Paul comments on the blessings and differences of spiritual gifts within the church and describes the context in which they should be displayed – with love.
1 Corinthians 12: Spiritual Gifts
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.
3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus is accursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit.
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
One Body with Many Members
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body---Jews or Greeks, slaves or free---and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.
16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?
18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?
20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."
22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honourable we bestow the greater honour, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,
24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honour to the part that lacked it,
25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together.
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
1 Corinthians 13: The Way of Love
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Things to think about…
Paul affirms the confirmation of the Spirit on the heart by saying “that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus is accursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit.” 1Cor 12:3. If you want to find out whether somebody is truly in the body of Christ, this is the true test.
There are varieties of gifts, services and activities, but the same Spirit, Lord and God, 1Cor 12:4-6. The purpose given is for ‘the common good’, vs 7. Paul had to write these words to reaffirm to the Corinthian church that the gifts they had in the church were not for self-edification but for the good of the whole body. What is your gift and how are you using it ’for the common good’? Note that each has “the manifestation of the spirit”, 1Cor 12:7. I trust you know what yours is.
May we see all the gifts listed in 1Cor 12:8-12 clearly on display in the church. These things not only need to be prayed for, but encouraged as we see them desired in others so our body is stronger and moving in the Spirit and in truth as we are called to do.
1Cor 12:12-31 is the definitive passage on the role, function and context of the spiritual gifts and how they are to be used within the church. The challenge for the church is to not only to recognise various gifts within the body but to also open up opportunities where those gifts can be given an opportunity to be used and on display.
I am rebuked every time I read 1Cor 13. All the gifts and faith available to the believer are not worth anything without a right expression of Christ’s love. All the gifts will pass away except faith, hope and love. But surely faith and hope will not be needed in glory because they will be fully satisfied in Christ. Faith involves both assurance and conviction of things hoped for, Heb 11:1. Do these things disappear in heaven? Carson has a good word here, he says regarding hope and faith as “eternal, permanent virtues”. With regard to hope, he states, “there is a sense in which hope is not merely the anticipation of the blessings to come, an anticipation no longer needed once those blessings have arrived, but a firm anchor in Christ himself. Our hope is in God, in Christ; and as such, hope continues forever, doubtless opening up an infinity of new depths of blessing, world without end”. So he asks the penetrating question, “Will we stop looking forward in anticipation to what is ahead once we begin to enjoy the new heaven and the new earth?” The implied answer is obvious, “no we will not stop looking forward in anticipation.” With regard to faith he comments, “It is true that in one sense faith will be displaced by sight. But there is another sense in which faith is simply thankful trust in God, deep appreciation for him, committed subservience to him. Will there be any time in the next fifty billion years (if I may speak of eternity in the categories of time) during which the very basis of my presence in the celestial courts will be something other than faith in the grace of God?”. I agree. Ref https://bible.org/seriespage/14-heaven-world-love-faith-and-hope-1-cor-1313
While 1Cor 13 is read out and expounded in a good many weddings, this love is actually within the context of the church. We are to be patient, kind, never rude, irritable or resentful, or insist in its own way. All of these should be on display and I am humbled to see that this is indeed the case at Chuwar Baptist. May love continue to abide 1Cor 13:13.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Sermon and reading topic for this week – Sermon “Proclaiming Christ”
Reading – 1 Corinthians 2
1. How would you describe your present level/ability/fervency of witnessing your faith in Christ at the moment?
2. Our witnessing must not just surround the fact that we go to a good church, listen to great music, preaching, etc. Paul says that we proclaim Christ and Him crucified, 1Cor 2:2. Explain why the cross and the resurrection are vital components of any witnessing done in Jesus’ name.
3. Doug mentioned that in order to effectively witness and share our faith we have to know Who and what we are talking about. The only way this can happen is if we are disciplined in reading God’s Word every day. Describe your current bible study/reading program. Please subscribe to the Chuwar Baptist devotions page if you have not so already. The same bible study program is on our website under RAPP Ups – Reading and prayer point Updates. www.chuwarbaptist.com . This program goes through the OT once and the NT twice every 3 years. Sundays sermons follow the weeks readings.
4. God reveals things to us by the Spirit. When we pray - “the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words”, Rom 8:26. Discuss this verse and what it means, as well how you understand its application in your current prayer life.
Prayer Points
1. Pray for testimonies that people will be doing every second week. Please consider when you would like to do yours when the pastor asks you to share yours 😉
2. Term break up for Kids@church and Recharge Youth this week.
3. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof and solar.
4. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
5. Church finances to meet our new staff and to put a roof over our café.
6. Sunday’s message from 1Cor 12, 14 - “Receiving your gift” – Pastor Jay.
Praise Points.
1. Doug’s message on Sunday. Doug also handled the sound issues. Thankyou Melinda for managing the desk on Sunday
2. New cell groups.
3. Praise and worship – thanks Rod, Rin, Molley, Riley, Zac, great job.
Announcements
1. The Amazing race - Recharge final week before breakup – 6:30pm-8:30pm Friday at church. $2 coin donation. Melinda Fourie heading up this ministry.
2. Men’s brekky TBA. But will be down at Colleges Crossing within the next month or so on a Saturday morning.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
