I. Confusion Over Spiritual Gifts Vs. 1-3
A. Spiritual Ignorance Is Not Good Vs. 1, 2
1. V. 1-Paul writes to the brethren at Corinth. He wrote to Christians.
a. Ignorant- to not know, to not understand.
b. Paul did not want them to continue in their spiritual ignorance regarding the gifts.
c. Matthew 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
d. 2 Peter 2:2, 3 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
2. V. 2-Paul said that before they were Christians, the Corinthians were “carried away” to these lifeless idols. That happened
because of a lack of spiritual understanding.
a. Carried away-to lead someone away, often to a destructive end.
b. Dumb idols-without the ability to communicate, lifeless.
3. Some of the main tactics of Satan against Christians are the tactics of deception, imitation, lies, and deception. The area of “spiritual gifts” is an arena where Satan brings imitation.
a. The Bible often shows us Satan seeking to imitate the workings of God and having some limited success at it. He is an imposter and seeks to be worshipped as God.
b. Exodus 7:8-13 8 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 9 “When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Show a miracle for yourselves,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod and cast it before Pharaoh, and let it become a serpent.’ ”
10 So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharoah, and they did so, just as the LORD commanded. And Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a
serpent. 11 But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
12 For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.
13And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the LORD had said.
c. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder!
For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
d. 2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
B. The Gifts/Ministry Of The Holy Spirit Always Exalt Jesus V. 3
1. Jesus taught about the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
2. John 16:13-14 13However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
3. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Jesus, never to speak badly about him.
4. A person can only sincerely say that Jesus is Lord by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
5. It seems that some were saying that someone might claim to be speaking by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and yet speaking badly about Jesus.
6. Paul says that that is an impossibility. The Holy Spirit would never prompt that.
7. The ministry of the Holy Spirit who indwells the Christian, is always to glorify Jesus.
II. Differences Are God’s Design Vs. 4-11
A. Three Aspects To Consider Vs. 4-6
1. V. 4- Gifts- charisma-giftings, spiritual endowments, but all coming from the Holy Spirit.
2. V. 5- Ministries- diakonia-services, tasks to complete; God is the source of all of them.
3. V. 6- Activites- energema-a thing done and its, but God works through all of them.
4. Summary- Different giftings, exercised in different ways, places and situations, and bringing a varying degree of results, but all done by God’s design and plan.
5. Example- One evangelist goes to prisons in Mexico, and wins dozen to Christ, one preaches in stadiums and wins thousands to Christ, one is a hospital chaplain who preaches to individuals, and might win only a few to Christ.
6. All exist by God’s design, and all are equally important. One minister might be more visible, but he is not more important.
They are assigned duties given to God’s servants.
B. Every Christian Is Gifted Vs. 7-11
1. V. 7-Manifestation-exhibition, expression, display, evidence of a thing.
a. The different gifts, different ministries, and different effects/results that the Holy Spirit gives to the church is so that all can benefit.
b. Each one is given a gift so that the church would experience the blessings of God.
c. Profit- to be better for, to be better because of.
2. V. 8a Word of wisdom-More than human wisdom. A special gifting of supernatural wisdom for any given situation or need. Needed wisdom for the moment.
3. V. 8b Word of knowledge-More than human knowledge. Knowledge that is supernaturally given for a situation, i.e., Peter in Acts 5:3, 4.
a. Acts 5:3, 4 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
4. V. 9a Faith-Not saving faith, but a special faith suited for your gifting and ministry.
5. V. 9b Gifts of healings-Moments when the gift of healing is manifested.
6. V. 10a Working of miracles- “Acts of power”. When God overrides the laws of nature and used one of his servants in doing so.
7. V. 10b Prophecy-Speaking forth God’s word. Predictive or for the moment. More than preaching and teaching. A special word for a special moment.
8. V. 10c Discerning of spirits-The ability to discern between that which is from the Holy Spirit and that which is not.
9. V. 10d Different kinds of tongues-The ability to speak in a language unlearned by the speaker, primarily used for prayer and devotion, but sometimes shared in a church setting, but needing interpretation. Tongues is nothing more than a language between two people. In this case, between God and the Christian, thought the mind of the Christian doesn’t understand, his spirit is edified as he prays.
10. V. 10e Interpretation of tongues-The ability to interpret tongues. That is for the profit of those who are present when a tongue is spoken.
11. V. 11-The Holy Spirit is the activator, distributor, leader, guide, and director of all of the spiritual gifts that are given to the Body of Christ.
12. Guzik- If the Spirit distributes to each one individually as He wills, why would He choose to give a particular gift at a particular moment? The larger reasons may not be apparent, but the goal of the Holy Spirit’s work is always to glorify Jesus and to build His nature and character in us. The Spirit’s goal is never to amaze or confuse, but to build the fruit of the Spirit, and He will use or not use any gift He thinks right towards that end. Though the manifestations of the Spirit are given as the Spirit wills, the believer still must receive them with faith. He distributes and we receive, and the receiving and exercising of the gifts is often very natural.