1 Corinthians 12:1-8 - Part A

There's a word I want to have no real spiritual balance when it comes to this area especially we should buy. I feel that many churches are not all that about in the course of history, people have used the gifts of the spirit and lost credibility in the witness for Jesus today on connect with Skip Skip shares you can know your spiritual balance them with love and truth. First, did you know that Scriptures important updates and biblical encouragement on social media, Facebook, twitter and Instagram to get the latest from him in this ministry that Skip Heitzig at Skip HITZIG okay, let's dive into today's teacher will be in first Corinthians chapter 12 is Skip Heitzig and begins the study.

Never forget when I first moved here, I saw Sandia Crest and I was just so impressed by and I did see her from time to time people take off look like they were taking off from the crest and these hang gliders so I took a drive up there and got up there on a day when there were a few different hang gliders who would take that running jump down the little slope and shop often takes your breath away to see them in so I was there to watch a couple guys will launch off the crest and I I expected that thing and it did at first. I expected it to go down. I understand how gravity works and I understand that the city's down there were appear so they took the job and they took off in the went down in the went down, then suddenly they got out far enough where they didn't go down anymore they actually ascended. They went up into the air, and they kept going and kept going and somebody was explaining to meet there are thermals that they're looking for that give them buoyancy so they can go further and longer than in any other means so I watched it they got way up and way out and I was told by somebody that one of them made it almost to the border of Arizona. Now I can only imagine what it would take to walk to Arizona. I just flew from there a few hours ago. Not in a hang glider, but in a jet powered aircraft.

A couple of them to get me here, but they were able in that hang glider using air wind power to go further and higher than they could ever go on their own. The power of the wind, the power of the air to make you go higher and further than you could go on your own. Just because something is not seen does not make it not powerful air is very powerful and there are tools that harness the power of compressed air.

We call them pneumatic tools they have systems in 18 will transport trucks that are pneumatic breaks, they harness the power of compressed air. The power of air is powerful.

The word in the Greek language and will see it here in verse 14 spirit is the word Numa. It means wind or air or spirit.

It's it's the word whereby we get our word pneumatic it's it's power of wind. There is a correlation Jesus said the wind blows where it wills you hear the sound of it, but you don't know where it comes from and where it's going. So is everyone who is born of the spirit were about to in this chapter get into another topic of Paul in this letter and that is spiritual gifts and he begins by saying now concerning spiritual gifts that should be a tipoff for you Bible students you Wednesday nighters you faithful Wednesday nighters. Now that you've been through first Corinthians, you know that whenever you see the phrase now concerning Paul is introducing a new topic so it's usually topics that have been addressed by the Corinthians. It seems like in a letter written to him because the first appearance of it is in chapter 7. Now concerning the things that you wrote to me about later on in chapter 7 he says it again now concerning vergence. Then in chapter 8 now concerning things offered to idols.

Each time he introduces the phrase now concerning he goes and turns a corner and covers a new topic and he does it again now concerning spiritual gifts, so chapters 1213 and 14 address this issue. These three chapters, the use of the gifts of the spirit in the body of Christ in the assembly of the church how they are to be used, especially when they are regulated by love and that's why first Corinthians 13 is sandwiched in between chapter 12 and 14 which deal with the use of spiritual gifts and their abuse in the church and right in the middle is the love chapter because it's how to use your gifts but regulate them for love and concern and compassion of other people. There's a keyword I want you to have an know and have under your belt as we go through spiritual gifts.

It's the word balance when it comes to this area especially we should be balanced and I say that because I think my opinion is I feel that many churches, many movements are not all that balanced. I think there's truth in every movement of Orthodox Christianity. Every basic denomination that is Orthodox in its beliefs. There's truth but I think that in in many of them there is a little bit of imbalance. So when it comes to gifts of the spirit. There are extremes and there are people who want to put you in one of those extremes kinda move you there instead of letting you keep balance. It's important, but hard to maintain balance. The balance is so important. If you play a sport bill tell you you need to work on your balance.

If you want to get this golf swing right. You gotta you can't, you're not hitting it like a baseball bat hitting a baseball. You gotta have a certain rhythm of the certain balance in and is certain muscle memory so balance is important and everything people and have asked me so Skip your fundamentalist yes in some ways, I do believe in the fundamentals of the Christian faith. I believe in the essentials of the Christian faith, and certainly for a fundamentalist when it comes to believing in the inerrancy of Scripture, the verbal and plenary inspiration of the Scripture.

I believe it was transmitted by the Holy Spirit is without flaw in its original autographs.

I believe that I am a fundamental in my belief of my Christology believing in the deity of Christ, bodily resurrection, etc. I'm fundamentalist in the mice are teleology and I believe a person is saved, but I'm not necessarily a fundamentalist dispensational list.

If you know those terms when it comes to my new mythology, the doctrine of the Holy Spirit some sort of yeah what does that mean you're not a charismatic well sort of, I mean, I do believe in the perpetuity of spiritual gifts. I believe that the gifts of the spirit. All of the gifts of the spirit are for today. Without exception, I don't believe they passed off the scene, so I believe in their use and in their legitimate exercise self. I'm not really fundamentalist. I'm not really charismatic.

I guess I'm fond of manic I I'm sort of a balance between the two, and people don't like that they don't want you to be in the middle. They don't want the bones want you to be rigid one place of the other because they they just want to pigeonhole you well. I'm sorry I II refused to be in any of those slots so in verse one. I told you were going slow. Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant. Don't be an ignoramus when it comes to how spiritual gifts work.

Don't be dumb. Don't be lame. Don't be an idiot or maybe artists often ally Paul, the don't be ignorant. What's fascinating to me is just about every time Paul said I don't want you to be ignorant about something. It seems that happens to be the very area that churches are often most ignorant. He said it again in first Thessalonians 4. Now, concerning the coming of the Lord our gathering together with him. I don't want you to be ignorant, brethren, and yet when it comes to prophecy, eschatology, rapture, etc. there seems to be such. Well at least disagreement. If not ignorance about those things. So Paul said concerning spiritual gifts. Now if you'll notice in your Bible, you tell me if this is true. The word gifts is italicized. Is it and that's whenever you read a lease in the new King James version and italicize word means it's not in the original language, but the translators have put it there because the rest of the chapter does indeed talk about spiritual gifts so we can surmise that's what Paul is referring to. But in the Greek language. It's his concerning new Mattie: New Mexico literally spirituals spirituals plural now concerning spirituals, brethren, I don't want you to be ignorant. The word spirituals pneumatic cone can refer to spiritual things refer to spiritual people can refer to spiritual events. In this particular chapter, it seems to refer to spiritual gifts and so Paul begins introducing a new topic sing okay to talk about spiritual spiritual gifts and this is pretty important guys so III want you to listen up. I don't want you to be ignorant about this. Where does the ignorance lie when it comes to spiritual gifts. In particular, well let me give you the rigid extremes of spiritual gifts. Theology one extreme is all collet cessation is him.

The other extreme, all call sensationalism.

Let's begin with the first sensationalism, the word cessation means deceased to stop it's the belief that spiritual gifts have ceased to stop in the church that they were there for a particular period of time, but after that period of time, there no longer needed. Thus, they are no longer in use. They have ceased is ceased to be practiced.

So I call them cessation is there not for today. No, on what basis would anybody ever think that gifts of the spirit as outlined in the Bible could cease because you have to have a rationale for select what you know. I just think I was for them but not for today will based on what we should know what the basis its return chapter to chapter 13 and you'll get. Usually the explanation and the rationale chapter 13 verse eight.

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 so the cessation is will interpret what we just read by saying this. Gifts of the spirit. These certain gifts are temporary. They were used only until something more perfect. What is more perfect. The full canon of Scripture the gifts of the spirit were there sort of as a stopgap sort of is a goodwill measure to carry the church over during that very volatile transitional period until they would have the full canon of all all the New Testament books that that constitute constitute that which is perfect. That is a very irresponsible interpretation.

It's presupposing the Paul and his mind is thinking that he's writing Scripture and one date is it's going to be fulfilled, but it isn't yet fulfilled, keep in mind Paul the apostle at this time that he was writing this would quote from Old Testament Scripture and he's writing real letters in real time to people and by the way, to say that that which is perfect refers to the Scripture. Good scholars will disagree goods fundamentalist scholars will disagree good dispensational scholars will disagree, for instance, Charles Riley of the Riley study Bible who taught theology at Dallas theological seminary would be considered a strict dispensational is not somebody who would revel in these gifts of the spirit says that which is perfect does not refer to the canon of Scripture can only refer to the second coming of Christ and that's why it could be translated says rivalry when he who is perfect comes than that which is in part will be done away with.

So if that is indeed the case. Like these scholars, including why we say then the gifts of the spirit should be intact in their use until the coming of Christ throughout the whole church age so we prophesy in part, we know in part but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part will be done away with.

So these are not gifts. The gifts of chapter 12 in chapter 14 are not just gifts to be used during the apostolic age only. Do you remember when Peter was preaching on Pentecost, and after his message they support, which we do and he said repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus for the remission of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit for the promise is for you, for your children and for as many as are of far off as many that call on the Lord so every saved person is immediately indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and I believe the power of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the spirit are for every generation which you see one of the reasons people want to be cessation. This is because it is convenient and you want to get in the weeds and get messy with all the weird people who want to say and do weird things and and and and have to mop the mess up in the church when people abuse the gifts of just say doesn't exist is not for today. It's much easier it's all nice and clean and antiseptic and honestly many people who are in this camp to be truthful with your just afraid of what might happen if they were to open themselves up that you know you and I've even heard people so I've heard stories of people who open themselves up supposedly to the Holy Spirit and Qaeda friend.

He was like in line and the banker at the grocery store you started jabbering in a weird language of not so not if there led by the spirit. Not if it's a legitimate work and move of the Holy Spirit, not can happen. So that's one extreme, the second extreme that I told you about is sensationalism. That's the opposite end of the spectrum, whereas the cessation is says these things don't exist is only for the apostolic era. Those things don't happen anymore. This sensationalist isn't happy until people just go crazy and get weird they want to see sensational stuff and there on the opposite end of the spectrum. They don't believe the Holy Spirit is moving unless there's chaos and tongues and prophecy and the problem with sensationalist is when they talk about the gifts of the spirit are not talking about all of the gifts of the spirit are only talking about a few they want to see the fireworks of tongues and interpretation and prophecy, and words of knowledge and miracles in dealing with great but there's a lot of other gifts to balance it out that you've left out. But when you make a movement out of that and that is why though the charismatic movement has done a lot for the church in highlighting the important and need for the legitimate work of the spirit.

I do not identify with the charismatic movement. I believe largely, they have abused the gifts of the spirit and encourage the abuse of gifts in the spirit when it comes to public assemblies, so that's why Sam a fund to magic on the care's mental list. When I was a kid, my dad had a couple of really cool toys we saw them as toys are one of the things he had was his cool brass can and it had red wheels but it was just really detailed and if I'm if memory serves, it may not. But if memory serves, I think it even came with little balls, little metal balls a when into the canon and little wick so you could put in that exploded and shot the ball not far but as a kid, I was just so cool.

But he also had something else.

Have a little plug-in steam engine. This I remember well and what you do is you.

You put water in it.

It was made out of metal and little week metal wheels on it and you plug it in and the water would heat up and create steam and it would actually move the steam engine on the table wherever it was plug-in wouldn't go far because the cord wasn't very long, can only go about as long as is this little court so it would cut kinda chug along we thought was cool to see the steam engine being propelled but it could do something else.

You could pull a little spring and it would blow a little whistle on top, which is all that so cool. Listen to now it only had a reservoir for just enough water to create just enough steam that was a pretty propellant a little ways or blow the whistle so you kinda had a choice you wanted to move or you wanted to make a lot of noise when it comes to the movement of the Holy Spirit. It seems like there are movements of people who just want to make a lot of noise.

They don't really want to move forward and use the Holy Spirit to make a dynamic that moves them ahead and forward in their Christian walk. So they are really growing is not really equipping them to grow but there make it a whole lot of noise their content to let all the power go out the whistle that sensationalism so concerning spiritual gifts, I don't want you ignorant so we've covered a verse I told you Bible from 3 feet you okay with that.

Okay verse two. You know that you were Gentiles and by Gentiles means non-Jewish, but in the sense that your unbelieving Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols dumb here meaning lifeless in animate insensate, not stupidly but that would fit dumb idols.

You know that you were Gentiles cared where these dumb idols, however you were led. Now get this in the Gentile pagan worship system and many of the temples and I've been in some of these temples throughout Asia minor and have the guides explain part of the worship in these pagan temples of the Gentiles. Paul has in mind he's referring to was the belief that the spirit of the God or God asked the idle itself would come in and inhabit the worshiper and the evidence of that would be ecstatic speech kind of an out-of-control speech kind of on non-intelligent, emotional, ecstatic experience losses that used to be you Skip the message from the series expound want to let you know about a recent come alongside putting in our society than this recent U.S. Census revealed that our population is much more diverse than ever before.

In fact, over the past 10 years.

Our multiracial population increase of 276% which presents new challenges here Skip I think the say that this nation is divided would be a gross understatement but I am not going to take sides. Politically I am to take sides, morally, spiritually, and biblically, to raise the conversation to a different level to a higher level to a biblical level because the issue is I see it is not a skin issue is much as it's a sin issue will help you understand this divisive issue from a divine perspective of $20 or more today to this type of teaching ministry*expect that the church and racism teaching. Teaching conversation with pastor Tony Clark get these relevant resources today when you get online securely connect with.com/offer or call 819 to 1888 tomorrow Skip Heitzigs. It unwraps the mystery of how the Holy Spirit works in your life when it comes to your walk with God. I hope you're growing your want all of us.

I love to discover new things in the word and I look and I never was a yes I know all things not had enough of I want I want everything I