1 Corinthians 12:1-11

1 Corinthians 12

Paul answering questions about spiritual gifts.

Not wanting them to be ignorant

Introductions

Who: Paul writer to Corinthians church and he is speaking to the gentiles

What: Spiritual Gifts

Were: Paul was at Ephesus when writing this letter

When: 55-56 - during third missionary journey

How: There was question that needed to be answered

Main Ideas

Paul answers questions about spiritual gifts

Now concerning the spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you be ignorant ().

Paul mentions to the Corinthians “I do not want you to be ignorant” In the church there is ignorance on both sides of the fence with the pentecostal churches with them abusing the gifts of the spirit.

Then on the other hand there are people who say the gifts of the spirit are not for today. As if they are for another age.

Now you know that you were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as you were led. So I give you to understand that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit ().

In Paul days there was a rumor that someone was speaking in tongues and someone was able to interpret the language he was speaking and he said the man was blasphemy God.

This was told to Paul and he replied make know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accused. No one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

Your heaven father is much more gracious then your earthly father therefore we shouldn't be afraid to ask our heavenly father for more of his spirit.

And if I, as a sincere child of God, am seeking the fullness of God's Spirit and asking Him to give me more of His Spirit indwelling me and empowering me, it would be blasphemous to say that God would allow some false or evil spirit to come in and to take control of my life.

"Also, if you have a son who comes to you and asks for bread, you are not going to give him a stone. If he asks for a fish, you're not going to give him a scorpion. Or if he asked for an egg, you're not going to give him a serpent. If you earthly fathers know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those that ask Him?" ()

That is an extremely blasphemous concept of God that I utterly reject.

You can not make a conf

9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

"Also, if you have a son who comes to you and asks for bread, you are not going to give him a stone. If he asks for a fish, you're not going to give him a scorpion. Or if he asked for an egg, you're not going to give him a serpent. If you earthly fathers know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those that ask Him?" ()

The second part of this is also interesting, "No man can call Jesus Lord except by the Holy Spirit." If I really confess Jesus Christ as Lord, I can only do that as the result of the work of the Holy Spirit within my life.

If you have made that confession, it is because the work of the Holy Spirit within your life. You can't do it apart from the work of the Holy Spirit; you cannot make a genuine confession that Jesus is Lord except the Holy Spirit has done His work within your life.

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit (1 Cor 12:4).

Paul gives a list which is different gifts. The diversities of gifts but the same spirit, difference of ministries but not the same Lord, and diversities of activities but the same God. He refuses to be conformed to our ways. God works as he pleases through us as we are available.

There are differences of administrations (1Cr 12:5)

There are many different gifts. There is a partial listing here. Paul gives us another listing in , in which he adds some that are not here. There are many different types of gifts, but there is just one Spirit, the same Spirit.

There are many different gifts. There is a partial listing here. Paul gives us another listing in , in which he adds some that are not here. There are many different types of gifts, but there is just one Spirit, the same Spirit.

The diversities of gifts but the same spirit, difference of ministries but not the same Lord, and diversities of activities but the same God. He refuses to be conformed to our ways. God works as he pleases through us as we are available.

Paul gives a list which is different gifts. The diversities of gifts but the same spirit, difference of ministries but not the same Lord, and diversities of activities but the same God. He refuses to be conformed to our ways. God works as he pleases through us as we are available.

There is unity and diversity in one body. All gifts have a purpose and need in the church.

No one should be jealous of another brother because my gift is not your gift and your gift is not my gift. We are all unique and individual with a purpose. Work in unity with each other for the glory of God.

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man for the profit of all ().

If God does give to me a gift of the Spirit, it isn't for my own personal pleasure.

Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology Gift

Gift. In Old Testament times a gift was customarily given for the price of a bride (Gen. 34:12). The gifts of all the wave offerings of the Israelites were given by God to the priests and their families (Num. 18:11). Fathers gave gifts to sons before sending them away (Gen. 25:6); sons would receive inheritances from their fathers (2 Chron. 21:3). Gifts were often given to the poor. Gifts were sometimes spiritual in orientation: gifts would be given to God (Exod. 28:38) or for service by the Levites and priests (Num. 18:6, 9).

Gifts can be used to gain friends (Prov. 19:6) or influence (Prov. 18:16). God gives gifts to people so that they can enjoy life (Eccles. 3:13). Some people boast of gifts, and then never give them (Prov. 25:14).

In the New Testament a gift was given by the priest as an offering to God (Heb. 5:1). The magi presented gifts to the infant Jesus (Matt. 2:11). God gave the gift of redemption to humankind (Eph. 2:8).

God’s righteousness is a gift (Rom. 5:17); God has provided for us an “indescribable” gift (2 Cor. 9:15). Paul talks about the gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12). Those who have tasted the heavenly gift have been enlightened (Heb. 6:4). Paul is a servant of the gospel by the gift of God’s grace (Eph. 3:7).

In general, in Scripture the word “gift” has three senses: gifts men give to men; sacrificial offerings presented to God; and gifts God gives to men, especially in connection with salvation, righteousness, and his grace.

LOUIS GOLDBERG

See also OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES.

It isn't a toy for me to play with; it is for the profit of the whole body of Christ.

There is only one gift spoken of that is to be used in one's personal devotion and it is for their personal benefit, and that is the gift of tongues.

And we will get to that next Sunday night as we study the fourteenth chapter, the proper use of tongues in the life of the believer.

To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom ()

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 12:7–10

(1) Wisdom refers to insight into doctrinal truth. Paul exercised and expressed this gift in this letter (e.g., 2:6). (2) Knowledge refers to the ability to apply doctrinal truth to life. Paul also exercised and expressed this gift in this letter

The word of knowledge ()

Now, this is how that you intuitively or somehow inwardly just have knowledge of something that is going on, and you can't tell how you know it.

You just... the Spirit has just revealed it and you have from the Spirit knowledge of a situation, knowledge of a person's circumstance.

I have looked at people sometimes and the Lord just gave me all kinds of understanding of the problems that the person was going through, things that were happening in their lives. I can't tell you where I received it, or how, but it was just there.

(3) Faith as a spiritual gift is probably an unusual measure of trust in God beyond that exercised by most Christians (e.g., 13:2).

(4) Healing is the ability to restore health (e.g., ; ) and also to hold off death itself temporarily (; ).

(5) Miraculous powers may refer to exorcising demons () or inducing physical disability () or even death (, ).

(6) Prophecy is the ability, like that of the Old Testament prophets, to declare a message of God for His people ().

(7) Ability to distinguish between spirits is the gift to differentiate the Word of God proclaimed by a true prophet from that of a satanic deceiver (cf. ; ). If the Corinthians possessed this gift (cf. ), it was not being put to good use (cf. 12:1–3).

(8) Tongues refers to the ability to speak an unlearned, living language (e.g., ).

(9) Interpretation was the ability to translate an unlearned, known language expressed in the assembly ().

With the possible exception of faith, all these gifts seem to have been confirmatory and foundational gifts for the establishment of the church (cf. ; ) and were therefore temporary.

12:11. The gifts were not meant to be selected by individuals or personally solicited by them, but were instead given by the … Spirit … as He determined. “The Spirit” is referred to six times in verses 7–11.

12:12. This verse forms an excellent three-part summary of the rest of the chapter. (a) The human body is a unit

These gifts of the Spirit are something that are wrapped up in the sovereignty of the Spirit of God. I cannot demand that a particular gift be operating in my life. The Spirit is sovereign in the dispensing of these gifts.

Now as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ (1Cr 12:12).