Saints Made Sinners: Don’t be Uninformed about Spiritual Gifts

Text: I Corinthians 12:1-11

Theme: Spiritual gifts are divine enablements for ministry, characteristics of Jesus Christ that are to be manifested through the body corporate.

Date: 01/23/2022 File name: 1_Corinthinas_21.wpd ID Number:

Paul loved the congregants at the Christian Church in Corinth. He had come to the city to plant a church. Many of the believers at Corinth he had personally won to faith in Christ. He was there for eighteen months preaching and discipling before God moved him on. Unfortunately, within a few years after his leaving, the church became one of the most dysfunctional of congregations mentioned in the New Testament. Mark Clifton, Senior Director of Church Replanting at the North American Mission Board, calls it a “dumpster-fire of a church.” Nowhere are their problems more evident than in their misuse and abuse of spiritual gifts. In a weird way, the Church through the centuries, ought to be thankful that they were struggling with the right application of spiritual gifts because Paul’s correction of the their misuse have proved insightful and instructional for the Body of Christ ever since.

As we begin looking at what Paul writes, we need to under-stand some basic points about spiritual gifts.

Every believer has at least one Spirit-given gift, usually two or three.

Every believer should be using his or her gifts to serve others in the church.

We grieve the Holy Spirit when we do not use or when we abuse our spiritual gifts.

No member has all the gifts, so we need each other.

No gift is given to all members.

God decides who receives which gift.

With that let’s plow ahead and see what Paul tells this congregation about spiritual gifts.

I. THE SUBJECT OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS vs. 1-3

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.” (1 Corinthians 12:1, ESV)

1. there is a danger in being uninformed about the nature and importance and use of spiritual gifts

a. many professing believers have no idea what spiritual gifts are and no idea that they have one

1) and that’s one concern

2. in Corinth, Paul’s concern was the abuse of spiritual gifts, and misunderstanding of the work of the Holy Spirit

a. most modern translations use the word uninformed in vs. 1, but the word literally means to be ignorant or unaware of important truth

1) ignorance is the mother of all kinds of mischief, and in Corinth a great deal of mischief was taking place in that church

2) Paul writes to correct that

3) the modern church also needs some correcting concerning spiritual gifts

b. the last one hundred years has witnessed a renewed interest within the Church world-wide in the person of the Holy Spirit and his work

1) but, just like the Corinthians, many modern believers are woefully uninformed about Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts

ILLUS. In his 1997 book Christian Theology, An Introduction, Alister McGrath writes, “In former times the Holy Spirit has been the Cinderella of the Trinity. The other sisters went to the ball but Cinderella was left behind. Now all that has changed ... but not without controversy.”

2) as we will see when we get to chapter 14, the primary issue concerning the use and/or abuse of spiritual gifts in Corinth centered on speaking in tongues and prophecy

b. this is why the Church at large needs to take a fresh look at what the Apostle Paul says about spiritual gifts

2. God made you to make a difference

a. what matters is not how long you live, but how you live

b. what matters is not the duration of your life, but the donation of your life

1) the Bible says we were created to serve

2) the Bible says we were saved to serve

3) the Bible says we were gifted to serve

4) the Bible says we were shaped to serve

5) the Bible says we were commanded to serve God

3. the question is “How do we serve God?”

A. YOU SERVE GOD BY SERVING OTHERS

1. if you want an answer to the question, “What on earth am I here for?” that’s part of the answer

a. you were put here to serve God and the way you serve God is by serving other people

2. the Bible has a word for this, it’s called ministry

a. when I say the words minister or ministry most people think of a priest, or a pastor or maybe a missionary — someone who is “called” by the Holy Spirit to a Church vocation

b. while God does call certain Christians into vocational ministry that does not mean that the rest of believers aren’t also called to serve others

3. every believer is a minister in that all believers are called to serve other people

a. any time you use your talents, your abilities, your background, your experiences to help somebody else, you know what that’s called?

1) ministering

b. and you know what you are when you do that?

1) you’re a minister

c. sadly, the word layman has crept into our vocabulary to describe the vast majority of Christians who do not belong to the "professional" ministry known as the clergy

1) the use of this distinction has crippled the impact of the church on the world

2) thousands of Christians have shirked their God-given responsibilities because they expect their pastor, minister, or priest to do the “work of the ministry”

d. on the other hand — every pastor is also a member of his church and not just the pastor of his church!

1) I’ve known a lot of pastors that have forgotten that!

ILLUS. I do not believe that any one man can, should or is even capable of "running" a church by himself. I believe that one of my spiritual gifts is that of administrations, but that does not mean God has called me to be this congregation's CEO. Am I the pastor of the Linn 1st Baptist Church? Yes, and I’m proud of that. I’m proud to have served this congregation for thirty-four years (OK. I’ll repent of my pride later). However, do you know what I am before I’m your pastor? I’m a member of this congregation with both the rights and responsibilities of being a congregant of this church. Most churches will give their new pastor authority, but in Baptist life it’s usually a pretty limited authority. Most of a pastor's authority is an earned authority. A pastor earns that authority by being a committed member of the church and a faithful shepherd. While I do not believe a pastor should ever be expected to pound nails, wash dishes, cut grass or move chairs I wouldn't give you a plugged nickel for one who thought he was above such tasks and refused to do them.

4. the Bible teaches that all believers are servants and ministers

a. the clergy are to do the work of the ministry as God has gifted them to do it, but the laity are also to do the work of the ministry as God has gifted them to do it

b. all believers have a service and a ministry they are to perform

B. YOU SERVE GOD BY SERVING OTHERS WITH THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS GOD HAS ENDOWED YOU WITH

1. let me begin by telling you that every earthly citizen is born with some natural ability

a. it might be visual thinking, or verbal intelligence; it might be painting, or sculpture, or music or creativity; it might be a physical attribute that makes you great at some sport; it might be public speaking, attention to detail or critical thinking; it might be a skill in making exquisite furniture or wood working or musical instruments

b. as a Christian, I believe that you ought to find a way to use your natural abilities for God

2. let me also tell you that every heavenly citizen who’s been born again has been given supernatural abilities — endowments of God’s Holy Spirit — God-given spiritual gifts for Christian service

a. contrary to the thinking of many people, the true church of Jesus Christ is not a visible human organization run by a hierarchy of officials

b. it is not a social agency to meet the needs and demands of the community or simply a convenient place in which to be married, buried, or baptized

c. it is certainly not a religious social club in which people of like-minded beliefs and standards get together for fellowship and occasional service activities

3. the church, as established by Jesus Christ and described and defined in the New Testament, is a living organism

ILLUS. This is what verses 12-31 are all about — an illustration of the what the Church is — a living organism.

a. the members of that body are entirely and exclusively those who have become a new creation through faith in Christ as their Savior and Lord

b. every member of Christ’s church has been given grace gifts which, through the Spirit, are God’s divine means of ministering His Word, and His presence, and His power among His people and to the world

1) spiritual gifts are God’s supernatural provision for the edification of the church and the evangelization of the world

2) they are the means through which believers are to grow, worship, witness, and serve

c. if you’re a fairly new Christian, and you’ve never been taught about spiritual gifts, you need to know that you’ve got some and there are various ways to discover what they might be

1) if you’ve been a Christian any length of time, and you don’t know what your spiritual gifts are ... shame on you, you need to discover what they are, and begin using them

2) if you’ve been a Christian any length of time, and you don’t want to know what your spiritual gifts are because God may expect you to us them ... well, I just don’t know what to say to you except ... REPENT!

4. true spiritual gifts are given by God to strengthen and manifest oneness, harmony, and power in His Church

a. Satan’s counterfeit gifts are meant to divide, disrupt, and weaken

1) God’s gifts build up; Satan’s counterfeits tear down

2) that’s essentially what Paul is referring to in vs. 2-3

b. 1st Corinthians was one of the earliest written epistles of the New Testament, yet in a short period of time Satan had begun to confuse believers about many doctrines, practices, and signs

1) the pure water of God’s truth was being muddied, and nowhere more than in Corinth

2) Satan began to counterfeit the gospel and its wonders in earnest, and the gullible, worldly, self-centered, thrill-seeking Corinthians with their pagan backgrounds were prime targets for his assaults

c. just as the Corinthians had perverted almost everything else, they also had perverted the nature, purpose, and use of spiritual gifts

1) this perversion, as the others, largely was due to ideas and practices they had dragged from their pagan society into the church

2) the old life continually contaminated the new

d. Paul is here writing to correct this

II. THE SOURCE OF GIFTS vs. 4-6

1. these verses are some of the most helpful in understanding the nature of spiritual endowments

a. they all come from the Holy Spirit

b. they all are used to serve the Lord Jesus

c. they all are meant to glorify the Father

d. the all are meant for the common good of the church

1) while it’s a sermon for another time, here is one of the clearest references to the Trinity

2) Paul’s point is that the whole Godhead — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit unit in bestowing these varied gifts upon various believers

3) the gifts may differ in character and purpose, but behind the bestowal of each one the fullness of the Godhead is at work in each believer manifesting that gift as the Godhead wants it manifested

2. here is what Paul means by that ...

A. VARIETY OF GIFTS BUT THE SAME SPIRIT

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;” (1 Corinthians 12:4, ESV)

1. simply put, there are lots of different spiritual gifts mentioned in the New Testament

a. God is a God of diversity

ILLUS. Just as no two fingerprints are alike, and just as no two snowflakes are alike, and just as no two people are alike God decreed a diversity of spiritual gifts.

2. Paul is reminding the Corinthian believers that they each have different gifts that are used in different ways

a. God distributes His gifts in many forms, in many varieties, and in different combinations to His children

3. now, I’m not going to say much about the variety of spiritual gifts the Apostle mentions in this chapter (I’ve provided a bulletin insert to give you that information), but you need to know that when you consider the kinds of gifts the Holy Spirit gives, in the combination that he gives them, to the degree that he gives them means that each believer becomes as unique spiritually as his fingerprints are physically

ILLUS. You combine the gifts of prophecy and evangelism and you have a Billy Graham. You combine the gift of leadership and service with a natural musical ability and you have a worship leader. You combine the spiritual gifts of mercy and exhortation and you have a Christian counselor. You give a man the gifts of prophecy and shepherding and knowledge and you have a pastor. The Spirit gives a believer, who has a natural ability to fix things, the gift of service and you have a church trustee.

4. and all of these gifts are given by the Spirit of God “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,” (Ephesians 4:12, ESV)

B. VARIETY OF SERVICE BUT THE SAME LORD

“and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;” (1 Corinthians 12:5, ESV)

1. Christians with the same basic gift may be led to manifest that gift in many different ways

a. one teacher may be especially gifted in teaching young children; another may have special ability with the original biblical languages and be highly qualified to teach seminarians

b. one evangelist may be able to powerfully address large crowds, while another’s strength is in one-on-one witnessing

c. one person’s service of teaching may emphasize exhortation and doctrine, while another’s may focus on comfort and mercy

2. the emphasis here is on variety of ministries

a. speaking of Himself, Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45)

1) Jesus came to minister to others for God, and His Spirit gives gifts to His people so they can do the same

2) spiritual gifts are not given as badges of privilege or prestige but as tools for ministry

b. the Lord gives them to His servants so they can serve, and He gives them for a limitless variety of services

3. all gifts are for service, but the types of service are immeasurable

a. when you use your spiritual gifts you’re bing a steward of what God has given you

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:” (1 Peter 4:10, ESV)

4. ultimately, every gift given to every believer is ultimately for ministering in the name of Jesus — there are varieties of service, but the same Lord

C. VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES BUT THE SAME GOD

“and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” (1 Corinthians 12:6, ESV)

1. in this verse Paul reminds the believers at Corinth that there are a variety of effects resulting from the use of one’s spiritual gifts

2. just as spiritual gifts are given supernaturally, so they are energized supernaturally

a. Christians, no matter how well trained and experienced or how unselfishly motivated, cannot exercise their gifts in their own power

b. you may exercise your talents, skills, intelligence, and other natural abilities in your own power, but only the Giver of spiritual gifts can empower them and make them effective

3. if God is in control of the gift, and how the gift is manifested, then God is also in charge of the results of using that gift

a. we should not all expect to have the same gifts, nor should we expect them to operate in the same ways or produce the same quantity of fruit

ILLUS. Franklin Graham and I both feel called to preach. Franklin Graham and I both preach the same Gospel. We both believe the Bible is the infallible, inerrant Word of God, but his evangelistic ministry has been way more fruitful than mine. I can lament that, and become jealous and bitter that I’m not as “successful” as Franklin Graham, or I can rejoice that God has put me right where he wants me using the gifts He’s given me, and that He’s done the same with Franklin.

“All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” (1 Corinthians 12:11, ESV)

4. ultimately, every spiritual gift a believer has is empowered by God

III. THE SCOPE OF THE GIFTS vs. 7-11

1. Paul tells the Corinthians why spiritual gifts are given, and who gives them

a. now, in vs. 7-11, he tells us what gifts are given

2. again, I’m not going to spend time delving into all the spiritual gifts Paul lists here, along with others listed in other passages

a. I will tell you that spiritual gifts are given for the good of Christ’s Church

“All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” (1 Corinthians 12:11, ESV)

b. spiritual gifts are to be edifying and helpful to the church, not a source of disunity in the church

1) Corinth is, as we say, the cautionary tale

3. when each of us is using our spiritual gifts we are equipping of the saints for the work of service, and building up of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:12)

ILLUS. The Christian who ministers his gift of helps not only serves other believers but encourages them to be more helpful. The believer who exercises his gift of mercy helps his fellow believers to be more merciful. The pastor who exercises his gift of knowledge helps his fellow believers know God’s mind more fully.

a. as we each minister our own gifts we help others to better minister theirs

b. on the other hand, as we fail to minister our own gifts we hinder others in ministering theirs

1) a Christian who does not exercise his spiritual gifts cripples his own ministry and diminishes the ministry of others

A. FINDING YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS

1. every single one of us is born with God-given gifts, and God calls us to use them for His glory and to help others

a. the question Christians often ask is “How do I know what my spiritual endowments are?”

b. there are several approaches to this:

1) written tests, surveys and inventories

a) you can find these on the internet, and I’ve included one in the bulletin insert

b) they are not fool-proof, but they can be helpful

2) self-analysis based on interests and experiences

a) not always, but often the Holy Spirit will endow you with a spiritual gift that takes advantage of some natural ability that you have

b) look at your natural abilities, and then see how God can use that ability in meeting the needs of others

3) confirmation from people who know you well

a) sometimes you just need to ask the Christians who know you best what they think your spiritual gift is

b) they often see things in you that you don’t see in yourself

4) pray ... ask God to reveal to you what spiritual endowment the Holy Spirit has given you

a) along with praying, do a study of the spiritual gifts mentioned in the bible

2. all four approaches can be helpful, and it is especially helpful if all four lead to the same answer

IV. APPLICATION

1. when each believe in a local church is using his or her spiritual gifts as dictated by Paul, at least four important blessings result

A. 1st, When Each Believer Uses Their Spiritual Gifts the Church Forms a Dynamic Witness, with Power and Effectiveness it Cannot Experience Otherwise

1. when the Jerusalem church began to faithfully and sacrificially exercise their various gifts, “the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved”

2. natural abilities alone will not grow a church

B. 2nd, When the Church Ministers its Gifts, God’s Leaders Become Apparent

1. in a faithfully functioning church, spiritual leadership inevitably emerges

2. God’s leaders are not made by attending leadership seminars built on worldly techniques for creating success

3. Christians who discover and faithfully use their spiritual gifts are those whom God often calls out to be the leaders in a local church

C. 3rd, A Church That Faithfully Uses its Gifts in the Spirit’s Power Experiences the Joy of Great Unity, Love, and Fellowship — in Ways That No Amount of Human Ability, Planning, or Effort Can Produce

1. the use of your spiritual endowments is not about self-affirmation, self-fulfillment, or individual status, but for the common good (vs. 7)

Con. What is mind-boggling is that we really would not know a lot of the specifics about the gifts of the spirit if the Corinthian people were not making mistakes with them! Yes, God uses even deeply flawed Christians in deeply dysfunctional churches. God is not intimidated by our problems and that is why he’s given us good teachers to keep people in check with the Scripture. We wouldn’t know what a word of wisdom is from a word of knowledge, if Paul would not have said, “Concerning spiritual gifts brethren I would not have you ignorant.”