1 Corinthians 12
1Co 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you
ignorant.
1Co 12:2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols,
even as ye were led.
We no longer have to remain in darkness about spiritual things after coming to
Christ, like we were before coming into a live filled with the spirit. We don't
have to be in ignorance. That is another reason that the Holy Spirit was given
to us. To teach, to equip, and to comfort. We don't have to be in the dark.
Those that once worshiped idols were in darkness and ignorant of the true God.
1Co 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the
Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the
Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
One speaking by the true spirit of God will not call Jesus accursed. We might be
able to mechanically repeat someone saying the Jesus is Lord but to truly
acknowledge Jesus is Lord one would have to have the Holy Spirit. Thus we see a
hint that the Holy Spirit comes when one is born again, or saved from sin. I'm
Pentecostal and have always believed in the past that the sign of being filled
with the Holy Ghost is speaking in other tongues. That may be a sign of the
complete baptism in the Holy Ghost but still I have met so many people that I
know have never spoken in tongues yet they walk in the spirit. The fruit is
there. This makes me wonder whether us Pentecostals have been wrong in this
area. Tongues are great gifts, They are a wonderful way to pray and seek God, and I love
praying in tongues. I don't believe it is the least of all gifts or to be
downplayed in any way. No gift from God should be explained away or made light
of. Yet Paul does
say in verse 20, "Do all speak with tongues?"
We need to be careful not to accuse someone of not having the Holy Spirit when
they might have or tell someone they do have the Holy Spirit when they might not
have. We judge them by the fruits, not by the gifts as great as the gifts are.
We are never to envy another for their gifts if we don't have them. No one of us
has anything that we earned. No one of us have anything that someone else
can't have if they also sought God and was a willing vessel to be used by the
Holy Spirit.
1Co 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1Co 12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
1Co 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God
which worketh all in all.
This is a good reason not to copycat each other. In one local body, all may have
different gifts. I believe in other denominations or church affiliations they
may have other gifts that may not be the same as my particular church. All nine
gifts may operate in some but perhaps we may see only one or two in another. We
need to seek God for our own particular assembly and not just mimic another
church or denomination.
What is needed at the Assembly of God may be different than the need at the
First Baptist. Depending and being led by the Holy Spirit is necessary for all
pastors, teachers and congregation. We are all the same but we are all different
and have different roles.
This is one reason I do not like the Purpose Driven series. It may be good for
one place but shouldn't we seek God for our own church and not copy off someone
else. I would rather see us receive something fresh from God and His word. I
can' t understand why we feel like what works in one place will be what God
wants in our place. We don't have to war and fight each other but we all need to
seek God for our own need in our own area. I see this same copycatting in the
music. Many churches are throwing out the hymns and singing choruses in the
contemporary style. That may be great for one church but why do we insist on
doing that everywhere? Those old hymns have such a beautiful message and what
will work in one place may not be what God wants in another. God may use pianos
in one area, bluegrass gospel in another. Let us be led by his spirit and not
copycat. Many have been driven away from their churches because of the change in
music. Is there no place left for those who love the old hymns? I believe there
would be if we were led by God's spirit instead of wanting our own way as Paul
spoke to the Corinthians church. We got so many young people coming out of bible
college and going into churches to pastor it and changing everything without
worrying about offending anyone. The congregation is afraid to say anything
because they don't want to be troublemakers and said to be divisive. Yet some
shed tears in silence as their old hymns are not sung any longer. Is this love?
1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit
withal.
1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the
word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
We need wisdom to run a church and make decisions based on truth and the will of
God. We need knowledge of the word in order to use the wisdom God gives us. We
also need wisdom to use the knowledge we have. Both are necessary. Some believe
the word of knowledge is a special gift from God that allows a prophetic word to
go forth concerning a church or individual. This is a supernatural revelation
that could not have been known but by the Holy Spirit.
I will say this. I believe that to be real but I also know that we are to try
the spirits and make sure what is given by the word of knowledge is true and
does not contradict the known word of God. God is not going to add to or take
away from what men inspired by the Holy Ghost has already written. Some have
greatly misused or claimed this gift and messed up many lives. We are to have
discernment and search the scriptures like the Bereans.
I've heard of many times when there would be a problem in the church and somehow
God would supernaturally give someone or a group of people the word of wisdom
and they would be able to solve the problem. I've met some people who were
gifted also in being able to figure out by wisdom the right things to do in a
given situation. Some of these gifts come naturally but the gifts of the spirit
will be a supernatural revelation from God in a given situation that we know was
not just a natural gift or talent someone may have.
1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing
by the same Spirit;
Have you ever met a person that has so much faith, they never doubt. They just
believe in God and do not worry about anything? That might be the gift of faith.
I've seen this operate as a one time event also. There is a need and someone or
a group of people will suddenly be able to believe God for a miracle and the
answer comes. That gift of faith is from God.
There are different gifts of healing. Some are one time when the need arises. A
group or a person may receive the gift to lay hands on a person and they be
healed instantly. I remember being used only once in this area. Some see this
happen quite frequently. We may also see healings in one place but not in
another. There is so much about this gift that we still do not understand. Like
why it happens to some and not all. Some claim to have this gift and base their
ministries on it. I don't know if that is the case but I will not say that it is
not the case because of this very chapter which tells us of the gifts of
healing. I do prefer to see the gift of healing used in a way that only God gets
the glory and not some individual but I'm not going to judge whether or not a
faith healer has what he claims to have. There is no way for me to know. I do
know that all healing is done by God and we are just the vessels. We should
never accept the praise of men for healing and we should always remember that we
have nothing that we have not received and never should we think that we are not the only ones God can use
in that area.
1Co 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another
discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the
interpretation of tongues:
Miracles are supernatural things that help someone in a crisis situation that
only God can do.
Prophecy is both speaking to edify, teach and comfort but also involves
foretelling prophetic events that the church needs to understand and hear.
Preaching can be prophesying but not all preaching is prophesying. Giving a
message in tongues and having another interpret that message is a form of
prophesying. Given a prophetic message without tongues is prophesying. All
utterances must always be judged by the word.
1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to
every man severally as he will.
It is the work of the spirit and we should trust God to know who, when and how
to use these gifts of the spirit. We can't just go to a meeting and decide in
ourselves that we are going to have a prophecy, a healing or a manifestation of
the Holy Spirit. We seek God and trust Him to use us at the Spirit would
lead.
1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members
of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be
Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink
into one Spirit.
Not one of us is greater than the other even if one has been used by the spirit
in all nine gifts and one have been used in only one gift. All of us are of the
same spirit and are the same. This is true in one local body but also true
in many local bodies. For instance. The Pentecostals are not better or
more superior to the Baptists. The Baptists are not superior to the
independent bodies. All are part of the body. The exception would be
those that are teaching false doctrine or have gotten into apostasy. We
are never to feel that we have to have unity with those that are apostate or
have left the true doctrine of salvation by Jesus Christ and Him alone.
1Co 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
1Co 12:15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the
body; is it therefore not of the body?
1Co 12:16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the
body; is it therefore not of the body?
This is why we should be careful not to criticize another church for being used
of God a little differently than we are used of God.
We can criticize false doctrine and teaching that leads people away from Christ
but not criticize over things that are in the scriptures. For instance:
Those that speak with tongues are criticized and in some cases even accused of
not being of God. There is no base for this criticism since it is in the
scriptures. If tongues were not real as some suppose, why would Paul instruct us
in the proper use of tongues?
Why go to all that trouble if they were not for real?
I will mention here also that there have been some of us Pentecostals in the
past at least who would criticize others for not speaking in tongues. That makes
no sense at all since we have no power to make someone speak in tongues. It is a
gift of God. We can't force this on anyone.
I've heard of some bazaar things attributed to the Holy Spirit. If its not in
the scripture, then we can doubt it and avoid it. If it is in the scripture we
better leave them alone and not criticize them.
God gave us the bible for a reason.
The gift of discernment is needed in almost every church of assembly of
believers. We have to be very careful not to judge someone who gets it wrong or
makes a mistake and accuse them of being of the devil. It may be flesh and weakness but it may not
necessarily be "of the devil." We can destroy someone with our lack of
knowledge. Remember Christ came to save the lost. While we should not believe
every spirit and we should discern between the real and the false or the real
and the flesh, we have to remember God wants to save and not destroy. We can
discern whether a prophecy or message is from God or not. We have to do that but
we must be careful not to discern the person and discount them as demonic when
they just may not know how to yield properly to the spirit. It is true that
Satan may send in those that are not of God but in every case, we must remember
that God wants to save, not destroy.
1Co 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole
were hearing, where were the smelling?
1Co 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as
it hath pleased him.
1Co 12:19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
1Co 12:20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
1Co 12:21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor
again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
We are all needed and we are all equal and important. The exception would be
those that would bring in a false doctrine or lead many away from Christ.
Other than that we are all needed and all have a part in the furthering of the
kingdom of God.
1Co 12:22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more
feeble, are necessary:
1Co 12:23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable,
upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more
abundant comeliness.
1Co 12:24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body
together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked:
1Co 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members
should have the same care one for another.
1Co 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it;
or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Bear one another's burdens and share one another's joy. Never should there be
envy, jealousy, strife and a desire to be puffed up above anyone else.
1Co 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily
prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps,
governments, diversities of tongues.
I don't believe this means the first mentioned are greater than the others but
it shows that God sends all these for our edification and all are needed. Some
think this means that tongues are the lesser of the gifts. I don't believe that
is the case here. How can any gift of God be considered unimportant. Paul says
just the opposite. All are needed and all should be done to edify and do the
work of God.
1Co 12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all
workers of miracles?
1Co 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all
interpret?
1Co 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more
excellent way.
That excellent way is chapter 13 and is necessary in order that all things word
together in love and for good. The gifts of the spirit should never operate
apart from love. I don't know if this is possible but if it is, it should never
be done except by the love shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost.