Spiritual Gifts For Each Other

Understanding the term ‘Spiritual Gifts’… ‘Grace-Gifts’…Gifts of Grace

They are given to us & we are to be ‘Stewards’ of these gifts, using them for others

They are to be understood and used in a ‘body’ mentality (the greater good)

12:1-11

Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this.You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols.

• The language has a big picture connotation ‘Spiritual Matters’ in general
• Gifts are part of the ‘Spiritual Matters’ but not the most important…Ch.13
• The Spiritual aspects of our faith are important & should be based on Scripture
• Remember we have been wrong in the past; so let’s stay humble & teachable

So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.

• Whatever or whoever speaks in opposition to the Biblical Christ is not of God
• God’s Spirit is the source of anyone declaring Christ as Lord
• There is no ‘Spiritual Neutrality’…
• Declaring ‘Jesus Lord’

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.

• ‘Source’ is term Paul used to describe ‘Authority’ or ‘Headship’
• The Holy Spirit always Glorifies Jesus Christ & God The Father
• Language implies they are ‘Grace-Gifts’ and as such serve the purposes of Christ

God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

• These Grace Gifts from God are part of the ‘Sanctification Process’
• God gives us these ‘abilities’ for the good of others
• Help each other what? Help each other grow in closeness to Christ

LIST OF SOME OF THE ‘BIBLICAL’ SPIRITUAL GIFTS

• We understand the Grace Gifts based on Scripture, not feelings
• They are to be focused on other people’s benefit & God’s Glory

To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.

• Advise, guidance and decision making ability corresponding to God’s will
• In depth understanding of spiritual issues and situations
• These two gifts work together, often among Elders

The same Spirit gives ‘great faith’ to another, and to someone else the ONE Spirit gives the gift of healing.

• Ability to trust God and help others trust God no matter the circumstances
• The ability to be a vehicle of God’s healing power in supernatural ways

He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit.

• Ability to display God’s power through signs and wonders
• Ability to determine the spiritual source & influence of messages, events and acts
• These two are crucial to have in tandem because evil can counterfeit signs

Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.

• ‘Tongues’ is translation of greek ‘glossia’ which means known language
• There is a different word for ‘utterances’ (non language verbal sounds)
• Staying ‘biblical’ speaking in tongues is using an actual language you don’t know
• It is spoken to someone who knows that language and imparts revelation of God
• Revelation by hearing a language you don’t know but supernaturally understand

It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

• Further clarification of the singular nature of God’s Spirit
• The Holy Spirit has absolute authority in the assignment of Grace Gifts
• Repetition in Scripture is always to gives weight to something.

The idea of personal, action oriented application of God’s Word…

• It is unproductive to think and speak in ‘We Should’…
• Approach it from an ‘I can choose to…’ ‘I want to focus on’ basis
• Let questions yield other more specific & deeper questions that you ask & answer
• Small changes that build more obedience

Application Questions:

Why should YOU discover and develop YOUR Spiritual Gifts?

How do YOUR Spiritual gifts clearly declare ‘Jesus is Lord’?

Spiritual Gifts are given to help each other, how well are YOU doing that with YOURS?

How content are YOU with YOUR Spiritual Gifts & how do YOU celebrate other’s gifts?

HONORING GOD’S CREATION ORDER

1 Cor. 10:31-33 & 11:1

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved. And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

• The ‘Big Picture’ attitude God is calling us to is consideration born of love
• Sacrificing our pleasure & comfort we live for others; their good and salvation
• Let us live out the privilege we have to honor God while we are considerate of all
• THIS glorifies God, Paul is being used to show us how to follow Christ

This passage is about applying the principal of Honoring God’s ordained gender roles in a worship setting specifically, and in marriage relationships; demonstrating love born of surrender.

1 Cor 11:2-17

I am so glad that you always keep me in your thoughts, and that you are following the teachings I passed on to you. But there is one thing I want you to know: The source of every man is Christ, the source of woman is man, and the source of Christ is God.

• This 1^st sentence is either sarcasm or graceful optimism (can work both ways)
• The importance of knowing & following the original Gospel (source matters)
• This is a crucial thing that God wants his church to focus on to create Godly order

• Creation Order is the foundation for all human relationships

• Based on Scripture; God is orderly, He intentionally set things up ‘His Way’

• Most translations use the word ‘head’, denoting ‘headship’ (Body Metaphor)

• ‘Source’ ties to creation and denotes authority in Biblical worldview

• Based on ‘biblical theology’, under authority doesn’t always mean unequal

• Under Christ there is total equality, but we are created to play different roles

• Woman is the apex of all God’s creation (last thing He made)
• Eve’s role was not to lead and call the shots. She usurped Adam’s role, HE let her
• Women can choose to play men’s roles or they can follow Christ’s example of honoring the authority they have been placed under
• Under authority does not mean inferior, Christ is equal to the Father; different role

A man dishonors Christ if he covers his head while praying or prophesying. But a woman dishonors her husband if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head, for this is the same as shaving her head.

• 4 Men: idea is complete exposure / openness before God as ‘His Image Bearer’
• 4 Women: head covering demonstrates the honoring of the authority one is under
• Current cultural demonstrations of reflecting glory & being under authority
• Our structuring gender roles based on creation order is sound Biblical Theology

Yes, if she refuses to wear a head covering, she should cut off all her hair! But since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or her head shaved, she should wear a covering.

• The refusal to follow God’s created order expressed in gender roles is rebellion
• The only basis for a relationship with God is surrender, not rebellion
• Gender roles: Foundational; how are we surrendered to Christ without obeying?
• Christ’s submission to the Father in the Garden: “Not my will, but Yours be done!”
• In that culture the only reason a woman would have a shaved head is disgrace

A man should not wear anything on his head when worshiping, for man is made in God’s image and reflects God’s glory. And woman reflects man’s glory.

• Adam was meant to represent mankind as Prophet, Priest and King
• Eve was meant to empower and support that ‘headship’ role, not compete for it
• By reflecting man’s glory, woman plays the same role as Christ to the Father

For the first man didn’t come from woman, but the first woman came from man. And man was not made for woman, but woman was made for man. For this reason, and because the angels are watching, a woman should wear a covering on her head to show she is under authority.

• The roles of men & women were laid out by God before the fall
• The fall does not create these roles and the fall does not change them either
• When the body of Christ gathers to worship God’s messengers are present
• Key principal: Honoring God by following gender roles HE established
  • Not out of a need to control but from love for the other role in the partnership
• Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. ~ Ephesians 5:22-25

But among the Lord’s people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women. For although the first woman came from man, every other man was born from a woman, and everything comes from God.

• Relational interdependence, within an authority structure God has created
  • Quote “Even after he has stressed the subordination of women, Paul goes on to stress even more directly the essential partnership of man and woman. Neither can live without the other. If there is subordination, it is in order that the partnership may be more fruitful and lovely for both.” (Barclay)

Judge for yourselves. Is it right for a woman to pray to God in public without covering her head? Isn’t it obvious that it’s disgraceful for a man to have long hair? And isn’t long hair a woman’s pride and joy? For it has been given to her as a covering.

• Christ calls each of us to observe the authority we have been placed under
• We are all to be under some authority, as Christ Himself was while incarnated
• The cultural expressions of this role structure were: Women: vails Men: short hair
• W: Intention of placing the veil / M: Not having a head that can be fully uncovered

But if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say that we have no other custom than this, and neither do God’s other churches.

• The Apostolic church was united
• These customs were part of the current cultural norms
• It was a ritual that served to remind them of God’s order concerning gender roles
• The ‘Spirit Led’ follower of Christ seeks to consider others & do what’s best for all
• It’s not about our preferences, it’s about God’s Word and Others!

Application Questions:

How do we apply the principal of doing all things for the glory of God when it comes to observing God’s creation order?

Why do you think the understanding of how God has structured mankind is the ONE thing Paul wants us to know?

Is there a part of this passage that rubs you the wrong way? If so how might you resolve the conflict?

Why should we recognize the differences in Genders as a basis for complementary existence?

Is our unity as Christ’s body based on our preferences or on the scriptures prescription?

Unity in The Spirit Not ‘Religion’ (Just because you are in a garage doesn’t mean you are a car)

Those of you who have been studying the book of Hebrews will see some parallels

Today’s passage is a warning against ‘meaningless ritual’ and ‘Social Club Christianity’

Following Christ should never be a ‘Casual Association’

Jesus Said: “Give up your life for Me and the Good News” Anything but casual

At the end of chapter 9 we hear how Paul approaches following Christ (Serious Biz)

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

MIGHT WE APPROACH EVERY ASPECT OF OUR FAITH AS ‘DISCIPLES IN TRAINING

1 Cor. 10:1-17

I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground.

• ‘Our’ Ancestors…not like hebrews, this was written to Greeks / Gentiles
• As a group they were set free and cared for by God in miraculous ways

In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses. All of them ate the same spiritual food, and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.

• Baptized = made one with / in the midst of / fully a part of
• As with Christianity the act of ‘baptism’ does nothing (can be meaningless ritual)
• People can do all the same things, be exposed to the same things…

Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, or worship idols as some of them did.

• This demonstrates how foolish and pridefully independent we all can be
• The basic evil things they craved were their control, their pleasure
• Replace God in any way and you have made an idol

As the Scriptures say, “The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.” And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day.

• The Pagan Revelry is referring to Drunken Orgies (Exodus 32:6)
• Numbers 25 (sexual immorality with Moab)

Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.

• Various examples of the Israelites being disobedient during the Exodus
• The Scripture were given for them (Corinthians) and now at the 2^nd level for us
• The Corinthians are doing:
  • Idol Worship / Sexual Immorality / Testing God / Grumbling / Gossip

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

• People are people…The Israelite, The Corinthians, The Atlantans
• God is the same for all, He is on our side against temptation

So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true.

• Physically remove yourself from the influences
• Don’t take anyone’s word for it, you have to make willful choices

When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body.

• There are distinctive values and belief we unite around (not unity for unity’s sake)
• We share in Christ by making it real with him, not by going through the motions
• God is calling all of us to be a true part of HIS body…you can make it real today

The Lord’s Table: Why we do it every week @ Midtown

Think about the people of Israel. Weren’t they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar?

• They should have been united but thy were not…

Application Questions:

What associations do you have that are based on place and activity but not values?

How well are you aware of the ‘Evil Things YOU Crave’? What do you make an Idol?

In what areas of you life do you ‘Think’ you’re standing strong but need to be careful in?

What “Careful Reordering of Priorities’ might help limit and get you out of temptations?

What are the things that Spiritually Unify us as Disciples of Jesus Christ?

Supporting ‘WORK IN THE LORD’

The support of Servant Leaders by those they serve is God’s design!

A healthy Body supports their leaders at a level where they are not poor, but also not at a level where they are not required to depend on God.

1^st Corinthians 9:1-14

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

• Paul is establishing his ‘Bonafides’…Leaders should have a track record
• The community should be able to see God working through leaders
• The recognition that we all have benefited from someone’s ‘Work in The Lord’

This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. Don’t we have the right to food and drink? Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?

• There appears to have been a group complaining about supporting them
• His peers are supported but he and Barnabas are held to a different standard

Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing?

• Anyone works for the benefit of others should share in the benefits as well
• Not only is this common sense, it is God’s way (God of Justice)

For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.

• The principal is illustrated by the Ox example, but applies to us
• God designed us to work based on our directly sharing in ‘The fruit of our labor’
• This is why Socialism doesn’t work: work is detached from result of it
• The book of Proverbs is where God fully explains his ‘Work Ethic’

If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

• Exchange of ‘Spiritual Seed’ for ‘Material Harvest’…is this mutually beneficial?
• It is a good thing to support ‘Missionaries & Para Churches’…
• As long as you fulfill your immediate commitments as a member of a ‘Body’
• Leaders must not leverage power for support… trust God & ‘Work in The Lord’
• We aspire to lead not for the support, but because we are called to it…

Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

• O.T. TheTemple was place of worship, those who facilitated were supported
• Those who made the sacrifices were material supported by the community
• The preaching of the Gospel equates to making sacrifices
• Command of Scripture: The Body must materially support it’s Servant Leaders

Application Questions:

Who’s ‘Work in The Lord’ has benefited you? How might you support them?

How should christian professionals be compensated compared to their peers?

How might you intentionally act to better support leaders in Jesus’ Church?

When you consider vocational ministry, do the economics of it discourage you?

The Priority of Serving Christ

Vision for the Biblical Christ Centered Culture God is building @ Midtown:

A culture of Gospel & Discipleship

A culture of Scripture & Service

A culture of Prayer & Care

Culture defined by: Activity & Principal…Faith & Relationship…Standards & Love

Our primary means by which culture is formed is doing our level best to interpret and apply Scripture.

So we continue with: ‘The Corinthians’…

When we last left The Corinthians Paul was answering questions about marriage

1^st Corinthians 7:25-40

Now regarding your question about the young women who are not yet married. I do not have a command from the Lord for them. But the Lord in his mercy has given me wisdom that can be trusted, and I will share it with you. Because of the present crisis, I think it is best to remain as you are.

• Response to a specific question put to Paul
• If Scripture has no bearing on your situation, what do you do with it?
• Tied to ‘present situation’ so it’s not a ‘general command’ from God’s Word for all
• Principle contained is that marriage is not to be entered into lightly
• ‘Present Crisis’ Persecution by Romans + Famine

If you have a wife, do not seek to end the marriage. If you do not have a wife, do not seek to get married. But if you do get married, it is not a sin. And if a young woman gets married, it is not a sin. However, those who get married at this time will have troubles, and I am trying to spare you those problems.

• The Gospel of Jesus Christ was causing a lot of social unrest
• The core of Paul’s Spirit led guidance is: Count The Cost / Take Your Time
• Why? Because there is a more important priority as a disciple of Christ

But let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage.

• The time that remains is very short…DO YOU see the time we have as limited?
• Call is to not focus ONLY on your marriage…

Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions. Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away.

• ‘Emotional Consumerism’
• Absorbed / Attached….’Social Media’??
• Making an idol of ANYTHING is not wise… even a spouse
• Time is fleeting…we have a finite amount of time

I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him. But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife. His interests are divided.

• Where the Spirit of The Lord is There is FREEDOM
• Do you want to be free to fully serve Christ? Should a disciple desire otherwise?
• Are you aware of how your interests are divided (by: world / flesh / satan)
• We will be divided, but where is our priority?

In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband.

• Serious temporal commitments CAN & WILL impact how you serve Christ
• Biblical One Flesh Marriage is serious stuff…how do we prioritize?
• As disciples of Christ we ‘Lay down our lives’ for HIM…
• Should we not structure our lives so we make Him 1^st, Spouse & Family 2^nd?

I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.

• The desire of God is that we would serve Him best we can…(best thing for us!)
• Distractions are a reality, the question is will you be distracted?
• The real danger is when you don’t think they are distractions, just life…

But if a man thinks that he’s treating his fiancée improperly and will inevitably give in to his passion, let him marry her as he wishes. It is not a sin. But if he has decided firmly not to marry and there is no urgency and he can control his passion, he does well not to marry. So the person who marries his fiancée does well, and the person who doesn’t marry does even better.

• This is in reference to a couple planning to marry, no sin to get married
• But in the Corinthians present situation, singleness is the better situation

A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only if he loves the Lord. But in my opinion it would be better for her to stay single, and I think I am giving you counsel from God’s Spirit when I say this.

• Bound ‘until death do you part’… remarry any other who ‘Loves The Lord’
• Free to remarry, best is to stay single…(this is situational, not general)
• Council from God’s Spirit: Prophecy / Scripture

Application Questions:

Why is haste in the forming or dissolving of Biblical Marriage discouraged in Scripture?

As YOU evaluate your current commitments, where is serving Christ among them?

What ‘Non-Eternal’ things absorb YOUR time and emotions rather than serving Christ?

As a disciple of Christ how do YOU practically prioritize serving with your spouse?

How might YOU regularly serve Christ’s Body with the ones you love the most?