Sermon Tone Analysis

Corinthians

The church at Corinth was awash in Spiritual gifts and had become prideful and in some ways carnal in their approach to the Spiritual life

Paul the founder of the church there between 49 & 50 AD; It is where he met Aquila & Percila and resider there for more than 18 months (Acts 18).

The city was destroyed by the Romans in 146 and leveled it to the ground.

In 44 AD Julius Caesar decided to rebuild it and named it “Colony of Corinth in honor of Julius”.

After his assassination, Claudius began a persecution against the Jews and life for the church became difficult.

Paul reminds them of their former way and how that they in ignorance worshiped idols and had no Spiritual enlightenment.

They were walking in Spiritual ignorance and being led astray

He clearly lays the foundation for his teaching with verse 3

There were those who were implying that speaking in tongues and prophesying were doing it under the influence of evil spirits.

A simple test… if it doesn’t glorify Christ and exalt Him … it’s not of God!

In the past they were led astray by idols and false priests and were of benefit spiritually

He shows them how to discern those gifts that were from the Spirit, true Spiritual gifts!

There were no shortage of false teachers and prophets claiming inspiration

The other was that no man could live Spiritual life without the presence of the Holy Spirit!

“To own this truth and maintain it to death, and live under the influence of it, could not be done without the sanctification and perseverance as on the mediation of Christ for our reconciliation and acceptance with God; and no man can confess this truth in the day of trial but by the Holy Spirit animating and encouraging him.”

We talked last week about the fervency that a believer should experience in their relationship with God.

Paul points them to the source of these manifestations

In Romans Paul wrote from Corinth:

He went on tho say:

Paul now lays out the categories of “Gifts” given to the church

Diversities - root word choice - of gifts - this would include Tongues, Prophecy, Interpretation of Tongues

Ministries - services or servant roles - Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers

Activities - energema - Activity - to be at work - to effect - Hellenism the word was used to denote cosmic forces at work in man or in the world - In the NT is is almost exclusively for the work of the divine or demonic powers

In Eph 6 we are told that there are principalities and powers - energema at work in the world.

The word manifestation entails an act in which the Spirit manifests Himself not simply a theoretical precept - to demonstrate or set-forth

This was Paul’s defense against the craftiness of his adversaries who falsifying the truth!

But it was to be for the profit if all!

How has the Spirit profited you today?

Have you taken advantage of the Spiritual gifts that are made available through the Karis - grace of God

These gifts are only available to the believer who through confession have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior

Have you confessed Christ as Lord of your life?

Have you tasted of the living water and feed your should with the bread of life?

Today can be your day