Spiritual manifestations were popular in the church in Corinth and they still are today. Paul does not want us to be uninformed. How can we get a godly balance in regard to unique skills given by the Spirit?
Spiritual gift tests probably still make the rounds of churches. They are simplistic and tend to assume that the gifts listed here are all the gifts of the Holy Spirit. A good background to this chapter is Exodus 31:1-5, where we see more gifts of the Spirit. Those listed here must then just be examples. What other gifts may the Holy Spirit give? What about hospitality, music, listening, or encouragement?
1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual [gifts], brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
The word “gifts” is not in the original, though it is implied in the later word charismata, meaning spiritual endowments, and is used several times in this chapter. The topic is the “spiritual” or “spiritual things.” Could their previous counterfeit gods speak as God speaks into our hearts through the Holy Spirit?
1 Corinthians 12:2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
We too were once deceived by the things of this world. What is one sign that someone’s words can be trusted or not?
1 Corinthians 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed [anathema]: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Were some things which Jesus and the Apostles allowed for conscience’s sake later called anathema by spiritually abusive church leaders? Are those who confess Jesus as Lord uniform or diverse in abilities?
1 Corinthians 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
There are diversities of:
1) charismata, literally “grace-endowments.” Should we divide over such issues, or do we have the same Lord?
1 Corinthians 12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
2) administrations, literally “services.” Do we all work the same way?
1 Corinthians 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
3) operations or workings. When we look around our local church are we blind to the endowment, services and works which are from the Holy Spirit, or do we just find fault with people? Are the manifestations of the Spirit for self-glory or for the good of all?
1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
What is the first and potentially most overlooked manifestation of the Spirit?
1 Corinthians 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
Wisdom is needed in teaching, exhortation and comforting. Knowledge of scripture, doctrine, and mysteries is needed. Are some given an extra measure of faith?
1 Corinthians 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
All Christians need a certain measure of faith for salvation. This is speaking of extraordinary faith to move mountains (Matthew 17:20). Gifts of healing are plural. This could therefore include both miraculous and physical means. Why do some seem to focus more on some manifestations than others?
1 Corinthians 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:
Counterfeit miracles and false prophecies abound (Deuteronomy 13). Tongues can come from God, mere human emotionalism and even the devil. Many non-Christian religions speak in tongues and their source is often emotionalism and mass hypnosis. What if God does not give us a gift that we want? Who makes the decision about giving these manifestations?
1 Corinthians 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
As Jesus prayed so should we, not my will but Yours be done. Who are these manifestations of the Spirit for?
1 Corinthians 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.
Do Christians with different manifestations all have the same Spirit?
1 Corinthians 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.
How many members of a human body are there?
1 Corinthians 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
Are some manifestations of less value?
1 Corinthians 12:15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
Are those with very different abilities still in the body?
1 Corinthians 12:16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
How useless would a church be if we all had the same abilities?
1 Corinthians 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
What do we often overlook when we are frustrated by differences between church members?
1 Corinthians 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
How useless would a body be if composed of only one part?
1 Corinthians 12:19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
How wonderful is the diversity of heavenly gifts?
1 Corinthians 12:20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
Do we need each other?
1 Corinthians 12:21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
What about those whose contribution seems small?
1 Corinthians 12:22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
What about those whose contribution is hidden behind the scenes?
1 Corinthians 12:23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
Applause is addictive, and some contributions don’t get much public praise. Are anonymous jobs often given greater honor by heaven than those which receive more frequent public acclamation?
1 Corinthians 12:24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.
What should we realize about our place in the local church?
1 Corinthians 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
How should we feel about those who suffer or are honored in our local church?
1 Corinthians 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
Are we all important parts of the team?
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
What are some ways that people serve in the church?
1 Corinthians 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
Are all sent on missions? Do all speak and teach God’s word or perform miracles?
1 Corinthians 12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
Are all used to heal or work with languages?
1 Corinthians 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
What are the most helpful endowments of grace (charismata)? Which gifts are most useful for a particular church at a particular time?
1 Corinthians 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
This more excellent way introduces the topic of love, often overlooked in ego-driven church politics. Let’s recognize and treasure the extraordinary manifestations of the Holy Spirit in each person’s life. Let’s remember to thank those faithfully serving in hidden duties. They may be the ones who receive the greatest reward in eternity.
Showing posts with label 1 Corinthians 12. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1 Corinthians 12. Show all posts
Everyone is Valuable
How does a local church operate? What talents and abilities are needed? Is every church going to have the same talents or needs? Let’s look at how God sees the value of every single church member in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 “For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”
We put food into our bodies, which convert it into energy, lubricants for our joints and perspiration for cooling. Each human body has about 200 billion nerve cells connected by hundreds of trillions of synapses. The heart pumps about 1½ gallons of blood every minute to every part of the body.
1 Corinthians 12:14-17 ‘For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?’
Human feet are complex designs for walking erect. 25% of our body’s bones are in our feet, and contain three arches each for strong load bearing. But these are also dynamic arches, absorbing various shocks as the load changes. At the same time feet use leverage to propel us forward.
Our hands are designed to strongly grasp large objects and skillfully handle small objects. Most of the fingers are actually controlled by muscles in the forearm through long tendons that pass through leverage points. Fat cells in the fingers give protection for delicate nerve cells which detect touch and heat.
Our eyes remain the same size from birth. We blink over 4 million times a year to irrigate the eye. The vestibulo-ocular reflex is like a miraculous steadicam for the eyes. The retina is among the most complex tissues in the body, too complex for our current computers to analyze.
How could our ears evolve by accident? Sounds comes through into the outer ear which is designed to amplify sound. Behind the eardrum, three little bones amplify and transmit the sounds. Then the cochlea converts them into electrical signals for the brain, through the incredibly complex microscopic organ of Corti.
1 Corinthians 12:18-21 ‘But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”’
Why are the feet, hand, eyes and ears placed where they are? What would it be like if our feet, hands, eyes or ears were situated in a totally different place? Can you imagine a few different places? What would it be like if we had to live like that?
1 Corinthians 12:22-24a “On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it.”
Without identifying which parts of the body are weaker, they are just as necessary as the stronger parts of our body. The same with those parts which we cover up with clothing and shoes for protection or modesty. They are just as necessary as our eyes which are usually uncovered.
1 Corinthians 12:24b-26 “But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.”
We pay careful attention to those parts of our body which need protection from sunburn, scratches, damage, uv light, heat or cold. We care just as much for our feet as our hands, or our eyes as for our ears. We would not want to be without any of them.
1 Corinthians 12:27-31 “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? But earnestly desire the greater gifts.”
Today’s apostle (small a) might be a messenger, or a missionary. Today’s prophet might be a man or woman who speaks God’s will. A teacher is a master of the Scriptures and teaches the Bible well. Miracles, healings, administrators, helpers, and translators? All are needed for a church to run.
A local church operates like a human body. God values the talents and abilities of every single member. Not every church going to have the same abilities or needs. Like a human body needs every part, hands, feet, ears and eyes, at different times for different purposes, so too does the local church need everyone.
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 “For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”
We put food into our bodies, which convert it into energy, lubricants for our joints and perspiration for cooling. Each human body has about 200 billion nerve cells connected by hundreds of trillions of synapses. The heart pumps about 1½ gallons of blood every minute to every part of the body.
1 Corinthians 12:14-17 ‘For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?’
Human feet are complex designs for walking erect. 25% of our body’s bones are in our feet, and contain three arches each for strong load bearing. But these are also dynamic arches, absorbing various shocks as the load changes. At the same time feet use leverage to propel us forward.
Our hands are designed to strongly grasp large objects and skillfully handle small objects. Most of the fingers are actually controlled by muscles in the forearm through long tendons that pass through leverage points. Fat cells in the fingers give protection for delicate nerve cells which detect touch and heat.
Our eyes remain the same size from birth. We blink over 4 million times a year to irrigate the eye. The vestibulo-ocular reflex is like a miraculous steadicam for the eyes. The retina is among the most complex tissues in the body, too complex for our current computers to analyze.
How could our ears evolve by accident? Sounds comes through into the outer ear which is designed to amplify sound. Behind the eardrum, three little bones amplify and transmit the sounds. Then the cochlea converts them into electrical signals for the brain, through the incredibly complex microscopic organ of Corti.
1 Corinthians 12:18-21 ‘But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”’
Why are the feet, hand, eyes and ears placed where they are? What would it be like if our feet, hands, eyes or ears were situated in a totally different place? Can you imagine a few different places? What would it be like if we had to live like that?
1 Corinthians 12:22-24a “On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it.”
Without identifying which parts of the body are weaker, they are just as necessary as the stronger parts of our body. The same with those parts which we cover up with clothing and shoes for protection or modesty. They are just as necessary as our eyes which are usually uncovered.
1 Corinthians 12:24b-26 “But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.”
We pay careful attention to those parts of our body which need protection from sunburn, scratches, damage, uv light, heat or cold. We care just as much for our feet as our hands, or our eyes as for our ears. We would not want to be without any of them.
1 Corinthians 12:27-31 “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? But earnestly desire the greater gifts.”
Today’s apostle (small a) might be a messenger, or a missionary. Today’s prophet might be a man or woman who speaks God’s will. A teacher is a master of the Scriptures and teaches the Bible well. Miracles, healings, administrators, helpers, and translators? All are needed for a church to run.
A local church operates like a human body. God values the talents and abilities of every single member. Not every church going to have the same abilities or needs. Like a human body needs every part, hands, feet, ears and eyes, at different times for different purposes, so too does the local church need everyone.
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Spiritual Manifestations
What kinds of epiphanies do we experience in a local church? Is spiritual enhancement of intellectual words, deeds of faith and foreign language skills a manifestation of the Holy Spirit? Let’s see how God’s glory was revealed in spiritual gifts given to an ancient church by exploring 1 Corinthians 12:1-11.
1 Corinthians 12:1-3 “Now concerning spiritual [manifestations, things, gifts, matters], brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, [in the manner] you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus is accursed’; and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.”
This chapter begins broadly with spiritual manifestations, which also occur in other religions. For example, tongues exist in non-Christian religions. How can we discern which spiritual manifestations are from God? We discern by what is spoken. Words of wisdom, knowledge, and languages can effectively curse Jesus or call Him Lord.
An acquaintance once told the story of attending a revival service. Down front a woman began shouting in tongues. Naive people thought it was from the Holy Spirit and praised Jesus. My acquaintance is Greek and knew it was not from God, because the woman yelled filthy words in Greek.
A well-known evangelist tells the story of getting a strong urge to speak in tongues to a fellow passenger on a flight. He finally gave in and started speaking. His neighbor was shocked to hear his unwritten central Asian local dialect. The evangelist then led his new friend to Christ.
Spiritual manifestations are common to many religions. Deuteronomy 13 teaches that false prophets can also perform miracles. Matthew 7 teaches we judge by good/bad fruits. Paul discerned that spiritual manifestations were causing divisions in Corinth. No longer led astray by idols, their greatest manifestation was being led to Jesus.
The most important speaking is saying, “Jesus is Lord.” Under Roman state persecution those words could lead to a person’s death. In a country with religious freedom like ours, anyone can say the words, but the proof of the words in our culture, is lives SUBMITTED to Jesus as Lord.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 “Now there are varieties of GIFTS, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of MINISTRIES, and the same Lord. There are varieties of EFFECTS, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
Not all diversity is good. Godly diversity exists in a variety of grace-endowments, ministries [diaconates] and energizings. The purpose of these spiritual manifestations was not for selfishness but the common good. The gifts listed are not ALL the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but ones which were controversial in Corinth.
Psychologists say that personality tests have no scientific basis whatsoever. Gullible corporations spend billions each year on them. What about spiritual gifts tests? They are sloppy, half-testing only manifestations that were controversial in Corinth, and ignore that God has given a great variety of spiritual gifts (1 Peter 4:10).
1 Corinthians 12:8-10 “For to one is given the word of WISDOM through the Spirit, and to another the word of KNOWLEDGE according to the same Spirit; to another FAITH by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of HEALING by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of MIRACLES, and to another PROPHECY, and to another the DISTINGUISHING of spirits, to another various kinds of TONGUES, and to another the INTERPRETATION of tongues.”
This sampling of divine manifestations, begins with the least-showy ones. We could divide these epiphanies into three kinds: gifts of intelligent words, deeds of faith and words that need a translator. When we witness these things, do we see a manifestation from God or just pass it off as normal?
We cannot limit divine manifestations to this list. God’s gifts are unlimited and the things God gave us may not even be on the list. Far better than a faulty test is the testimony of those Christians who know us best. Such epiphanies are everywhere if we open our eyes.
1 Corinthians 12:11 “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.”
Let’s understand God doesn’t want cookie-cutter Christians. We are all different because God wants it that way, for His purposes. Our unique spiritual gifts are not to be abused, or make us jealous, or to puff us up, but so we can be happy to contribute to the common good.
1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Deuteronomy 13; Matthew 7; 1 Peter 4:10
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
1 Corinthians 12:1-3 “Now concerning spiritual [manifestations, things, gifts, matters], brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, [in the manner] you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus is accursed’; and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.”
This chapter begins broadly with spiritual manifestations, which also occur in other religions. For example, tongues exist in non-Christian religions. How can we discern which spiritual manifestations are from God? We discern by what is spoken. Words of wisdom, knowledge, and languages can effectively curse Jesus or call Him Lord.
An acquaintance once told the story of attending a revival service. Down front a woman began shouting in tongues. Naive people thought it was from the Holy Spirit and praised Jesus. My acquaintance is Greek and knew it was not from God, because the woman yelled filthy words in Greek.
A well-known evangelist tells the story of getting a strong urge to speak in tongues to a fellow passenger on a flight. He finally gave in and started speaking. His neighbor was shocked to hear his unwritten central Asian local dialect. The evangelist then led his new friend to Christ.
Spiritual manifestations are common to many religions. Deuteronomy 13 teaches that false prophets can also perform miracles. Matthew 7 teaches we judge by good/bad fruits. Paul discerned that spiritual manifestations were causing divisions in Corinth. No longer led astray by idols, their greatest manifestation was being led to Jesus.
The most important speaking is saying, “Jesus is Lord.” Under Roman state persecution those words could lead to a person’s death. In a country with religious freedom like ours, anyone can say the words, but the proof of the words in our culture, is lives SUBMITTED to Jesus as Lord.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 “Now there are varieties of GIFTS, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of MINISTRIES, and the same Lord. There are varieties of EFFECTS, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
Not all diversity is good. Godly diversity exists in a variety of grace-endowments, ministries [diaconates] and energizings. The purpose of these spiritual manifestations was not for selfishness but the common good. The gifts listed are not ALL the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but ones which were controversial in Corinth.
Psychologists say that personality tests have no scientific basis whatsoever. Gullible corporations spend billions each year on them. What about spiritual gifts tests? They are sloppy, half-testing only manifestations that were controversial in Corinth, and ignore that God has given a great variety of spiritual gifts (1 Peter 4:10).
1 Corinthians 12:8-10 “For to one is given the word of WISDOM through the Spirit, and to another the word of KNOWLEDGE according to the same Spirit; to another FAITH by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of HEALING by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of MIRACLES, and to another PROPHECY, and to another the DISTINGUISHING of spirits, to another various kinds of TONGUES, and to another the INTERPRETATION of tongues.”
This sampling of divine manifestations, begins with the least-showy ones. We could divide these epiphanies into three kinds: gifts of intelligent words, deeds of faith and words that need a translator. When we witness these things, do we see a manifestation from God or just pass it off as normal?
We cannot limit divine manifestations to this list. God’s gifts are unlimited and the things God gave us may not even be on the list. Far better than a faulty test is the testimony of those Christians who know us best. Such epiphanies are everywhere if we open our eyes.
1 Corinthians 12:11 “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.”
Let’s understand God doesn’t want cookie-cutter Christians. We are all different because God wants it that way, for His purposes. Our unique spiritual gifts are not to be abused, or make us jealous, or to puff us up, but so we can be happy to contribute to the common good.
1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Deuteronomy 13; Matthew 7; 1 Peter 4:10
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
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