Practical Gifts of the Spirit -- Aug. 25, 2013

Sunday, August 25, 2013

PRACTICAL GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

Rom. 12:6-8; I Cor. 12:28

            Why is there such a thing as the gifts of the Spirit?  It is because God gave His Son, Jesus, who then gave His life for us.  That same Jesus rose from the grave, ascended to the Father, and now sits at the His right hand.  From that lofty position, He sends the Holy Spirit to live within every person who puts his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  So the Holy Spirit Himself is a gift, as Peter states clearly in Acts 2:38, "Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"  But not only does the believer have the gift which is the Spirit, but the Holy Spirit Himself then distributes gifts to the members of the body as He sees fit.  As we read in I Pet. 4:10, "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." 

            I try to remind us often of the one-another commands in the New Testament.  We are to love one another, care for one another, pray for one another, exhort one another, prefer one another, edify (build up) one another, admonish one another, serve one another, bear one another's burdens, be kind to one another, forgive one another, submit to one another, comfort one another, and provoke one another to love and good works.  That is quite a list.  It is the distribution of the gifts by the Spirit that equips us to carry out this one-anothering ministry.  As we have seen in I Cor. 12, the gifts of the Spirit cannot be separated from the concept of the body of Christ.  When asked about the spiritual gifts, which had become one of the occasions of division in the Corinthian church, Paul used the body metaphor to drive home the truth that as members of the same body, we are not competing with one another, but we are working together to build up the body of Christ, that the Lord may be glorified.

            This morning let's take a look at the gifts themselves.

I.  There Is Great Variety in the Gifts

            We observed the statement of this truth in I Cor. 12:4, "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit."  While we spent a lot of time focusing on "the same Spirit," let's be reminded that there are diversities of gifts.  We see the truth of that declaration, as we begin to examine the individual gifts of which the New Testament speaks.  Consider the basic lists of gifts...

I Cor. 12:8-10                 I Cor. 12:28                  Rom. 12:6-8                                   

Word of Wisdom             Apostles                        Prophecy             

Word of Knowledge         Prophets                       Ministry               

Faith                                 Teachers                       Teaching              

Gifts of Healings              Miracles                          Exhortation         

Working of Miracles        Gifts of Healings             Giving
Prophecy                          Helps                             Leadership           

Discerning of Spirits          Administrations               Mercy 
Kinds of Tongues               Varieties of Tongues                              

Interpretation of Tongues    Interpretation of Tongues                                                

Eph. 4:11                          I Pet. 4:10-11

Apostles                           Speaking
Prophets                           Ministry
Evangelists                
Pastor-Teachers

            Now let me make a simple observation at this point.  We see a great variety in these gifts.  This is especially true when we look at Paul's most extensive list of gifts, those in Rom. 12 and I Cor. 12.  Notice that with the exception of prophecy, there is no overlapping at all.  The same man sets forth a list of gifts in two places, but the lists are almost completely different.  On the one hand, we have the gift of helps; on the other hand, there is the gift of working miracles.  One shows mercy, while another exercises a gift of healing.  What variety!

            By the way, I should mention something else of which we should not be ignorant.  While I have given you these lists, there is still another place where Paul speaks of a particular gift.  While he uses the word "gift" 26 times (if I count right), most often he is not talking about gifts of the Spirit.  But on this particular occasion, it has that same flavor of a spiritual gift.  Let me read it to you from I Cor. 7:7, "For I wish that all men were even as myself.  But each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that."  What Paul wishes is that all men would remain single, even as he did.  However, he realizes that such will never be the case, because some are gifted to be single and others are gifted to be married.  Though this gift does not fit neatly into our lists, it is nevertheless a gift from the Spirit.

II.  There Are Various Ways of Grouping the Gifts

            Since there are 20 or so gifts, in order to get a handle on them, it is rather natural for us to try to group them into categories.  We do this kind of thing all the time.  Suppose I start naming all kinds of living creatures:  rabbit, shark, robin, skunk, butterfly, catfish, roach, sparrow, and so on.  If I want to get a better handle on these creatures, I arrange them into groups -- fish, birds, mammals, insects.  .

            The only place where the New Testament specifically recognizes such a grouping is in I Pet. 4, though even this is not precisely labeled as a categorization of gifts.  Nevertheless, it does seem that Peter lumps various gifts together into the categories of "word and deed."  Let's read 1 Peter 4:10-11, "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."  "Speak" seems to designate those gifts that revolve around "word," while "minister" (a general word for service) points to those "deed" gifts.

            Let me just mention some other ways that people have categorized the gifts.  I'm sure there are many others, but we don't want to get bogged down in this pursuit.  One particular author gives this grouping of the gifts in I Cor. 12:8-10...  

         1.  The Discerning Gifts  --  word of wisdom, word of knowledge, discerning spirits

         2.  The Declarative Gifts -- prophecy, tongues, interpretation of tongues

         3.  Dynamic Gifts  --  faith, healing, miracles

            Some make a division between those gifts which are miraculous and those which are not.  That requires some explanation, because there is a sense in which all the gifts are miraculous.  They only operate effectively in the  power of the Spirit.  However, on a practical level, most of us can see a difference between showing mercy and working miracles.  One seems to require immediate and miraculous power from God.

            Closely related is another way of grouping the gifts which asks, "Which ones are still in operation today?"  Some of those who make such a distinction refer to those gifts which they believe to be unique to the New Testament times as "sign gifts."  They are obviously those of the miraculous nature.  This gives rise to many questions, and in some context we will deal with some of those questions, but not today.

III.  A Brief Look at Some Individual Gifts

            Now I want to take a few minutes to briefly look at some of the gifts.  I think it wise to begin with what I will designate as the more practical and less threatening of the gifts.  Even in that, I am suggesting an artificial category, but we have to start somewhere.  So let's begin with the list in Romans 12.  Paul does use the word "gifts" (carismata) to designate the things that will follow.  So after giving the short version of the body metaphor in verses 4-5, he begins to write about the gifts in verse 6.  Rom. 12:4-6a, " For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them..."

            The first gift Paul mentions here is prophecy.  Again, in verse 6, "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them; if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith."  As I mentioned, prophecy is the only gift that is in both Rom. 12 and I Cor. 12:8-10.  I am not going to try to define it right now, but rather will go on to the others.  But for now understand that there are some very different opinions regarding what prophecy was then and what it is now. 

            The next gift mentioned is "ministry."  "Or ministry, let us use it in our ministering" (12:7).  The words "let us use it in our" are in italics, indicating that they are not really in the text.  Literally, it reads, "Or ministry, in ministering."  The thought is very clear:  "If you have the gift of ministry, then minister."  That word "ministry" is the general New Testament word for service, from which we get our word "deacon."  I like the word "service" better, because "ministry" for many people still has the connotation of  a "minister," a preacher type.  That is not the case at all.  On the one hand, it is the general term Peter uses to describe all the "deed" ministries, as opposed to the "word" ministries.  But here it is used alongside other "service" words such as giving, leadership, and mercy.   

            We must understand something that will help us in this area of gifts:  Some of the gifts are things that all believers are called to do.  Consider the simple question:  Are all believers called to serve?  Absolutely.  Let me just call your attention to one verse, Gal. 5:13, "For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity to the flesh, but through love serve one another."  It is clear from the context that Paul was instructing all the believers in Galatia, and it is applicable to all believers today.  So how can "service" be a gift, if all Christians are called to serve?  Paul doesn't write out an explicit answer, but the principle seems to be clear.  While we are all to serve, some believers are gifted to do so in a special way.  There are some who are extremely effective in this area of practical service to others.  Why?  Because the Spirit has given them that gift.  Since this is a form of the word from which we get "deacon" and because the deacons of the church were to be examples of service, some feel that Paul is referring especially to deacons in this reference.  Certainly those who are deacons must be about service in demonstration of this gift.

            I am dwelling on this particular gift, because it is the perfect one to use as an example.  Though it is not easy for us to understand, we must recognize that "service" is indeed a gift.  We cannot deny this, because this is what we are told right here in Rom. 12:7.  Since everyone is called to serve, we just do it.  To an extent that is true.  Because we love one another, we serve one another.  That's the way it is supposed to be.  Nevertheless, there are some who have the gift of service.  They have a special empowering of the Spirit to serve.  I am thinking of a particular brother who I believe has this gift.  He is very much a behind-the-scenes person, but he exercises this gift all the time.  If you happen to be looking at the right time, you might see him on the end of a shovel doing something that needs to be done.  He seems to notice needs that other people don't notice, and he responds by meeting the need.  So we are all called to serve, but some have been gifted to serve in an especially effective way.

            Now come to the second part of verse 7, "he who teaches, in teaching."  In other words, if you have the gift of teaching, then use it to teach.  That's simple enough.  Teaching is not something that needs a great deal of explanation.  It speaks of effectively communicating truth, and in the New Testament context it is the truth of God's Word.  But here again, we have a little problem.  Suppose the Lord saves a school teacher.  Can we automatically assume that she has the gift of teaching?  This gives rise to another question:  Are the gifts totally apart from natural talents?  People have different opinions on that issue.  On the one hand, it seems clear that a gift is something that comes to a believer from the Holy Spirit.  On the other hand, it is difficult to totally divorce the gifts of the Spirit from natural talents, because every natural talent comes from whom?  From the Lord.  I don't have all the answers to that question at this time, but understand that there are different angles of approach.

            As with service, we must ask the simple question:  Should all believers be teachers?  All should serve, but should all teach?  The answer is "Yes, at least if you are an older woman."  Tit. 2:3-4, "the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things-- 4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children."  Did you catch that?  The older women are to teach the younger women.  I am being a bit facetious, as teaching is not just the job of older women.  Heb. 5:12, "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God..."  The writer of Hebrews is speaking to believers and tells the it is time that they were all teachers.   How true it is.  Stephanie, do you teach?  Of course, you do; you teach your children every day.  Teaching is not restricted to a public context.  It can include instructing just one person.  But though all believers are to be teaching, there is a gift of teaching.  There are some whom the Spirit empowers to teach with special effectiveness, whether it be in a large context or a smaller setting.

            Then we come to exhortation.  Back to Rom. 12:8, "He who exhorts, in exhortation."  I trust that many of you have become familiar with this concept of exhortation, as we have talked about it many times.  It is that word that literally means "to call alongside."  The one who exhorts comes alongside another to speak what needs to be spoken on that particular occasion.  Exhortation was customary in the Jewish synagogue, as we see in Acts 13:15, "And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them [Paul and Silas], saying, Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.'"  But such exhortation does not have to take place in front of a large group.  While a pastor may exhort through a public message, an individual may exhort a sister in her kitchen. 

            We frequently mention this in the context of Heb. 3:12-13,  "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today,' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."  So what do we learn from the scripture?  That exhortation is the responsibility of every believer.  It is this mutual exhortation that prevents our hearts from getting hard.  You not only need to be exhorted by others, but you need to exhort others.  Though this is the responsibility of every believer, nevertheless, there is the gift of exhortation, as we see here in Rom. 12:8.  There are some who have a special Spirit-ability in this area.  They are most effective in this ministry of exhortation.  By the way, though some translations render it "encouragement" (most notably, the NIV), exhortation is much broader than encouragement.  It includes encouragement, but it is more.  Sometimes I don't need encouragement as much as I need a challenge, or maybe even a rebuke.  Remember that the ultimate enhorter is the Holy Spirit Himself, whom Jesus introduced as the Paraclete, the One called alongside.  He encourages us, but He also challenges and rebukes us, depending upon the specific need.

            We come next to the gift of giving.    12:8, "he who gives, with liberality."  Neither the rendering "liberality" or "generosity" (NIV) is very literal.  The "with simplicity" of the KJV is much more literal.  This word literally refers to "singleness."  We find it used in Col. 3:22 (KJV), "Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God."  The basic meaning has to do with motive.  If you have the gift of giving, do it without ulterior motive; give with a sincere heart.  In the context of the generosity of the Macedonians, as described in II Cor. 8-9, we might associate it with such generosity.

            Like ministry, teaching, and exhortation, this gift of sharing/distributing/giving has both a general and specific application.  Are all believers expected to give to meet the needs of others?  Yes.  Of course, one of the biggest argu-ments against that concept is, "I just can't afford to help others; I don't have enough for myself."  The reason one doesn't have enough for himself may well be because he isn't willing to obey the Lord in meeting the needs of others.  Listen to Paul's commendation of the Macedonian Christians...  (II Cor. 8:1-4)

Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you" (Luke 6:38).  Giving is the privilege of every believer.  Nevertheless, there are some who especially gifted to distribute to others.  That gift may go hand in hand with great financial prosperity, but not necessarily so.  If you have been blessed with this gift, then give with singleness of heart, with sincere and pure motive.

            Continuing in verse 8, "he who leads, with diligence."  Some translations use the word "rule" instead of "lead."    The word literally means "to set over."  Within that definition there are various shades of meaning.  I believe it would be correct to say that in the attitude of our Lord Jesus those who rule should do so by leading, not by coercing.  It is interesting that this word is used three times in reference to the elders of the church (I Thes. 5:12; I Tim. 3:4; 5:17).  For example, I Tim. 5:17, "Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine."  While  the NKJV translates this word "lead" in Rom. 12:8, here its rendering is "rule over."  It does not mean "to lord it over" (against which Peter warns in I Pet. 5:3), but to take responsibility for.  While this gift is not restricted to pastors/elders/overseers in the church, that is likely its primary application.  The one who leads/rules, must do so with diligence.  He is to make every effort in his leadership role, hastening to fulfill it for God's glory.

            Finally, Paul comes to the gift of mercy.  Still in 12:8, "he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness."  The one who shows mercy demonstrates a tender heart by comforting those who are distressed, sick, or afflicted.  All of us know something about mercy.  What mercy God has shown to us sinners who deserve judgment and destruction.  Please allow me to read that powerful passage in Eph. 2:1-4...

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

We were deserving of His wrath, but God, who is rich in mercy... The passage goes on to say that we have been saved by grace through faith.  Tit. 3:5, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy he saved us..."  Praise God for His mercy.

            Are all believers expected to demonstrate mercy to others?  Absolutely.  Jesus said, "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful" (Luke 6:36).  Col. 3:12-13, "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do."  Put on tender mercies.  Literally, put on "bowels of mercies" (KJV).  As we become more like Jesus, we increasingly demonstrate mercy.  But there is a special gift of mercy, which some believers receive from the Holy Spirit.  Such a person would be most effective in visiting the sick, talking with the discouraged, encouraging the one who is facing difficulties. 

            But if this is your gift, exercise it with cheerfulness.  Isn't that interesting.  We have read in I Cor. 12 that in the body of Christ we suffer with those who suffer.  Later here in Rom. 12 (vs. 15) Paul says, "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep."  So what is this word about cheerfulness?  Those who are down need cheering up.  "A merry heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones" (Prov. 17:22).  While sympathy is a good thing, those who are hurting need to see the joy of the Lord in the one exercising mercy.  This is not a pretense, but an overflow of the genuine joy of knowing Christ.  Don't be afraid to be a reminder that our God is good!

            Now let's add to this list two of the gifts in I Cor. 12:28.  Let's read 12:28, "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."  Notice the listing of "helps."  This is the only time this word occurs in the New Testament, but its verb form (Luke 1:54; Acts 20:35; I Tim. 6:2) indicates that it carries the idea of giving help or aid.  We are not giving any specifics at all.  Obviously, the idea of giving help or aid is very general and could refer to many and varied kinds of deeds.  I hesitate to say more at this point because the scripture doesn't say more.

            Immediately after "helps," Paul mentions "administrations."  Like "helps," this word occurs only here in the New Testament.  The noun form is found in Acts 27:11 and Rev. 18:17, where it refers to the helmsman of a ship ("shipmaster" in Rev.).   Various versions translate it here in I Cor. 12:28 as "administrations," "leadership," "governments," "managing," "guidance," etc.  Perhaps it speaks of one who is demonstrates abilities to organize, manage, and give direction in certain tasks.  But again, because we don't have much information at all about this gift, it is difficult to give specifics.

IV.  What about the Gifts in I Cor. 12:8-10

            That leaves us with a big question mark:  What about the gifts in I Cor. 12:8-10 -- the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healings, the working of miracles, prophecy, the discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues, the interpretation of tongues?  Without question, there is much more controversy about these gifts than the ones we looked at this morning.  It is impossible to begin to look at these gifts without confronting the question:  How many of these gifts are for the church today?  Soon we will confront that question.  I encourage you to prayerfully look at these gifts.

Conclusion

            At this point there is a more practical question which demands to be answered.  It might be stated like this:  "If every believer has a gift, how do I know what my gift is?"  If it is true that the exercising of gifts is a vital part of the body of Christ, then this is a question of vital importance.  How do I exercise my gift, if I don't know what it is?   Lord willing, we will be exploring the answer to that question some time within the next three weeks.

            I must hasten to say that while this exploration of the gifts is important in the body of Christ, there is something far more important that we must never forget.  A little less than two months after Jesus rose from the grave, Peter stood up on the Day of Pentecost and explained why those early disciples were able to speak of the wonderful works of God in various languages which they were normally not able to speak.  In the process, he lifted up the Lord Jesus.  Please follow with me, beginning in Acts 2:22...   (2:22-36)

Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know-- 23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 25 For David says concerning Him: 'I foresaw the LORD always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. 27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.' 29 Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: 'The LORD said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand, 35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.' 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

            What great and glorious news this is.  The One who was crucified and buried God raised from the dead.  Not only did God raise Him up, but He has made that same Jesus both Lord and Christ.  He is the promised Messiah for whom God's people had been waiting for centuries.  The One who would bruise the head of the serpent had come.  The One through whom all the nations would be blessed in Abraham had come.  Yes, He came to His own people, and His own people did not receive Him.  Not only did God make Him Messiah, but He also made Him Lord.  The Jesus who humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, has been highly exalted by God the Father.  And the day is coming when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 

            Now let's take it up again in verse 37... (2:37-39)

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

            First and foremost, we need to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit -- that is, the gift which is the Holy Spirit.  Before we can consider the gifts, we must make sure we have the supreme gift, the Holy Spirit Himself.  On that day three thousand were broken before the Lord, repented, put their trust in Jesus, were saved, and received the Holy Spirit.  As we read in II Cor. 1:22 and Eph. 1:13, we who have believed in the Lord Jesus have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. 

            Have you ever been cut to the heart and cried out, "What shall I do?"  Have you repented of your sins, giving up any hope of making yourself right with God?  Have you called up Jesus as Lord?  The promise is for you.  You can find real life in Christ.

The Gifts of the Spirit & the Body of Christ

Sunday, August 18, 2013

THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT AND THE BODY OF CHRIST

I Cor. 12:1-26

            Let's suppose you have a son, Abraham, who is a fifth-grade student at La Luz Elementary.  Recently a new family moved in next door to you.  You have met them and are becoming friends, especially since they have a son who is also a fifth grader at La Luz Elementary.  His name is Jerome.  This common bond certainly gives you plenty to talk about.  Everything is going along just fine until Jerome is placed in the "gifted program."  Now you are constantly hearing about what Jerome is doing in his gifted class.  You expect the newspaper to come out any day and schedule a press conference for Jerome and his family.  Surely the whole world needs to know about Jerome's achievement.  You try not to let it bother you, but it's not easy.  You are not likely to say to your neighbors, "I am so glad that your son is in smart enough to be in the gifted program and mine is not."

            Gifts are wonderful, but they can have a tendency to drive a wedge between people.  Consider a five-year-old who receives a new doll.  Julie loves her new doll, but so do Sally, Bonnie, and Crystal.  You would think that the presence of this new doll would draw the girls together.  They all like Julie's doll and surely they will have a great time sharing it together.  It doesn't usually work that way.  Most of the five-year-old Julies in the world are not wild about sharing their new doll, especially if Sally, Bonnie, and Crystal don't treat it right.  And Sally figures she has more right to it than Bonnie or Crystal, because she is Julie's best friends.  It's amazing how a gift can sometimes bring out the worst in people and situations.

            We have begun to look at the gifts of the Spirit.  Our inclination is to say, "Well, the gifts of the Spirit certainly aren't like that.  They do not cause division or anything of the kind."  I remind you of what I said last week:  "Corinth was a divided church."  It wouldn't be right to say that the presence of the Spirit's gifts caused division, but the receiving of those gifts certainly contributed to the division in the church.  It wasn't the fault of the Spirit who distributed the gifts, but the receivers of those gifts used them in a way that was divisive and destructive.  Paul apparently wrote chapters 12-14 to deal with this problem, as he begins chapter 12 with the words, "Now concerning spiritual gifts."

            This morning I want us to take a general overview of chapter 12 to discover how Paul dealt with this division that surrounded the gifts.

I.  The Danger of Spiritual Gifts

            Now when I talk about the danger of spiritual gifts, I must be very clear in what I mean.  The gift itself is never the problem.  The problem is within the receiver.  However, in the church of Corinth, and in churches today, the gift can be the occasion that brings out the works of the flesh in the believer.  It shouldn't be that way, but because sin has not yet been obliterated in the Christian, that's the way it is.

            So how do we know this?  From what we read in chapter 12.  As I mentioned last week, in his introduction to spiritual gifts, Paul uses the word "spirituals" (translated "spiritual gifts" in most versions, but the word "gifts" is not in the text).  He was most likely using the word that at least some of the Corinthian believers preferred.  It seems there was controversy over whether or not the possession of a gift from the Spirit meant that a person was spiritual.  In other words, was the manifestation of the Spirit through gifts a mark of true spirituality?  Some likely said, "Yes," while others denied it.  The opening words of verse 1 -- "now concerning" -- indicate that they were asking Paul to speak to this issue which was causing division.  This idea is confirmed by the latter part of chapter 12, where Paul describes the church as the body of Christ.  We will come back to that in just a moment.

            So what are the dangers that are occasioned by spiritual gifts?  Think about it for a minute.  When an individual receives a specific gift that other individuals do not receive, what is a possible danger?  Let me suggest three:  pride, envy, and discouragement -- pride in the one who receives, envy or discouragement in the one who doesn't receive.

            Let's consider one of the gifts in Paul's list -- tongues.  Along with interpretation of tongues, this gift stands at the end of the nine listed in verses 8-10.  Most of us did not grow up in a background where speaking in tongues was practiced, but most all of us have at least secondhand knowledge of it.  One of the most common objection to speaking in tongues is what?  That it becomes the source of pride.  So and so has the gift of tongues and now he thinks he is better than other Christians.  Obviously, that is not always true.  However, even many charismatic leaders will acknowledge that this is a serious problem.  On the other hand, there are many who don't have the gift who are envious of those who have it. 

            But now let's get closer to home.  While some of you have come from that kind of background, many more of you have come out of a different background, but the problem is the same.  I, along with many of you, were raised in an atmosphere where preaching, teaching, and singing were the treasured gifts.  They are the up-front gifts that get lots of attention.  Is it possible for a believer who has one of these gifts to become proud as a result?  Absolutely.  The greater the supply of the gift, the greater the temptation to pride.  Can a preacher become puffed up with pride?  You better believe it.  And we are not just talking about TV evangelists.

            Look at it from the other angle.  Can other believers become envious because they don't have those gifts?  Yes.  If they are not jealous, they can become discouraged because they don't possess those particular gifts.  Of course, discouragement is much more comfortable, because we don't identify it as sin as readily as we would jealousy.  And if we don't let the Lord deal with our discouragement, it leads to greater self-focus. 

            We might ask, "Why would God even give gifts, if they become the occasion of such problems in the church?  Surely God knows that is great possibility."  I think that is a fair question.  We understand that God is wise and that He makes no mistakes.  So does the Lord give us any insight concerning his plan?

II.  God's Corrective Instructions

            I want us to spend the rest of our time looking at I Cor. 12:12-26.  Remember, Paul is dealing with their questions about the place of spiritual gifts.  It seems pretty clear that the division in the church spilled over into this area of the gifts of the Spirit.  If they were the occasion of division and that was not what God intended, what would Paul say to bring correction to their way of thinking?

            Let's go ahead and read I Cor. 12:12-31...

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And 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." 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 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. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.  

            Paul begins by reminding those Corinthian believers that they are one.  He has already emphasized this unity in verses 1-11 by telling them that while there are different gifts, ministries and activities, they are all from the same Spirit, same Lord, and same God (12:4-6).  As surely as there is unity in the Godhead, there is unity in the church.  In verse 11 Paul makes it clear that the gifts listed in verses 8-10 come from the same Spirit.  Now in verses 12-13 Paul is even more emphatic.  Though the human body has many parts, it is one body; so also is Christ (12).  "By one Spirit we were all baptized into one body" (13).  The church at Corinth was divided, but Paul wants them to understand that they are all on the same team.  They are part of the same body.  The body isn't divided; it is one. 

            I want you to notice again the words at the end of verse 12, "So also is Christ."  I would expect Paul to say, "So is the church," but that is not what He says.  Jesus Christ is so identified with His church that Paul can simply say, "So also is Christ."  When we talk about the church being the body of Christ, this is not some little gimmick to whip us into line.  The church is indeed the body of Christ.  Jesus cannot be separated from His church.  That is why on the road to Damascus the Lord said to Saul (Paul), "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting" (Acts 9:5).  Was Saul persecuting Jesus?  Jesus had already been crucified.  How could Paul persecute the One who had died, risen, and was sitting at the right hand of the Father?  In that he was persecuting the church, he was persecuting Jesus.  Yes, the church is the body of Christ.

            If you count carefully, you will find the word "one" used five times in verses 12 and 13.  Isn't that amazing?  Do you think maybe Paul was trying to tell them something?  Their bickering and division were not characteristic of the body of Christ, for it is one.  Paul wanted them to understand that they were on the same team.  As all the members of the body function together to serve the one body, so must the members of the church function together to serve the whole.

            In verse 14 Paul acknowledges that though the human body is one, that body has many members.  Consider your own human body.  It has a eyes, nose, ears, mouth, hands, feet, etc.  Yes, many members.  Does that mean that it isn't just one body?  Of course, not.  It is still one body.  Verse 14 is Paul's introduction to a more detailed discussion of the way the body functions.  In the verses that follow, he will deal with the dangers presented by the distribution of gifts.  As he does, Paul will present the corrections necessary.

            As Paul calls to mind various members of the body -- foot, hand, ear, eye -- we must understand that the concept of gifts is never far from his mind.  In verse 15, why is it that the foot might say, "Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body"?  It is because the foot is looking at its own gifts or abilities and comparing them with the gifts (abilities) of the hand.  The same is true of the ear and the eye.  The foot makes a comparison and concludes that the hand is much more valuable to the body than the foot, therefore there is really no need for the foot at all.  It might as well just not be a part at all.  The same goes for the ear, when it compares itself with the eye. 

            Do you see it?  Here we have the danger of discouragement.  Here are two parts of the body which might be prone to discouragement, when they consider what seems to be the inferiority of their own gifts.  Within that discouragement there may be envy as well.  How the foot wishes it could do what the hand does.  How the ear longs to be as valuable as the eye. 

            That's the danger, but where is the correction?  Notice that in both cases, Paul asks the rhetorical question:  "Is it therefore not a part of the body?"  What is the obvious answer to his questions?  Of course, it is a part of the body.  The subjective view of the foot and the ear does not change the fact that they are parts of the body.  Not only are they parts within the body, but they are vital parts.  That is what Paul is saying in verse 17, "If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing?"  This entire argument has the gifts in view.  If the body were full of eyes only, would it have the ability to hear?  No.  The absence of the gift of hearing would greatly impair the body.  And the ear ought to remember that if the nose, which appears to be inferior to the ear, decided to become like the ear, then the body would be without the gift of smell. 

            It doesn't take a genius to figure out what Paul is doing.  He is telling them that every member of the body is vital precisely because it has a unique and valuable gift which allows it to make its own contribution.  So it is with the body of Christ.  Rather than feeling discouraged because his gift doesn't seem valuable, every member must remember that it is the presence of this gift that enables him to make a contribution to the body as a whole.  Paul drives the point home in verses 18-20, "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.  19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?  20 But now are they many members, yet but one body." 

            Don't forget who put the body together.  God has set the members in the body.  And where did He get His direction for the assembly of the body?  He did it as it pleased Him.  "For who has known the mind of the Lord?  Or who has been His counselor?... For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.  Amen" (Rom. 11:34,36).  And when He assembled the body, His Spirit distributed gifts to the individual members as He willed (12:11).  Did He make any mistakes?  Should the Spirit have given the ear the ability to see?  Should the Spirit have given all of us the gift to teach?  If God had given to each of us the same gifts, then we wouldn't truly be a body. 

            Paul isn't done yet, for he hasn't yet addressed the danger of pride.  Verse 21, "And 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.'"  Do you see what the apostle is doing?  He is acknowledging that it is possible for certain parts of the body to compare their gifts with other parts and conclude that their own gifts are so much superior that they don't need the parts which have the lesser gifts.  Not only is it a possibility, but it was a reality among some of the Corinthian believers.  Because they were eaten up with pride, they lost sight of what the body of Christ is all about. 

            Now in verses 22-26 listen to the extended instructions Paul gives to those proud members of the body...

No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.  26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

            Those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.  Paul does not refer to the weaker parts of the body, but only to those which seem to be weaker.  In other words, those brothers and sisters which seem to be weaker, which seem to be less important, are necessary.  Underline this verse; highlight it; memorize it; chew on it; believe it and act accordingly.  If there were indeed weaker parts of the body, Paul would have said so, but he did not say it.  The apparent "weakness" of a particular member of the body of Christ is so designated only by those who are proud.  If you view certain members of the body as weak, then you do not see the body properly. 

            Let me illustrate.  Suppose the Lord came and said to us, "I need one of the members of your church somewhere else.  I will let you choose the one you can spare."  "No, Lord, you choose the one you want."  Suppose the Lord were to reply, "That is kind of you, but I am going to let you make the choice.  Choose the one you can spare."  Who would it be?  Would we choose one of the pastor/elders?  What about the one who does most of the preaching?  Or would we spare the one who doesn't seem to be doing anything? 

            Recently I was talking to a brother who has moved to a very small community in Colorado. They are way out in the sticks.  He says it is 20 miles to the nearest store.  The church there is small.  They have a pastor, kind of.  He is a man who lives in a larger city and comes out to preach for them on Sunday morning.  That's all he does.  As my brother was telling me about the situation, he was rejoicing.  He says that the people "pastor one another."  When a need arises, some of the brothers and sisters meet it.  He marvels at the love and care in the church.  Though it may not be by its own choice, the church finds that it can spare a pastor as easily as it can spare anyone else.  Though this may not be a good long-term solution, the people are discovering that every member of the body is vital and necessary.

           

Conclusion

            Do you see how this whole concept of the body of Christ hinges on the distribution of gifts?  That is why chapter 12 does not begin with the body concept and then move to a discussion of gifts.  Instead, Paul begins with the controversy over gifts and then uses the body metaphor as a corrective explanation as to how the gifts are to work.  In the human body, if there had not been a wise distribution of gifts and abilities, the body would not function with such efficiency and ease.  So it is in the body of Christ.

            Let's drive home one last point.  Underlying the danger of pride, envy, and discouragement is the common practice of comparison.  In Paul's instructions, we see the ear comparing itself with the eye and the foot comparing itself with the hand.  Out of that comes envy and discouragement.  Then behind pride we see the eye comparing itself with the ear and the head comparing itself with the foot.  As we read these words, we instinctively understand that this never happens in the human body.  The eye just goes about its function of seeing, never comparing itself with other parts of the body and what they are able to do.  The eye is able to see into the refrigerator because the feet carry it into the kitchen and the hand reaches out and opens the door.  So it must be in the body of Christ.  There is no room for comparison.  Why?  Because we are one body.  Comparison only takes place where there is a lack of oneness.  Instead of comparison, we need a healthy dose of appreciation for every part of the body of Christ.

            I played basketball in high school.  Basketball is truly a team sport.  During my junior and senior years there were three of us who carried most of the load when it came to scoring.  We had played together since the sixth grade and loved every minute of it.  But in case you haven't noticed, a basketball team has five players on the floor at any one time.  So the three of us were joined by two other teammates.  Suppose we took the attitude, "There isn't anyone else on the team who can shoot and handle the ball as well as we can.  So regardless of who the coach puts out here with us, we don't really need them.  All they will do is bring us down.  So let's just ignore them and keep the game to ourselves."  What would happen?  It wouldn't take the other team long to figure out what was going on and they would make the kind of adjustments that would smother the three of us.  The only way we were going to be effective is to work with the other teammates, capitalizing on their strengths.  And that's what we did.  I remember a teammate named Fred.  He wasn't much at shooting and ball handling, but he was big and he could jump.  He became our leading rebounder.  Then there was Mike.  He wasn't flashy at anything, but he didn't make many mistakes.  He was dependable.  What we realized is that we were a team.  Every player must be valued, supported, and utilized according to his abilities.  There was absolutely no value in comparing ourselves to our teammates.  The number of points on the scoreboard reflected the accomplishment of the team, not those of any individual or small group of individuals.

            Brothers and sisters, we are one body.  We are on the same team.  Pride, jealousy, and discouragement have no place in a Spirit-gifted and Spirit-empowered church.  Gifts are God's idea and they are given to build up the body for the work of ministry, all for the glory of God. 

            It is obvious that our enemies, the devil and the flesh, have done a masterful job of taking God's gifts and using them for their own ends.  How else can we explain the controversy that surrounds the very gifts God gave to bless His church and make it a blessing to others?  Perhaps you are among those who might think, "Why do we even need to consider the gifts of the Spirit?  It seems like when the gifts are brought up, trouble follows.  Let's just love God and our neighbor and forget about the gifts?"  Because the same Lord who told us to love God and neighbor "gave gifts unto men" (Eph. 4:8).  Furthermore, if we take the attitude of. "Forget the gifts because they are controversial,"  we are likely to take that same attitude about the Holy Spirit.  We consider the gifts because God's Word teaches us about them.

            On the other hand, we must never separate the gifts of the Spirit from the gospel.  The gifts must never be our focus; our focus is the Christ who loved us and gave Himself for us.  Jesus said, "I will build my church."  The gifts are a part of that building process, but they must never eclipse the Head of the church, the Lord Jesus Himself.  Remember what Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, "He shall glorify me" (John 16:14).  When the gifts are functioning properly, Jesus will be glorified.  That is precisely why Paul had to bring correction to the Corinthian church -- because they were viewing the gifts in such a way that they took away from Christ instead of bringing Him glory.  Praise God that it doesn't have to be that way.  May the gifts with which we have been blessed build up the body of Christ for the glory of God.

Unity in Diversity -- 8/11/13

Sunday, August 11, 2013

UNITY IN DIVERSITY

I Cor. 12:1-11

            Now this morning we have with us several young people that are getting old enough that they might be thinking about marriage.  Some of you parents don't want to hear that because you are hoping that son or daughter will not get married until age 35.  Not really.  What we really desire is that our sons and daughters (or grandchildren) will enter into a marriage that will glorify God and bring them the Lord's joy.  But it's kind of scary because there are lots of possible marriage partners out there and some of them are not desirable, to say the least.  So we work with them and trust the Lord to guide.

            So you young people, let me give you a word of advice when it comes to choosing a marriage partner.  Look for someone who is like you.  Don't go after that gal just because she is good looking.  Don't pursue that young man because he is popular with the crowd.  No, find someone who is like you.  If you like to go to the opera, find someone who also likes to go to the opera.  If you don't like reading books, don't marry someone who does.  You want someone who is like you, so that you can get along.  If you like to play chess, then find a partner who loves chess, so that the two of you can enjoy playing together.  If you are good at working with kids, then find someone who is also good at working with the kids.

            Now let's evaluate that advice.  What do you think?  I think my advice will help the young couple get along.  If they enjoy the same things, that will give them a foundation for enjoying their relationship together.  Having similar interests will help them avoid disagreements.  While that might seem logical, there is a problem.  Even if finding a marriage partner much like self helps them get along, it may seriously handicap their usefulness.  They both are good at working with children, but does either of them do well with the elderly?  Perhaps it would have been better if they were different.  She isn't as much into reading, but she is great at finding bargains at garage sales.  No, he doesn't play chess, but he's a whiz at budgeting and organizing finances.  In other words, their differences allow them as a team to be able to do a greater variety of things.

            The term that is often used to describe this concept is "unity in diversity."  The couple is united, actually one flesh according to the Bible, but their varied interests and skills contribute to their happiness and their usefulness to other people. 

            While marriage is somewhat useful in demonstrating this principle, the body of Christ is a much more powerful illustration.  Unity in diversity is what we find in the body of Christ.  Let's look at it this morning in I Cor. 12.  About six weeks ago we looked at the latter part of this chapter, where Paul describes the church as the body of Christ.  Do you remember that?  Let's read it again in I Cor. 12:12, "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so is Christ."  Paul goes on to explain that if all the members were eyes, the body wouldn't be able to hear.  If all the members were ears, it wouldn't be able to smell.  No, God has made all the members of the body different and each is indispensable.  So it is in the body of Christ.  We are all different, but we are all necessary.

            Now before we continue or look at spiritual gifts, let's step back for a moment and ask a couple of questions.  The first question is this:  Where do these spiritual gifts come from?  I'm glad you asked.  In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  The climax of His creation was man.  He put Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, giving them everything anyone could ever desire. There was only one negative command:  "Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; in the day that you eat it, you will surely die" (Gen. 2:17).  Tempted by the snake, Eve ate the fruit and gave it to Adam, who also ate.  Did they die that day?  Yes.  They died in that they were separated from God, and that's why they hid from Him in the garden.  Hundreds of years later they would die physically. 

            What does that have to do with us?  Everything.  Because we are the descendants of Adam and Eve, we partake of their sin.  In other words, we come into this world separated from God.  We are sinners, and we prove it by sinning.  Some day we will die physically; our bodies will be separated from their spirits.  And if something isn't done, we will be separated from the loving presence of God forever.  "For the wages of sin is death," and that death includes eternal death, torment forever in hell.

            What can be done about it?  Man has tried to rectify his situation down through the centuries, but he has never been successful.  No amount of good deeds, going to church, reading the Bible, praying, morality, or any other act of man can make him right with God, can obliterate the sin debt he owes, can bring forgiveness from God.  Man is hopeless.  But there was one man, the God-man, the man Jesus Christ, who came into this world and was tempted just as we are tempted.  That One lived a perfect life.  Not only did He refuse to do wrong, but He did everything the Father desired Him to do.  Above all, He loved us, people who deserve nothing but the wrath of God.  "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (I John 4:10).  Jesus took our punishment at the cross.  We deserve the punishment of the Almighty, but Jesus took it for us.  He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (II Cor. 5:21).  This is the only way God can forgive us and still be just -- because He punished our sins in Jesus.  God announced Jesus' effective work by raising Him from the dead.  Jesus wasn't defeated; He was and is the Victor.  He is alive today.

            A couple of months after Jesus rose from the dead, His followers suddenly began to speak in many different languages about the mighty works of God (Acts 2:1-11).  How were they able to do that?  In Peter's explanation we find these words, " This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear" (Acts 2:32-33).  It is the promised Holy Spirit dwelling within the believer who gives the gifts.

            So when we talk about the gifts of the Spirit, understand that we are talking about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Apart from the cross and resurrection, there is no indwelling Spirit and there are no gifts of the Spirit.  This is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ Jesus.  As we consider the gifts of the Spirit, may we never divorce those gifts from the Spirit whom Jesus and the Father send to all who believe.

            The second question we might ask goes something like this:  "So where are we these days?  We talked about revival, and how such an extraordinary movement of the Spirit producing extraordinary results comes out of recog-nition of deed coupled with genuine prayer.  How does that fit in with the gifts of the Spirit?  How does it fit in with what we heard Wednesday evening?"  Good question.  Brothers and sisters, we praise God for the work He is doing among us, and we long for more.  Yes, may we continue to cry out to God for a mighty outpouring of His Spirit.  But I must remind us that this is not an emotional working up of experience.  This is an inward longing to know God.  This is a continual thirsting for Jesus, a continual coming to Jesus, a continual trusting of Jesus, because our Lord promised that out of such heart hunger flow rivers of living water.  And if we are going to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, then we must keep coming to the Word of God, which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.   We magnify the majesty of our Lord and bow humbly at His feet.  We're talking about the way of the cross.

Let's Pray...

            This morning we are going to look at the first 11 verses and see how they fit in with the last part of the chapter.  So let's read I Cor. 12:1-11...

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 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. 4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 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, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

            Please allow me to break this passage down into five parts and look at each individually.

I.  Introduction to Spiritual Gifts  (1-3)

            Before we look at these first three verses, let's step back and consider the background of this letter.  Paul is writing to the church at Corinth.  This is a pagan city where Paul, accompanied by Silas and Timothy, on his third missionary journey preached in the synagogue until the Jews began to stubbornly oppose him.  He then turned to the Gentiles and remained in Corinth for 18 months.  Out of Paul's missionary work there was born a church.  This is the church to which he was writing. 

            There is much we could say about the church at Corinth, but for now I want to emphasize just one thing -- it was a divided church.  All through the letter we see evidence of this division in 1 Cor. 1:10-12...

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ."

            Paul refers to this same division again in chapter 3.  3:1-4...

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?

            When there is such a deep division, that factious spirit often spills over into many areas.  It seems obvious that much of Paul's letter is a response to specific issues about which the Corinthian believers have asked him.  In chapter 8 he deals with eating meat offered to idols.  In light of the division within the church, it seems likely that they were divided on this issue of eating meat offered to idols, with some saying it was okay and others maintaining it was sinful.  In chapter 11 he deals with their participation in the communion service.  Again, it is likely they had different opinions on the matter. 

            Now when we come to chapter 12, let us remember that Paul was addressing a divided church.  This truth likely stands behind the words of these first three verses.  Let's read again 12:1-3...

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 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.

            It is likely in verse 1 that your translation has the word "gifts" in italics.  Why is that?  It is because the word is not in the text.  Down in verse 4 the word "gifts" (carisma) is used, but not here.  The word in verse 1 is built on the Greek word for "spirit."  Perhaps the best translation would be "spirituals."  It might refer to either spiritual things or spiritual people, but here most likely refers to spiritual things.  Concerning these spiritual things, Paul does not want them to be ignorant, to be in the dark.

            So why does Paul uses this word?  It seems clear from the rest of the passage that he desires to write to them about the gifts, so why does he not use that word in verse 1?  Though we are not told, it seems most likely that Paul is using the word they preferred.  "Now concerning" is Paul's typical way of responding to their questions.  Go back to 7:1, "Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me..."  Then he proceeds to talk to them about marriage, divorce, etc.  So here in chapter 12 Paul is responding to a question they asked him.  The question must have concerned gifts, but Paul's use of the word "spiritual" seems to indicate that it was a rather loaded question.  Perhaps one group in the church was asking, "Isn't it true that those who exercise the gifts of the Spirit are the most spiritual?"  From the oppos-ing group the question was more along the lines, "Surely it isn't true that the exercise of the gifts is the test of spirituality?" (See Showing the Spirit, by D. A. Carson, p. 22-23).  This would account for his use of the word "spirituals" instead of the word "gift."  He is using their word, which captures this controversy over who was the most spiritual.  This is exactly what they were arguing about in chapters 1 and 3, though the particular issue was different.

            Verse 2 has caused much speculation.  Many have put it together with verse 3 and then concluded that at least some of the Corinthian believers were using pagan curses, but all of that is mere speculation.  I think it is better to see verse 2 as a kind of parenthesis.  Paul does not want them to be ignorant, as when they were still lost and in the world.  Then what he wants to make known to them is in verse 3.  It is a reminder of the unity they have in Christ and the Holy Spirit whom He has sent.  Though they may differ in their opinions, they must remember that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can (truly) say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.  Those who possess the Holy Spirit are united in their central confession that Jesus is Lord. 

            So even in the introduction to this subject of gifts, Paul finds it necessary and beneficial to remind them of their unity in Christ.  Remember Jesus' prayer in John 17:20-21, "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me."  Since the Father answered Jesus' prayer, all true believers are one.  Much of this letter is built around Paul's exhortation that they live out the unity that is theirs in Christ, and this passage is a prime demonstration of that.

II.  The Concept of Unity in Diversity  (4-6)

            In verses 4-6 we have clearly stated this concept of unity in diversity.  Let's read it again:  4-6...

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

            Paul gives a mountain of truth in a very few words.  Notice the emphasis on diversity.  We find it in the first parts of verses 4, 5, and 6.  The New King James doesn't use the same word each time, but in the original the same word is used.  The root meaning speaks of a distinction made by dividing.  As a matter of fact, the verbal form of the word is found down in verse 11, "But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing (KJV -- dividing) to each one individually as He wills."  The NKJ renderings "diversities" and "differences" are fine, but understand that the very same word is used in all three verses -- differences of gifts, differences of ministries, differences of activities.  So here we see the diversity.

            At the end of each of these three statements is a similar statement -- "but the same Spirit," "but the same Lord," "but it is the same God who works all in all."  Different gifts, but the same Spirit.  Different ministries, but the same Lord.  Different activities, but the same God.  Now we see the unity.  In each of these statements we find the identical word "same." In the midst of all the differences, we find the same Spirit, Lord, and God. 

            No matter how some may deny it, even a child can see the truth of the Trinity in these verses.  In these three consecutive verses we have clear reference to the Holy Spirit, to the Lord Jesus, and to God the Father.  Even so, we cannot give a full explanation.  Are they three?  No, they are one.  Then they are the same?  No, they are clearly Spirit, Lord, and God.  As much as the three are unified in one, so there is unity among those who bear the various gifts, perform the different services, and go about the diverse activities.  The gifting is of the Spirit; the ministries lift up Jesus; the activities are empowered by God.

            Brothers and sisters, may God give us grace to celebrate both our unity and our diversity.  The enemy would lead us to polarize these two concepts and refuse to put them together.  If we are very different, then we can't have unity.  If we have real unity, then our differences will disappear.  No, this entire chapter refutes those lies.  We are not one in spite of our differences, but the God who has made us one has created and emphasizes our differences.  Who is it that has made us to differ, according to I Cor. 4:7?  It is God who made us different.  And why is it that we have different gifts?  It is the Holy Spirit who has blessed us with different gifts.  This is the plan of God.  Celebrate it.  Thank God that He didn't populate His kingdom with ten million Ron Tysons or Joe Myers or Rita Lackeys. 

            Last week we looked at 1 Peter 4.  Come back again to 4:10, "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."  Remember that the words "gift" and "grace" are closely related, almost identical in the Greek original.  Because we have received gifts from the Holy Spirit, we are stewards (managers) of the manifold grace of God, the varied grace of God, the many-colored grace of God.  As the grace of God comes in many varieties and expressions, so those believers who receive that grace will have great variety.  This variety is the very work of God; it is a good thing.  You don't need to be like someone else. 

            Now let me emphasize again how this concept of unity in diversity cannot be separated from the concept of the church as a body.  Why does the human body function so well?  Why is it able to see, hear, smell, touch, move, grasp, etc.?  It is not only because it has different parts and the parts look different.  It is because the various parts have different abilities.  The eye sees; the ear hears; the feet move us; the toes help us balance.  Because the members of the body have different abilities, the body can do a great variety of things.  But what if the ears decided they should be like the eyes?  Day after day the ears work and work to develop the ability to see.  We know that would be a futile exercise, but just pretend for a moment that the ears could learn to see almost as well as the eyes.  I don't think the increased vision would be of much benefit to the body.  But because the ears have become seers instead of hearers, the body will be greatly impaired.  Do you see it?  Ida, if you spend all your time trying to learn to sing like Rita, who will send out those birthday cards?   Just as the body has many members, though it is one body, each member of the body is gifted differently.

III.  The Purpose of Unity in Diversity  (7)

            The basic purpose of this unity in diversity is stated simply and concisely in verse 7, "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all."  While we might expect Paul to say that each gift of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all, he doesn't use the word gift here.  Instead, he speaks of the manifestation of the Spirit.  One translation puts it like this:  "The evidence of the Spirit's presence is given to each person for the common good of everyone" (God's Word Translation).  Perhaps he wanted to emphasize that the gifts, which he then lists, are evidence of the Spirit's presence.

            What is absolutely clear is that the manifestation of the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, are not given primarily for the benefit of the individual.    Rather, each one is given for the profit of all, for the common good.  The "all" obviously refers to all those who are part of the body of Christ.  While all mankind may ultimately benefit, that does not fit with the context of this passage.  As we have seen, Paul is talking about Christ's body.  The Spirit gives gifts so that the body as a whole will benefit.

            We can see this very easily by looking again at the human body.  Who benefits from the ability of the eye to see?  I suppose the eye benefits, but we don't think of it that way.  The entire body benefits.  Because of the eye's ability to see, the foot knows where to step and the hand knows where to reach.  So let's be absolutely clear on this issue.  Whatever gift you have received from the Spirit, it is not for you.  You have been entrusted with that gift so that you may be a blessing to the body as a whole.  And that is true of all your brothers and sisters. 

            Isn't this what we found in I Peter 4?  Of course, the ultimate purpose is the glory of God, as we found in 4:11.  That is not spelled out here in I Corinthians 12.  I believe that Paul assumes that.  We find this statement at the end of chapter 10:  "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (I Cor. 10:31).  The theme of God's glory runs throughout Paul's letters.  But here he is focusing on the welfare of the body of Christ.  So we find the same truth in I Pet. 4:10, "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."  Use your gifts to minister to one another.  It isn't for you; it's for the benefit of those brothers and sisters that you love, for whom you care and pray.  Praise God that He has blessed you with a gift that will make you a blessing to others!

IV.  The Mechanism of Unity in Diversity -- The Gifts Themselves  (8-10)

            Now we come to verses 8-10.  It is here that Paul gives us a list of gifts from the Spirit.  You will notice in verses 8-9 the emphasis on the fact that these gifts are given by the Spirit, even the same Spirit.  Here again we find the prominence of unity (same Spirit) in diversity (nine different gifts listed).  So here is Paul's list...

                        1.  Word of wisdom

                        2.  Word of knowledge

                        3.  Faith

                        4.  Gifts of healings

                        5.  Workings of miracles

                        6.  Prophecy

                        7.  Discerning of spirits

                        8.  (Different) Kinds of tongues

                        9.  Interpretation of tongues

            The first question we might ask is this:  "Are these all the gifts of the Spirit?"  The answer is an unqualified "No."  How do we know?  Because Paul lists more gifts right here in this same chapter.  At the end of the chapter Paul makes it clear that no one has all the gifts.  He does it by giving a list of gifts and then asking some rhetorical questions, such as, "Are all apostles?  Are all prophets?  Are all teachers?  Are all workers of miracles?" (12:29).  Notice his list in verse 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."  Though Paul does not designate them as gifts, we know they are because he lists some of the same ones that we find here in verses 8-10 (such as gifts of healings and tongues).  However, we find some here that we didn't find before, such as apostles, teachers, helps, and administrations. 

            Furthermore, this is not the only list of gifts.  While I Peter 4 gives us only two categories of gifts, Paul includes other gifts in Romans 6 and Ephesians 4.  If we combine all these lists, we find over 20 gifts.  No single list has all the gifts, and only prophecy is included in each list.  This indicates that there is no exhaustive list of gifts.  These are representative, but they are not exhaustive.  There can be other gifts which are not listed in the New Testament. 

            While there are indeed specific gifts of the Spirit, this term "gift" is not used exclusively of the gifts of the Spirit.  For example, Rom. 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  Eternal life itself is described as a gift of God.  In Rom. 1:11 Paul speaks of imparting a spiritual gift, which seems to be spiritual encouragement.  So the word "gift" (carisma) is not a word that is used exclusively of these "spiritual gifts," but Paul (and Peter) certainly uses it repeated in this way.

            We are not going to have time to explore these gifts individually this morning, but we can see that Paul gives a definite list of gifts by which the entire body is to benefit.  We will be talking more about these gifts, especially the two to which Paul gives much attention in chapter 14.  I will let you read chapter 14 and discover which two, if you don't already know.

V.  Conclusion:  The Spirit Is Sovereign Over the Gifts  (11)

            Before launching into his teaching on the body of Christ in verse 12, he concludes this phase of discussion on the gifts with these words in verse 11, "But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills."  At first it may seem that this is simply a repetition of what he has already said.  It is one and the same Spirit who distributes these gifts to various individuals within the body.  However, notice those last three words -- "as He wills."  To whom does He refer?  To the Spirit, who is mentioned earlier in the verse.  The Spirit distributes all these gifts as He wills, as He chooses, as He desires.

            Let's suppose someone, or a few someones, decide to start a new church.  Well, if that church is going to do well, it will need someone to preach and teach.  So it is decided that Bob will get training to preach and teach.  It would be helpful to have someone else who is good with finances.  So Sally will take accounting classes.  Some careful planning and efficient training should lay the groundwork for the new church.  No, it doesn't work that way.  While training may be helpful, that is not the foundation of the body of Christ.  The Spirit distributes His gifts as He sees fit.  He has gifted people to contribute to the good of all. 

            But how does the Spirit know how to distribute the gifts?  "For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.  11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God" (I Cor. 2:10-11).   No man could ever equip the body of Christ the way the Spirit does.  Praise God that He who knows the mind of God distributes His gifts among the people of God, and He does it for the glory of God.  He knows exactly what is needed in the body of Christ and works to fill those needs through the gifting of the saints.

Conclusion

            Let me wrap up with two brief thoughts.  Number one, let's be thankful for the gifts, but let's never allow the gifts to eclipse the Giver.  If the exercise of the gifts of the Spirit do not bring glory to God, then something is desperately wrong.  So we will not be afraid of the gifts, but neither will we glory in them; we will glory in the Giver of all gifts, of whom it is said, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning" (James 1:17).

            Secondly, let's rejoice that we are one and that God has made us differently, that He has given us different gifts.  Consider yet another illustration.  Look at all the different races of people in the world.  Are they all one?  Not in the spiritual sense we are talking about in I Cor. 12, but they are all one in that they are part of the human race.  Nevertheless, what diversity within that unity.  There are Anglos, blacks, Mexicans, Indians, Thais, Indonesians, Eskimos, and on and on.  I don't know if you are like me, but I love to go to places like Grand Canyon.  Yes, I marvel at God's natural creation, but I also marvel at all the different kinds of people I can observe there.  Not only do I see the great variety in looks, but I get to hear them speaking all kinds of different languages.  It doesn't matter that I can't understand any of them; I just like to listen to that language that is so different from my own.  There is a distinct beauty in this diversity.

            How much more so is it in the new creation, the body of Christ.  Let's take time this week to consciously get with the Lord and give Him thanks for that unity in diversity.