1 Corinthians 12,1-3
1 Corinthians 12:1-3
July 28, 2002
Intro: Paul seems to be moving on the next question presented to
him from the church at Corinth.
1 Corinthians 7:1, Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: …
A- Paul is going to be spending chapters 12-14 answering their questions on Spiritual gifting.
1- He is going to explain what Spiritual gifts are
2- How they work
3- How they are obtained
4- And how they are applied
a- A church void of the Gifts of the Spirit is just a gathering of people.
- Such as described in Chapter 11
- Church = A group of people called out from their place of dwelling to a place of public gathering.
· A Church that has received and is exorcising it’s Spiritual gifting is going to have impact for the Lord.
· A church void of the gifting of the Spirit is, at best a work of the flesh.
- The only way we can do anything Spiritual is through the Holy Spirit that gifts us for God’s purpose.
Ø There are 3 experiences that man can have with the Holy spirit.
A- Each experience uses a Greek preposition to describe itself.
1- A preposition describes the relationship we have with someone or something.
a- The Holy Spirit is someone.
#1- Para (the Holy Spirit as our helper)
See John 16:8-15
A- This is the work of the Holy Spirit as He relates to unsaved or backsliden man.
1- The Holy Spirit as He calls man to a right relationship with God through the church by man.
#2- En = in (The Holy Spirit as our seal of salvation)
Ephesians 1:13-14, In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
A- This is the existence of the Holy Spirit in our lives that earmarks us as Christians.
1- The Spiritual engagement ring of the betroth church of Christ.
#3- Epi (As the power of God living in man)
See Acts 1:4-8
A- This is the power of the Holy Spirit that enables us for the Lords ministry.
1- The Holy Spirit working in us for the purpose of working through us according to the gifting given to us.
Ø How do we know of these 3 works of the Holy Spirit. Each of them can be seen in man in a very real and visible way.
#1- Para
Turn to Galatians 5:19-21
A- The Spirit is seen here in the: conviction of right a wrong, in the lack of peace for those who partake in these things, and the basic knowledge of right and wrong.
1- In this ministry the Holy Spirit convicts of SIN, RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND JUDGEMENT.
a- Believers and non-believers alike would acknowledge that these things are just wrong.
Turn to Romans 2:12-16
1 Timothy 4:1-2, Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
#2- En
Read Galatians 5:22-26
A- How do I know my apricot tree is and apricot tree?
1- How do I know that my peach tree is a GOOD one?
Read Matthew 7:15-20
B- So how do I know that I am saved? (I have the En experience of the Holy Spirit)
1- How do I know that I have the En experience of the Holy Spirit?
a- I exhibit the (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control,
- The fruit of someone who is a temple of the Holy Spirit.
Ø Now if you stop here your saved and going to heaven BUT
A- For those who wish to fulfill all that God has for us, who want to have a passion for God and His work, who want to reach forward to the higher calling in Christ Jesus THERE IS THE BAPTISIM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
1- Baptism = immersion, or saturation (O.T. anointing of oil).
#3- Epi
A- How am I baptized with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 11:13, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
1- How do you know if you have been baptized in the Holy Spirit?
a- The Holy Spirit will gift you.
- The gifts of the Spirit are the outward expression of the baptism of the Holy spirit.
· WHY
Read Ephesians 4:12-32
Ø Now seeing how vital all this is, how essential it is to the church and it’s individuals it’s understandable that Paul would start this portion of this epistle as he does.
1 Corinthians 12:1,,Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:
A- He knows that it is essential that the church has a clear understanding of the Spiritual gifts that will edify.
John 15:5, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
1- As the individual members of a church understand and properly apply their spiritual gifting that church will be transformed.
a- Me and BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
John MacArthur: Spiritual gifts are divine enablements form ministry, characteristics of Jesus Christ that are to be manifested through the body corporate just as they were manifested through the body incarnate. Each gift of the Spirit has it’s perfect expression in Jesus’ won life and ministry.
1 Corinthians 12:2, You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.
A- Christian or unbeliever you are going to serve someone or something.
1- “Carried away” & “led”
a- By the flesh
- Drugs, lusts, …
Romans 6:17, But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.
B- His point is what idol has ever spoken to you.
1- Cared for you
a- To an idol we became slaves against our wills.
b- To the Lord we became slaves freely of our own desire.
- An idol takes, God gives.
1 Corinthians 12:3, Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
A- As Satan attempts to pervert the things of the Lord he works overtime here. (gifts)
1- Apparently this was a problem in the church then.
a- A problem that can continue today
- False us of the gifts.
· Teaching false doctrine
· (What Paul refers to centers on the cross).
b- A common Jewish teaching (a blaspheme)
Deuteronomy 21:23, …for he who is hanged is accursed of God.
- Paul is very aware of it
Acts 26:11 “And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
1- The acid test of the Gifts of the Spirit. (if they are of the Spirit )
a- Do they glorify the Lord
- H.S. – Jesus – The glory of God
1 Corinthians 12:3, Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
A- What about Matthew 7:21
Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
1- To call Jesus Lord means to give Him Sovereign authority over our lives.
John 20:28, And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
2- Jesus is God to all but only Lord to the Christian.
1 Corinthians 12:1-3
July 28, 2002
1 Corinthians 7:1
John 16:8-15
Ephesians 1:13-14
Acts 1:4-8
Galatians 5:19-21
Romans 2:12-16
1 Timothy 4:1-2
Galatians 5:22-26
Matthew 7:15-20
Luke 11:13
Ephesians 4:12-32
John 15:5
Romans 6:17
Deuteronomy 21:23
Acts 26:11
Matthew 7:21
John 20:28