Spiritual Things In The Church

1 Corinthians 12:1-14:1

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good …All these are the work

of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as he determines. 7,11

ThemeThe Body of Christ, the Church, has

all the parts and all the enablement (grace)

it needs to do its work

– as long as we use themfor His purposes.

Introduction

Questions people haveabout Church differences

and the Church working together.

1. How Do I Cope In A CultureWith Many Gods? 12:1-6

2 …When you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.

My victory comes from my focus on the one true God.

2. Do I Have Enough Grace From God To Make A Difference? 12:7-11

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good…

11 …All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as he determines.

I will always have available what I need when I need it.

8a To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom… 

8b …to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit…

9a …to another faith by the same Spirit…

9b …to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit… 

10a …to another [works of power]…

10b …to another prophecy…

10c …to another distinguishing between spirits…

10d …to another speaking in different kinds of tongues [literally, various families of languages]…

10e …and to still another the interpretation of tongues [understand an unlearned language]….

What about “Speaking In Tongues”?

1. The history of languages: remember what happened at the tower of Babel. “Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” Genesis 11:7

2. The problem with the Corinthian oracles: The Oracle at Corinth at the temple of Apollo…

3. The confusion about tongues: The Nature of the oracle was to speak ecstatically; the mind and tongue not working together

4. The antidote to the confusion: Have an interpreter translate the words. “Every language has meaning.” 14:10

3. How Important Am IIn God’s Plan? 12:12-30

12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body.

24b …God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal [genuine] concern for each other.

I am just as important as anyone and everyone else in God’s plan.

4. What Is The Best Way To Overcome Uselessness, Competition And

Confusion In My Church? 12:31-13:13

8 Love never fails [never becomes useless or of no effect].• Uselessness: I have been given grace to do my

assignment• Competition: I am the only one that fulfill my assignment• Confusion: If we all love the same master, we will stay on

track and enjoy the ride!

Remember the first priority in all things is loveI am loved by God and I am made whole by that loveMy expressions of that love, my action/caring, changes everything for the good.

Our Challenge…

God loves us so much that…

“His divine power has given us

EVERYTHING we need for life & godliness

through our knowledge of Him

who called us by His own

glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3

• Problems particular to Corinth that serve as examples of spiritual problem solving

A. Does it make any sense to try to compete for things God gives on an as needed basis? 14:1-5

B. Does it make sense to use something designed for the body just for myself? 14:6-15

C. How can I tell if a spiritual manifestation is from God or from man? 14:16-33Test it using the body: Tongues: always interpret what is spoken in tonguesProphecies: always weigh any prophetic utterance

against the Word of God.Anything spiritual: “Test the spirits to see if they are from

God.” 1 John 4:1