Unity and Diversity
Be United! Book of First Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 42:33
0 ratings
· 72 viewsFiles
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Ministry of the Holy Spirit
As we grow in Christ we learn to mature through knowledge and appreciation of our God. We grow when we understand the body of Christ (the church) and it’s function personally but more importantly as a unified body through the Holy Spirit.
Question: When you think of transformed, or being transformed what do you think of (consider Rom12:2)?
Question: when you think of conformity, being conformed what do you think of (consider Rom8:29)?
Now let me give you the scriptures, then will look at definitions of terms.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
So it says do not be conformed, but look at the other Romans passage
29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
So one says do not be conformed the other says be conformed, one says be transformed and tells us how to do it. Let me give defined terms.
According to the KJV Bible Dictionary regarding transformed
1. To change the form of; to change the shape or appearance; to metamorphose; as a caterpillar transformed into a butterfly.
2. To change one substance into another; to transmute. The alchimists sought to transform lead into gold.
3. In theology, to change the natural disposition and temper of man from a state of enmity to God and his law, into the image of God, or into a disposition and temper conformed to the will of God.
Now using the same dictionary regarding conformed
1. To make like, in external appearance; to reduce to a like shape, or form, with something else; with to; as, to conform any thing to a model.
2. More generally, to reduce to a likeness or correspondence in manners, opinions or moral qualities.
Though you have some definitions they are unified in the aspect of the unity of the Holy Spirit. The unity of Holy Spirit within the working of the church, the body of Christ was addressed by Paul in three of his letters that point to the unity, the diversity that leads to the maturity of the body. Note down these
(Insert Ministry of the Holy Spirit here)
It was the Holy Spirit that gave birth to the church (the body of Christ) (Act2:1-4); it is the Holy Spirit that unifies the body (Eph4:3), and it is Holy Spirit that gives the gifts for the ministry to the body (1Cor12:1-14).
This morning we are looking at the gift of the Holy Spirit. The problem with the church of Corinth is that the church had the gift and the gifts but they were being used to bring division and not unity.
This morning is broken down like this.
Spiritual gifts come from one place (1Cor12:1-7)
Spiritual gifts come from One Spirit (1Cor12:8-11)
Spiritual gifts are for One body (1Cor12:12-14)
Special look, focus on the gift of the Spirit, when, why, how. (time and Lord willing)
Division within the church and Paul goes on to identify and promote the unity of the body and the use of the spiritual gifts in unifying the body.
From one place
From one place
The spiritual gifts come from one place and are for one purpose, to serve the body. May we see the commonality even in the diversity regarding the gifts that come from one place.
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led.
3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.
7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
Gleaning from the scripture:
Question: Why is Paul addressing this issue with the brethren (v.1)?
He does not want them to be unaware (ignorant, uninformed).
God does not want us to be unaware, ignorant, uninformed
(v.2) you were Gentiles led anywhere by dumb idols
Question: In (v.3) Paul makes known a simple fact, do you see it, can you glean it from the scripture?
No speaking by the Spirit of God can call Jesus accursed for it is by the Spirit that by the Spirit God that Jesus is Lord.
(transition) Now this brings us to a unity passage that is important for understanding and application before getting to the gifts of the Spirit.
There is varieties of gifts, but the same Lord (v.4)
We confess the same Lord, Paul had contrasted the Gentiles and the dumb idols so the Corinthians would see the importance of the unity. Before they were saved they were lost, under control of the world, of demons as it says (1Cor10:20) and led astray (1Cor12:2) but now, the Spirit of God lives in them and directs them.
There are varieties of ministries, but the same Lord (v.5)
There is varieties of effects (activities), but it is the same God, who works all things in all people (v.6)
The gifts given, that come from the gift given (Holy Spirit) are for the common good, for all people in all things, all for Gods purpose and God’s glory.
We depend, lean, rely on the same God,it is the same Lord, same God, same Spirit. The source is from God as it says in (v.6).
(v.6) makes me thing of (Php2:13)
Question: What is the purpose that the gifts are given according to (v.7)?
They are a manifestation (manifested, demonstrated) for the common good (profit to all).
(Transition) So we have a reason 1. so you will be informed, not ignorant. 2. All gifts come from one place from God. 3. Gifts given are from God who works all things in all people, so the gifts are for all who believe and are His.
Gifts from one Spirit
Gifts from one Spirit
Good gifts for common good are given from One Spirit, for one purpose, common good. You can find more on gifts in Eph4:11 and Rom12:6-8 in case you want to research more.
The good gifts given are not for the person, but for the people, part of the problem the Corinthians were having was they were using the gifts to promote themselves and for the betterment of the church, they body of Christ. We need to use the gifts to promote unity, to have harmony with one another that helps the whole church to be united. So now the passage
8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.
Gleaning from the scripture:
Question: What is the source of the gifts according to (v.8)?
It is the Spirit (v.8); same Spirit (v.9, 11), it is One Spirit (v.10)
Now may we look at the gifts that Paul mentions to the Corinthians.
There is word of wisdom (v.8), word of knowledge (v.8)
Faith , and to another healing (v.9)
The effecting (working) of miracles, gift of prophesy, to another distinguishing spirits, various tongues, and to another interpretation of tongues (v.10)
I want to pause here for a few minutes there are gifts given for the church and to the church. For the church we have seen previously and in other places.
Gift of apostles (1Cor9:1-6; Eph4:11); Prophets (1Cor14:3; Eph4:11) other scriptures used or referenced ( 1Cor14:3, 29; 1The5:19-21; 2Tim4:5; 1Cor13:9-10; Heb2:1-4)
11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
So, why bring this up now? Because the gifts to the church were to help lay the foundation of the church, and when the foundation is laid you are able to build on it, the foundational work is done i tis complete, it is solid.
Other gifts that are still in place today, that build on that foundation that is Rock Solid! are the Evangelist,s pastors and teachers.
The prophets brought the message from God through the Spirit to man, the Apostles brought the inspired word to lead people to God and to edify, encourage and to comfort the body (1Cor14:3). The peoples part was to listen, and discern if the message was true and if it was from God (1Cor14:29; 1The5:19-21) (note down those verses for your notes)
Teachers build on the Word of God, on the doctrinal truth of the the bible to help the Christian grow in their Christian life. They do not get the Word by inspiration but more by preparation and perspiration
The evangelist focuses on the sharing of the Good News to bring the unsaved to salvation and the saved howto stay saved. All are called to do the work of an evangelist (2Tim4:5) but not all are called to be evangelists. Some are called and gifted as evangelists.
So as we are looking at this section (vv.8-11) There are certain gifts there that were for then, but since we have the bible today are not for now for they are no longer needed since the foundation is laid.
Gift of miracles, Prophesy, tongues and interpretation of tongues were conditional gifts. When that which is complete comes, the partial would be done away with.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
The sign gifts were part of the credentials (Heb2:1-4; note this down in your outline), the proof that what the apostles and the prophets were teaching was from God. They were for the infancy of the church. There is no historical evidence that they continued after the passing of the apostles and prophets.
1 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty,
3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.
Now that brings us to the next verse, maybe better if put it back up again
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
Question: The one/same Spirit does what according to His will in (v.11)?
The Spirit distributes the gifts according to His will.
The gifts given to all people are not the same gift to each person, the Spirit distributes as He wills. You can see that not all have all in 1Cor12:27-31 (we will get to that passage in a near future study). That does bring us to now the spiritual gifts that are to bring unity through the diversity of the gifts are for one body.
The gifts: let me touch on the rest of them in our passage:
Gift: Word of Wisdom: Ability to know the truth
Gift: Word of knowledge: Ability to understand and apply the truth to life situations
Gift: Faith: Knowing, believing God who He is and what He wants to accomplish through the body.
Gift: Discerning Spirits, to be able to see, recognize and see if something is not in line with God’s Word.
In early church they did not have the written word. They needed discerning spirits to help the since there were false teachers, false prophets, and even false Christs. today we are blessed for we have the Word and can check against the Word (maybe consider 1Jn2:18-24 and 1Jn4:1-6)
1Jn2 summary -many antichrists have appeared, and it is only through knowing the truth can you discern these workers of satan. They ward liars and the truth is not in them. They even deny the Christ.
1Jn4 summary: Test the spirits for there are many false prophets, one way to know is those who say Jesus did not come in the flesh. You, you know the truth, you overcome with the truth for the Spirit of truth lives in you.
(Transition) This brings us to our last section for today, but definitely not the last time will look at the Spiritual gifts that are diverse but bring unity to the body. For the Spiritual gifts are for “one” body.
Gifts for One Body
Gifts for One Body
We are one church (Eph4:4) one body (1Cor12:12) the gifts given from the One Spirit (1Cor12:4; Eph4:4) are for the one body, and we became one by by one way.
12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
What did you see, what did you notice, what sticks out to you?
Gleaning from the scripture;
Question: We are one body yet many what according to (v.12)?
One body yet many members that make up the one body.
Question: How did we become one body (v.13)?
By one Spirit, all were baptized into one body.
Side note: We became one body by one way and that was through baptism. It is a shame that many have separated out baptism from salvation, and think there are two baptisms, one an acknowledgment of your committment to Christ and the other for an empowering, an equipping by Christ. There is only one baptism according to the N.T. (Eph4:5) that brings conversion when the Holy Spirit enters the heart o the repentant believers who has confessed Jesus as Lord and believes who He is and their need for Him. The Spirit gives us a new life (Tit3:5; Jn3:5; Act2:38) making us now a temple of the Holy Spirit (1Cor6:19) There is no reason to seek any other baptism. For when you are baptized for the forgivenss of sins you are fully equipped for life and godliness (2Pt1:3)
We are one body, by one baptism, for one reason.
25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
we will get more into this from there next week. (prayer) (Exit)