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We live in
an age where the individual rights supersede the needs of the community.
For example: As I understand, it is a requirement in the Commonwealth of
MA that every town have a zone for so-called adult entertainment. The
community standard, it seems, has no relevance regarding this issue
because the rights of the few are of greater value than the community.
I know that this is a bit of
an extreme example for some but we see the rights of the individual in the
courts of law taking precedence over the rights of the community in a
number of areas. In our pluralistic culture, we can understand this to a
limited degree. Unfortunately, the effect is unnerving at best and damning
at worst.
The Church of Jesus Christ is
to be a place where the common good is promoted. However, we see that the
church has become a place where individual rights are protected with
(seemingly) little consideration for the rights of those injured. This is
not God’s intention for the church; rather, the church is to be a place
of provision and protection.
In the coming weeks we will
explore the role of the Church and its ministry in the world. We will look
briefly at the gifts of the Spirit and their role in the Church and move
to how they effect the more important things. We will also speak of the
role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church and the individual
members of the Body of Christ.
Let’s begin by looking to 1
Corinthians 12. The church in Corinth was intent on promoting
self-fulfillment rather than seeing God’s hand at work in the faith
community for the good of all. The church in Corinth believed in Jesus.
They were filled with the Holy Spirit. They manifested many of the gifts
of the Spirit of God. However, despite the many blessings that were
theirs, they were ignorant about the manifestation of the Spirit in their
midst.
The key verse in this section
of the letter is v. 7: "Now to each one the manifestation of the
Spirit is given for the common good." All the gifts, according
to
v. 11: "are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He
gives them to each one, just as He determines." In these two
verses, we see that God’s Spirit is poured out for the benefit of the
entire church according to the way that He deems best to fit His plan.
Paul addressed the issue of
the spiritual gifts. However, he began to address the gifts indirectly. "Now
about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant."
Despite the self-perception of this church as spiritually mature (a
perception Paul began to debunk in the previous section), Paul implies
that they are ignorant (and therefore immature). Their ignorance is not
about a lack of knowledge per se; rather, it is about their inability (or
unwillingness) to apply what they know about the Holy Spirit.
"You know that when you were
pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute
idols." Here, Paul is referring to the life of the people before
they became Christians. As pagans, the people had their religious
observances and worshipped idols. However it happened, the people were
under the influence of these idols that were silent. Read Isaiah
44:9-20 as it describes the folly of the one that worships idols.
However, Paul speaks of the
One that is not silent: "Therefore I tell you that no one who is
speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus be cursed,’ and no one can
say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit." Somehow,
pagans were persuaded to follow the leading of idols that could not speak.
However, we find the one that comes under the influence of the Holy Spirit
cannot curse God in Jesus, and it takes one filled with the Holy Spirit to
declare that Jesus is Lord.
It is possible for people to
mouth the words regarding the Lordship of Jesus. We see that happen often
outside the church. However, it is sad that it happens within the
communities of faith as well. Remember the words of Jesus, "Not
everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of
heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven"
(Matthew 7:21). Many believe that there is a God and many of them do
great things. The problem we face (if you consider it a problem) is that
on the day of God’s judgment we will stand before Jesus. What will our
heart attitude be towards the Lord of all creation? We can mouth the
words, "Look at all I did in the name of God!" or "I was a
good person and look at all the good I did!" However, if it is not
done recognizing the Lordship of Jesus Christ, then our claims are
fruitless.
Look at Israel’s first king,
Saul. Saul was chosen by God through Samuel and anointed king of Israel.
Saul appeared to be a humble servant of God at first. As his life moved
forward we find that this man slowly revealed his true inner nature (a
nature that showed him to be a murderer at heart). Look at Israel’s
second king, David. David showed himself a man that relied on God.
However, David’s shortcomings are well documented (including adultery,
murder, and deceit). The difference between the two men is that David was
aware of his shortcomings and sought the Lord’s mercy and Saul continued
to walk in the arrogance of power.
What was God’s judgment on
these men? In the case of Saul, God removed His Spirit from Saul. The
early blessing of the power of God was removed because of Saul’s sin.
When David sinned and judgment came his way he repented and sought God’s
forgiveness. David, it is recorded had a heart for God’s own. David’s
sins may appear to be greater than Saul’s, but his ultimate desire was
to be one with God.
The contrast that Paul is
giving us in this text is that the Spirit of God is going to empower us to
declare the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He is showing that the idols made
from the imaginings of humans are silent and unable to act, whereas the
Lord Jesus is alive, able to act, and to speak. What is it that we see the
Holy Spirit do in the life of the church?
First, we recognize that "there
are different gifts, but the same Spirit." We’ll get into this
more next week. What is most important here is that we recognize that God
has entrusted each of His children with talent to do particular acts of
service intended to benefit the community of faith.
Second, we see that "there
are different kinds of service, but the same Lord." One
naturally moves into another. A teacher and a singer both use their
voices. This does not necessarily mean that they can do the other person’s
job. We note that it is the Lord that directs us to the service that will
further the work of the kingdom of God. Remember the words of Paul to the
church in Ephesus: "We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Third, we realize that "there
are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all
men." The "working" here may better be translated
"energizing" or "empowering". From Philippians 2, "God
is at work in us to will and do to His good pleasure." God will
touch each of our lives in different ways to empower us for the work
He has prepared for us to do.
God makes it possible for us
to do His work by giving us the ability, by giving us the opportunity,
and by giving us the energy. Remember the definition of ministry
from Warren Wiersbe’s book On Being a Servant of God: "Ministry
begins when divine resources meet human needs through loving channels to
the glory of God." All that the Christian is called to do is given by
God to be utilized by His children for the benefit of His children. "The
manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."
How is this seen in the church?
First, "To one
there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another
the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit."
God’s word touches our intellect. According to the Proverbs the
beginning of wisdom is found in the fear of the Lord and with instruction
comes understanding. Wisdom and knowledge are interrelated yet different.
Wisdom brings us to salvation. Knowledge helps us to articulate our faith.
Working together, we are empowered by them to apply God’s will to our
lives.
Second, "To
another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing
by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy,
to another distinguishing between spirits." These five
manifestations of the Spirit are the result of the indwelling presence
of the Holy Spirit in the life of the person that has given his/her life
to God through Jesus the Lord and Savior. Some maintain that these gifts
are evidenced only in the first century church. That, I believe, is
shortsighted. When we look at the five mentioned here, we note that
faith is still the means by which we receive the grace of God.
Believing is the means by
which people are healed. Scientific evidence still shows that people that
are prayed for have a higher rate of significant recovery than those that
don’t have prayer do do. We’re a little dubious of miraculous powers.
This is due to the fact that we believe in an age of enlightenment and
miracles don’t occur.
We struggle with the gift of
prophecy because we think of fortune-tellers rather than the better
understanding of the prophetic message. Prophecy is taking the word of the
Lord and applying it to the context of the life of the speaker and hearer.
Occasionally, prophecy refers to telling the future, but this only as the
result of the application of God’s word.
Finally, we look to the
distinguishing between spirits. This is an issue because we want to
believe in the power of good in the world, not in the reality of evil.
There is a created being named Satan that deceives the nations. There are
fallen angels (referred to as demons) that serve Satan in the attempted
deception and destruction of humanity. It is the duty of the Christian to
discern the difference between clean and unclean, good and evil, or the
will of God and the will of the Enemy. John tells us in his first letter
that the way to know whether a spirit is from God is to hear the true
confession regarding the person of Jesus. In this section of 1
Corinthians, we already have read that the only way to say that Jesus is
Lord is by the Holy Spirit.
Third, "to another
speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the
interpretation of tongues." The purpose of the gifts of tongues,
and its interpretation, is for the communication of the good news of God’s
salvation through Jesus Christ. The hard evidence of Scripture points in
the direction that when the gift of tongues was manifested in the Biblical
record it was for the purpose of leading people to a saving knowledge
through Jesus Christ. Some believe there is a special prayer language that
draws God’s people closer. It also empowers them in a way that their
native language doesn’t. The issue of tongues leads to a larger study
that goes beyond the scope of this message. However, I am open to talking
about it, and all the gifts, in a smaller group study (for those
interested).
Regarding all the gifts, it is
necessary to hear what Paul says: "All these are the work of one
and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He
determines" (v. 11). We combine that thought again with (v.
7): "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the
common good." The good is not an issue for personal benefit. The
good is for all. The manifestation is not to make one appear more
spiritual. It is for the sake of leading others into a saving, and closer,
walk with God. The outpouring of the Spirit is for the benefit of the
community of faith, not for the gratification of individuals.
As for the importance of the
gifts and manifestation of the Spirit among the people of God, it is
crucial for the community of faith. However, if it is not coupled with the
love of God it is nothing. Let us rejoice in the blessing of God’s love
and in the manifestation of His Spirit in our midst.
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