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The topic for Bible study, beginning
Thursday, April 15, 2021:
The
New Testament Gifts of the Spirit: Are these all the gifts that exist?
Other
related questions:
What lessons can we learn from
studying these gifts?
How can a believer discover
their Spiritual gift(s)?
According to Apostle Paul, which
gifts are to be prioritized?
Does culture and historical time
play a part in the relevance of these gifts, i.e. are gifts specific to
time and place?
What have you discovered from
your own study of this topic?
Key
biblical texts are:
1 Corinthians 12-14
Romans 12:6-8
Ephesians 4:11-13
1 Peter 4:11
Consideration should be given to any other matters
arising. For
example, the role of women during church services.
NB:This study may continue for
several weeks. Come prepared for an engaging and uplifting time of Bible study.
THE GIFT OF
THE SPIRIT AND GIFTS FROM THE SPIRIT
1.Romans 12:6-8―Common
English Bible (CEB)
6We have different gifts that are consistent with
God’s grace that has been given to us. If your gift is prophecy, you should prophesy
in proportion to your faith. 7If
your gift is service,
devote yourself to serving. If your gift is teaching, devote yourself to teaching. 8If your
gift is encouragement,
devote yourself to encouraging. The one giving should do it with no strings attached. The leader should lead with
passion. The one showing mercy
should be cheerful.
2.1 Corinthians 12:4-12,18,22-25,27-31
4 There are different spiritual gifts but
the same Spirit;5 and there are
different ministries
and the same Lord;6 and
there are different activities
but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. 7 A demonstration of the Spirit is
given to each person for the common good.8 A
word of wisdom is given
by the Spirit to one person, a word
of knowledge to another according to the same Spirit, 9 faith to still another by the
same Spirit, gifts of healing
to another in the one Spirit, 10 performance of miracles to
another, prophecy to
another, the ability to tell
spirits apart to another, different kinds of tongues to another, and the interpretation of the tongues
to another.11 All these things are produced by the one and same Spirit who gives what
he wants to each person.12 Christ is just like
the human body—a body is a unit and has many parts; and all the parts of the
body are one body, even though there are many. 18 But as
it is, God has placed each
one of the parts in the body just like he wanted.22 Instead,
the parts of the body that people think are the weakest are the most necessary. 23 The parts of the body that we think
are less honorable are the ones we honor the most. The private parts of our
body that aren’t presentable are the ones that are given the most
dignity. 24 The parts of our body that are
presentable don’t need this. But
God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the part with less honor 25 so
that there won’t be division in the body and so the parts might have mutual
concern for each other.27 You are the body
of Christ and parts of each other. 28 In the church, God has appointedfirst apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, the ability to help others, leadership skills, different kinds of tongues. 29 All
aren’t apostles, are they? All aren’t prophets, are they? All aren’t teachers,
are they? All don’t perform miracles, do they? 30 All
don’t have gifts of healing, do they? All don’t speak in different tongues, do
they? All don’t interpret, do they? 31 Use your ambition to try to get
the greater gifts. And I’m going to show you an even better way.
3.Ephesians 4:11-13
11 He gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. 12 His purpose was to equip God’s
people for the work of serving and building up the body of Christ 13 until
we all reach the unity of faith and knowledge of God’s Son. God’s goal is for
us to become mature adults—to be fully grown, measured by the standard of the
fullness of Christ.
4.1 Peter 4:11
11 Whoever speaks should do so as those who speak God’s word. Whoever serves should do so from the
strength that God furnishes.Do
this so that in everything God may be honored through Jesus Christ. To
him be honor and power forever and always. Amen.
ØQuestion:How can a believer discover their Spiritual gift(s)?
1.Via direct or personal revelation and inspiration (divine message/s)
from the Holy Spirit.
2.What one is already naturally drawn towards, love doing or personally
and professionally equipped to do, i.e. a school- teacher or farmer or building
contractor or doctor; each functioning in the body of Christ (church community)
according to their respective professional ability.
3.Through the intervention of church leadership. God has equipped church
leaders (through spiritual discernment) to direct and position members towards
specific areas of ministry or service within the church.
Five Case Studies:
1.FROM SAUL TO PAUL (a former
persecutor of the church, handpicked and equipped by God for a specific purpose
& the strategic ministerial
leadership role of disciple Ananias)
a)Acts
9:1-6
Meanwhile, Saul was still spewing out
murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest, 2 seeking
letters to the synagogues in Damascus. If he found persons who belonged
to the Way, whether men or women, these letters would authorize him to take them as prisoners to
Jerusalem.3 During the journey, as he approached
Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven encircled him. 4 He fell
to the ground and heard a voice asking him, “Saul, Saul, why are you harassing
me?” 5 Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord?” “I am Jesus, whom you are harassing,” came
the reply. 6 “Now get up and enter the city. You will be told what you must
do.”13 Ananias countered, “Lord, I have heard many reports about this
man. People say he has
done horrible things to your holy people in Jerusalem.14 He’s
here with authority from the chief priests to arrest everyone who calls on your
name.” 15 The Lord replied, “Go! This man is the agent I have chosen to carry my
name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites.16 I will
show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
b)Galatians
1:11-16
11 Brothers and sisters, I
want you to know that the gospel I preached isn’t human in origin. 12 I didn’t receive it or learn it
from a human. It came through a revelation from Jesus Christ.13 You
heard about my previous
life in Judaism, how severely I harassed God’s church and tried to destroy
it. 14 I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my
peers, because I was much more militant about the traditions of my ancestors.15 But
God had set me apart from
birth and called me through his grace. He was pleased 16 to
reveal his Son to me, so that I might preach about him to the Gentiles. I
didn’t immediately consult with any human being.
c)Galatians
2:9-10,18-21
9 James, Cephas, and
John, who are considered to be key leaders, shook hands with me and Barnabas as
equals when they recognized the grace that was given to me. So it was agreed
that we would go to the Gentiles, while they continue to go to the people who
were circumcised.10 They asked only that we would
remember the poor, which was certainly something I was willing to do.18 If
I rebuild the very things that I tore down, I show that I myself am breaking
the Law. 19 I died to the Law through the Law, so
that I could live for God. 20 I have been crucified
with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the life that I
now live in my body, I live by faith, indeed, by the faithfulness of God’s Son,
who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I don’t ignore the grace of God,
because if we become righteous through the Law, then Christ died for no
purpose.
d)Galatians
3:6-7,9,16-19,22-29
6 Understand that in the same way that
Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness,7 those
who believe are the children of Abraham. 9 Therefore,
those who believe are blessed together with Abraham who believed. 16 The promises were made to
Abraham and to his descendant. It doesn’t say, “and to the descendants,” as if
referring to many rather than just one. It says, “and to your descendant,” who
is Christ.17 I’m saying this: the Law, which came four hundred
thirty years later, doesn’t invalidate the agreement that was previously
validated by God so that it cancels the promise. 18 If
the inheritance were based upon the Law, it would no longer be from the
promise. But God has given it graciously to Abraham through a promise. 19 So why was the Law given? It was
added because of offenses, until the descendant would come to whom the promise
had been made. It was put in place through angels by the hand of a
mediator. 22 But scripture locked up all things
under sin, so that the promise based on the faithfulness of Jesus Christ might
be given to those who have faith. 23 Before faith
came, we were guarded under the Law, locked up until faith that was coming
would be revealed, 24 so that the Law became our custodian until Christ so that we might be
made righteous by faith. 25 But now that faith has come,
we are no longer under a custodian.26 You are
all God’s children through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 All
of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek;
there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male and female, for you are all
one in Christ Jesus.29 Now if you belong to
Christ, then indeed you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the
promise.
e)Philippians
3:5-9
5 I was circumcised on the eighth day.I am from the people of Israel and the tribe of
Benjamin.I am a Hebrew of the Hebrews.With respect to
observing the Law, I’m a Pharisee.6 With respect
to devotion to the faith, I harassed the church.With respect to righteousness under the Law, I’m blameless.7 These things were my assets, but I
wrote them off as a loss for the sake of Christ. 8 But
even beyond that, I consider everything a loss in comparison with the superior
value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have lost everything for him, but what
I lost I think of as sewer trash, so that I might gain Christ 9 and
be found in him. In Christ
I have a righteousness that is not my own and that does not come from the Law
but rather from the faithfulness of Christ. It is the righteousness of God that
is based on faith.
ØQuestion: Why did God
choose Saul (a chief persecutor of the Church) for such an important mission?
·To reveal God’s Master
Plan of Salvation for everyone irrespective of ancestry,
ethnicity, cultural background, educational attainment, socio-economic status,
class or creed.
·To remind us of the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham
(which preceded the Law), that promise being the inheritance of eternal life through
faith in Jesus Christ.
·His insatiable passion for knowledge, critical thinking
skills, and militant defence of the Jewish faith are important attributes
that contributed to the cause of the church after Saul’s conversion and valiant Christian apologetics.
ØAnnette’s Comments & Questions
Based on the Church at Corinth. Primary question: Can one church have all the gifts?
In reading the book of 1
Corinthians, I gathered that this church had all the spiritual gifts, even to
the point where the purpose of a church receiving spiritual gifts was
accomplished (unity and revelation of Jesus Christ) 1 Cor.1:7 & Eph.
4:13.
I.What
happened to this church that it became plagued with so many problems and
struggles?
II.Does
the immediate environment affect the development of a church's spiritual gifts?
III.How
is it that this church, so filled with the gifts, seemed to be still at a “milk-feeding stage” based on 1 Cor.3:2?
IV.Was unity the core problem of this
church? Is that why Paul
addressed it first? 1 Cor.1:10-11.
V.Is
this why Jesus prayed for unity in John 17?
VI.Is
it that Christ prayed for unity because its
absence not only negatively affects the efficiency of the church but it
also impedes spiritual
growth and harbour sin?
VII.Is
unity the basis for spiritual growth? According to Eph.4:13 the fulfilment of the purpose of
spiritual gifts is demonstrated in the church when it obtains, "unity of the faith and the knowledge
of the Son of God." According to 1 Cor.1:7, the church at Corinth was
waiting to achieve the latter, (they were at the point where they were almost
ready to see the mysteries of Jesus Christ, Col. 2:2).
ØPaul’s letters & visits to the
Corinthian church
How many letters did the Apostle Paul
write to the Corinthian church? We have two letters to the church at
Corinth in our Bible, but both of these letters mention another letter. Many
scholars believe Paul wrote four letters to the Corinthian church but only two
of them survived.
1st Visit
As
recorded in Acts 18, Paul visited Corinth for the first time on what we call
his “second missionary journey” and stayed for 18 months. Paul lived with Priscilla and Aquila, and established the church
at Corinth (approximately 51-52 AD).
After
this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.- Acts 18:1
And he stayed a year and
six months, teaching the
word of God among them. – Acts 18:11
#1 Letter – Lost letter
from Paul
What: Often
referred to as “The Lost
Epistle,” this letter is the correspondence mentioned in 1 Corinthians.
Chronologically, it is the first letter Paul wrote to the church at Corinth.
I wrote to you in my letter not
to associate with sexually immoral people– 1Corinthians 5:9
When: After
having returned to Antioch upon the completion of his second missionary
journey, Paul establishes Ephesus as a base for the travels that we call his
“third missionary journey.” He probably wrote this initial letter
during his time in Ephesus.
Why: Word
reached Paul of some troubling matters in the Corinthian church and he wrote to
address those problems. Among other things, Paul tells them that they are “not
to associate with immoral people.”
Letter from Corinth
What: This
is the letter from the church at Corinth to Paul that is mentioned in
1Corinthians 7.
Now
concerning the matters about which you wrote: 1Corinthians 7:1
When: This
letter would have reached Paul during his time at Ephesus.
Why: Several
issues are creating controversy among the Corinthian believers and they seek
Paul’s wisdom on resolving these issues.
#2 Letter – 1 Corinthians
What: This is the letter we know as
1st Corinthians. Chronologically, it is the second letter Paul wrote to the Corinthian
church.
When: Paul
dictated this letter to Sosthenes during his time in Ephesus toward the
beginning of his third missionary journey (approximately 54-55 AD).
Now
concerning the matters about which you wrote: 1Corinthians 7:1
For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that
there is quarreling among you, my brothers. – 1Corinthians 1:11
2nd Visit – Sorrowful
visit
What: In
a visit not recorded in Acts, Paul makes a brief second trip to Corinth from
Ephesus on his way to Macedonia. This visit — predicted in 1 Corinthians
16 and referred back to in 2 Corinthians 13 — is sometimes referred
to as “the sorrowful visit.”
5I
will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for
I intend to pass through Macedonia, 6and perhaps I will stay
with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey,
wherever I go. 7For I do not want to see you now just in
passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8But
I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost…- 1Corinthians 16:5-8
1This
is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the
evidence of two or three witnesses. 2I warned those who sinned
before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my
second visit, that if I come again I will not spare
them– 2Corinthians 13:1-2
When: Paul
made this trip during his long stay in Ephesus when Ephesus was his base for
his third missionary journey.
Why: Timothy
visited Corinth and brought back some news that Paul believed he needed to deal
with swiftly. Though he wrote in 1 Corinthians 16 that he planned to come
via the land route through Macedonia, Paul took the direct route across the
sea, stayed briefly and traveled on to Macedonia.
10When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he
is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. 11So let no one
despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am
expecting him with the brothers. –1Corinthians 16:10-11
#3 Letter – Severe letter
from Paul
What: Often
referred to as “the severe letter,” this is the letter that causes the sorrow
mentioned in 2 Corinthians 7. Chronologically, it is the third letter
Paul wrote to the Corinthian church.
For
out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not
so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I
have especially for you. – 2Corinthians 2:4
For
though I caused
you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it–for I see that that letter caused you sorrow,
though only for a while– 2Corinthians 7:8
When: Probably
written during Paul’s second visit to Macedonia, after his second trip to
Corinth and before he returns to Ephesus.
Why: Paul
experienced something during his second visit to Corinth while on his way to
Macedonia that concerned him and caused him to write this letter. Paul
originally intended to return to Corinth on his way back to Ephesus. But Paul
decided it was not a good time for him to visit Corinth and he returned to
Ephesus by the land route.
15Because
I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you
might have a second experience of grace. 16I wanted to visit
you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and
have you send me on my way to Judea…. – 2Corinthians 1:15-16
23But I call God to witness against me–it was to spare you that I refrained
from coming again to Corinth. 24Not that we lord it over
your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your
faith. 2:1For I made up my mind not to make another painful
visit to you. – 2Corinthians 1:23-2:1
#4 Letter – 2 Corinthians
What: This
is the letter we know as 2 Corinthians and is the fourth letter from Paul to
the Corinthian church.
When: Paul
wrote this letter during his third visit to Macedonia (probably from Philippi,
approximately 56 AD), after Titus had arrived with encouraging news about the
situation in Corinth. Instead of returning to Corinth, Paul sent Titus to
Corinth. When Titus rejoined Paul in Macedonia, Paul rejoiced at the news Titus
brought from Corinth.
5For
even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no
rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears
within. 6But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by
the coming of Titus, 7and not only by his coming but also
by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of
your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still
more. – 2Corinthians 7:5-7
For
this reason we have been comforted. And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even
much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed
by you all. – 2Corinthians 7:13
Why: Paul
wrote this letter to prepare for his coming to see them again (3rd visit), as
he gathers a collection for the poor in Jerusalem.
1For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the
saints; 2for I know your readiness, of which I boast
about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last
year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3But I have
sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made empty
in this case, so that, as I was saying, you may be prepared; 4otherwise
if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we–not to
speak of you–will be put to shame by this confidence. 5So
I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you
and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, so that the
same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness.
– 2 Corinthians 9:1-5
A cursory glance at the problem-plagued Corinthian
church: using 1st Corinthians as a reference
Chapter 1: Rival groups in the church
11 My brothers and sisters, Chloe’s people gave me
some information about you, that you’re fighting with each other. 12 What
I mean is this: that each one of you says, “I belong to Paul,” “I belong to
Apollos,” “I belong to Cephas,” “I belong to Christ.”
Chapter 3: Lacking spiritual maturity
Brothers
and sisters, I couldn’t talk to you like spiritual people but like unspiritual
people, like babies in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to
drink instead of solid food, because you weren’t up to it yet. 3 Now
you are still not up to it because you are still unspiritual. When jealousy and
fighting exist between you, aren’t you unspiritual and living by human
standards?
Chapter 5: Sexual immorality in the church
Everyone
has heard that there is sexual immorality among you. This is a type of
immorality that isn’t even heard of among the Gentiles—a man is having sex with
his father’s wife! 2 And you’re proud of yourselves
instead of being so upset that the one who did this thing is expelled from your
community.
Chapter 6: Lawsuits in the church
When
someone in your assembly has a legal case against another member, do they dare
to take it to court to be judged by people who aren’t just, instead of by God’s
people? 2 Or don’t you know that God’s people will
judge the world? If the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to
judge trivial cases? 3 Don’t you know that we will
judge angels? Why not ordinary things?
Chapter 7: Marriage and celibacy/singlehood
Now, about
what you wrote: “It’s good for a man not to have sex with a woman.” 2 Each
man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband
because of sexual immorality. 7 I wish all people were
like me, but each has a particular gift from God: one has this gift, and
another has that one. 8 I’m telling those who are single
and widows that it’s good for them to stay single like me. 9 But
if they can’t control themselves, they should get married, because it’s better
to marry than to burn with passion.
Chapter 8: Meat sacrificed to false gods
Now
concerning meat that has been sacrificed to a false god: We know that we all
have knowledge. Knowledge makes people arrogant, but love builds people
up. 2 If anyone thinks they know something, they
don’t yet know as much as they should know. 3 But
if someone loves God, then they are known by God. 4 So
concerning the actual food involved in these sacrifices to false gods, we know
that a false god isn’t anything in this world, and that there is no God except
for the one God. 7 But not everybody knows this. Some
are eating this food as though it really is food sacrificed to a real idol,
because they were used to idol worship until now. Their conscience is weak
because it has been damaged. 12 You sin against Christ
if you sin against your brothers and sisters and hurt their weak consciences
this way. 13 This is why, if food causes the
downfall of my brother or sister, I won’t eat meat ever again, or else I may
cause my brother or sister to fall.
Chapter 9: Paul’s defends his apostleship
Am I not
free? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord? Aren’t you my work in
the Lord? 2 If I’m not an apostle to others, at
least I am to you! You are the seal that shows I’m an apostle. 3 This
is my defense against those who criticize me. 4 Don’t
we have the right to eat and drink? 5 Don’t we have
the right to travel with a wife who believes like the rest of the apostles, the
Lord’s brothers, and Cephas? 6 Or is it only I and
Barnabas who don’t have the right to not work for our living? 9 In
Moses’ Law it’s written: You will not muzzle the ox when it is
threshing. Is God worried about oxen, 10 or
did he say this entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake because the
one who plows and the one who threshes should each do so with the hope of
sharing the produce. 11 If we sowed spiritual
things in you, is it so much to ask to harvest some material things from you?
Chapter 10: Warning against presumptuous sin & idol
worship
Brothers
and sisters, I want you to be sure of the fact that our ancestors were all
under the cloud and they all went through the sea. 2 All
were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 All
ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the
same spiritual drink. They drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and
the rock was Christ. 5 However, God was unhappy
with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness. 12 So
those who think they are standing need to watch out or else they may
fall. 19 What am I saying then? That food
sacrificed to a false god is anything, or that a false god is anything? 20 No,
but this kind of sacrifice is sacrificed to demons and not to God. I don’t want
you to be sharing in demons. 21 You can’t drink the
cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you can’t participate in the table of
the Lord and the table of demons.
Chapter 11: Suitable dress in worship & reverence for
the Lord’s Supper
11 However, woman isn’t independent from man, and
man isn’t independent from woman in the Lord. 12 As
woman came from man so also man comes from woman. But everything comes from
God. 13 Judge for yourselves: Is it appropriate for
a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Doesn’t
nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him; 15 but
if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? This is because her long hair is
given to her for a covering. 18 First of all, when
you meet together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and I
partly believe it. 20 So when you get together in one
place, it isn’t to eat the Lord’s meal. 21 Each of
you goes ahead and eats a private meal. One person goes hungry while another is
drunk. 22 Don’t you have houses to eat and drink
in? Or do you look down on God’s churches and humiliate those who have nothing?
What can I say to you? Will I praise you? No, I don’t praise you in this.
Chapter 12: Spiritual gifts
Brothers
and sisters, I don’t want you to be ignorant about spiritual gifts. 2 You
know that when you were Gentiles you were often misled by false gods that can’t
even speak. 4 There are different spiritual gifts but
the same Spirit; 5 and there are different
ministries and the same Lord; 6 and there are
different activities but the same God who produces all of them in
everyone.
Chapter 13: Love: the universal spiritual gift
4 Love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t jealous,
it doesn’t brag, it isn’t arrogant, 5 it isn’t
rude, it doesn’t seek its own advantage, it isn’t irritable, it doesn’t keep a
record of complaints, 6 it isn’t happy with
injustice, but it is happy with the truth. 7 Love
puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures
all things. 13 Now faith, hope, and love remain—these
three things—and the greatest of these is love.
Chapter 14: Spiritual gifts and church order
Pursue
love, and use your ambition to try to get spiritual gifts but especially so
that you might prophesy. 2 This is because those
who speak in a tongue don’t speak to people but to God; no one understands
it—they speak mysteries by the Spirit. 3 Those who
prophesy speak to people, building them up, and giving them encouragement and
comfort. 26 What is the outcome of this, brothers and
sisters? When you meet together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a
revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All these things must be done to
build up the church. 39 So then, brothers and sisters,
use your ambition to try to get the gift of prophecy, but don’t prevent
speaking in tongues. 40 Everything should be done
with dignity and in proper order.
Chapter 15: Unwavering faith in the resurrected Christ
3 I passed on to you as most important what I also
received: Christ died for our sins in line with the scriptures, 4 he
was buried, and he rose on the third day in line with the scriptures. 5 He
appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve, 6 and then
he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at once—most of them
are still alive to this day, though some have died. 7 Then
he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and
last of all he appeared to me, as if I were born at the wrong time. 16 If
the dead aren’t raised, then Christ hasn’t been raised either. 17 If
Christ hasn’t been raised, then your faith is worthless; you are still in your
sins, 18 and what’s more, those who have died in
Christ are gone forever. 19 If we have a hope in
Christ only in this life, then we deserve to be pitied more than anyone else.
ØRev.
Sylvan Payne’s query:Can we abuse our spiritual gifts?
i.Is
there evidence of this occurring in the early church?
ii.What
lessons are learnt from exploring this question?
iii.How
do we apply those lessons to our personal lives and current corporate church
ministry?
ØA reminder of the 3
categories of spiritual gifts: 1 Corinthians 12 (NIV)
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.
ØAuthorized (King James) Version:
i.diversities
of gifts
ii.differences
of administrations
iii.diversities
of operations
ØAmplified Bible, Classic Edition:
i.distinctive
varieties and distributions of
endowments (gifts, extraordinary powers distinguishing certain
Christians)
ii.distinctive
varieties of service and ministration
iii.distinctive
varieties of operation [of working to
accomplish things]
Simply
put, different believers are empowered (gifted) by the Holy Spirit to perform
different functions.
ØJesus the Servant-Leader &
true leadership: Mat.20:20-21,24-26
20Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons [James
and John] came to Jesus along with her sons. Bowing before him, she asked a favor
of him. 21“What
do you want?” he asked. She responded, “Say that these two sons of mine
will sit, one on your right hand and one on your left, in your kingdom.” 24Now when the other ten
disciples heard about this, they became angry with the two brothers. 25 But
Jesus called them over and said, “You know that those who rule the
Gentiles show off their authority over them and their high-ranking officials
order them around. 26 But that’s not the way it
will be with you. Whoever wants to be great among you will be your
servant. 27 Whoever wants to be first among you
will be your slave— 28 just as the Human
One didn’t come to be served but rather to serve and to give his life to
liberate many people.”
ØThe misuse and abuse of
administration/leadership
a.Paul warns Timothy of false teachers who use religion as a way to get
rich: 1 Tim.6:3-5,
3 If anyone teaches anything different and doesn’t agree
with sound teaching about our Lord Jesus Christ and teaching that is consistent
with godliness, 4 that person is conceited. They
don’t understand anything but have a sick obsession with debates and
arguments. This creates jealousy, conflict, verbal abuse, and evil suspicions. 5 There is constant bickering between
people whose minds are ruined and who have been robbed of the truth.
They think that godliness
is a way to make money!
Simply put, they use God’s Word and his church for personal gain.
Contrasting leadership styles & attitudes
b.John, the
elder apostle, congratulates Gaius [a leader of one of the churches in
western Asia Minor, possibly Ephesus] for being faithful in his “care
for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to
you” (3 John 5 NLT). John explains that Gaius’ friendship and loving deeds
towards the travelling teachers pleases God, since “they are traveling for the Lord, and they accept nothing from people who are not believers” (vs.6-7).
Thus, the importance of supporting and partnering with such ministers “as they
teach the truth” (v.8).
c.This is in stark contrast to another leader of the
church, Diotrephes, who John reports “loves to be the leader [and] refuses to
have anything to do with us” (v.9). Furthermore, John intends to expose the
evil deeds of Diotrephes. For example, “Not only does he refuse to welcome the
traveling teachers, he also tells others not to help them. And when they do
help, he puts them out of the church” (v.10). John warns Gaius not to “let this
bad example influence” (v.11) him, but “Follow only what is good” (v.11) as
this proves “that they are God’s children” (v.11). Conversely, Diotrephes’
attitude proves that he does not know God.
d.John also commends Demetrius (another church leader) for his good work,
of whom “Everyone speaks highly of… even truth itself” (v.12).
e.In defence of his apostolic authority, Paul informs
the Galatian church of his spiritual gift of preaching to the Gentiles: Gal.2:6-10
6 And the leaders of the church had nothing to add to what I was
preaching. (By the way, their reputation as great leaders made no difference to
me, for God has no favorites.)7 Instead,
they saw that God had given me the responsibility of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as
he had given Peter the responsibility
of preaching to the Jews.8 For the same
God who worked through Peter as the apostle to the Jews also worked through me
as the apostle to the Gentiles.9 In
fact, James, Peter, and John, who were known as pillars of the church, recognized the gift God had given me,
and they accepted
Barnabas and me as their co-workers. They encouraged us to keep
preaching to the Gentiles, while they continued their work with the Jews.10 Their
only suggestion was that we keep on helping the poor, which I have always been
eager to do.
ØPreaching for filthy lucre (money
obtained dishonestly):
a.Titus 1:11
10 For there are many rebellious people
who engage in useless talk and deceive others. This is especially true of those
who insist on circumcision for salvation. 11 They
must be silenced, because they are turning whole families away from the truth
by their false teaching. And
they do it only for money. 12 Even one of
their own men, a prophet from Crete, has said about them, “The people of Crete
are all liars, cruel animals, and lazy gluttons.” 13 This
is true. So reprimand them sternly to make them strong in the faith.
ØPaul’s encouragement and warning to the Ephesian Elders
b.Acts 20:28-30
28 “So guard yourselves
and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over
which the Holy Spirit has
appointed you as leaders. 29 I know that
false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not
sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and
distort the truth in order to draw a following.
ØThe gift of the Blessed Holy Spirit
cannot be bought or sold
c.The
bewitching folly of Simon, sorcerer of Samaria:
Acts 8:18-23
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was
given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power.19 “Let
me have this power, too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay my hands on people,
they will receive the Holy Spirit!”
20 But Peter replied, “May your money be destroyed with
you for thinking God’s gift can be bought!21 You
can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God. 22 Repent
of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts,
23 for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy
and are held captive by sin.”
ØAvoiding the trap of personal praise
from others, reserved for God
d.Acts 14:1,3,8-18
The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went to
the Jewish synagogue and preached
with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers.
3 But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching
boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power
to do miraculous signs and wonders.
8 While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas
came upon a man with crippled feet. He had been that way from birth, so he had
never walked. He was sitting 9 and listening as
Paul preached. Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed. 10 So
Paul called to him in a loud voice, “Stand up!” And the man jumped to his feet
and started walking. 11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they
shouted in their local dialect, “These men are gods in human form!” 12 They
decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and that Paul was Hermes, since he
was the chief speaker.13 Now the temple of Zeus was located just
outside the town. So the priest of the temple and the crowd brought bulls and
wreaths of flowers to the town gates, and they prepared to offer sacrifices to
the apostles.14 But when the apostles Barnabas
and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran
out among the people, shouting, 15 “Friends, why
are you doing this? We are
merely human beings—just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that
you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God,
who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. 16 In
the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, 17 but
he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance,
he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.” 18 But even with these words, Paul
and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them.
32 The community of
believers was one in heart and mind. None of them would say, “This is mine!”
about any of their possessions, but held everything in common. 34 There
were no needy persons among them. Those who owned properties or houses would
sell them, bring the proceeds from the sales, 35 and
place them in the care and under the authority of the apostles. Then it was
distributed to anyone who was in need.
36 Joseph, whom the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (that
is, “one who encourages”), was a Levite from Cyprus. 37 He owned a
field, sold it, brought the money, and placed it in the care and under the
authority of the apostles.
b)Acts 9:26-28 (Barnabas offers a
testimonial on behalf of Saul)
26 When Saul arrived
in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. They didn’t believe he was
really a disciple.27 Then Barnabas brought Saul to
the apostles and told them the story about how Saul saw the Lord on the way and
that the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them about the confidence with
which Saul had preached in the name of Jesus in Damascus.28 After
this, Saul moved freely among the disciples in Jerusalem and was speaking with confidence in the name of the Lord.
c)Acts 11:22-26 (Barnabas finds
Saul a worthy co-worker)
22 When the church in
Jerusalem heard about this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When
he arrived and saw evidence of God’s grace, he was overjoyed and encouraged everyone to remain
fully committed to the Lord.24 Barnabas
responded in this way because
he was a good man, whom the Holy Spirit had endowed with exceptional faith.
A considerable number of people were added to the Lord. 25 Barnabas went to Tarsus in
search of Saul. 26 When he found him, he brought
him to Antioch. They were there for a whole year, meeting with the church and
teaching large numbers of people. It was in Antioch where the disciples
were first labeled “Christians.”
d)Acts 15:36-39 (Barnabas
intervenes for John Mark)
36 Some time
later, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit all the brothers and
sisters in every city where we preached the Lord’s word. Let’s see how they are
doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John
Mark with them.38 Paul
insisted that they shouldn’t take him along, since he had deserted them in
Pamphylia and hadn’t continued with them in their work.39 Their argument became so
intense that they went their separate ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to
Cyprus.
NOTE: Barnabas was a selfless giver and encourager
·Barnabas was recognized by the leadership of the church (apostles) for his generosity
of spirit and inspiration to others.
·Do not give to be admired; allow God to give the ‘pat on the back.’
·You should not give to impress other―that is the wrong attitude and the
consequences can be deadly (Acts 5: 1-11). Ananias and his wife,
Sapphira, in contrast to Barnabas, gave to the church for personal glory. They
were influenced by Satan to practise deception.
·If you have a bad attitude, such as being selfish, greedy, miserly,
etc., it is probably better not to give until you have asked God, in sincere
prayer, to help you change your attitude and heart condition.
·Give because you want to and it gives you pleasure to do so: “for
God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
·Since Barnabas (the elder apostle) did not give up on John Mark (the
inexperienced missionary), the latter was later recognized by Paul as “a big help to me in the ministry” (2
Timothy 4:11) and became one of the four famed gospel writers.
3.THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH (a
centre of divine inspiration)
a)Acts 13:1-3
The church at Antioch included prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon (nicknamed
Niger), Lucius from Cyrene, Manaen (a childhood friend of Herod the ruler), and
Saul.2 As they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit
said, “Appoint Barnabas and
Saul to the work I have called them to undertake.”3 After they fasted and prayed, they laid
their hands on these two and sent them off.
4.LYDIA (a woman with a
receptive heart and hospitable spirit)
a)Acts 16:13-15
13 On the
Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the riverbank, where we thought there
might be a place for prayer. We
sat down and began to talk with the women who had gathered. 14 One
of those women was Lydia, a Gentile God-worshipper from the city of Thyatira,
a dealer in purple cloth. As she
listened, the Lord enabled her to embrace Paul’s message.15 Once
she and her household were baptized, she urged, “Now that you have decided that I am a believer in the
Lord, come and stay in my house.” And she persuaded us.
NOTE: Lydia’s devotion to God and generous
hospitality to Paul and his companions is testimony not only to her willingness to serve
the Lord but to demonstrate her love for God’s people in a tangible way.
5.AQUILA
& PRISCILLA (always together as a couple & strategic
coworkers with the apostles)
a)Acts 18:1-3 (partners with
Paul in both business and ministry)
After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.2 There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native
of Pontus. He had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because
Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul visited with them.3 Because they practiced the same
trade, he stayed and worked with them. They all worked with leather.
b) Acts 18:24-26 (disciplining Apollos & strengthening his ministry)
24 Meanwhile, a
certain Jew named Apollos
arrived in Ephesus. He was a
native of Alexandria and was well-educated and effective
in his use of the scriptures.25 He had been instructed in the way of
the Lord and spoke as one stirred up by the Spirit. He taught accurately the things about
Jesus, even though he was aware only of the baptism John proclaimed and
practiced.26 He
began speaking with confidence in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they received him
into their circle of friends and explained to him God’s way more accurately.
c)Romans 16:3-5 (caring for the
welfare of leaders & church)
3 Say hello to
Prisca [Priscilla] and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus, 4 who
risked their own necks for my life. I’m not the only one who thanks God for
them, but all the churches of the Gentiles do the same.5 Also say hello to the church that meets in their house….
6.THE FAITH OF CHILDREN IN THE CHURCH (the boy with 5 barley loaves + 2 fish & Rhoda‒a
servant girl)
a)John 6:4-13 (the selfless giving of a boy & the miracle of
multiplication)
4 It was nearly time for Passover, the
Jewish festival. 5 Jesus looked up and saw the large
crowd coming toward him. He asked Philip, “Where will we buy food to feed these people?”6 Jesus said this to test him, for he
already knew what he was going to do.7 Philip
replied, “More than a half
year’s salary worth of food wouldn’t be enough for each person to have
even a little bit.”8 One of his disciples,
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said, 9 “A youth here has five barley loaves
and two fish. But what good is that for a crowd like this?”10 Jesus
said, “Have the people sit
down.” There was plenty of grass there. They sat down, about five
thousand of them. 11 Then Jesus took the bread.
When he had given thanks, he distributed it to those who were sitting there. He
did the same with the fish, each getting as much as they wanted. 12 When
they had plenty to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces, so that nothing
will be wasted.”13 So they gathered them
and filled twelve baskets
with the pieces of the five barley loaves that had been left over by those who
had eaten.
Note:
I.Developing an
attitude of giving like our Lord Jesus Christ will prompt us to be always
willing to give to those in need, irrespective of how trying the circumstances may
appear to us. Jesus not only provided for the spiritual needs of the people, “they
had seen the miraculous signs he had done among the sick” (v.2) but he supplied
their basic and immediate needs as well. In this case, the need for food: “Jesus
looked up and saw the large crowd coming toward him. He asked Philip, “Where
will we buy food to feed these people?” (v.5).
II.The question
Jesus asked Philip indicates his willingness and ability to feed the people. Thus,
requiring Philip to state the location of the nearest bakery from which they
could purchase bread. However, Philip’s response was negative. He could only
see the impossibility of satisfying this need to feed so great a crowd: “Philip
replied, “More than a half year’s salary worth of food wouldn’t be enough for
each person to have even a little bit” (v.7).
III.Philip was unaware
of the fact that Christ was testing his faith, “Jesus said this to test him,
for he already knew what he was going to do” (v.6). Philip’s pessimistic
attitude in contrast to Christ’s optimism meant the disciple failed the test.
IV.Andrew, like
Philip, recognized only their inadequate resources, ““A youth here has five
barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that for a crowd like this?””
(v.9). His despondency is evident. Therefore, he too failed the test.
V.In contrast to
the disciples’ faithlessness, the innocent optimism (childlike faith) of the
young boy cast aspersions on the chosen and more experienced followers of Christ,
since he was willing to part with his own lunch, in spite of his own physical
need for food.
VI.Christ’s supreme
example of faith overshadows the disciples’ faithlessness: “When the day was
almost over, the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so that they
can go to the nearby villages and countryside and find lodging and food, because
we are in a deserted place” (Lk.9:12). Christ responded, ““You give them
something to eat” (v.13), but the disciples considered the task an impossible
one because, “About five thousand men plus women and children” (Mat.14:21) were
present.
VII.Unlike the
disciples, Christ prepared the crowd to dine, ““Seat them in groups of about
fifty”” (Lk.9:14). Everyone’s need was met, “Everyone ate until they were full,
and the disciples filled twelve baskets with the leftovers” (v.17) and nothing was
wasted (Jn.6:12); perhaps another day’s meal. Clearly, the mathematics of God
surpasses any human or earthly impossibility or improbability. Consider God’s
miraculous formula:
VIII.This miracle
mirrors a similar miraculous event recorded in Matthew 15:32-38. This time the
equation reads,
IX.These incidents
reflect Christ’s admonition to, “become like this little child” (Mat.18:3) or
be refused entry to, “the kingdom of heaven” (v.3). Christ informs his
disciples that, “Those who humble themselves like this little child will be the
greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (v.4). Truly, as he demonstrated by
welcoming children in their midst (v.2), “the kingdom of heaven belongs to
people like these children” (Mat.19:14).
X.This bold demonstration of the boy’s faith to offer his lunch for
Christ’s use also echoes Isaiah’s prophetic utterance that, “a little child
will lead them” (Isa.11:6). Following this boy’s act of faith, Jesus moves into
action: ““Have the people sit down”” (Jn.6:10). Could it be that Jesus was waiting for someone
to freely offer or part with the little they had, such as the young boy?
XI.The important lesson here is that God wants his followers to trust him
at all times, especially when the circumstances seem humanly impossible. Christ
assured his disciples that some things might be, “impossible for human beings.
But all things are possible for God” (Mat.19:26). He also reminded them of his
ability to perform the impossible when they doubted (Mk.8:17-21).
b)Acts 12:1-5,11-16 (the resolute
faith of Rhoda at intercessors’ prayer meeting)
About
that time King Herod began to harass some who belonged to the church.2 He had James, John’s brother, killed with a
sword.3 When he saw that this pleased
the Jews, he arrested Peter as well. This happened during the Festival
of Unleavened Bread.4 He put Peter in prison, handing
him over to four squads of soldiers, sixteen in all, who guarded him. He
planned to charge him publicly after the Passover.5 While Peter was held in prison, the church offered earnest prayer to
God for him.11 At that, Peter came to his
senses and remarked, “Now I’m certain that the Lord sent his angel and rescued
me from Herod and from everything the Jewish people expected.”12 Realizing
this, he made his way to
Mary’s house. (Mary was John’s mother; he was also known as Mark.) Many believers had gathered there
and were praying.13 When
Peter knocked at the outer gate, a female servant named Rhoda went to answer.14 She was so overcome with joy when she recognized Peter’s voice that she didn’t open the gate.
Instead, she ran back in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate.15 “You’ve
lost your mind!” they responded. She stuck by her story with such determination that they began to say, “It must be
his guardian angel.” 16 Meanwhile, Peter remained
outside, knocking at the gate. They finally opened the gate and saw him there, and they were
astounded.
Note:
The childlike faith of Rhoda is contrasted against the 'faithfulness' of experienced
praying intercessors/prayer warriors. Rhoda appears to be the only one who
believes in the miraculous deliverance of Peter from prison and certain death, “she recognized Peter’s voice” (v.14). Her steadfast faith is met with mocking
skepticism, ““You’ve lost your mind!”” (v.15).
