•I Corinthians 12:4-11
•Different Views on Spiritual Gifts
•4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
(I Corinthians 12:4-7, ESV)
•8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 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. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
(I Corinthians 12:8-11, ESV)
•Main Point
•Paul is seeking to end the often divisive understanding the Corinthians have concerning manifestations of the Holy Spirit
• They were proud of their gifts
• It is not the gift that unifies us
•No gift is given without purpose, that purpose is to the glory of God through His congregation
•Application Points
•Different Views on Spiritual Gifts
•Paul has dealt with everything from divisions, to sexuality, marriage, divorce, and worship
•Today we encounter another with manifestations of the Spirit
•Just as we saw that there were different views when it comes to Communion…so too there are different view concerning Spiritual gifts
• The divide is quite strong between the different views
• What are the different views?
•Application Points
•Different Views on Spiritual Gifts (2)
•Today we will encounter the simplest form for each view
•The first point is…there’s a lot more information
•The second point is that there are genuine believers who disagree
•They are brothers and sisters and we should be happy to rejoice with them in the Lordship of Christ
•Application Points
•Different Views on Spiritual Gifts (3)
•The first view is cessationism
•This view is that the spiritual gifts ceased after the first century of the Church
•They believe once the Church had become established it was unnecessary for the Spirit to manifest in these ways
• The next view is the open but cautious view
• They believe that the spiritual gifts do occur but because of abuses…it is better to not seek them or utilize them
•Application Points
•Different Views on Spiritual Gifts (4)
•The third view is often called the third wave
• All Christians are baptized by the Holy Spirit and given particular manifestations by the Spirit
• Those who have the gifts of faith, or tongues, or healing, etc.
• They believe that the gifts are a necessary part of the corporate identity and worship of the Church
• The final view is the Pentecostal/Charismatic
• This view emphasizes to a greater degree the gift of tongues
•Those who are true believers are baptized by Spirit and will have evidence via especially tongues
•Application Points
•Different Views on Spiritual Gifts (5)
•Each position holds Biblical and historical weight
•There are also a number of pros and cons to all the different sides
• The cessationists and open but cautious folks are incredibly concerned about the authority of Scripture
•They will not say that God does nothing miraculous
•There are many who take unblical approaches and because of this leads people away from God
•Jesus Himself warned about such individuals in Matthew 7
“21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
-Matthew 7:21-23, ESV
•Application Points
•Different Views on Spiritual Gifts (6)
•When we consider the incredible emotionalism that comes from the Charismatic/Pentecostal movement…people could be more easily led by emotions than the Holy Spirit
•Which is more important? Sound Doctrine or Spirit Manifestations?
•Yet, this is also a false dichotomy
•We do not need to necessarily choose one over the other
•We must not assume all cases of the Spiritual manifestations are simply emotions
•There are too many stories
•There is too much evidence…that says God really does move in ways described in this text
•There’s too much witness to the Spirit’s work
•Application Points
•Different Views on Spiritual Gifts (7)
•I would fall into the Third Wave group with a hint of caution
•We can, and should, expect the Spiritual gifts
•We must examine them to make sure we are in line with the Scriptures in practice and doctrine
•We should refrain from seeking the gifts in an unworthy manner unbefitting to Christ
•We need to refrain from being unreasonable
•Where individuals who have been gifted believe they are above the Law
•You may do marvelous works, but where is the doctrine?
•Where is the Law of Christ and discipleship?
•Application Points
•Different Views on Spiritual Gifts (8)
•We cannot allow ourselves to have worship services that descend into chaos
•Neither can we allow our worship services to be Spirit-less
•What is the foundational principle when it comes to the Spiritual gifts? Jesus is Lord
•This sets the principle on which the rest follow
•As we move forward in this discussion concerning the Spiritual gifts, let’s make sure our foundation is secured
• There is more wonder to be seen, more glory to be given to the Father through Christ and His Holy Spirit
• This is merely the first step, the rest to follow will lead us ever onward into the truth that God dwells among His people
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•Application Points
•The Gospel of Christ
•Origins
•Where it begins
•Fall
•What went wrong
•Redemption
•How it is fixed
•Glorification
•Where it at leads
