Everyone in the Church is Gifted for Everyone in the Church

Introductory Thoughts:

A divided church - the church in Corinth was a divided church. They had divided over various parties (Apollos, Paul, Cephas).

Paul’s Two-fold response: (1) To the report from the household of Chloe (2) to the letter that was written with questions from the church

This context is primarily dealing with public worship. First, there is a created order by God for times of public worship. Second, the members of the body should be considerate of each other - especially those of means for those without means. To participate in the Lord’s Supper having been inconsiderate of each other is to partake unworthily.

When someone participates in the assembly, what they say about Jesus is the fundamental test of whether they have the Holy Spirit or not. Only by the Holy Spirit can they truly attest to the fact that Jesus is Lord. An individual is not Spirit-indwelt just because they have a particular ministry.

The question that seems to be facing the congregation now needs to be considered in this light:

(i) In public worship gatherings

(ii) Are some people gifted and others not gifted?

by gifted, we mean those who have received special enablement by the Holy Spirit to perform tasks within the body of Christ.

(iii) Are some gifts evidence of greater spirituality?

there seemed to be a belief in Corinth that if someone had a particular gift, they may have been more spiritual than others.

(iv) What makes a gift of greatest importance?

some were apparently elevating the speaking of tongues to such a degree that it became the gift that was desired…it became the gift of priority.

1. The gifting differences in the church body are good (v. 4 - 6)

Having established that the Holy Spirit indwelt person declares Jesus as Lord, Paul points out some important truths about those who are gifted within the body of Christ.

1. The gifting differences in the church body are good (v. 4 - 6)

Does everyone who serves in the body have to look the same, act the same, or serve the same? The answer is No. Variety within the body is good.

(a) They are good because they reflect the sacred Trinity

Notice the sequence of these three verses. The word for diversities means variety. The Trinity is mentioned with specific intention. The Trinity is a reminder that there is a Godhead that is equal in Being, but they are subordinate in function. God the Father wills things to happen. Christ, the Son, is the One by Whom things happen. God the Holy Spirit is the One Who seals and empowers the work accomplished by Christ.

The implicit message for the Corinthian believers then is that there are some who serve in various functions within the body of Christ but that does not make them less in person. Variety is good.

(b) They are good because they come from the same Source (charisma - grace)

Now Paul transitions to the word charisma. This is the word for grace or the outworking of grace. It is the way that the scripture gives the credit to the Source of the gift rather than the channel through whom the gift is given. As one man said, “Spiritual gifts are not a ‘badge of spirituality,’ but a mark of grace.” - Garland

App:

You gifting is important because of the Source more than it is because of you.

Some people think that their gifting is not that important. They esteem some people as spiritual because of the certain gift that they have.

Believer: Take hope. If you are part of this body, you have reason to be encouraged. (1) You are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God. (2) The Holy Spirit of God gifts you to be able to contribute to the body in a way that is important though it is different from what you may see in others.

Illustration:

Received gift for Christmas. They were shoes for the same foot. Without diversity there was not way to compliment and fill the need.

2. The good & different gifts are given to every man and for the good of every man. (v. 7)

(a) The word manifestation has to do with disclosure.

(b) The Spirit is given to every man. The term used here is not just signaling those of the male gender.

(c) The phrase to profit withal means that it is for the benefit of the body.

The Corinthian believers would have understood that even those that society would have deemed low on the caste would have been gifted and were to be treated as equally important as those who were socially and economically wealthy.

Imagine a slave come to the place of worship. Imagine a wealthy business owner coming to the place of worship. Thirdly, imagine an influential city council member coming to the place of worship. God, according to his sovereign purpose, has gifted the slave with teaching. If the wealthy business owner allows his outside success to taint how he views people, he will not give a hearing to the slave. If the influential council member allows his outside success to taint how he views the slave, he will not give a hearing to the slave.

App:

First, some people think that they don't have gifts, but every man has received. It is important to realize that there is not one person who is part of the body who has not been gifted in some way for the benefit of the body.

Because every man has received, every man should sense their own accountability.

Because every man has received, every man should sense that they are a part.

Second, you cannot allow a secular caste system to cloud your judgment of those who are spiritual and those who are not spiritual. A successful business owner is not of greater importance to the body than someone who busses tables at Applebee’s.

We make offhanded comments like, “You don’t want to be flipping burgers at McDonald’s the rest of your life do you?” What we are saying to people is that if you want to be a success, then you better get a good education or you will end up doing something that makes you less valuable.

This way of thinking bleeds over into the church. When it does, it makes the church a place of choosing based on secular success rather than the truth of spirituality. Example: .

If you are an unbeliever, this should give you a tremendous challenge to consider. You don’t have to meet the definition of success to be a part of the body of Christ. You simply have to become part of the family. You do so by…and you receive all of the credentials necessary to be an equal part of the body where variety is good.

3. The good of every man happens when gifts are used in specific ways (v. 8 - 10)

(a) The point of this listing is not to be exhaustive.

Later in the same chapter, Paul adds to the list (v.28). In addition, the listing in other passages is not identical.

(b) Paul’s point is to show that there are specific differences but the same Source

- begins with two that deal with speech and ends with two in like manner.

(i) Word of wisdom - Wisdom is the “God-given insight into the mysterious purposes and workings of God in and through Jesus Christ” - , [Garland, David E.. 1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) (Kindle Locations 13346-13347). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.]

Garland, David E.. 1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) (Kindle Locations 13346-13347). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

(ii) Word of knowledge - , , , , , , , , , The message of knowledge (λόγος γνώσεως; cf. 14: 6; 15: 2) may comprise such things as the affirmation that idols have no existence (). It also comprises insight into what God is doing in the world [Garland, David E.. 1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) (Kindle Locations 13346-13347). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.]

Garland, David E.. 1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) (Kindle Locations 13349-13351). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

(iii) Faith - , Part of a grouping that ensues; not saving faith; primarily faith in difficulty...

(iv) Gifts of healing - It does not refer to the power to heal all diseases but to instances of actual healing [Garland, David E.. 1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) (Kindle Locations 13346-13347). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.] There were times when Paul was a channel of divine healing and others when he could not. Example: Lystra man healed and Epaphroditus ( - not healed)

Garland, David E.. 1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) (Kindle Locations 13361-13362). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

(v) Working of miracles - A miracle is a less common kind of God’s activity in which he arouses people’s awe and wonder and bears witness to himself; an event impossible to explain by natural causes. See ; [Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (p. 355). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.]

A miracle is a less common kind of God’s activity in which he arouses people’s awe and wonder and bears witness to himself.

Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (p. 355). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.

(vi) Prophecy - Hill captures both of these concepts in his definition: Christian prophets are “those who have grasped the meaning of Scripture, perceived its powerful relevance to the life of the individual, the Church and society, and declare that message fearlessly.” [Blomberg, C. (1994). 1 Corinthians (p. 245). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.] Paul is going to elaborate on this later.

Hill captures both of these concepts in his definition: Christian prophets are “those who have grasped the meaning of Scripture, perceived its powerful relevance to the life of the individual, the Church and society, and declare that message fearlessly.”

Blomberg, C. (1994). 1 Corinthians (p. 245). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

(vii) Discerning of spirits - to discern whether a prophet has taught “another gospel.”

(vii) Discerning of spirits

(viii) Diverse kinds of tongues - glossa ; these are languages that require interpretation; later in this segment, there will be a distinction about how the word offered is up to God and seems to be connected with prayers that cannot be uttered from .

(ix) Interpretation of tongues (hermeneutics)

Culturally, ecstatic utterances were part of pagan worship and in no way is Paul saying that a hodge-podge of syllables pieced together is a gift.

Paul is not here arguing with the Corinthians about whether these are all the gifts or if there are more. He is further not arguing about whether they cease (yet) or not. The point here is that there are particular, varying gifts but they are come form the same Source.

App:

First, tongues are not evidence of salvation. This is a common lie of our times by some of the charismatic movement. The fundamental test of whether someone is saved or not is what they say about Jesus.

Second, some people thing that the gifts list has nothing in it that they can do. You are looking at the list wrongly. Are you taking current opportunities within the body to serve for the edification of the body?

This list is NOT here to tell you to take a spiritual gifts test. This list is here to tell you that you are gifted and you should give yourself for the edification of the body. Questions to ask:

Am I truly saved?

Am I part of the body through formal membership?

Local bodies have leaders (they need to know who to lead) -

Local bodies have discipline ()

Local bodies have members

What existing opportunities are available to serve the body?

What blessings/excuses exist why you are not serving the body?

(i) Are those excuses consistent with scripture?

(ii) Did God give you those blessings to prohibit you from edifying the body?

The question is whether you are actively serving/administrating/acting according what is presently available to you for the edification of the body?

4. The specific ways of building others within the body of Christ is sovereignly determined by the SAME Spirit (v. 11)

This is Paul’s point. It is the same Spirit who has sovereignly determined this for God’s glroy.

App:

Some people do not see it as their responsibility. Notice here again “every man”. You do not get to choose what you are able to do. You get to choose whether you faithfully respond with what ability you have been given and the opportunity you have to use it.

Illustration:

When I was young I used to take piano lessons until my teacher said that my hands may be too small…as a young immature child, I was looking for a reason not to do something I didn’t want to do....many believers should understand that the desire and the gifting come from God’s Holy Spirit, but you must yield it him.

Concluding Thoughts:

Are you a formal part of the local body of Christ?

For some this means that you need to confess Jesus as Lord.

For others this means that you should stop fighting what you know in your conscience you should submit to.

Have you wrongly believed that spirituality is equal to a particular activity?

Just because someone is a teacher doesn’t make him of greater value than others.

What excuse should you repent of for not using your gifting for the edification of the body?

What leaders will you specifically talk to about how to best be involved in the local body here?

Some of you are very adverse to people who have different giftings than you. First, know that the gifting is from the same Source.

Kidz & Adult Ministries - Todd Fluegge

Member Care Ministries - Jim Winters & Butch Mullins

Youth, Music Ministries, Outreach Ministries - Jared Berry, Mark Allen, David Dendler

MCS Ministries - Brian Williams

Do you see how diversity and unity work together for the glory of God? Don’t underestimate the importance of using your gift for God’s glory.