LEARNING OBJECTIVES
“…CORRECT THE MISCONCEPTIONS, CARICATURES AND FLAT OUT LIES THAT ARE TOLD ABOUT SPIRIT-FILLED CHRISTIANS.
…REBUKE AND THE FALSE DEMONIC SPIRITUALITY OF THIS AGE, AS WELL AS THE DANGEROUS ERRORS AND EXCESSES IN OUR OWN MOVEMENT.
…TEACH SAINTS THE PROPER USE OF THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND HOW TO DEVELOP THEM.
…ENCOURAGE THE SAINTS TO EAGERLY PURSUE THOSE GIFTS THAT BUILD UP THE CHURCH.”
PAUL’S HEART FOR THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH IN CH’S 12-14:
A church that had no lack of Spiritual gifts (the spiritual gifts were normal in the New Testament).
1 Corinthians 1:4-7
4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— 6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.
The church nevertheless dealt with errors and excesses regard the spiritual gifts that needed correction and instruction from the apostle.
“MISUSE SHOULD NOT LEAD TO DISUSE, BUT TO PROPER USE.”
1 Corinthians 12:1-3
12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.3 Therefore I want you to know 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.
Now about: Continuing instructions about public worship. In chapter 11, Paul discussed the practice of the Lord’s Supper (or communion). Like communion, the operation of the spiritual gifts should be a regular (regulative principle) occurrence when Christians come together.
1 Corinthians 14:26
26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.
Ephesians 5:18-20
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“WHEN YOU SEE PROPHECY, TONGUES, AND HEALINGS IN A CHURCH GATHERING, ACCOMPANIEND WITH LAUGHTER, TEARS AND BOSITEROUS SINGING, THAT SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AN OUTLIER OR A RARE OCCURENCE, BUT IS REALLY JUST ANOTHER SUNDAY.”
You know that when you were pagans: Rebuke attempts to import former pagan practices into Christianity (syncretism). Law of attraction, manifesting, follow your heart, we are little gods, enneagram, the Universe, energy, vibes – monism, yoga, contemplative prayer, exrememe asceticism, channeling the dead – divination. THESE ARE DEMONIC IN NATURE AND HAVE NO PLACE IN GOD’S CHURCH (regulative principle)!
This also serves as a correct to those who call the Holy Spirit Beelzebub. The Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask in Jesus’ name!
1 Corinthians 12:4-7
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
The Trinity at work:
The Spirit distributes gifts (charisma)
The Lord (Jesus) serves (diakonia)
God (the Father) works (energema)
The Spirit manifests
The God of the Bible, Yahweh, true and living God, who has revealed Himself in three coequal, coeternal persons- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit- manifests His power and presence among His people via the nine spiritual gifts!
When we draw near to Him, He draws near to us! When we minister to Him, He ministers to us! No other god does this! We are not like the prophets who cry out and cut themselves and receive no answer from the demonic deity. Nor do we serve a dead deity whom we memorialize and fossilize every Sunday. He is not the God of the dead, but of the living-
He manifested Himself to Noah, to the Patriarchs, to Moses, to Samuel, to Samuel, to David, to Elijah and the other prophets, and He continues to do so among us!
He spoke wisdom to those needing guidance, He declared things that yet to come, He healed the crippled and blind and raised the dead, He miraculously saved those who called on His name, and nothing has changed!
Deuteronomy 4:7
7 What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him?