In 1 Corinthians 1:4-7 (NKJV) Apostle Paul writes – 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, 6 even 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.
Here we have the Corinthian believers who are enriched in utterance and knowledge. That they are not deficient in the gifts because of the grace of God upon them. Paul’s purpose in writing to these believers has to do with the proper motivation and the operation of the Gifts of the Spirit in their church services. We should desire and expect the Gifts of the Spirit in operation in our church services today as well as in the marketplace. Some Bible teachers skip right over chapters 12 and 14. They will teach on the love of God but they don’t want to teach on the gifts. It’s just too messy, controversial, or not needed today because we have the completion of the scriptures.
They base this on 1 Cor 13:8-10. We still need knowledge today. It hasn’t passed away. The “Perfect” is not the completion of scripture but it is referring to Christ.
1. 4 Keys to operating in The Gifts of the Spirit-
a. Knowledge ( 1 Corinthians 12:1)
b. Faith ( Romans 12:3, Romans 12:6 )
c. Desire ( 1 Corinthians 14:1 )
d. Love ( 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 )
2. The ministry of Spiritual Gifts originates in the New Testament, commissioned by our Lord Jesus Christ. After He established His church on the earth and ascended to Heaven, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to equip His church with power and Spiritual Gifts.
3. “The word “gift” is the Greek word charismata. The charis is part of charismata means “grace.” The ma part of charismata implies “it is a grace given. These are grace gifts and they cannot be earned, merited, or come using religious works. They are freely given to benefit the Body of Christ and in reaching the lost. They are operated by grace through faith.” Steven Brooks
4. The first-century Church operated in these gifts and they diminished over time as reason and science became more prevalent. However, they were not totally absent. The theological term Cessationism means that these gifts aren’t for today and have passed away with the first-century Church. They believe that miracles, healings, and Gifts of the Spirit were for the early church only to get it established and they aren’t needed today.
5. The operation of the Gifts of the Spirit in the local Church today is the manifestation of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. It is the manifestation of the character of Christ among God’s people. Jesus is the power of God and the wisdom of God. ( 1 Cor. 1:24, Isaiah 11:2 ).
6. While there are certain Gifts of a spectacular nature that are often given greater attention, the New Testament mentions at least 21 that are provided to the church.
7. These gifts are listed in Eph. 4:11, Rom. 12:3-7, and 1 Cor. 12:1-12, 28, and are generally assigned to one of three categories, as listed below:
a. The different ministries can be found in Eph. 4:11 and Rom. 12:6-8. The ministries in Ephesians are the equipping ministries that equip the body of Christ to do the work of the ministry.
b. The ministries in Romans 12 are the body ministries that are occupied by the Body of Christ. These are equipped by the equipping ministries in Ephesians 4.
c. Together there are 12 ministries. Twelve is the number of administrations in the Bible. Jesus administers the Body of Christ by the 12 ministries of Ephesians 4 and Romans 12.
d. Ministry (office) gifts: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher.
e. Motivational (practical-service) gifts: Service, Exhortation, Giving, Leadership, Mercy, Helps and Administration. (Government)
f. Gifts of the Spirit-
i. word of wisdom, word of knowledge, discerning of spirits, -gifts that reveal.
ii. gift of faith, working of miracles, gifts of healings, -gifts that do.
iii. prophecy, tongues, interpretation of tongues-gifts that say.
8. 1 Corinthians 12-Apostle Paul
a. verses 1-3- Introduction.
b. Verses 4-6- outline of chapter.
c. Verses 7-11– spiritual gifts- Holy spirit over the Gifs of the spirit.
d. verses 12-27- Jesus over the twelve offices.
e. Verses 28-31- God the Father over the operations of.
9. God can speak to us today through the Gifts as well as the offices and also through the Word of God! We are no longer Gentiles who did not know Christ. Heathens that were led by dumb idols that couldn’t speak to us. The Godhead all functioning together, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, and God the Father!
a. The point to bear in mind here is that Paul is writing to those who without undue astonishment were living in an atmosphere charged with the supernatural, where miracles were a daily occurrence, where such manifestations were expected, and where counterfeits of spiritist origin were-as ever before or since during heaven’s blessed outpourings-in strong and insistent evidence. Horton, Harold.
b. Before conversion the Corinthians had been idolaters, enslaved by evil spirits. They lived in fear of the spirits and were led about by these diabolical influences. They witnessed supernatural manifestations of the spirit world and heard spirit-inspired utterances. Under the influence of evil spirits, they sometimes surrendered self-control and said and did things beyond their own conscious powers. –Believer’s Bible Commentary
c. They were carried away not by the idols but by the demons that were behind them. Any so-called “Spirit manifestation” that robs a person of self-control is not of God; for“the fruit of the Spirit is – self-control” –Warren Weirsbe
d. This manifestation would be hard to miss, however! This might have been done by Christians yielding to the wrong spirit or unbelievers operating in the occult in the midst of the believers.
e. No demon will confess Jesus as God or that He has come in the flesh. Demons will try to undermine both the deity and humanity of Jesus. 1 John 4:3
f. It was common to have different demon spirits give different spiritual manifestations in the Corinthian pagan past. Paul wanted them to know that they were not different spirits that gave different spiritual manifestations in their Christian services, but it was the one and the same Holy Spirit that gave and directed them all.
g. In the pagan world different things were governed by different deities. Such as the sun, moon, and stars all had different deities allegedly controlling them. Paul wanted to let the Corinthians know that Jesus was the only one giving and overseeing the different ministries in the body of Christ.
10. Hebrews 1:2 (KJV) 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
11. Hebrews 12:25 (NKJV) 25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven,
12. Revelation 19:10 (NKJV) 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
a. Testimony: from <G3144> (martus); evidence given (judicially or generic) :- record, report, testimony, witness.
13. The Gifts are to profit others not just you! Not to make you superior or look good or better than others. Ministry is serving with humility! Not to glorify us but to benefit others! We draw attention to Jesus. We give God all the glory.
14. Manifestation of the Gifts–
a. Manifestation– Gr. phanerosis– a manifestation, a making visible or observable, active exhibition. a shining forth.
b. Taking from the invisible realm into the natural realm. Where we can hear it and see it and sense it or feel it! It’s showing forth like the sun.
c. Distribute: Gr. diaireo– to take from, divide, partition, apportion, assign.
d. Wills- Gr. boulomai– to resolve or determine
e. We don’t operate in the Gifts of the Spirit as we will, but they operate as the Spirit wills. Yet He is always willing.
f. We don’t turn on and turn off the Gifts of the Spirit like a water faucet.
g. However, on the other hand, this does not mean that the gifts will automatically work through you without your cooperation.
h. You must cooperate with the Spirit by exercising your faith and releasing them. Rom. 12:6
i. You can quench the Spirit by refusing to yield to the Spirit’s leading-(1Thess. 5:19 ).
15. Again you don’t pick and choose the gifts, the Holy Spirit distributes as He wills. They are the Gifts that go along with your calling from God. He is willing because He wants all to profit from what Jesus is saying through the Holy Spirit. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Rev. 19:10
16. 1 Corinthians 14:26 (NKJV) -26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has-( Seen in a Church service-whenever we come together )
Apostle Paul describes what a church service would look like.
1. -a psalm, (worship)
2. -has a teaching,
3. -has a tongue, ( Gift of the Spirit)
4. -has a revelation ( disclosure of truth, prophecy, word of wisdom, word of
knowledge, discerning of spirits),
5. -has an interpretation. (Gift of the Spirit)
6. -Let all things be done for edification. (ingredients in any church service)
17. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (NKJV)
a. diversities- Gr. diairesis– division, distribution, classification, or separation.
1. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
2. There are differences (diversities)of ministries, (diakonia-deacon-service, attendant) but the same Lord.
3. And there are diversities of activities (operations).
4. but it is the same God who works all in all.
5. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
18. for to one is given the (1 Corinthians 12:8-10 ).
1. word of wisdom through the Spirit,
2. to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,
3. to another faith by the same Spirit,
4. to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit.
5. to another the working of miracles,
6. to another prophecy,
7. to another discerning of spirits,
8. to another different kinds of tongues,
9. to another the interpretation of tongues.
10. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
19. 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 (NKJV) -27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, Varieties of tongues.
1. Paul does not give a complete list but shows how all the Gifts can work together. He is also saying that there is diversity in the Body of Christ.
2. Are all apostles? No, but some are
3. Are all prophets? No, but some are
4. Are all teachers? No, but some are
5. Are all workers of miracles? No, but some do.
6. Do all have gifts of healings? No No, some do.-(Operation of diverse kinds of tongues, not private prayer language in the Holy Spirit-(Jude 20, 1 Cor. 14:4,14,18, )
8. Do all interpret? No, but some do.
9. But earnestly desire the best gifts. ( What is needed and accompanies your specific calling)
10. And yet I show you a more excellent way. (The Way of Love and Manifestations of the Spirit )
We must remember that all scripture is inspired by God including 1 Corinthians 12-14.
You just can’t ignore it, or reason it away. The answer to non-use, abuse, and misuse of the Gifts at times, is not non-use but correct teaching and correct demonstration. What a day it will be when we cooperate with the Holy Spirit and yield to Him. That we allow the operation of these Gifts in our services. To reject them is to reject the God-head. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
In Christ’s love
Brent and Linda Bushen
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