The following are the scriptures I used in teaching about the gifts of the Holy Spirit this past weekend in Harrisburg, PA. You will notice that the gifts will be emboldened and the big idea of the text underlined.
(1 Peter 4:7-11) The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show
hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever
speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever
serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—
in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
- The first big idea is that the gifts are given for the glory of God. He gives the gifts, He supplies the strength and He empowers their use, therefore He gets the glory. Plain and simple. We are not all that awesome because we can host great gatherings or speak eloquently. Soli Deo Gloria.
(Ephesians 4:1-16, ESV) I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the
apostles, the
prophets, the
evangelists, the
shepherds and
teachers,
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are
to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
- The second big idea here is that the gifts are given for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry. This means that Christ grants gifts to us to use in building up one another. This is christian bodybuilding. We use our gifts to build up the body of Christ, not for selfish reasons. The goal is to grow up, as a community, and mature into the fullness of the stature of the fullness of Christ. This is all about love & unity in the body of Christ, leading to maturity.
(Romans 12:1-8, ESV) I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if
prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if
service, in our serving; the one who
teaches, in his teaching; the one who
exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who
contributes, in generosity; the one who
leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of
mercy, with cheerfulness.
- The third big idea is that members of the body of Christ do not all have the same function. So let us celebrate the diversity in the body of Christ and be thankful that our different functions complement each other. Thank God for his wisdom and sovereignty in assigning to each a measure of faith, that we might serve one another in love.
(1 Corinthians 12:1-11, ESV) Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers,
I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of
wisdom, and to another the utterance of
knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another
faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of
healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of
miracles, to another
prophecy, to another the
ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of
tongues, to another the
interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
- The fourth big idea is that we must not be uninformed! Other translations say ignorant! So many of us simply don't know because we don't read God's word. Paul here warns us against ignorance concerning spiritual gifts. Therefore we must be in the word of God daily that we might not be ignorant of what is rightfully ours.
(1 Corinthians 12:27-31, ESV) Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first
apostles, second
prophets, third
teachers, then
miracles, then gifts of
healing,
helping,
administrating, and various kinds of
tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing?
Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
- Th fifth big idea is that not everyone will speak in tongues. That's what Paul is saying here and that is what he wants us to conclude by asking these questions. And this does not mean that one is any less of a Christian because they don't prophecy, possess gifts of healing or speak in a tongue. Likewise those who do have those gifts are not a 1st class Christian or filled anymore with the Holy Spirit than those who don't. I will elaborate on this point further in the next post.
Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 14:1a, ESV)
- This is the last point I'll make in this post. Some of us have just never truly and earnestly desired spiritual gifts. Brothers and sisters, this is scriptural, we ought to pursue love and to earnestly desire the spiritual gifts.
In part two of this post I'll share the rest of my notes and some great resources that have helped me in learning and further understanding spiritual gifts. Blessings!
