Sunday School July 23rd

Sunday School July 23rd, 2006 1st Corinthians 12(1-13)

1st Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 12:2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

Learning

The people of Corinth were converted from idolatry through the preaching of the Apostle Paul. They had to learn everything about the ways of God. We can hardly relate to them as most folks today have heard something about God and have some knowledge about the Bible. These folks had to learn from the very basics. Paul wants them to understand Spiritual gifts so they are not led astray by charlatans who only want to profit from them. Our lesson today will tackle some difficult area of Christianity of which good brethren disagree. I will do my best to explain my ideas on these matters. I ask you to refer to the Scriptures and make your own decisions. Don’t depend on tradition and denominational thinking, but base your opinions on the Word of God.

12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

How to define a cult

The easiest way to know if a religious institution is a church or a cult is to examine what they think about Jesus. A belief system that does not teach Jesus as the eternal Son of God, creator of the universe, only Savior of mankind, born of a virgin, crucified for the sin of the world, resurrected the third day, ascended into glory to be our mediator, and the coming King of Glory is a cult; not a church. This verse tells us anyone who says that Jesus is accursed cannot be speaking under the influence of the Holy Spirit. The word “accursed” means a thing doomed to destruction. In other words, if Jesus is not the Son of God, He is doomed to destruction like any other man. It is not enough to say He is a prophet or a good man, but we must acknowledge Him as Lord. The word translated Lord means “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord, the possessor and disposer of a thing, the owner; one who has control of the person, the master, the sovereign, prince, or the chief. If you think the Bible does not claim the superiority of Jesus, you haven’t been reading the same Bible I do. Some modern scholars have tried to claim Jesus never put Himself forward as the Son of God, but they are attempting to mislead God’s people and those who are lost in their sins. They have an agenda; it is the same agenda as Satan by the way! Any preacher that does not proclaim Jesus as God is not called of God to preach, but is an impostor. The Holy Ghost will lead an honest person to proclaim the deity and majesty of Jesus Christ. I want you to understand when this verse says “no man can say” it means say and really mean it. Some hypocrites might say Jesus is Lord, but they do not mean it.

12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

On the same team

Let me define a few of these words so that we can understand these verses.

The word translated “gifts” means grace or gifts denoting extraordinary powers, distinguishing certain Christians and enabling them to serve the church of Christ, the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating on their souls by the Holy Spirit. God has placed certain people with certain abilities in the church for the edification or the strengthening of the body of Christ. All folks have some ability that comes from God. These abilities are not the same, yet they are all important and needed.
The word translated “administrations” means the ministration of those who render to others the offices of Christian affection especially those who help meet need by either collecting or distributing of charities. These folks are not necessarily gifted with some talent, but they are vested from God with an ability and a desire to minister to the needs of others. Our food pantry in our church is an example of this. The ladies who operate this pantry have a great desire to be a blessing to less fortunate folks. It is not for everyone, but those who feel this calling derive great satisfaction from helping others. They are important to God and God’s people.
The word translated “operations” is “energema” in the Green which is where we get the word energy. It means work. Some folks may not be preachers, but they are great workers in the church. They are trustees, SS teachers, youth advisers, janitors, choir members, greeters, and the like. These people are willing to whatever is needed for the benefit of the Kingdom of God. They are very important; without them the church would suffer.
Notice these offices in the Church of God are different, but the Spirit, Lord, and God who inspire, equip, call, and direct the workers is the same. The folks who fill these offices should not envy those in other vocations. When we all work together and stay in our place, the church is benefited. When a worker tries to become a preacher or a preacher attempts to run a ministry he is not qualified to run, the church if damaged and the person becomes discouraged.

12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

To benefit the entire church

A Spiritual gift is not given to a person for their personal benefit, but it is to benefit the entire body of Christ. Now when a person fulfills their mission from God, they will experience pleasure and satisfaction, but that is not why the gift is given. Neither is the gift given so a person can profit monetarily or socially. The ministrations of the Spirit of God will add or edify the church. This is a good scale to determine whether something is a calling from God. If it benefits the church, it probably comes from God. If it does damage to the church or causes schisms in the family of Christ, it definitely is not of God.

12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

Different Spiritual Gifts

These verses reveal some of the Spiritual gifts God has placed within the church. Let’s list these and define what they are.

Word of wisdom- This phrase speaks of wisdom as broad and full of intelligence; used of the knowledge of very diverse matters. The presence of “word of” means these folks are able to impart this wisdom to others. This is inspired understanding of some revelation of God, as all Spiritual wisdom comes from God. All possess a certain amount of wisdom and all have the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in paths of righteousness, but some folks just seem to be wiser in this world than others. They not only possess information, but they know what that information means. It is important that they are wise, not with the world’s wisdom, but they are wise in understanding the counsel and Word of God. It is important the church recognize and profit from these folks. We need to be willing to listen to them and learn from them.
Word of knowledge- This phrase means the ability to teach what has been revealed in the Word of God through the Apostles and Prophets. The word of wisdom utters the mysteries of God. The Word of knowledge learns and imparts what has been revealed to others. It is not original, it is learned. Some folks can read the Bible, but they have trouble understanding it; these folks have a greater depth of understanding. Again, this gift is possessed to a certain extent by all Christians, but these folks seem to possess this talent in abundance.
Faith- The word means a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God. All folks must have faith to be saved, but some folks seem to have a greater measure of faith. These folks may struggle with the problems of life like others, but they will never lose their faith in God. They can trust God despite circumstances. They can pray with a greater belief that their prayers will be granted. It is a good thing to have a friend like this. It is a blessing to have folks like this in your church. They will lift your spirits and convince you that victory is just around the bend.
Gifts of healing- this gift is controversial to some folks. I don’t believe that many, if any, can claim to have the gift of healing that some folks say they possess. This word is plural; “healings” which means healing all manner of ailments and diseases. The Apostles and some of the Old Testament Prophets performed miraculous healings, but I don’t see them happening as often as some claim today. I haven’t witnessed someone raised from the dead as Jesus did. I haven’t seen blinded eyes opened, nor paralyzed folks made whole, as some in the Scripture, through the power of God. I believe these things were allowed by God to bring in a new dispensation and to bring attention to the fledgling Church of God. The heathen who had not heard of Jehovah God or Jesus Christ were intrigued by the miracles of the early church. Most of the so-called miracle healings of today are performed by charlatans who are out to enrich themselves. They make a Broadway-like production of these events. Neither the original illness nor the improvement is verifiable. Please do not misunderstand me; I firmly believe God still heals, but I think He does it in a different way than some folks claim. I am not a healer, nor do I know of any, but I know God can heal. I have witnessed people delivered from illnesses and helped through prayer. We are given directions on how to approach healings in the New Testament church in the Book of James. The Scripture I am referring to is James 5:14: “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:” This is not done as a miracle, but as a group of Christians calling on God on behalf of a sick brother or sister.
Workers of miracles- This phrase is similar to healings, but it means miracles in general, not just bodily miracles. The word in the Greek is “dunamis” from which we get the word dynamite. It means possessing great power. These are things like the parting of the Red Sea by Moses and surviving the lions den by Daniel. Again, I think these are possible as God is able to do all things, but I don’t think they are as common as some folks would have you believe. Some Christians are always telling tales of miracles. If they happened every day, they wouldn’t be called miracles. Please remember, we walk by faith and not by sight. If you are saved, you are saved whether you experience or witness any miracles or not.
Prophesy- The Old Testament prophet foretold events which no man could know except it be revealed to them by God. The New Testament prophet has the ability to foretell events by understanding the Scripture. Here is the Scripture to back up what I am saying: 1^st Corinthians 14:3 “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.” This does nor refer to foretelling disastrous events like the Old Testament prophets, but to speaking to the Church to build up Christians. It is not like a fortune teller, but someone who can explain the prophesies already given in Scripture and show others how they apply to them.
Discerning of spirits- This phrase is not speaking of the Holy Spirit, but of the spirits, or hearts, of men. Some folks have a greater ability to understand the motives and desires of men. They are able to sense when someone is motivated to do good and when they are seeking to do damage to the Kingdom of God. We all possess this ability to a certain extent, but many folks are very susceptible to con artists. We need some of these folks in the church today. They can just smell trouble and help the church avoid serious problems.
Divers kinds of tongues- This phrase does not mean what some folks in the modern church call the “gift of tongues.” It is not am impossible to understand language given to the believer by the Holy Spirit and uttered without the understanding of the speaker. The word translated “tongues” means the language or dialect used by a particular people distinct from that of other nations. Notice the definition of the Greek word; “a distinct language spoken by a group of people.” This gift was given to the early Apostles so they could speak the Word of God in places where the gospel had never been preached. They preached; God interpreted the words into the languages of the hearers. Many modern preachers who claim to have the gift of tongues certainly don’t demonstrate it. I have seen them on TV preaching in foreign lands and they have an interpreter relaying their words to the crowd. If they can speak in tongues, why don’t they do like the Apostles did on the day of Pentecost? The Apostles spoke and all of the hearers heard in their own language. There were many people who spoke many languages there that day and all heard in their own native tongue. I don’t see this happening today. I am not saying God can’t, I’m saying it doesn’t appear that He is! Here’s the Scripture I am referring to from Acts 2:4-11 “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 2:9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.”
Interpretation of tongues- This means the ability to understand what is being spoken in a language which is not known to the hearer. This is another gift required by the Apostles so they could understand what was being said to them by the folks they were trying to reach with the gospel.

12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

As He will

These 9 gifts were placed in the church of God in order that the church might be edified and unsaved people might hear the gospel. Why some people possess certain gifts, and why some folks do not, we may never understand in this life. The Spirit of God knows our abilities and our strengths. He equips and charges us with the talents which we can best apply for the betterment of the whole church. It is not what we desire, but what the Holy Spirit knows we can best handle, which determines whether we are given certain gifts.

12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Unity of believers

The Apostle Paul compares the unity of the human body with the unity of the body of Christ. The parts of the body do not have the same function, but they are used for the benefit of the whole. When they perform their separate functions, the whole body is strong. They cannot do what they are not endowed by God to do. A man may have good eyes, but without working ears, he is still handicapped. A man might have good ears, but if his legs will not support him, he is handicapped. A blind man may apply himself to increase his sense of hearing to help him get around, but he will never be as strong as if the proper body parts were performing their proper functions. The church is the same. Preachers need to preach. Teachers need to teach, etc. When Christians try to perform a function of which they are not equipped, it doesn’t work as well.

New Living Translation (to be used as a commentary only)

1 And now, dear brothers and sisters, I will write about the special abilities the Holy Spirit gives to each of us, for I must correct your misunderstandings about them. 2 You know that when you were still pagans you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. 3 So I want you to know how to discern what is truly from God: No one speaking by the Spirit of God can curse Jesus, and no one is able to say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service in the church, but it is the same Lord we are serving. 6 There are different ways God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work through all of us. 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church. 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another he gives the gift of special knowledge. 9 The Spirit gives special faith to another, and to someone else he gives the power to heal the sick. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and to another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to know whether it is really the Spirit of God or another spirit that is speaking. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, and another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. 12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into Christ’s body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit.*

THANKS FOR STUDYING WITH US THIS WEEK. OUR LESSONS CAN BE FOUND EACH WEEK ON OUR WEBSITE WWW.ADDISONCHURCH.COM. BE SURE TO SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK WHEN YOU VISIT. WE ALSO WILL EMAIL THE LESSON DIRECTLY TO YOU BY REQUEST AT ADDISONFWBCHURCH@BLUESTARR.NET. YOU WILL NEVER BE ASKED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS, NOR WILL YOUR INFORMATION BE GIVEN OR SOLD TO ANY OUTSIDE SOURCE. SEE YOU SOON!!!!

PASTOR RICK BARCUS