1 Corinthians 12:10-11

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit ~ part 4

Would you open your Bibles to...

1Co. 12:4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

Pray

Intro

√ Did you do your homework?

Did you…

Identify the different gifts used in the Biblical examples?

Share personal experience when you’ve seen those gifts manifested?

Talk about how important it is for each person to utilize his or her gifts?

A word of caution ~ now that we’re talking about the gifts of the Spirit and encouraging the saints to step out and use them…

…watch out for the Devil’s counter attack!

Bear in mind that it is by the power of God’s Spirit living within us, and the gifts He has given us, that we are able to do the work of the Kingdom.

So, as we learn about the gifts and use them we become a greater threat to the work of Satan.

So, if you’ve been doubting your calling this week, or feeling like giving up, recognize it for what it is…

…spiritual warfare!

Our enemy does not want you to use the gifts and power of God’s Spirit because he is rendered powerless by them.

So fight back with prayer and an increased commitment to see God’s plan through in your life.

√ The gifts of the Holy Spirit ~ part 4

We’ll pick up where we left off last week and look at three more of the gifts of the Spirit…

Miracles

Prophecy

Discerning of spirits

Great stuff!

The Gift of Miracles (vs. 10a)

1Co. 12:10a to another the working of miracles…

√ The gift of miracles

Paul adds the gift of miracles to his list in verses 9-10, and mentions it again in vs. 28…

I Cor. 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.

√ Definition of the gift

The gift of miracles is the supernatural, God-given ability to perform special signs that testify of God’s presence in one’s life and for the confirmation of the Gospel message.

While the gift of miracles may on occasion manifest itself through healings…

…the gift of miracles is much more than just healing.

Rather, we find throughout the Old and New Testaments examples of miracles, from Elijah calling fire from heaven to Jesus walking across the Sea of Galilee.

Ex. Gift in the life of a Christian ~ Acts 13:6-12

Paul confronting a sorcerer who was attempting to hinder the Gospel message.

Acts 13:6 Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus,

Acts 13:7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.

Acts 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

Acts 13:9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him

Acts 13:10 and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?

Acts 13:11 "And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time." And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

Acts 13:12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

√ The purpose & use of the gift

The conflict between Paul and Elymsas we just read is a perfect example of the purpose of the gift, and how it is used, as it…

…testifies of God’s presence in Paul’s life (vs. Elymas’) and confirms the message that Paul shared.

Paul preached forgiveness of sins, salvation and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.

Elymas, an ambassador of Satan, desired to keep Sergius Paulus from the Truth, probably because he realized his earning potential was threatened!

It’s kind of an “OK Corral” situation ~ or Elijah vs. the prophets of Baal scene.

The question…who’s telling the Truth and who represents God?

This miracle demonstrated that God was with Paul, not Elymas, and that the message Paul preached was in fact from God.

So, the gift of miracles is given to testify of God’s presence in a person’s life and to validate the Gospel message they preach.

√ Why miracles so scarce today?

Actually, I believe that God is working miracles today but often we either miss them or give credit to someone, or something else.

Ex. Baby Wade

Sonogram images showed his spinal cord was on the outside of his body and recommended an abortion.

The saints prayed for a miracle and the next sonogram showed the baby was fine.

Doctors said they made a mistake.

Additionally, we need to recognize that even in the 1^st Century Church that miracles were not the norm.

Acts 19:11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,

So, we need to recognize that just because we don’t see or hear of miracles on a daily basis is not an indication that God no longer works through this gift.

Though admittedly we don’t see or hear about the kinds of miracles recorded in the Gospels and the Book of Acts nearly as often today as once were manifest in the Church.

Is that because God doesn’t work through miracles today, or could it be that the spiritual condition of the Church is such that we aren’t ready for God’s power to be manifest through us!?

Ex. John Wesley

“The cause of their decline (spiritual gifts) was not as has been vulgarly supposed because there was no need for them, because the world were become Christians…the real cause was: the love of many, almost all Christians so called was waxed cold…this was the real cause why the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit were no longer to be found in the Christian Church; because the Christians were turned heathen again and had only a dead form left.”

Think for a moment what type of person is it whom the Lord could entrust with such power?

It would have to be a person whose life was totally surrendered to the Lord and motivated by pure agape love!

Lest that person use the power of God for their own ends and make a name not for Christ but for themselves!

Pray for God to raise up people with this gift and use it for His glory that the Name of Jesus might be exalted above the many false gods and vain philosophies in our day and that many might be brought to saving faith as a result.

The Gift of Prophecy (vs. 10b)

1Co. 12:10b …to another prophecy…

√ The gift of prophesy

Anyone familiar with the Bible has read much about prophets, and prophecy.

In fact, it’s been observed that one of every three words in the Bible was prophetic when originally penned!

The office, or gift of prophet, and the gift of prophecy are near the top of the list of spiritual gifts.

1Co 12:28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets,….

And, the apostle Paul encourages all believers to seek the spiritual gift of prophecy…

I Cor. 14:1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

It is an important gift for the Church because when it is used properly it builds up the faith of the believer as Paul writes in 1 Cor. 14:3…

“But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.”

So, let’s define the gift of prophecy!

1) The gift of prophecy

The gift of prophecy is the supernatural ability to speak forth for God. Prophecy can be manifest in one two ways, either by…

Telling forth ~ proclaiming the message of God

Fore telling ~ providing information about the

future.

A prophecy can deal with, or be directed to either…

Individuals

Groups ~ like a church or a nation

Such as Nathan’s message to David, and Jesus’ message to the seven churches in the Revelation.

2) Prophet

A prophet is someone through whom the gift of prophecy is operated.

Yet, as we saw in an earlier study a person can have the gift of prophecy…

…but not be called to the office of a prophet (ex. King Saul & Philip’s daughters).

For example, in a general sense as a pastor teaches or preaches the Word of God, he is prophesying as he is speaking for God by telling forth the message of God.

However, prophecy is not the same as preaching or teaching.

Nor is the pastor a prophet in the strict sense of our definition.

An example of a New Testament prophet is found in Acts 21 where we meet a man named Agabus (the father of Airbus?)…

Acts 21:10 And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

Acts 21:11 When he had come to us, he took Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, `So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'"

Like the prophets of the Old Testament, Agabus was moved by the Spirit of God and given divine revelation concerning Paul’s future treatment in Jerusalem.

He was operating the gift of prophecy.

It is a gift that is greatly needed in the Church today because just as in the 1^st Century believers today need the exhortation, comfort, and encouragement from God!

Ex. Prophecy over pastor Chuck

When the original Calvary Chapel was still a very small fellowship meeting in a rented facility God spoke a word of prophecy to pastor Chuck that provided great encouragement to him, God said…

“You will be a father to many churches and have influence around the world.”

He probably went home laughing because it all seemed so ludicrous.

But some 40 years later with thousands of Calvary Chapels and related ministries all over the world that word of prophecy has proven true!

What a great encouragement that prophecy must have been to pastor Chuck to stick with his calling rather than quitting as he was often tempted to do in those early years.

Ap. We need to hear from God!

Christians in every age are faced with issues, questions, and doubts that are best ministered to by direct revelation from God.

Times when there isn’t a scripture that deals directly with our question.

Times when confronted with a multitude of paths to chose and no clear direction.

It’s then that a prophetic word is most needed. So pray for the gift of prophecy as the Bible encourages us to do!

The Gift of Discerning of Spirits (vs. 10c)

1Co. 12:10c …to another discerning of spirits…

√ Discerning of Spirits

The last gift we’ll look at this morning is the gift of discerning of spirits.

Note that it is not discernment, that is the ability to properly recognize truth verses a lie.

Rather, it is the discernment of spirits, that is, the God-given ability to recognize the spirit by which a person speaks and the spirit by which a person is directed.

When someone says…

“Thus says the Lord…”

…it is imperative that we know whether or not the Lord really said it!

The person with the gift of Discerning of Spirits is able to discern whether a message is from…

God

Satan (demons)

One’s own imagination

Obviously a very important gift!

Ap. The need for the gift

Many claim to speak for God today…

The Jehovah’s Witness & the Watch Tower

The self-proclaimed lord Matraya

Dali Lama

Islam

…it is vital to a person’s eternity to know who is really speaking for God!

√ The purpose of the gift

To primary purpose of the gift is to protect God’s people, His Church from…

False teachers

False doctrine

Counterfeit Christians

All of which hinder the work of God and destroy the faith of true believers.

√ The need for the gift

The Bible is filled with warnings against Satan’s attacks in which he uses deceit to destroy or distract Christians.

Ex. Satan

2Cor. 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.

2Cor. 11:14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

Demon inspired people

I Tim. 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,

Note that a rise in false doctrines opposed to the Christian faith is a characteristic of the “latter times”.

We’re living in them!

There has been a massive uptick in the advent of new of cults and false religions in the last 150 years of human history!

So, we desperately need the gift to defend the Church from the work of Satan.

√ The gift in operation

We find Paul exercising the gift in the city of Philippi.

Acts 16:16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling.

Acts 16:17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation."

Acts 16:18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out that very hour.

This is an interesting example because the girl spoke the Truth, yet, she did so by a demon spirit.

Paul discerned that she was not speaking by the inspiration of God but by a demon…

…therefore, cast the demon out.

Reminding us that Satan’s best method of deception is to mix truth with a lie!

√ The use of the gift

The gift of discerning of spirits is not a substitute for discernment!

That is, whether or not we have the gift of Discerning of Spirits, all of us have been given the tools by God to protect ourselves from being deceived!

How? By testing every doctrine by the Bible and by evaluating the fruit in a person’s life.

Ex. The guys at your door

1Jo.4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1Jo.4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,

1Jo.4:3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

So, according to the Apostle John anyone who says that Jesus is not God…

“does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh” ~ vs. 3

…is operating by the spirit of Antichrist and we should reject their message.

The point is that our first line of defense against false teaching and teachers is to have a working knowledge of the truth as already revealed in the Bible.

Which means…

You have to read the Bible!

Secondly we must inspect the fruit of the lives of those bringing a new message or some doctrine that is contrary what we have received.

Mat. 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Mat. 7:16 "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?

Mat. 7:17 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

The point is that we must judge not only by what we hear, but also, by what we see in the lives of the messenger.

A person who truly speaks for God will have a life that is marked by Godly character.

If the fruit is bad reject the message!

Ex. Tony Alamo, David Koresh, Elizabeth Claire Prophet

In every case you’ll find that these leaders lead unsanctified lives characterized by gross immorality, heavy-handed manipulation of people, the use of fear and force to motivate people to serve them.

All of which is contrary to the character and nature of Jesus!

If a person’s life doesn’t resemble that of Jesus as revealed in scripture then you need to get as far from them as possible and warn others!

If the fruit is bad then the root is bad!

√ The need for the gift

So, the Lord has given all of us the basic equipment needed to protect ourselves from the lies of Satan through His Word and by the testing of fruit.

However, there will be will be people and doctrines that are very good counterfeits of the truth.

That’s when the gift of Discernment of Spirits is most valuable!

When the enemy comes in the form of a believer, or his message is so close to the truth that it’s hard to spot the lie.

As in our example with the spirit possessed girl in Philippi.

Ex. Those in our fellowship

I tend to be a little gullible and am quick to hope the best about people.

I count on the folks in leadership here to discern things that I may miss.

There have been a number of occasions where two or three of the folks in the fellowship have independently of one another come to me privately and said that they had a red-flag about the person.

Once God has my attention I watch and see how that person interacts with the people here and in every case after just a short time they play their hand and show their colors.

Close

√ The gifts of the Holy Spirit