Bethel Sunday School Online - 21 JUNE 2020
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:1 – 3

CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTS

“Now concerning spiritual gifts…” 1 Corinthians 12:1

1. Spiritual gifts are given by the Lord (Ephesians 4:7)

a. Given to every true child of God

b. Given according to the grace of God

c. Given according to the measure of Christ’s gift

i. For salvation

ii. For life

iii. For ministry

2. They are given to edify the Church (Ephesians 4:11 – 16)

a. Those who are servants of God

b. Those who are members of the body of Christ

3. That the Church may be blessed (Ephesians 4:11 – 16)

a. Equipped for ministry

b. Strong defense against false doctrine

c. Growing in the love of God

CLAIMS OF SPEAKING BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD
(1 Corinthians 12:2 – 3)

1. The context of the problem in the Corinthian Church

a. There were some who were from Idol worshiping backgrounds

b. They used to have mediums who functioned as messengers of these idols

c. They would give so-called divine messages to the worshipers of these idols

2. The problem of ignorance

a. They transferred their past knowledge and experience into Christianity!

b. They claim to be now speaking by the Spirit of God!

c. They were pursuing and practicing this spiritual gift without really understanding what it is!

d. Their ignorance of knowledge of God resulted in their faulty understanding of spiritual gifts

e. They were led by their ecstatic experiences

f. This sadly continues to be a big problem today!

HOW CAN WE CHECK WHETHER A PERSON IS SPEAKING BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD?

1. Knowledge of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13 – 15)

a. He is called the Spirit of truth

b. He will not speak of His own authority

c. He will discern the words of the Lord

d. He will glorify the Lord Jesus Christ

e. He will take the teachings of Christ and declare it

2. “No one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed” 1 Corinthians 12:3a

a. Those who speak by the Spirit of God would have a high regard for Jesus

b. They will never call Jesus “Accursed”

c. The problem of these ecstatic experiences or utterance

i. They don’t really know what they are saying

ii. They may even think that they are offering praises to God

iii. They could be in fact calling Jesus “accursed” without knowing!

3. “No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit” 1 Corinthians 12:3b

a. This is not merely professing that Jesus is Lord

b. The Lordship of Christ is seen in their life!

i. They humbly follow Jesus and own Him as Lord of their life

ii. They sincerely submit themselves to do the will of the Lord!



CHALLENGES

1. To grow in our knowledge of God

a. That we may not be led astray by false teachings

b. That we may be able to check things out carefully!

2. To cultivate a good understanding of spiritual gifts

a. That we may be able to identify true spiritual gifts

b. That we may be able to develop spiritual gifts for the glory of the Lord!