The Holy Spirit – Even More Gifts

Sunday Morning Bible Study

September 1, 2013

Introduction

Do people see Jesus? Is the gospel preached? Does it speak to the broken hearted? Does it build up the church? Milk – Meat – Manna Preach for a decision Is the church loved?

There’s a Mexico trip coming up November 1-3. Play video.

As most of you know, Pastor Chuck Smith, the founder of the Calvary Chapel movement, went home to be with Jesus early Thursday morning. I believe some of the churches may be putting together special programs to honor Chuck, but I think we will honor Chuck by doing what he taught us to do, and what he did just last Sunday – we will teach the Word.

We continue our current series on the Holy Spirit by continuing to look at the various Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

In our current series on the Holy Spirit we’ve talked about:

Who the Holy Spirit is

The power (baptism) of the Holy Spirit

What the Holy Spirit does

We are now on our third week talking about the gifts of the Holy Spirit

Even More Gifts - 1Corinthians 12:1-9

:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:

:1 spiritual gifts – pneumatikos – relating to the spirit

:2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.

:2 dumb idols

dumb – aphonos – voiceless, dumb; without faculty of speech

As pagan Gentiles, Paul’s readers used to worship little statues that couldn’t talk. They were “dumb”.

But God is not “dumb”. He is not speechless.

God speaks to us through His word.

(2 Ti 3:16–17 NKJV) —16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Scripture is literally “God-breathed” (“inspired”).

One of the ways God speaks to us is through His Holy Spirit.

He may speak into your heart.

He may speak through others with what we call the “speaking” gifts (prophecy, teaching, wisdom, knowledge)

:3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

:3 no one speaking by the Spirit of God

The theological term for speaking in tongues is “glossolalia”, combining the word “glossa” (tongue) with “laleo” (to speak).

There are quite a few words that can be translated to “speak”, but the word in this verse is is laleo.

Some have suggested that Paul may be talking here about a person speaking in an unknown tongue.

Some people might be concerned that if they are speaking in an unknown tongue, they may be inadvertently saying bad things about Jesus.

:3 Jesus accursed … Jesus is Lord

The Holy Spirit does speak. He doesn’t curse Jesus. He calls Jesus Lord.

Whether it is through speaking in English or speaking in an unknown tongue, the Holy Spirit isn’t the one speaking when a person speaks badly of Jesus.

:3 Jesus is Lord

Paul uses a different word for “say” (lego).

No one can truly say that Jesus is their Lord unless they have God’s Spirit in them.

:4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

:4 diversities – diairesis – division, distribution; distinction

from diaireo – to divide into parts

The exact same word is used in verse 4,5,6.

:4 gifts – charisma – a favor with which one receives without any merit of his own

Spiritual gifts are literally “works of grace” coming from the Spirit.

:5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.

:5 differences – diairesis – division, distribution; distinction, difference

It’s the exact same word translated “diversities” in verse 4.

:5 ministries – diakonia – service, ministering, those who execute the commands of others

Ministries are what we do when we serve others.

:6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

:4 diversities – diairesis – division, distribution; distinction, difference

:6 activities – energema – thing wrought; effect, operation

(NASB) There are varieties of effects

The “activity” is the result of what has been done while serving.

Note: Did you see the three persons of the Godhead in these last three verses? The Spirit is in verse 4, Jesus is in verse 5, and God the Father is in verse 6.

Lesson

Appreciate Diversity

A common mistake we all make is to compare ourselves with each other.

Illustration

How Many Kids?

Four expectant fathers were in a hospital waiting room while their wives were in labor. The nurse arrived and announced to the first man, “Congratulations sir! You’re the father of twins.” “What a coincidence!” the man said with some obvious pride. “I work for the Minnesota Twins baseball team.” The nurse returned in a little while and turned to the second man, “You, sir, are the father of triplets.” “Wow! That’s really an incredible coincidence,” he answered. “I work for 3M. My buddies will never let me live this one down.” An hour later, while the other two men were passing cigars around, the nurse came back. This time she turned to the third man, who had been very quiet in the corner. She announced that his wife had just given birth to quadruplets. Stunned, he barely could reply. “Don’t tell me, another coincidence?” asked the nurse. After finally regaining his composure, he said, “I don’t believe it. I work for the Four Seasons Hotel.” After hearing this, everybody’s attention turned to the fourth guy, who had just fainted, flat out on the floor. The nurse rushed to his side and after some time, he slowly gained consciousness. When he was finally able to speak, you could hear him whispering the same phrase over and over again: “I should have never taken that job at 7-Up. I should have never taken that job at 7-Up. I should have never taken that job at 7-Up...”

Comparing ourselves with others just causes us grief.

Sometimes we compare ourselves with people who have certain gifts, thinking that we’re nobody because we don’t have that particular gift.

We might be envious with a person with gifts of healing and prophecy, when we know that our gifts are serving and mercy.

Sometimes we compare ourselves with people who are serving God in other ministries, wishing that we could serve in that ministry.

For years I had wanted to be on staff at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, and it never happened. But eventually I was hired on staff at Calvary Chapel Anaheim.

Sometimes we compare ourselves with people who might have the same gifts, might have the same ministries, but the results are different.

Perhaps they help hundreds of people a day, while you reach out to one person a month.

It doesn’t matter what gifts, what ministry you do, or what the effects are. It’s all about God, not you.

:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

:7 manifestation – phanerosis – from phaneroo – to make visible or known what has been hidden or unknown

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are one of the ways that the Holy Spirit lets people know that He’s working.

That’s not just gifts like miracles or tongues, but all the gifts make visible the work of the Holy Spirit in the world.

If you have the gift of mercy, and you are led to visit a friend in the hospital, that extraordinary comfort they receive is a display to them that God really does care for them.

:7 for the profit of all – sumphero –to carry with others; to help, be profitable

The word literally means “carry with others”, but the idea of profit comes from the idea that it’s a good thing when we all “carry together”.

This word reminds me of the story of the time when Peter’s roof was destroyed. It happened one day when Peter’s house was packed with people wanting to see Jesus.

(Mk 2:3–4 NKJV) 3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.

The word translated “bringing” is phero, the root word of sumphero (“for the profit”). These men were “bringing” their friend, and they were doing it together.

4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.

This paralyzed man had four friends who cared enough about him to carry him on a stretcher, take him up to the roof of Peter’s house, dig a hole through the roof, and let their friend down to Jesus.

Jesus healed the man.

But it happened because four men who “carried” their friend did it “together”.

The working of spiritual gifts should be like the work of those four men.

When we work or “carry together”, Jesus does amazing things.

Lesson

Together for others

Spiritual gifts are not a one-man operation.

They are meant to be operating within the body of Christ, being a part of the whole.

You may be asking the question, “Why does God give spiritual gifts?”

He does not give spiritual gifts for the purpose of creating a circus.

He gives spiritual gifts so that we all learn to work together, for the “profit of all”.

He gives them so we can display the power of God by helping others.

Sometimes we can make the mistake of thinking that the good we receive at church is going to come either through Dave leading the music, or Rich teaching.

But we are only small parts of the body of Christ.

In reality, every one of you who have trusted in Christ are also parts of the body.

When we come together on Sunday mornings, do you realize that God may want to use YOU?

It might be helping to set up the coffee in the morning.

It might be joining the team that prays during the service.

It might be teaching a Sunday School class.

It might be by smiling and reaching out to the person next to you in the service.

You have gifts. God wants to use them.

:8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,

:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,

Word of Wisdom

(1 Co 12:8 NKJV) for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit…

In verse 4, we read about the “diversities of gifts”, or the “dividing up of the gifts”

This is one of the “divisions”, one of the gifts given.

:8 word – logos – word

:8 wisdom – sophia – wisdom, broad and full of intelligence; the act of interpreting dreams and always giving the sagest advice skill in the management of affairs

Definition of gift:

Supernaturally perfect solutions.

Knowledge is about facts. Wisdom is knowing what to do with what you know.

It does not mean that a person with this gift knows the answer to every problem. They do not become “all wise”. It comes when it’s needed. It comes when God wants.

I think I’ve had a taste of this gift. Sometimes the answers God gives me are obviously way beyond my own abilities. But to be honest, sometimes someone comes to me with a problem, and all I can say is “I got nothin’”.

Example of the gift:

Towards the end of His ministry, Jesus was often being tested by various religious leaders to see if He would give them an excuse to arrest Him.

Once the Pharisees tried to trick Jesus by asking Him if it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar.

It was the law to pay your Roman taxes, but the Jews hated to pay their taxes to Rome.

If Jesus says it’s okay to pay taxes, then the Jews won’t like Him. If Jesus says to not pay taxes, then the Romans might have Him arrested. Jesus answered this hard question with wisdom. Jesus said…

(Mt 22:19–21 NKJV) —19 Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” 21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Jesus’ answer wasn’t a “gotcha” phrase. The wisdom of His answer displayed that God wants us to be respectful to those in authority over us, but ultimately be respectful to God.

If you have this gift, you will find that from time to time you will be given the most amazing answers to the questions that people give you.

It might not be all the time, but it might be some of the time.

This would be an important gift to have for someone with a counseling ministry.

James gives us some pointers in recognizing God’s kind of wisdom. Instead of giving answers that are selfish or stir up trouble …

(Jas 3:17 NKJV) …the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

This is what the “word of wisdom” tastes like.

Word of Knowledge

(1 Co 12:8 NKJV) …to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,

:8 knowledge – gnosis – knowledge signifies in general intelligence, understanding

Knowledge is about facts. Wisdom is knowing what to do with what you know.

Definition of gift:

Knowledge of things by supernatural means.

Scriptural examples of the gift:

When Jesus talked with the woman at the well –

(Jn 4:16–19 NKJV) —16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.” 19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.

Jesus knew facts about this woman, though she had never met Him before.

The difference between Jesus and the average person with the “word of knowledge” is that Jesus knows all things.

A person with the “word of knowledge” only knows what the Holy Spirit tells them.

Sometimes, when people recognize a person as having this gift, they get kind of intimidated, thinking that the person knows everything about them. Not true. God will only reveal to them what He wants to reveal.

How the gift may be used:

Faith building – often used to stimulate a person’s faith to trust God for something.

There was a time in one of our services when one of the folks had a picture in their mind from the Lord about a medical condition in another person. They went on to describe kind of a specific, unusual thing. It was the person sitting right in front of them. Only a few of us knew of the condition beforehand. It was an incredible encouragement for the person to realize that God knew what was going on in their life.

Illustration

A few years ago I was in my office. At the time I was struggling with some of the difficult things that were going on in the church. My secretary, Laurie, told me I had a phone message, and it was from some guy named Chris from Boyden Beach in Florida. A guy I’ve never met. He said he had been praying and that my name came to his mind, and that God wanted him to be praying for me. He didn’t ask me for anything. He didn’t ask me to vote for anything. He didn’t try to sell me something. He just told me that God wanted him to be praying for me.

I can’t tell you how awed I was to think that God cared enough about me to put my name on the heart of a total stranger.

God does know you. He knows you by name.

Warning: Something you see in some churches is a person will be up front who says something like, “Someone in the room has a bad back …” I have to tell you I’m a little skeptical about some of these things. The truth is, probably half of us in here have sore backs… more about phonies next week.

Prayer with others – I’ve seen this gift used in praying for people where someone prays for something that wasn’t asked for, but was certainly needed.

Prayer for others – sometimes God gives you insight how to pray for others.

In his book Living Water, Pastor Chuck wrote (pg. 113),

“Years ago we were pastoring a community church. One Sunday my wife, Kay, pointed to a fellow in our church who enjoyed a very prominent position in the community. He was a great family man with a tremendous personality. Kay said to me, “When I looked at him this morning, I just knew by the Spirit that he was having an affair with his secretary. It came so strong. I first thought, “Oh, that’s terrible to think such a thing; I should put that out of my mind. But it keeps coming back. He’s having an affair with his secretary.” I replied, “Now Kay, the Bible says we shouldn’t have evil imaginations.” She answered, “No! Every time I look at him, I see him with his secretary. He’s carrying on!” I insisted, “Oh, come on. Not him!”

A few months later I received a phone call. This man and his wife were on the line together. They tried to speak, but all they got out was a feeble “Pastor Chuck”. Then their voices broke, they started sobbing, and couldn’t continue. So I said, “That’s all right. I know what the call is all about.”

“You do?” he asked incredulously.

“Yes. You’ve been in an affair with your secretary for the last six months. Come on over and let’s talk and pray about it.”

This man and his wife were shocked that I knew exactly what was happening. But the Lord had already shown it to Kay.

I think that sometimes the Lord will give a person insight or knowledge about another person. That doesn’t mean that we are to rush over and say something. Sometimes we are just to be praying.

Faith

(1 Co 12:9 NKJV) to another faith by the same Spirit…

:9 faith – pistis – conviction of the truth of anything, belief

In general terms, faith is defined as:

Trusting in something you don’t see.

It’s knowing in your heart that what God has promised, He will do, even when it doesn’t look like it will happen (Heb. 11:1)

(Heb 11:1 NLT) Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

Paul wrote,

(2 Co 5:7 NKJV) For we walk by faith, not by sight.

As Christians, we are learning to live our lives, to make decisions in our lives, by trusting God and His promises.

We don’t make all our decisions based on what we “see”, understand, or experience with our senses.

Definition of gift:

We are all supposed to have faith. But the gift of faith could be defined as:

Exceptional trust in God for something

God gives to all of us faith. That’s how we are saved.

This is faith beyond our trusting God for our salvation. This is trusting God for the miraculous, for the impossible.

(Mk 9:23 NKJV) Jesus said to him, “If You can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

Scriptural examples of the gift:

Peter and John went to the temple like they did every day. Peter had seen the lame man lying there before, yet this day something was different.

(Ac 3:6–8 NKJV) —6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.

It took exceptional faith to say what they did to the man, grab him, and lifting him up. What if he wasn’t healed?

How the gift may be used:

Praying for others. God lays something on your heart. You are overwhelmed with an assurance, with a confidence that God will indeed do it.

Counseling: To encourage someone, “I just know that God’s going to do this!”

As with the others gifts, this gift may be mixed in with many of the other gifts.

It takes faith to believe God for a miracle.

Healings

(1 Co 12:9 NKJV) …to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,

:9 gifts – charisma – “a work of grace”

This is the same word that is sometimes translated “spiritual gifts”

:9 healings – iama – a means of healing, remedy, medicine; a healing

In the Greek, both words are plural. We often think of a person who is used to bring healing as having the “gift of healing”, and that’s totally possible. But it could very well be that the person who is healed is the one who has received the gift. The idea that “healings” is plural could also carry the idea of different kinds of healings: physical, emotional, social, spiritual...etc.

Does everyone get healed?

No. Many people teach today that God will heal everybody, all the time, all they need is faith.

They typically teach that when a person is not healed, then there is either unconfessed sin in the person’s life, or they lack faith.

Those could be reasons why you might not be healed, but sometimes the guilt trip is undeserved.

If everyone is supposed to be healed, then why do faith healers die?

Paul asked God to heal him three different times. And three times God said “no”.

(2 Co 12:9 NKJV) And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Sometimes the reason you are not healed is far more complicated than you lacking faith or sinning. Sometimes God wants to do a work of “grace” in you, where just His “grace” is enough. God might want to deepen your faith, so that you learn to trust Him even when things are hard.

When a person says that you lack faith, just say, “Okay, then we’ll use your faith”.

Jesus certainly didn’t use Lazarus’ faith when He raised him from the dead. Lazarus didn’t have any faith because he was dead.

Though it could be true that a person isn’t being healed because of their lack of faith or because of unconfessed sin, it could also be that God doesn’t want them healed, or at least not yet.

If God heals everybody, and all you need is faith, then why doesn’t Paul just tell Timothy to claim his healing? Instead, he says,

(1 Ti 5:23 NKJV) No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.

There is another doctrine that teaches people that they need to believe that they are healed even when they don’t feel healed. The problem is that it is teaching people to simply deny reality. They are taught that if they ask for healing and don’t keep confessing that they are healed, then they lose it.

There are no instances in Scripture of a person getting “healed” who needed to be talked into believing that they were healed.

If you receive a miraculous healing, then the doctors will be able to confirm that you are no longer sick.

If you ask for God to heal you, you don’t need to be afraid that you might not have enough faith.

Just ask. Healing is a “work of grace”, something that you receive that you don’t deserve.

Examples of healings

Jesus’ life was full of healing others.

If you study how Jesus healed others you find that almost no two instances are the same. The only common thread was that Jesus healed them.

Sometimes He reached out and touched a person (Luke 5:12-13).

(Lk 5:12–13 NKJV) —12 And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 13 Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him.

Sometimes they touched Him (Luke 8:43-48).

(Lk 8:43–48 NKJV) —43 Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, 44 came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. 45 And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” 46 But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” 47 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. 48 And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

Sometimes Jesus healed by simply speaking a word (Luke 7:1-9) from a long distance away.

(Lk 7:1–9 NKJV) —1 Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. 2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. 3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, 5 “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.” 6 Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”

Once Jesus spit in the dirt and made mud, and spread the mud on a blind man’s eyes (John 9:1-7).

(Jn 9:1–7 NKJV) —1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

Play John 9 – Blind man healed clip

What do all these accounts have in common? Jesus did the healing.

How to receive healing:

I think the simplest way to receive healing is to ask for it. I think the reason we don’t see more healings is because we’re not asking.

1. Ask God to heal you (2Cor. 12:8). Paul asked three times to be healed (and wasn’t).

(2 Co 12:8 NKJV) Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

2. Ask someone else to pray for you. (James 5:16)

(Jas 5:16 NKJV) Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

3. Ask others to lay hands on you (Mark 16:17-18)

(Mk 16:17–18 NKJV) —17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

4. Ask for the elders to anoint you with oil (James 5:14)(Jas 5:14 NKJV) Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

And don’t be afraid to go to the doctor. God uses doctors too. Whatever happens, just be open to whatever God wants to do – even if it’s giving you grace to endure your affliction (2Cor. 12:9).

In reality, this is exactly how we receive any of the gifts – by asking God.

(Lk 11:11–13 NKJV) —11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

I’ve ask the pastors and elders to come up and be available for prayer this morning. If you have any kind of need, whether it’s for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, healing, or you wish to receive gifts of the Spirit, come and ask for prayer. Let’s see what God will do.