1 Corinthians

46-12a

XII.  God’s Gifts Unite the Church (12:1–31)

A.  Each Believer is Gifted (12:1–11)

1.  God’s                                                                                                      (1-3)

1 John 4:1–3 (NKJV) Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

Philippians 2:9–11 (NKJV) Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

2.  The                                                                                                 (4-6)

I Cor. 13:8-9 Love never fails. But whether [there are] prophecies, they will fail; whether [there are] tongues, they will cease; whether [there is] knowledge, it will vanish away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

I Cor. 13:12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

Acts 2:17-18 (NKJV) ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.

B. What are the gifts of the Spirit?

(1) Wisdom is insight into application of doctrinal truth

(2) Knowledge is God given facts or understanding not naturally discerned

Acts 14:9–10 (NKJV)

This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.

(3) Faith is an unusual measure of trust in God

(4) Healing is the ability to restore health

(5) Miracles are overriding natural laws and physics

(6) Prophecy is declaring a message of God for His people

1 Corinthians 14:3 (NKJV) But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

(7) Ability to distinguish between spirits or mindsets

(8) Tongues is the ability to speak an unlearned, human, or angelic language

Acts 10:44–46 (NKJV) While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.

And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.

For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,

(9) Interpretation is the ability to translate an unlearned language

Acts 2:11–12 (NKJV) Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”

So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”

C.  We                                                                                               each other (11)