to be something like this, “Is it true that spiritual manifestations constitute unfailing evidence of spiritual people?” (Carson, Showing the Spirit) or “Who qualifies as spiritual?” (Garland)
If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
(ii) The other word that is used in this chapter is the word “charisma”. One side note should be made here. The lists of gifts of the Spirit, whether considering , , …etc are not synonomous. In addition, Paul uses the word “charisma” for those who can remain single. It thus would appear that the lists that Paul gifts are not exhaustive lists that limit all gifting to these lists.
Secondly, this verse again reminds you of the care that Paul had for these people. This phrase that he uses “I would not have you ignorant” is not new here. See .
Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
Principle:
The key issue being introduced is NOT one of discerning whether the spirits are right or not or discerning whether it is a gift that should be used in the assembly or not. The key issue for the foundation is whether the use of a gift in the assembly is evidence that someone actually has the Holy Spirit or NOT. Does what a person does automatically mean that they have the Holy Spirit of God? Does function equate to spirituality?
Contemporary:
Christians should be aware of what it is that shows whether you truly have the Holy Spirit of God or not. Christians should be aware of what it is that shows whether your church family members have the Holy Spirit of God or not.
Questions that may lead to understanding what is to be known?
(i) Since you sing in the choir, does this mean that you have the Holy Spirit indwelling you?
(ii) Since you serve as a deacon, does this mean that you have the Holy Spirit indwelling you?
(iii) Since you serve as and MCS Board member does this mean that you have the Holy Spirit indwelling you?
(iv) Since you have taught Sunday school for 30 years, does this mean that you have the Holy Spirit indwelling you?
(v.) Since you attend church faithfully, does this mean that you have the Holy Spirit indwelling you?
TRANSITION:
Christians, in the church, should be able to tell whether someone has the Holy Spirit of God dwelling inside of them or not.
2. (12:2 - 3a) Christians, in the church, who have the Holy Spirit of God dwelling inside of them are distinct from their former life. How?
2. (12:2 - 3a) Christians, in the church, who have the Holy Spirit of God dwelling inside of them are distinct from their former life. How?
Over-realized vs. Futurist eschatology:
It seems that one of the problems in Corinth was that which has been called and “over-realized” eschatology. What this means is that they believed in what had already been accomplished in Christ, and the coming of the Holy Spirit that they developed an entitlement mindset, thinking that they had a “right” to unqualified blessings. This is seen especially in , . In an extreme case this can lead to people not really looking for a future resurrection, believing that all has been done already. (Carson, Showing the Spirit)
The opposite extreme of this is the futurist eschatology. In this case, there is so much emphasis on what is yet to come that what has already been done by Jesus Christ is depreciated. In extreme cases, this leads people with these views to “play endless speculative games....and so pine for the future that we neglect to serve God with enthusiastic gratitude for what he has done in the past.” (Carson, Showing the Spirit)
Gentiles Cultic Festival:
Paul is going to strike a balance with the way in which he handles this message. First, he goes back to mention what they were as Gentiles. In so doing, Paul appeals to his Jewish background by showing that the idols they worshipped were dumb idols. . There are really two options here: either Paul is referring to the ecstatic utterances or to a cultic festival.
May refer to a cultic festival where the participants were marched along a sacred route at the end of which was a sanctuary of images. Almost all former pagans would have been involved in something like this as opposed to an ecstatic cult. “These dumb idols symbolize their former ignorance.” (Garland)
Jews: Practice of Calling Jesus Accursed:
The word “anathema” is used by the Septuagint to refer to a “devoted” thing in . It is used of a “cursed thing” in . It is used of “accursed thing” in .
There is evidence that there was a practice within the Jewish synagogues, in the 1st Century, to call Jesus accursed. The reason for this may be rooted in ().
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
It thus would seem that Paul is not only speaking to converted Gentiles but also to converted Jews, and his point is that an individual who has the Spirit of God will not be ignorantly following dumb idols as they used to do, and they will not say that Jesus is cursed as the religious ones used to do.
Principle:
Christians, who have the Holy Spirit of God dwelling inside of them, believe about Jesus now in a contrary way to that which they believed about Jesus before they were born again.
Meaning:
(1) Those of you who were raised around Christianity, you may have been going through the motions ignorantly. In those practices, you were not truly indwelled by the Spirit of God. What you believed about Christ was ignorant at best.
(2) Those of you who were raised outside of Christianity, you may have been raised with a contempt for Jesus. Maybe you hated Jesus because of those who followed Jesus, but they did not live up to Jesus. Before you were saved, you believed something about Jesus that had to change in order for you to get saved. Before you were born again, you considered Christ to be a curse and not a blessing.
Transition:
Christians, in the church, are distinct from their former life, in what they believe about Jesus.
3. (12:3b) Christians, in the church, who have the Holy Spirit of God dwelling inside of them are compelled to say that Jesus is the Lord.
3. (12:3b) Christians, in the church, who have the Holy Spirit of God dwelling inside of them are compelled to say that Jesus is the Lord.
Finally, Paul gives the fundamental sign of those who have the Spirit of God dwelling inside of them. Do they say that “Jesus is the Lord.” This is not uncommon in the New Testament. Note some of the following verses:
, , , , , , , , ,
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
The word “lord” means master or one who has authority. Paul is putting this forth as the ultimate sign of validation of those who have the Spirit of God.
Principle:
Only those who are compelled to say that Jesus is the Lord are those who have the Holy Spirit of God dwelling inside of them - not those who do noticeable ministry.
What does this mean and what prevents people from saying Jesus is Lord?
(a) It means that Jesus is your Master.
(b) Other master’s prevent us from declaring Jesus as Lord.
(c) Other masters include but are not limited to: possessions (), men (), personal relationships ()...
(d) A blindness to our blindness -
Contemporary Significance:
We need a practical, material test because when we don’t have it, we tend to divide over things that we should not divide over. For example, people will divide over teaching styles.
We need a practical, material test because when we don’t have it, we tend to feel superior because of what we do. For example, some walk around as if they have the word “untouchable” or “spiritual” stamped on their foreheads.
(i) Know that a Spirit-indwelled person does not just live out that Jesus is their Lord, but they are compelled to say that Jesus is THE Lord:
Meaning: what you say does not give confusion about who is your Master...
In that time, they would declare Jesus is the Lord to the exclusion of Caesar as lord....to the exclusion of Aphrodite as lord....
Today, declaring Jesus as lord means we exclude the government as lord, we exclude Donald Trump as lord…we exclude healthcare as lord…we exclude money as lord...
(ii) This test will bring great assurance for some of you. You know that your passion is to speak of Jesus as the Lord. Others of you, you are trying to avoid a daunting conclusion: You may not be born again after all.
(iii) For all, you don’t judge the spirituality (Spirit indwelt nature) your Sunday school teachers based upon all of the study they did or on the style with which they deliver their messages. You need to hold them accountable to this truth, “Did they say that Jesus is the Lord?”
(iv) For others, you say, “I don’t understand anything that anyone was saying today.” If you don’t remember anything else, remember “Jesus is the Lord.”
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Questions:
Questions:
Do you understand what function is NOT the same as spirituality?
Is what you are believing about Jesus NOW distinctly different from what you believed about Jesus before you were saved?
Are you compelled to speak that “Jesus is the Lord”? Are those in the church with you compelled to speak that “Jesus is the Lord”?
