2020 0920 Things of the Spirit 1

1 Corinthians 12:1–3 NIV

Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

Know the things of the Spirit

we get the gift of the Holy Spirit Acts 2:38 “you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”

the Holy Spirit gives us gifts

Gift of the Holy Spirit

* Acts 2:38 “you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”

this gift brings a new heart and a new spirit

we have discussed this over the last few weeks

“you know when you were pagans”

there is a tremendous difference in knowing Jesus and receiving the Holy Spirit

eternal life, every spiritual blessing, more Christ-like

we know there is more - hence we need the power that the Holy Spirit gives

we want to be more than conquerors

we want to be more than what we once were, dead in our sin and helpless to do or change anything

I do not Want You to be Uninformed

Paul writes this to the Corinthians

he is writing to us TODAY

this is no historical myth lost in the mists of time

this is not some once off, back then sort of stuff

this is real and for now

this is the fulfilment of our purpose and our destiny

we need to be informed not so to increase our knowledge but to grow in the power of the Holy Spirit

gaining knowledge is very important but only as a step in its application

knowledge needs to be outworked so that it produces something good, something valuable

head knowledge that stays there is useless, a vain exercise that serves only the self

others benefit, others come to the Lord and grow as disciples when knowledge becomes action

1 Corinthians 12:4–6 NIV

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

Same Spirit, same Lord, Same God at work

know that this is all the work of God

gifts, service, working are all together

there is no difference, no distinction between these things

using the gifts = doing the services = allowing the workings

one is no better than the other - all are important in the Kingdom of God

different kinds but the same God is behind all