Gifts That Bring the Church Together

Jake Edwards

The Gift • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

1 Corinthians 12:7–11

Spiritual Gifts

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There are supplemental gifts that round out our spiritual gifts.

Notes

Transcript

No one is made up of one part. Neither is the body of Christ. We are divided in so many ways, and yet we create a beautiful orchestra of joy in when unison.

The conductor and the orchestra.

There is unity possible when diverse believers come together.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 says “7 A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good: 8 to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9 to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of tongues, to another, interpretation of tongues. 11 One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.”

Today, we will discuss the supplemental spiritual gifts that bring the body of Christ together.

1. The Sign Gifts

The this section there are 4 gifts:

Healings - Physical, emotional, relational, spiritual

Miracles - Producing of the supernatural

Tongues - Speaking a language or utterance you have never learned

Interpretation - To translate a message spoken in tongues.

Each gift offers proof of a spirit-filled church. We must be careful with these gifts but not so careful that we eliminate them entirely.

Overemphasize vs. Underemphasize

One of the reasons Paul wrote 1 Corinthians was to correct the church for their handling of the sign gifts.

But he did point out their importance.

We don’t want to miss out on anything that God wants to do in our body. We can be spirit-filled. We must be spirit filled.

Don’t neglect what the Holy Spirit wants to do in you.

2. Knowledge and Wisdom

Col 2:1-8 says “For I want you to know how greatly I am struggling for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person. 2 I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of complete understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery—Christ., 3 In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable. 5 For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ. 6 So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, 7 being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude. 8 Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.”

2 Peter 1:5-8 says “5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, 7 godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Knowledge - The capacity to understand the mind of Christ related to a subject or situation about which the Bible does not provide specific info.

Wisdom - The ability to understand the mind of Christ related to the application of truth where there is not clear, specific, or scriptural guidance.

People who want God’s will above all.

This does not mean that people with these gifts don’t have to refer to scripture. It’s the opposite.

There is no handbook to specifically respond to a pandemic.

Knowledge and wisdom doesn’t respond to difficulties with emotion.

The book of Proverbs is proof that wisdom is an attribute that we all need.

The door is open for those with wisdom and knowledge to help the body of Christ.

3. Faith and Discernment

Paul in Eph 2:8 said that we have been “saved by grace through faith”. Is this the same type of faith Paul wrote about when he talked about spiritual gifts?

Faith - God-given capacity to understand plans for a unit of the body of Christ.

Discernment - The capacity to understand the mind of Christ concerning the motives of people.

Hebrews 11 was written in dedication for those who believed in God to do the impossible.

More than saving faith, but someone with supercharged faith who believe God will accomplish His purpose through the body of Christ.

There are also counterfeits to God’s word and people with hidden agenda’s looking to bring harm to the people of god.

Discernment throws up the red flags that protect.

Have you ever wanted to do something in the moment and someone gave you the advice to “hold back”? How did it work out when you didn’t listen?

The church cannot make healthy progress without faith and discernment.

Are you keeping this gift a secret? Why? We need you!

In order for the church to operate at a healthy level, we must allow the Holy Spirit to use our gifts.