The Living Body - Spiritual Gifts

Recap - Order in Worship. Don’t worship as the pagans in a confusing manner.

We worship in unity. We operate in spiritual harmony. The Trinity provides this example.

Abiding in Christ as individuals will transition smoothy into ministry service.

“For if they were, they would appear as branches of the cross (and their fruit would be incorruptible) by which through his Passion he calls you who are his members.” - Ignatius (Martyred 108 AD) to the Trallions in Asia against heresy.

The body of Christ exercises gifts from the Holy Spirit to the glory of God the Father.

READ (1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-11)

Paul references 9 gifts in this passage.

A Message of Wisdom - Knowledge of God revealed through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

“In this way, the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you, so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - (1 Cor. 2:6-7)

The emphasis is not on wisdom itself but on the word or message produced by that wisdom.

A wise word when people are anxious or confused.

A Message of Knowledge - Teaching spiritual truths

Corinth had placed an overemphasis on knowledge. This gift is meant to enrich others, in light of the testimony in Christ working among people.

Faith - Belief in God’s ability that moves mountains.

Faith that God can and will do anything as He works out His will and purpose.

Healing - Healing of sick bodies and minds as well as broken hearts and damaged relationships.

Both physical and spiritual restoration.

Performing of Miracles - Activities of power.

Extraordinary activities like exorcising demons and raising the dead.

Commanding the will of God to be done on earth as is in Heaven.

Prophecy - Proclaiming the word of God.

Words inspired by the Holy Spirit about the present and future.

Forthtelling and Foretelling. The ability to convey a message of God to hearers in their generation.

Distinguishing Between Spirits - Recognizing whether a message has come from God or an evil spirit.

Determine whether the mind, will, and emotion of religious expression are biblical and God-honoring.

Tongues - Spiritual Language Unknown to Man.

(Acts 2:1-4) - Foreign Language.

A language not understood by the speaker.

Emotion speech for the individual who possesses the gift.

Valuable to the person who speaks but little value to the church as a whole.

Interpretation of Tongues - Making sense of the tongue spoken.

Edifies the body of Christ by explaining what was just said.

Paul wrote that every gift comes from the Holy Spirit.

The unity of the divine purpose comes out of expression of one and the same Spirit.

“As a counselor, I have spoken with many people who want to know their spiritual gifts. They come hoping for some sort of diagnostic test that will precisely locate them. My impression is that this perspective represents a breakdown in the church. It reflects a church where are running around as self-actualizing individuals rather than uniting as a God-glorifying community.” - Edward T. Welch, Counselor and faculty member at the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation. (Glenside PA)

Abilene Wylie upset.

These are “gifts” from God for the purpose of ministry and kingdom expansion.

They provide:

Assurance

Clarity

Order

Power

When our use of spiritual gifts confuse and/or divide the body of Christ, we must repent and find the correct path.

Seek the Lord and trust Him to make us aware of our giftings.