M401: Lesson 4; Concerning Spiritual Things

Concerning Spiritual Things

Key Verse: “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:” 1 Corinthians 12:1 (NKJV)

Purpose: The purpose of this lesson is to help the disciple understand the nature of spiritual things and their place in ministry.

Christian ministry is be characterized by DEMONSTRATIONS of the SPIRIT and of POWER.

1 Corinthians 2:4–5 (NKJV) “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

The church is not a social club or organization. The church is to exhibit the supernatural presence, life, and power of God in its midst. Thus, holy spiritual things must be properly understood.

The church at Corinth was a CHARISMATIC church.

1 Corinthians 1:4–7 (NKJV) “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,”

The church at Corinth was also a very CARNAL church.

1 Corinthians 3:1–3 (NKJV) “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?”

Spiritual gifts do not determine spiritual MATURITY.

Spiritual gifts and carnality can OPERATE in the same church.

Spiritual gifts can be ABUSED and MISUSED.

Spiritual gifts are powerful tools for effective ministry. The solution to avoid abuse and misuse is not to FORBID or SUPPRESS them, but to TEST their authenticity by Scripture, and guide their use through CORRECTION and INSTRUCTION.

1 Corinthians 12:1 (NKJV) “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant.”

The word gifts is italicized in English translations to show that the word does not appear in the Greek text. The literal translation is “Now concerning spirituals” or “Concerning spiritual things”. The emphasis is on all aspects of spiritual activity of God in the church.

1 John 4:1 (NKJV) “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

1 Corinthians 14:39 (NKJV) “Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.”

All legitimate spiritual activity in the church will uphold and promote the New Testament REVELATION and DOCTRINE of Jesus Christ. Among these are:

Christ’s LORDSHIP.

1 Corinthians 12:3 (NKJV) “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.”

Christ’s DEITY.

John 1:1–2 (NKJV) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.”

Philippians 2:5–7 (NKJV) “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”

Christ’s INCARNATION.

John 1:14 (NKJV) “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

1 John 4:2–3 (NKJV) “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.”

Christ’s finished work of redemption on the CROSS.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NKJV) “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

Spiritual activity in the church illustrates the unity and diversity within the GODHEAD.

The Godhead is composed of three Persons who are of one essence:

God the FATHER.

God the SON.

God the HOLY SPIRIT.

There are diversities of GIFTS given by the one and same Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:4 (NKJV) “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.”

The Greek word for “gifts” is charismatons that means “graces”.

“Gifts” are distinct from the “manifestations” listed in 1 Corinthians 12:7-10.

“Diversities”: allotments, various kinds

The “gifts” (charismata) of the Holy Spirit are listed in Romans 12:6-8:

Prophecy

Ministry (Service)

Teaching

Exhortation

Giving

Leadership

Mercy

These gifts are often referred to as “grace gifts” or “motivational gifts”.

There are differences of MINISTRIES, but from the one and same Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 12:5 (NKJV) “There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.”

The Greek word translated as “ministries” is diakinon, also translated as “deacon” or “servant”

The “Equipping” or “Five-Fold” Ministries appointed by Christ are listed in Ephesians 4:7-16:

Apostle

Prophet

Evangelist

Pastor / Elder

Teacher

Other ministries appointed by Christ in 1 Corinthians 12:28 include:

Governments (Administrations)

Helps

There are diversities of ACTIVITIES, but from the one and same heavenly Father.

1 Corinthians 12:6 (NKJV) “And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.”

The Greek word translated as “activities” is energamaton, which means “effects” or “results”. We get the English word “energy” from this word.

God controls the effects and results each gift or ministry has in each situation (Example: Healing - some are healed immediately while others are healed over time—God decides.

God has predetermined His eternal plans and purposes. He works all things according to the counsel of His will for His glory and for our ultimate good. (Ephesians 1:11; Romans 8:28)

There are various MANIFESTATIONS of the Holy Spirit’s work in the assembly, but the one and same Holy Spirit works them all according to His will for the profit of all.

1 Corinthians 12:7 (NKJV) “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:”

The Greek word translated as “manifestation” is phanerosis that means “exhibition,” “expression,” and “bestowment”.

Manifestations are distinct from Spiritual gifts (charimatons)

Manifestations are given to each one (any person can operate in any of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit at any time as the Spirit wills).

Manifestations are given for the profit of all in the corporate gathering.

Manifestations come and go as the Spirit wills as determined by the specific need in the church.

There are nine manifestations of the Holy Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10:

Word of wisdom

Word of knowledge

Faith

Gifts of healings

Working of miracles

Prophecy

Discerning of spirits

Different kinds of tongues

Interpretation of tongues

The unified but diverse work with the Godhead might be expressed this way:

God the Father is WORKING (energematon) His eternal plan in the earth.

Jesus, the Head of the church, CALLS and SETS men and women into specific ministries (diakinon) to accomplish His Father’s plan.

The Holy Spirit gives GRACE or MOTIVATIONAL gifts (charismatons) to each member to activate and empower ministry in Christ’s body, the church.

The Holy Spirit enables SUPERNATURAL manifestations (phanerosis) to operate through believers to meet specific needs.