THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
“I WOULD NOT HAVE YOU UNINFORMED”
(LESSON FIVE)
INTRODUCTION: I Corinthians 12:1-7)
We will begin today by looking first at verse two: “You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray by dumb or mute idols.” Although our idols in the twenty first century differ from the “literal” idols that the Corinthians worshipped, they are nonetheless idols! Before you became a Christian, you “worshipped” things that were “mute” or had no life and which offered no hope and no future. To say it another way, before Christ you did not walk in truth or reason. Instead, you lived your life pursuing temporal pleasures that lead to death and not life. Paul is telling the Corinthians, and us, that the Holy Spirit (who is not mute!) will not be found among those who worship idols. You can’t be “saved” and have the Holy Spirit, and yet live a life of worshipping everything but God. Sadly, many people are deceived in believing that they are saved when they are not. That is why in verse three Paul says, 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.” The truth is that anyone who fails to recognize Jesus as Lord, no matter how much they claim to be inspired, does not have the Holy Spirit! Why? Because The Holy Spirit bears witness to Jesus. He bears witness to Him in the Word of God; and in His life, death and resurrection! So anyone who calls Him cursed, whether Jew or Gentile, does not have the Holy Spirit! And if you do not have the Holy Spirit, then you are not saved. So then anyone who doesn’t have the Holy Spirit living inside them cannot call Jesus Lord. Again, anyone who doesn’t have the Holy Spirit living inside of them, and yet believes that they are saved, is deceived! It’s not good enough to say you believe. You must be born again by the person and power of the Holy Spirit. There is no other way to God. Consequently, it is only through the Holy Spirit that we can know and experience the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I hope that we have made this clear in our previous four messages on this subject. Please, if you have not done so, go to my Facebook page and listen to those messages on the Holy Spirit. With that said, I want to now look at verse one.
“Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.”
As I referenced in a previous message, the Apostle Paul wrote half of the New Testament. And he is the one who said, I do not want you to be uninformed about the spiritual gifts. With that being the case, why then would we allow theologians and denominations and preachers to keep us “uninformed” about the spiritual gifts?
Although Paul is writing this to the Church at Corinth, he is also writing it to the whole Church, including the twenty first century Church—including you and me! That’s why I’m teaching about spiritual gifts right now. They are for us today. They glorify Jesus and they are for “the common good.” Also it should be noted here that our goal in informing you about the spiritual gifts is not just so you can know about them but rather so you can learn to move in them!
Let’s pray.
1. Verse 4 “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.”
The Greek word for “gifts” is “charismatoon.” It means a gift of grace; a favor which no one earns on his own; it is a free gift.
We don’t earn these gifts from God. Rather they are freely given by Him through the Holy Spirit. We receive them by faith. We hear the Voice of the Holy Spirit and simply obey Him.
2. Verse 5 “There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.”
The Greek word for “service” is “diakonios.” It means different ministries that the Lord gives to the Church, like Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher.
The gifts of the Spirit are to operate under the authority that the Lord has placed in the Body of Christ if they are to be truly effective. If a person is unwilling to submit to the authority that God has placed in the Church, then they will not move in the gifts of the Spirit—at least not for long! No one “moving” in a spiritual gift is bigger or more important than the authority that God has placed in the Church.
3. Verse 6 “There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.”
The Greek word for “working” is “energeematon.” It means to be effectual, powerful or active. This refers to the miraculous. It would include casting out demons; the healing of different kinds of diseases; and miracles. These all proceed from God the Father—the fountain of all goodness and power and from whom all good and perfect gifts come.
So then, according to verses 4-6, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are a result of God’s grace and not of our works. We receive them by faith. Hear and obey. And in order to be effective, they must operate under the authority that God has placed in the Church. And the gifts are the Father’s will. They come from Him. There is no place for pride or selfishness if we are to receive and move in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Also, I think that it is worth pointing out the revelation of the Trinity in these verses. In verse 4 you have the Spirit; in verse 5 the Lord (Jesus); and in verse 6 God the Father! The gifts are from The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. But as we will see in verse 7, they are manifested by God the Holy Spirit.
Verse 7 “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
Whatever gifts God gives, or in whatever ways the Spirit manifests Himself in or through the Church, it is for the common benefit of the Church. God has not given any gift to any man for his own private advantage or profit. The gifts of the Spirit are given for the benefit of all, “the common good,” including the one being used in the gift. It’s about us and not about me. If it becomes about me, its’s over! Selfishness will grieve and quench the Holy Spirit.
With that said, The Holy Spirit desires to manifest Himself among us. But it is up to us to allow Him to do so. The lack of the manifestation of the Spirit is not on God’s part but on ours. Now, it is up to the Holy Spirit as to when and to whom He distributes His gifts. We don’t get to choose the time nor do we get to choose which gifts the Spirit manifests to the Church. What we do is humbly make ourselves available. And we humbly receive what gifts the Spirit bestows—not really concerning ourselves through whom He may work or what He may do through them. There is no place for jealousy when it comes to the gifts of the Spirit. The scripture says that the gifts—all of them—are for “the common good.”
Therefore, as we pursue the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we should do so keeping these things in mind:
1. The Holy Spirit is the One who bestows the gifts in and through whom He pleases and when He pleases.
2. The Spirit’s goal, besides bringing glory to Jesus (always) is for the common good—the edification of the Church. He is never out to glorify an individual with a gift.
3. No believer should become puffed up when the Spirit works through him. He should remember it’s the Spirit’s gift and not his own. And it comes because of grace and not merit.
4. No believer should feel discouraged or be down if the Spirit hasn’t bestowed a gift or certain gifts through him. Instead, remain humble and grateful for what the Spirit is doing for “the common good.” Remember, it’s not about “me.”
5. Remain open to the Spirit; be willing for Him to work through you in His time and in His way.
6. Think and pray “the common good,” instead of just about self. Again, it is really not about me! Rather, it is about Jesus blessing the whole Church through the Holy Spirit.
7. There is absolutely no room for selfishness when it comes to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Gifts are given to us so that they may flow through us to bless others.
The Dead Sea is dead because it has no outlet. The Sea of Galilee is alive because it does have an outlet. To be alive, you must have an outlet for what you receive from God, and that would include the gifts of the Spirit.
Let’s pray.
“I WOULD NOT HAVE YOU UNINFORMED”
(LESSON FIVE)
INTRODUCTION: I Corinthians 12:1-7)
We will begin today by looking first at verse two: “You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray by dumb or mute idols.” Although our idols in the twenty first century differ from the “literal” idols that the Corinthians worshipped, they are nonetheless idols! Before you became a Christian, you “worshipped” things that were “mute” or had no life and which offered no hope and no future. To say it another way, before Christ you did not walk in truth or reason. Instead, you lived your life pursuing temporal pleasures that lead to death and not life. Paul is telling the Corinthians, and us, that the Holy Spirit (who is not mute!) will not be found among those who worship idols. You can’t be “saved” and have the Holy Spirit, and yet live a life of worshipping everything but God. Sadly, many people are deceived in believing that they are saved when they are not. That is why in verse three Paul says, 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.” The truth is that anyone who fails to recognize Jesus as Lord, no matter how much they claim to be inspired, does not have the Holy Spirit! Why? Because The Holy Spirit bears witness to Jesus. He bears witness to Him in the Word of God; and in His life, death and resurrection! So anyone who calls Him cursed, whether Jew or Gentile, does not have the Holy Spirit! And if you do not have the Holy Spirit, then you are not saved. So then anyone who doesn’t have the Holy Spirit living inside them cannot call Jesus Lord. Again, anyone who doesn’t have the Holy Spirit living inside of them, and yet believes that they are saved, is deceived! It’s not good enough to say you believe. You must be born again by the person and power of the Holy Spirit. There is no other way to God. Consequently, it is only through the Holy Spirit that we can know and experience the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I hope that we have made this clear in our previous four messages on this subject. Please, if you have not done so, go to my Facebook page and listen to those messages on the Holy Spirit. With that said, I want to now look at verse one.
“Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.”
As I referenced in a previous message, the Apostle Paul wrote half of the New Testament. And he is the one who said, I do not want you to be uninformed about the spiritual gifts. With that being the case, why then would we allow theologians and denominations and preachers to keep us “uninformed” about the spiritual gifts?
Although Paul is writing this to the Church at Corinth, he is also writing it to the whole Church, including the twenty first century Church—including you and me! That’s why I’m teaching about spiritual gifts right now. They are for us today. They glorify Jesus and they are for “the common good.” Also it should be noted here that our goal in informing you about the spiritual gifts is not just so you can know about them but rather so you can learn to move in them!
Let’s pray.
1. Verse 4 “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.”
The Greek word for “gifts” is “charismatoon.” It means a gift of grace; a favor which no one earns on his own; it is a free gift.
We don’t earn these gifts from God. Rather they are freely given by Him through the Holy Spirit. We receive them by faith. We hear the Voice of the Holy Spirit and simply obey Him.
2. Verse 5 “There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.”
The Greek word for “service” is “diakonios.” It means different ministries that the Lord gives to the Church, like Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher.
The gifts of the Spirit are to operate under the authority that the Lord has placed in the Body of Christ if they are to be truly effective. If a person is unwilling to submit to the authority that God has placed in the Church, then they will not move in the gifts of the Spirit—at least not for long! No one “moving” in a spiritual gift is bigger or more important than the authority that God has placed in the Church.
3. Verse 6 “There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.”
The Greek word for “working” is “energeematon.” It means to be effectual, powerful or active. This refers to the miraculous. It would include casting out demons; the healing of different kinds of diseases; and miracles. These all proceed from God the Father—the fountain of all goodness and power and from whom all good and perfect gifts come.
So then, according to verses 4-6, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are a result of God’s grace and not of our works. We receive them by faith. Hear and obey. And in order to be effective, they must operate under the authority that God has placed in the Church. And the gifts are the Father’s will. They come from Him. There is no place for pride or selfishness if we are to receive and move in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Also, I think that it is worth pointing out the revelation of the Trinity in these verses. In verse 4 you have the Spirit; in verse 5 the Lord (Jesus); and in verse 6 God the Father! The gifts are from The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. But as we will see in verse 7, they are manifested by God the Holy Spirit.
Verse 7 “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
Whatever gifts God gives, or in whatever ways the Spirit manifests Himself in or through the Church, it is for the common benefit of the Church. God has not given any gift to any man for his own private advantage or profit. The gifts of the Spirit are given for the benefit of all, “the common good,” including the one being used in the gift. It’s about us and not about me. If it becomes about me, its’s over! Selfishness will grieve and quench the Holy Spirit.
With that said, The Holy Spirit desires to manifest Himself among us. But it is up to us to allow Him to do so. The lack of the manifestation of the Spirit is not on God’s part but on ours. Now, it is up to the Holy Spirit as to when and to whom He distributes His gifts. We don’t get to choose the time nor do we get to choose which gifts the Spirit manifests to the Church. What we do is humbly make ourselves available. And we humbly receive what gifts the Spirit bestows—not really concerning ourselves through whom He may work or what He may do through them. There is no place for jealousy when it comes to the gifts of the Spirit. The scripture says that the gifts—all of them—are for “the common good.”
Therefore, as we pursue the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we should do so keeping these things in mind:
1. The Holy Spirit is the One who bestows the gifts in and through whom He pleases and when He pleases.
2. The Spirit’s goal, besides bringing glory to Jesus (always) is for the common good—the edification of the Church. He is never out to glorify an individual with a gift.
3. No believer should become puffed up when the Spirit works through him. He should remember it’s the Spirit’s gift and not his own. And it comes because of grace and not merit.
4. No believer should feel discouraged or be down if the Spirit hasn’t bestowed a gift or certain gifts through him. Instead, remain humble and grateful for what the Spirit is doing for “the common good.” Remember, it’s not about “me.”
5. Remain open to the Spirit; be willing for Him to work through you in His time and in His way.
6. Think and pray “the common good,” instead of just about self. Again, it is really not about me! Rather, it is about Jesus blessing the whole Church through the Holy Spirit.
7. There is absolutely no room for selfishness when it comes to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Gifts are given to us so that they may flow through us to bless others.
The Dead Sea is dead because it has no outlet. The Sea of Galilee is alive because it does have an outlet. To be alive, you must have an outlet for what you receive from God, and that would include the gifts of the Spirit.
Let’s pray.
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