1 Corinthians 12:1-11, Called to Serve in the Spirit

Theological Proposition/Focus: The Holy Spirit works through Christians to bring glory to God the Son.

Homiletical Proposition/Application: Christ followers must make sure that Christ is preeminent in their service empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Introduction:

Image: What if the drummer for Tailer Swift received all the praise instead of Taylor Swift

Listen to these names and see if you can place them

Jamareo Artis - Bass player for Bruno Mars

All of these individuals are important members of musical groups but for the most part, they don't take center stage. And if you knew them better than the main person guess what, they would probably lose their job because they are not the main person. Playing a supporting role is great but the individual who is in a supporting role must recognize their role.

Today we are going to explore what it means to serve in the Spirit. We all have Spiritual gifts but these gifts are used in supporting roles. In fact, the gifts themselves are just tools used in supporting the main thing, Christ.

Setting the Stage:

Recall that the church in Corinth had a problem. Factionalism had taken root and people were taking sides. The unity that marks following Christ had been fractured into groups of individuals who followed one particular person. This fracturing had caused all sorts of problems in the church. In chapter 11, Paul began giving instruction on worship now he moves into another aspect of public ministry, the use of Spiritual Gifts.

Within the broader framework of First Corinthians, what we are going to see is a discussion of the nature and purpose of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:1-30, the superiority of love in 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13, and the principle that love should regulate the exercise of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 14.

The overarching principle that has run through 1 Corinthians is valid here as well.

"As in other areas, so in using gifts in the church, believers should promote the glory of God and the good of others instead of self-satisfaction ."

Let's start by reading the passage.

1. 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.

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. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Body

Christ followers are called to serve in a way that declares Jesus Christ not something else (1-3).

Paul begins chapter 12 with the statement "Now about the gifts of the Spirit." Our translations of the text require a little interpretation. Formally the text states "Περὶ δὲ τῶν πνευματικῶν" which could be translated as "Now concerning spiritual things." The NIV, based on context takes these "things" to be "gifts." There are some issues with specifying these things as gifts but the decision does not significantly negatively impact the meaning of the text. What Paul is doing in establishing that there are Spiritual gifts and that the church needs to be aware of and understand these gifts. Broadly speaking in verse 1 we have the reality that the spiritual exists and it really does impact our day-to-day activity.

Spiritual things are a reality and we need to understand them.

The main thrust Paul makes here is going to concern spiritual gifts. Paul is going to argue that Spiritual gifts are real, serve a purpose, and need to be exercised within the bounds of certain criteria. But for now Paul is simply establishing the reality and relevance of the spiritual.

We need to realize that there really are spiritual things. Yes, there are angels and demons, but more, the Holy Spirit is at work in each and every person. Amongst Baptist churches we have a tendency to underemphasize the spiritual. We realize that too many charismatic groups have taken things too far and so we swing the pendulum in the other direction and ignore spiritual things. Sure we will talk about the Holy Spirit but a "good" Baptist cringes when someone says "God told me..." or "I felt the Spirit leading me to..." Ok, hopefully, you saw my quotes, cringing at the spiritual does not make one a good Baptist. The reality is that there is a spiritual reality we need to understand and embrace. We don't want to go too far, but in being careful not to go too far we often are removing the truth.

Paul tells the Corinthians "I don't want you to be uninformed about spiritual things."

Evil is a reality and we need to be on guard against it.

For many in Corinth, probably most, their pre-Christ way of life was one of idolatry.

Paul reminds the people of their pre-Christ way of life because he has an important reality that he needs to remind them of. There are people who seek to lead people away from Christ. Evil is a reality in the world and there are people who are seeking to take from Christ.

The emphasis on mute idols is particularly interesting. Remember, factionalism is rampant in the church and there is a group that thinks they are smarter, superior to the rest. Paul reminds them. You all were led astray to follow mute idols. Stop thinking so highly of yourselves. You all need to be careful and rely not on yourselves but on God.

The reality that Paul presents is that there is no hierarchical rank in the church there is only one way of distinguishing people that is of any consequence. Someone either follows Jesus or does not.

Really,

Jesus is the litmus test.

In general, people talk too much. I mean it and I am guilty of it.

There are a couple of areas that I know really well, math and aviation, and I will tell you, I am always shocked because people will make statements that simply are not true and reveal they know a lot less than they are conveying to others.

When Paul says "no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, 'Jesus be cursed,'" I wonder if he is speaking hyperbolically.

Perhaps nobody was actually saying Jesus is cursed in church, but they were saying things they shouldn't have been saying, puffing themselves up and making themselves look good. To this, Paul has a simple litmus test.

The test of someone is if they are proclaiming Jesus is Lord. In other words, there are really only two types of people. Those who proclaim Jesus is Lord and those who do not. The word lord is a great word to spend some time talking about.

The word lord, Κύριος, is used 716 times in the New Testament. The word refers to "one who is in charge by virtue of possession." That is, an owner. I want us to take a second and understand this. Slavery in our country in our past has made it very hard for us to understand what it means to call Jesus lord but just because men corrupted something does not mean we should avoid it. To proclaim Jesus is Lord is to proclaim your complete submission as a slave to a master. Now the master is a good master but we still need to understand. To proclaim Jesus is Lord is to do everything for the glory of Jesus.

One writer wrote

Because of the emotional connotations of the words master and slave in Western history from the not-too-distant past, modern preaching on this topic tends to substitute employer and employee/servant...

Be that as it may, we are not merely “employees” of our Lord! We can’t change employers if we are truly regenerated. Sometimes we are told to “make Jesus Lord of our life.” No doubt this plea is well meant. But He is Lord, whether we like it or not. The real question is: “What kind of servant (or slave) do we make ourselves?” If, like the OT slave who asked for his ear to be pierced with the awl to show his willing servitude, we submit and obey Him because we love Him, then we are on the way to becoming “good and faithful” servants (Matt 25:21). If we do not, we may prove to be lazy, unjust, or even wicked servants—but servants nonetheless.

Paul's litmus test is really very powerful.

being done to the glory of Jesus or the glory of something else.

If the answer is anything other than Jesus then it is not of the Holy Spirit.

Image: Titles do matter.

We really should think through the fact that Jesus is Lord. Listen to this quote from Farstad.

Today there is too much brash familiarity in addressing our Lord as “Jesus” all the time. We are well aware that many devout hymns are addressed to Christ by His human name of Jesus, and that godly Christians are fond of this His human name. But we show greater honor and respect when we address Him and refer to Him by one of His titles of dignity. One of the chief of these titles is Lord Jesus.

MTR: Determine to make sure that your service declares the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now that we have the litmus test we are ready to dig deeper into these spiritual things. Paul has argued that the categories are those who proclaim Jesus as Lord and those who do not. the source of such proclamation is the Holy Spirit and so now we are prepared to understand the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of someone who proclaims Jesus is Lord. What does it really look like to serve that Lord? Unsurprisingly, the common element is the Holy Spirit.

The common thread that runs through all acts of Christian service is the Holy Spirit (4-6).

There are all sorts of different gifts that we are to use in the church but the Holy Spirit unites those gifts.

Lots of attempts have been made to create exhaustive lists of spiritual gifts and these lists serve a purpose but care must always be taken to ensure that gift lists don't become themselves objects of envy, a measuring tool, or anything like that. The point of Spiritual Gifts is not to have a list, the point is that they are distributed by the Holy Spirit for use in his church.

Someone may have the gift of teaching as described in Ephesians 4:11-12 and another may have the gift of exhortation discussed in Romans 12:7-8.

The point is not so much which gift which person has. The point is that each gift is being used for the edification of the church as the Spirit distributes the gift.

Some gifts may seem grand and on display but these gifts do not grant anyone superior status

Later in chapter 12 Paul is going to talk about unity and diversity but here he is already alluding to unity and diversity.

We live in a world that talks a lot about diversity and unity but these are not new ideas. The Bible speaks of unity and diversity and it even tells us how to have both unity and diversity. The key is to remember that different people have different gifts, that is diversity. However, everyone should be submitting to the Lordship of Christ that brings unity.

Image: Diversity does not have to mean weakness but it can! Bronze vs clay mixed with copper

When we talk about diversity it is important that we have the right type of diversity. Designed diversity by the master, in our case the Lord Jesus Christ. Bronze is an incredibly strong metal that is the result of diversity mixing tin and copper together. Diversity makes something stronger than the parts. However, not all diversity is good. You might decide that you are going to make a strong metal by mixing a little clay in with copper. The result will be a disaster. In the church we need diversity but that diversity comes through the Holy Spirit and in particular the gifts that he brings into our church. It is the Holy Spirit that is the common thread.

There are all sorts of different ways to serve in the church but the Holy Spirit unites that service.

After talking about gifts the Apostle Paul moves onto talking about service. The natural result of gifting is service so this makes sense.

Serving in a church can take many forms, allowing individuals to contribute their unique talents and time.

• One can engage in music ministry, enhancing the spiritual atmosphere through song.
• Volunteering for children's ministry or youth groups offers an opportunity to mentor and support the next generation.
• Participating in outreach programs, such as community service projects, helps extend the church's mission beyond its walls, addressing local needs and sharing the Gospel.
• Administrative tasks, including organizing events or managing church communications, ensure smooth operations and effective engagement are areas where people can serve.

There are all sorts of different jobs that need done in the church but the Holy Spirit unites the work.

Specific tasks also need done

For a church to operate effectively, a variety of tasks need to be accomplished, encompassing both visible roles and behind-the-scenes activities.

• Worship Services: This includes preparing and leading worship services, which involves pastors, worship leaders, musicians, and singers. Tasks include sermon preparation, selecting music, rehearsals, and coordinating audiovisual elements.

• Administrative Work: This involves office administration, such as handling correspondence, maintaining records, managing finances, and ensuring compliance with legal requirements. Roles include church secretaries, treasurers, and administrators.

• Facilities Management: Ensuring the church building and grounds are well-maintained requires janitors, maintenance workers, and volunteers. This includes cleaning, repairs, landscaping, and setting up spaces for various events.

• Children and Youth Programs: Running programs for children and teenagers requires planning and leading Sunday school classes, youth groups, and other educational activities. Volunteers and paid staff are needed for teaching, supervision, and curriculum development.

• Community Outreach: Organizing and implementing outreach programs to serve the local community, such as food drives, homeless shelters, and charity events. This often involves coordination with other community organizations and recruiting volunteers.

• Hospitality and Fellowship: Creating a welcoming atmosphere by managing greeters, ushers, and hospitality teams who assist during services and events. This includes organizing coffee, potluck dinners, and newcomer welcome programs.

• Spiritual Care and Counseling: Providing pastoral care, counseling, and support to congregation members. This can involve home visits, hospital visits, and one-on-one counseling sessions.

Each of these areas requires dedicated individuals working together to ensure the church operates smoothly and fulfills its mission. But again, the work is done for God and so again the Holy Spirit is the common thread.

Image: A well-executed play on the football field

I love to watch and play football. You know often the quarterback gets the glory, sometimes the coach, occasionally another player. But at any given time there are 11 people on the field. So what unites these people? Is it their ability to throw the football? No, what about their ability to block? Again, no. running, thinking, catching, none of these actually unite the team. What unites the team is their common goal, moving the ball using the play the coach designed. Every single player matters and everyone of them gets a Superbowl ring when they win. Our society likes to think in hierarchies and so we thin of the quarterback as the most important player but in reality every player matters.

Spiritual gifting occurs by means of the Holy Spirit according to the will of Christ (7-11, Ephesians 4:7-13).

The church in Corinth was plagued by factionalism and people who were claiming to be "more spiritual" than others. The divisions in Corinth were the large problem that Paul was writing against.Paul has argued that Spiritual gifts are not a means of distinguishing spiritual status. So, the question that needs an answer. What is the purpose of Spiritual giftedness?

Spiritual gifting is intended to benefit the church.

The Spirit gives, manifests, the gift for the benefit of the entire church! Paul expands on this in Ephesians 4:12 "to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up." In Ephesians the gifts that Paul is talking about in particular are what I would call the instructional gifts. These gifts, as Paul highlights, are to be used for the building up of the church. While specific gifts are mentioned in Ephesians, here in 1 Corinthians we can use the principle to understand other gifts and by extension all gifts. The Holy Spirit gives gifts for the common good of the church.

This is huge, knowing this gives us tools to evaluate the use of spiritual gifts. We can ask one simple question of any gift, is it being used for the good of the church?

Let me be even more direct. Unfortunately, there are groups who claim that unless an individual has manifested a particular gift then they must not be saved. Notice what this does. First, it turns the gift into means of dividing people, this is contrary to what Paul wrote. Second, it really makes the manifestation of the gift as about the individual. Again, this is contrary to Paul. We need to recognize that the purpose of Spiritual gifts is to build up the church.

Gifts are not a way to prove your salvation.

Since the church is varied and diverse we similarly would expect that gifting is varied and diverse. This is exactly what we find.

Spiritual gifting is varied and diverse.

Here in 1 Corinthians 12:7-10 Paul lists some of the gifts. There is nothing in the text to suggest this is an exhaustive list. Let's look at a few.

The message of wisdom and message of knowledge both come through the Spirit and involve communication

I have met a lot of people who think themselves smart but are unable to communicate their message to others. I have similarly met some people who are excellent communicators but lack the ability to communicate anything wise or knowledgable. What I want you to see here is that the Spiritual gifts of wisdom and knowledge both involve the Spirit and communication. Remember, the key here is that gifts are used for the building up of the body.

Faith that comes through the Spirit is extraordinary.

“It appears to be the God-given ability . . . to believe what you really do not believe, to trust God for a certain blessing not promised in Scripture—exactly as in the well-known case of George Muller of Bristol.”

Gifts of healing come from one Spirit.

The gift of healing was a gift that allowed an individual to restore someone to health and even hold off death temporarily. This was a formative church gift. In other words it was given to authenticate the Church in the early formative years. We should not expect to see this gift today as our authentication comes from our love. More on that later. The point is that some people may be miraculously healed but we should not expect someone to possess the gift of healing today.

Miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpreting tongues are all the Work of the same Spirit.

Paul continues his list of formative gifts. "all these gifts seem to have been confirmatory and foundational gifts for the establishment of the church (cf. Heb. 2:4; Eph. 2:20) and were therefore temporary. "

I don't want to get ahead of myself because we will talk more on this in two weeks but for now I want you to notice that Paul's argument is not that we should look for these gifts. His argument is that we should recognize that all gifts come from the God who unites us.

Image: There are some jobs I should not do (Sharon's cabinets).

Early on when Emily and I were dating Emily's mom asked me to put some handles on her cupboards. Now you have to understand. There are lots of things I can do but I am not a carpenter. And while I may sometimes fancy myself a carpenter I am not. No matter how much I want to be a carpenter I am not. God has not gifted me like that. Well, long story short, the handles do not line up. Now Emily's mom is gracious and so she decided she liked the off level look and ended up doing all her cabinets that way but she also learned something. Just because I want to do something doesn't mean I can do it. We are gifted by the will of Christ for jobs and we should serve joyfully in the way in which Christ has called us to serve.