I Corinthians 12
Church Talk – A Study of I and II Corinthians
Pastor Brandon Ball
07/19/2023
(Preface)
Spiritual Gifts
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. —1 Corinthians 12:1–3 (ESV)
1. A Healthy Understanding of Spiritual Gifts
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. —1 Corinthians 12:4–6 (ESV)
These are not only “gifts” but also “
” and “ ” that are dispensed by God’s grace. Gifts (χάρισμα) (charisma). This is where we get the word “grace” from (charis).
Services (διακονία) (diakonia). Service; Ministry.
Activities (ἐνέργημα) (energēma). Effect; Activity.
6 … but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. —1 Corinthians 12:6 (ESV)Whether “gifts”, “services”, “activities” they all come from
and are distributed throughout the body (church). 7 To each is given the manifestation (gift, service, activity) of the Spirit for the common good. —1 Corinthians 12:7 (ESV)
Every manifestation of the Spirit is given for the sole purpose of
up the church (“common good”). 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. —1 Corinthians 12:7–11 (ESV)
Gifts:
Wisdom (σοφία) (sophia). Cleverness; skill; wisdom; insight.
Knowledge (γνῶσις) (gnōsis). Seeking to know; inquiry; possessing esoteric knowledge.
Faith (πίστις) (pistis). Trust; persuasion; assurance.
Gifts Healing (ἴαμα) (iama). Remedy; medicine; power to heal.
Miracles (δύναμις) (dynamis). Power; might; bodily strength.
Prophecy (προφητεία) (prophētia). Gift of interpreting the will of God; inspired utterance.
- Forth Telling (present)
- Fore Telling (future)
Distinguishing of spirits (ἄλλῳ διακρίσεις πνευμάτων)
- “judging individuals is wrong, judging the spirit behind the individual is wise”
Tongues and interpretation
(γένος/genos/kinds)
(γλῶσσα/glōssalia/tongues)
(ἑρμηνεία/hermēnēa/interpretation).Interpretation – interpretation; expression (interpretation not translation)
- Translation is word for word whereas interpretation is expressional.
6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. —Romans 12:6–8 (ESV)
Understand your “proportion of faith”; not everyone is called to full-time ministry.
“Service” is a spiritual service/gift. (διακονία) Service; ministry.
“Contributes” in “generosity”
- If you grieve when you give above and beyond, you either don’t have the gift of giving; or you are using your gifting while not spiritually healthy.
“Leads” with “zeal” or, eagerness; diligence – not laziness.
- Leading, as many gifts, are both grace gifts as well as an office.
- If one is in the office of a leader, but lazy, there is a problem.
- Either not gifted; or spiritually unhealthy.
“Acts of Mercy” with “cheerfulness” (an unhealthy person operating in this gift can demand or expect this from others).
- Gifts, visitations, acts of benevolence
“An unhealthy person operating in this gift can
or the same from others”. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? —1 Corinthians 12:28–30 (ESV)
Helping (ἀντίλημψις) (antilēmpsis) Ability to help; facilitate; or aid.
Administration (κυβέρνησις) (kybernēsis) Navigate; pilotage; steering; administrate.
2. A Healthy Atmosphere of Operation
We must keep in mind the condition of the Corinthian church. They were classing themselves and church leaders. There was tolerated sin. There was a lack of spiritual headship and submission to God’s pattern of authority. There was also an abuse of the gifts of the Spirit. Some were clearly seeking after certain gifts because they were more visible or seemed more “spiritual”.
Paul says, “run the race” and uses many other sporting references.
- What would happen to an athlete that exercised one leg and neglected the other?
- First, it would look weird.
- Second, the body wouldn’t function at its full potential.
- How do you think this affects the local church if there is a spiritual gifting hierarchy?
The church looks weird, and it doesn’t function properly.
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” —1 Corinthians 12:14–21 (ESV)
You must discover and embrace your “God-wiring”.
“To try and force yourself into a different gift, activity, or service can lead to short circuiting what God has wired”.
3. The Necessary Ingredient
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. —1 Corinthians 12:27–31 (ESV)
Carmel Apple or Camel Onion.
- One is sweet on the outside and fulfilled by the inside.
- The other is sweet on the outside and repugnant on the inside.
Such is the church that understands the main purpose and the main ingredient of the gifts:
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.The Way of Love
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. —1 Corinthians 12:29–13:3 (ESV)
Notes: