1 Corinthians 12 - Spirituality and Gifts

Market Day. It is the day that brings everyone together, especially outside the city. The farmers, the lappa sellers, even the entertainers. Each person brings something to the market that the community needs, yeah? Life in the village would be impossible without the market. Like the market, a healthy church is made of people with many skills and abilities, and they offer those gifts to benefit others. A market with few stalls indicates a weak village, and a church with only a few workers points to a weak church. Just as the diversity and quality of the marketers promote a thriving community, so the diversity and quality of spiritual gifts exercised in the church help grow and mature and expand the church. In our passage today, we see the value and power of a spirituality that uses the gifts given by the Holy Spirit to grow and plant churches.

Key Truth: Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 12 to teach believers that unity in the church comes from a spirituality develops spiritual gifts and relationships.

Key Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says about spirituality and the local church.

Key Verse: 1 Cor. 12:7

Pray and Read:  1 Corintian 12 in Liberian Kolokwa

1 Now den, ma broda an sista, I na wahn fa you na know le trute bout le differen-differen gif dat le Holy Spiri’ done gii. 2 You know when you wa’ sinna, somehow you went around bad people to go da wrong way and do wrong ting around medicine dat can’t talk. 3 So den, I wahn fa you to ondastan dat no pwoson talkin by le Holy Spirit can talk say, “I curss Jesus.” An nobody na able ta say, “Jesus le Lord,” ecep by le Holy Spirit.

4 Dey plenty gift na, but de same Spirit. 5 Dey plenty different kind o’ service wey pippo do, but le same Lord. 6 And dey plenty workin, but le same God doing all le work in all men.

7 Na to each pwoson le Holy Spirit can show hisself fa everybody so-so good. 8 To one, dere is given tru le Spirit plenty God sense, an anoda plenty idea tru le same Spirit, 9 to anoda fait tru le same Spirit, to anoda le gift o’ curing tru dat one Spirit, 10 to anoda plenty power for miracle, to anoda le power to prophesy, to anoda le power to tell le diffren between le spirits, le power to speak different kind o’ Spirit word, and to anoda le power to explain le Spirit word. 11 All-o’-nem la-le work o’ le one and same Spirit, an he give dem according to he own will.

12 Da body e one ting but made o’ plenty parts, but having plenty parts, dey still make one body. Da same ting wi Chris’. 13 For all o’ u’ wer’ bapti’ by one Spirit into le one body – no matter Jew o Greek, slave o free – an all o’ u’ wer’ given le one Spirit to drink.

14 Now-Now da body na made o’ one part but plenty. 15 If our foot say, “I na hand, so I na belong to le body,” that mo na be da reason dat it should na be part o’ le body. 16 An if our ear should say, “I na eye, so I na belong to le body, that mo na a be da reason dat it should na be part o’ le body. 17 If da whole body wa eye, den how you be able to hear? If le whole ting hearing, den how will you be able to smell? 18 But now-now God have put togeda le parts in le body all o’ dem da way he want dem to be. 19 If all o’dem wa one part, where would da body be? 20 But now der plenty parts, but one body.

21 Le eye cannot say to da hand, “I na need you.” An le head cannot say to da feet, “I na need you.” 22 On da oda side, dose parts o’ le body dat seems to be lazy, dey more important. 23 An da parts o’ le body dat we tink have less respect, we treat wi’ more respect, an le parts na to be seen are treate’ good, 24 but da parts dat are to be seen na need no special care. But Go’d put togeda da group o’ da body an have given plenty respect to the parts that na get it 25 so that der will be no difference in da body, dat each part should have da same care for one anoda. 26 An if one group suffer, all da group wif it suffer, an if one group get respect, all da group is happy wif it.

27 Now-now you pippo are part o’ da body o’ Chris’t, and every one o’ y’all are a part o’ it. 28 An in da house o’ Go’d, Go’d ha choose hi’s first o’ all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers o’ miracle, also dose wif gift to cure, dose able to help odas, dose wif gift o’ managing, dose speaking different-different Spirit words. 29 Can all o y’all be apostle? Can all o y’all be prophet? Can all o y’all be teacher? Can all o y’all work miracle? 30 Can all o’ y’all have gift o’ curing? 30 Can all o’ y’all speak Spirit word? Can all o’ y’all interpret? 31 But mostly ask fo da best gifts. An now I will show you a betta way.

Contextual Notes:

The Apostle Paul outlined his letter to the church in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 1:5-9. He wrote to them about the importance of speaking and knowledge (1 Corinthians 1:18-4:21; cf. 1:5), the importance of being blameless and holy (1 Cor. 5:1-11:34; cf. 1:8), the importance of spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:1-14:39; cf. 1:7), the importance of revealing the Resurrection (1 Cor. 15; cf. 1:7), and the importance of fellowship (1 Cor. 16; cf. 1:9).

         We find ourselves in a new section of the letter today, 1 Corinthians 12-14, which is about the importance of spirituality and grace gifts. These three chapters should be taken together as one section. In chapter 12 Paul gives the principles of spirituality in the context of spiritual gifts. In chapter 13, he demonstrates that we cannot have real spirituality without love, and in chapter 14, we see the practice of spirituality in the context of spiritual gifts. So while chapter 12-14 discuss spiritual gifts, there are deeper truths here about true spirituality.

Sermon Points:

1.  Grow Your Gifts to bring unity in the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:1-13)

2.  Grow Relationships to bring unity in the Church (1 Corinthians 12:14-31)

 

 

Exposition:   Note well,

 

1.  GROW YOUR GIFTS TO BRING UNITY IN THE SPIRIT (1 Cor. 12:1-13)

a.   1 Corinthians 12:1 – Pneumatikon: This may surprise you, but the word “gifts” is not found in the original text here. It is better to read this verse without that word and see these chapters 12-14 as a teaching on spirituality.

b.   1 Corinthians 12:1-3: In the ancient world, ecstatic utterance was considered a sign of possession and approval of the gods. Even epilepsy was a divine disease, and the sayings of drugged priestesses at the nearby Oracle of Delphi who breathed in the sulfuric gases of a volcano in the ground and then spoke from that state of drunken brain poisoning in unintelligible language then interpreted by the priests. Their words were believed to be messages from the gods. Perhaps from demons, but not from gods. Paul says that when they were pagans and ignorant, they were influenced and led astray by idols which could not speak.

c.   1 Cor. 12:4-7: Here we find key teaching on spiritual gifts. We learn several things here.

                    i.        Lists of gifts are found in Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 7:7; 12:1-11, 28; 14:1-25; Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 Peter 4:10-11

                  ii.        Service – diakonia, lit. “deaconing” “ministries” Biblically, deacons are servants, heads of ministries, not an executive board

                 iii.        Working – energēmatōn, lit. “energizings” power

                 iv.        Word of Knowledge – ability to grasp facts, principles

                  v.        Word of Wisdom – ability to apply spiritual principles in life

                 vi.        Faith – mountain-moving 1 Cor 13:2; Mt 17:20; 21:21

               vii.        Healing – Acts 19:11-12; 20:9-12

              viii.        Miracles – Acts 5:1-11; 13:11

                 ix.        Discerning of Spirits – 1 Thess 5:20-21; 1 John 4:1

                  x.        Tongues & Interpretation of Tongues – apparently a usual practice in the life of the Body, not a one-time evidence.

                 xi.        Tongues was probably one of the most prized gifts in pagan Corinth. WHY? Larry Richards: The problem was that the attitude toward highly ecstatic or emotional utterances, such as tongues, was carried by converts to Christianity into the church. They believed that this was evidence of being closer to God, and therefore more spiritual than others. Even when these “prophecies” contradicted basic Christian truth, some of the congregation were awed into believing them. In this cultural background, Paul speaks into what is true spirituality, spiritual gifts, and the proper exercise of the gift of tongues.[1]

d.   APPLICATION: Spiritual Gifts are not talents, skills. They are a divine grace given to believers. We learn several important things about gifts.

                    i.        There are different kinds of gifts.

                  ii.        Each gift comes from the Holy Spirit, and He distributes them.

                 iii.        No gift indicates a person has “more” of the Spirit than another.

                 iv.        Each person has a spiritual gift (usually a cluster of them)

                  v.        Spiritual gifts function within the church for the common good of the body.

                 vi.        How do I find out my gifts? Serve others and see how God uses you in their lives and in the church.

 

2.  GROW RELATIONSHIPS TO BRING UNITY IN THE CHURCH (1 Cor. 12:14-31)

a.   1 Corinthians 12:12ff. This is one of the three major images used to define what the church is. The church is a living organism, and each member makes an important contribution to the health of the body. The image of the body emphasizes that the church is built on close, loving, interpersonal relationships in order for spiritual gifts to function and the church to be healthy.

b.   1 Corinthians 12:13 – Unity of the Spirit (Many parts - One Body - One Spirit). This verse defines “baptism of the Spirit.” It is not something that happens to a believer after salvation to enable them to speak in tongues. Baptism of the Spirit is the work of the Spirit to unite all Christians to the living body of Christ. Notice the word “all.” This is important. It means that every believer is baptized by the Spirit at conversion. It must take place a that time because all are baptized by one Spirit.

c.   1 Cor. 12:21-22 – Independence cannot exist in Body of Christ. v. 24-25 – “God has combined the members”

d.   APPLICATION: People joining local body bring gifts, talents, viewpoints, ministries. The church needs different gifts functioning in order to be healthy, grow, serve, and multiply (vv. 14-20). We are dependent on one another. We promote unity in the church when we discover we depend on one another (vv. 21-26).

e.   1 Corinthians 12:28 -- Order same as Ephesians 4:11.

                    i.        Apostles: not restricted to Twelve, but incl. Barnabas, James the Lord’s brother (Gal 1:19), Paul, lesser known figures (Rom 16:7) cf. 1 Cor 15:5, 7 indicates wider group than Twelve.

                  ii.        While prophets and teachers not necessarily apostles, apostles are both prophets, teachers (4:17; 14:6; Col 1:28; 1 Tim 1:11) Gift leads to Office. Serve on basis of gifts

f.    1 Corinthians 12:31 – Desire the greater gifts. This encouragement is directed at the whole church, not individuals, to stop emphasizing less significant gifts.

Invitation:

 

Sources:

Africa Study Bible. Oasis International, 2016, 1677.

Africa Bible Commentary, Tokunboh Adeyemo, gen. ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006), 1392.

Lawrence O. Richards, The Bible Reader’s Companion (Wheaton: Victor, 1991), 768.

Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament, vol. 1: Matthew-Galatians. Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 1989, 607-609.

Preached:

10:30am Sunday, June 16, 2024, at Grace Evangelical Church, Congo Town, Liberia

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[1] Larry Richards, BRC, 768.

Reformer Andreas Osiander

Andreas Osiander was a well-known and controversial German Protestant Reformer, and direct ancestor 16 generations hence.

Encyclopedia Britannica:
"Andreas Osiander, original name Andreas Hosemann, (born Dec. 19, 1498, Gunzenhausen, Ansbach [now in Germany]—died Oct. 17, 1552, Königsberg, Prussia [now Kaliningrad, Russia]), German theologian who helped introduce the Protestant Reformation to Nürnberg.

The son of a blacksmith, Osiander was educated at Leipzig, Altenburg, and the University of Ingolstadt. Ordained in 1520, he helped reform the imperial free city of Nürnberg on strictly Lutheran principles and in 1522 won over Albert von Hohenzollern, grand master of the Knights of the Teutonic Order, to the Lutheran movement. Osiander also helped write the influential Brandenburg-Nürnberg Church Order (1532) and compiled the liturgically conservative Pfalz-Neuberg Church Order (1543). By substituting his own preface in 1543 to Nicolaus Copernicus’ De revolutionibus orbium coelestium libri VI (“Six Books Concerning the Revolutions of the Heavenly Orbs”), which introduced Copernican theories in a purely hypothetical manner, he helped keep this controversial work off the Index of Forbidden Books until the next century.

In 1548, when the Holy Roman emperor compelled Nürnberg to accept the Augsburg Interim, a provisional imperial religious ordinance, Osiander fled, first to Breslau and then to Königsberg, where despite his lack of a theological degree he was appointed professor primarius of the new university’s theological faculty (1549). The envy of his colleagues and apparently his own stubborn personality produced a violent controversy the next year. One Lutheran faculty and synod after another declared its opposition to Osiander’s deprecation of forensic justification of sinners and his exaggerated stress on the indwelling of Christ himself as the essential factor in justification. In addition to his Harmonia Evangelica (1537), Osiander wrote several treatises expounding his theological views, which his followers, the Osiandrists, continued to promote until 1567."

https://alchetron.com/Andreas-Osiander:"Born at Gunzenhausen, Ansbach, in the region of Franconia, Osiander studied at the University of Ingolstadt before being ordained as a priest in 1520 in Nuremberg. In the same year he began work at an Augustinian convent in Nuremberg as a Hebrew tutor. In 1522, he was appointed to the church of St. Lorenz in Nuremberg, and at the same time publicly declared himself to be a Lutheran. During the First Diet of Nuremberg (1522), he met Albert of Prussia, Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, and played an important role in converting him to Lutheranism. He also played a prominent role in the debate which led to the city of Nuremberg's adoption of the Reformation in 1525, and in the same year Osiander married. 

Osiander attended the Marburg Colloquy (1529), the Diet of Augsburg (1530) and the signing of the Schmalkalden articles (1531). The Augsburg Interim of 1548 made it necessary for him to leave Nuremberg, settling first at Breslau (Wrocław), then, in 1549, at Königsberg (Kaliningrad) as professor of the newly founded Königsberg University, appointed by Albert of Prussia. Osiander lived and worked in Königsberg until his death in 1552. Osiander's son Lukas (1534–1604), and grandsons Andreas (1562–1617) and Lukas (1571–1638) also worked as theologians. His niece married the future Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer.

Osiander published a corrected edition of the Vulgate Bible, with notes, in 1522 and a Harmony of the Gospels in 1537. In 1533, Brandenburg-Nuernbergische Kirchenordnung vom Jahre 1533 was published, with Osiander assisting in both the source material the final editing. This combined order of worship and catechism was the first work to include the Keys section of Luther's Small Catechism, of which Osiander is a suspected author.

In 1543, Osiander oversaw the publication of the book De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the revolution of the celestial spheres) by Copernicus. He added a preface suggesting that the model described in the book was not necessarily true, or even probable, but was useful for computational purposes. This was certainly not the opinion of Copernicus, who was probably unaware of the addition. As a result, many readers, unaware that Osiander was the author of the preface, believed that Copernicus himself had not believed that his hypothesis was actually true. Osiander also did not sign the preface added to Copernicus' book, therefore many readers at the time assumed that this is what Copernicus had actually thought himself.

In 1550 Osiander published two controversial disputations, De Lege et Evangelio and De Justificatione. In these, he set out his view that justification by faith was instilled in (rather than ascribed to) humanity by Christ's divinity, a view contrary to those of Martin Luther and John Calvin although he agreed with Lutheranism's fundamental opposition to Roman Catholicism and Calvinism. These beliefs were maintained after his death by Johann Funck (his son-in-law) but disappeared after 1566. Osiander's view has been described as similar to Eastern Orthodox teachings on theosis.

Some historians, such as Tuomo Mannermaa, have argued that Luther's own views of justification, especially early in his life, were actually closer to the views of Osiander than to those of Flacius or what would later become confessional Lutheranism.

Theology
Osiander was a Christian mystic and his theology incorporated the idea of mystical union with Christ and the Word of God. He believed that justification for a Christian believer resulted from Christ dwelling in a person. Contrary to Luther's belief that justification was imputed by God's grace, Osiander believed that the righteousness of a believer was accomplished by the indwelling of God; thus, God finds one righteous because Christ is in that person. Calvin rejected these views of Osiander, as did Melanchthon and Flacius. Flacius' opposing view was that God justifies us by Christ's work of obedience on the cross, not by his presence in us.


        

John 19:25-27 - The Care of Mary

There they stood. Aghast. Shocked. Numb. Was this real? Certainly surreal. Her Son was hanging there, treated like a traitorous criminal. 

It had all happened so fast. The oppressive Roman soldiers had already taken out their vengeance on Him, whipping and scourging His body. Pilate, it seemed, in some kind of dark humor, had baited his anti-Semitic troops with that tongue-in-cheek charge plate over His head: KING OF THE JEWS. The crown of thorns they had used to mock Him was still stuck on His head. And He hung up there, bloodied, exhausted, exposed, humiliated. They listened to the public shaming and cursing. Her first-born Son.

Now it felt like

Adrian Rogers on the Word

At the June 11-13, 1985, Southern Baptist Convention in Dallas, a special committee was created to study and determine the sources of controversy and from their conclusions make recommendations to bring harmony. This group became known as the Peace Committee. They made their report on June 16, 1987, while Dr. Rogers served his second term as president of the SBC.

At a certain point in their many deliberations over the Bible’s inspiration, Rogers made his epic and unforgettable assertion after

Are you making disciples? 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12

(Wikipedia)

A large manufacturing plant came to a town to produce shoes. The corporate management invested great sums of money and many hours among many people to produce the finest shoes possible. Investors spent money on salaries for the best staffing and management they could find. 

Digital sewing machinery was installed for shoe-making. Materials were purchased from all over and shipped in to make the shoes. The plant went into operation with several hundred employees busily working hard. Machines were running at full capacity. Activity was at a maximum.

Today the international president of the company arrives for an inspection and asked the production manager, “How many shoes have we produced so far?”

John 3:16-21 - What about those who have not heard?

With Chief Mulbah Killinpowen and friends, May 2014

In 2014, I was at the City of Refuge orphanage in Belimu, Bong County, Liberia. During the course of the week, I met Town Chief Mulbah Killinpowen, the oldest living person in Bellemu, and the chief zoe of his area, wielding great spiritistic power over the people. He had lived all his life without hearing a clear witness to Christ until he saw the JESUS film in Kpelle. During the invitation to follow Christ, Chief Mulbah did something unprecedented for a tribal elder or a zoe.

Haggai: Message, Where Christ is found

Zerubbabel displays a plan of Jerusalem to Cyrus the Great (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Key Message: THE TEMPLE: REBUILD IT! Haggai 1:8, 14; 1 Corinthians 15:58. Get your priorities in line, Haggai says, it is time to “build the house” for God’s pleasure and glory. He encouraged them through God’s promises. (1) God promised success through His presence (Hag. 1:13-14; 2:4-5); (2) He promised to reward their work and dedication to Him with peace (Hag. 2:6-9) and blessing (Hag. 2:18-19); (3) God promised to restore David’s throne on earth through a descendant of Zerubbabel (Hag. 2:20-23). Ezra 6:14 says that Haggai saw the successful achievement of his ministry in the completion of the post-exilic Temple. Haggai and James have much in common: a partnership of faith and works.

Where Christ is found:

THE DESIRED OF ALL NATIONS: Haggai says the Lord will shake Creation and the nations and the One Desired of all nations will come. Then they will come to worship at the New Temple filled with God’s Glory (Hag. 2:6-7). In Luke 2:32, Simeon saw the baby Jesus at His dedication at this same Temple. He called Him a Light for the Gentile nations and for the glory of Israel. Haggai saw a clear vision of Revelation 7:9; 21:22, the Lord Almighty and the Lamb. Our God is a missionary God who fulfills all His promises.

Haggai - Author, Location, Date

Haggai (12thC A.D.), Saint Mark's Basilica, Venice, Italy)

Haggai shows us Jesus Christ, Desire of the Nations

Author: Haggai which means, “My Feast” or “On the Feast.” Haggai might have been born to Godly parents on a feast day in Exile in Babylonia and came to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel in 538 BC (2 Chron. 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-4). Haggai is mentioned in Ezra 5:1-2; 6:14 as one of two prophets who encouraged the remnant from Exile to rebuild the Temple in spite of the difficulties. He exalted the LORD instead of himself. He cheered and encouraged, not just rebuked. He practiced what he preached. Haggai and the younger prophet Zechariah worked at the same time. Zechariah was the visionary. Haggai was practical get-the-job-done. These two kinds of people need to walk together.

Haggai 2:10-23 - Hope You Can Count On

Haggai (12thC AD), Saint Mark's Basilica, Venice

When we married, my wife and I made some promises to one another. Amanda promised me that she would never make me drive a minivan. Now we drive a church van. I promised her she would never be a pastor’s wife. Now we are going to Liberia as missionaries, not just to pastor, but to pastor pastors. Sometimes we make promises you can count on. Other times we don’t. Thankfully, today we will discuss a promise we can count on, a hope we can count on, and it comes from the book of Haggai.

Contextual Notes:

Haggai is the first of three prophets after the Exile who ministered to the small community of Jews who were permitted by the Persian Administration to return to their homeland. The messages we have in Scripture from Haggai’s ministry all happened between

Robert Leighton, servant of Christ

Archbishop Robert Leighton

Introducing one of my ancestors, a Scot who served Christ in the United Kingdom all his life, Archbishop Robert Leighton (1611-1684). I am descended from his brother Sir Elisha Leighton. Robert never married and had no children.

"Robert Leighton, some time Bishop of Dunblane, and afterwards Archbishop of Glasgow, was born at Edinburgh, in the year 1611. The name of Leighton is found in some of the oldest annals of Scottish history. The family from which Archbishop Leighton was descended, was of very ancient date, and appears to have been for a long period in possession of an estate in Forfarshire.

The wonder of Christmas morning

John Chrysostom preaching in Constantinople 

This year Christmas Day falls on a Sunday. We pray your Christmas is awesome this year. Here is an excerpt from a Christmas morning sermon about the 4th or 5th Century by John Chrysostom (c.349-407), Archbishop of Constantinople:

"What shall I say! And how shall I describe this Birth to you? For this wonder fills me with astonishment. The Ancient of Days has become an infant. He Who sits upon the sublime and heavenly Throne, now lies in a manger. And He Who cannot be touched, now lies subject to the hands of men. He Who has broken the bonds of sinners, is now bound by an infant's bands.

The Old Cox Barn

Just north of Mount Airy, North Carolina, in southwest Virginia, near Hillsville, there is a wonderful retreat designed for missionaries and ordained pastors.

Geraldine and Sam Smith host there a rest stop for Christian missionary workers and ordained pastors. Best of all, it is free to them.

They bought an old barn several years ago and remodeled it into a beautiful mountain retreat with lots of light and friendliness.

The Smiths live in the home, too, but you always have as much privacy as you want.

We had the privilege of staying there in 2013 after a very difficult period in pastoral ministry.

We weren't the best guests because we were not in a great place emotionally at that time, having just left a very difficult pastorate. However, we very much appreciated the hospitality at the Old Cox Barn, even if we had a hard time receiving it at the time.

The Smiths provided two meals a day for our whole family in a nice bed and breakfast setting -- at no charge -- because we were in full-time ministry.

Because of all the nice, fragile things the Smiths have in their home, it is not the best lodging for small children we discovered, but for a small group retreat for adults it would be awesome as well as for missionaries or pastors looking for a quiet (really quiet) place to go and pray or study or write.

Close to the Blue Ridge Parkway and in the beauty of the Blue Ridge mountains, let me recommend this place to you.

I don't have permission to give out their phone number publicly, so you will have to find them on your own, but when you do, you will find a very kind couple and a quiet retreat.

There is a creek in the field below the house.

The creek and old field extend down to another old barn.