Let’s Not Be Ignorant

(1 Cor 12:1 NKJV)  Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:

In this series on the manifestations of the holy spirit, I have talked about many aspects, parts in gifts and manifestations.  I started last week in Romans and will start this week in Corinthians.  It is unique that Paul starts out dealing with this subject by wanting the church to be informed in this matter.  It seems obvious that Paul was dealing with division in the church, and how the gifts were being used and holy spirit was being manifested.

Before I go anywhere with this I want to lay out some background and help shed some light on how Paul was dealing with this subject.  Paul wrote two letters to the Corinthian church.  In the first letter Paul is correcting a lot of issues he sees the church doing wrong and addressing questions from them. 

(1 Cor 1:4-10 NRSV)  I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, {5} for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind-- {6} just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you-- {7} so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. {8} He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. {9} God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. {10} Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.

From the beginning of Paul’s first letter, he makes it clear that he wants the church to be active in spiritual gifts, but also knows there are many hindrances to the gifts and the church.  So let’s look at some of the corrections which I feel are hindrances to God’s gifts working properly in our churches. I will briefly go through these and lead you up to Paul’s dealing with the manifestations.  I do want to make clear that most of what Paul speaks about is in the context of correction and should be read as such.  

Paul starts out with division in the church over leaders.  Things sure have not changed over the last couple of thousand years.  We still have followers of men more than followers of Christ. In dealing with this problem, Paul makes it clear that it is the message that is important not the man. That message must be rooted in the truth and wisdom of God.  This will lead us to the message of God, His son, and the coming kingdom.  God has often not chosen the brightest, smartest, or most educated people to carry His message.  God does not want man to receive the glory that only belongs to him.  I feel in today’s church, people are giving to much glory to men and those men are letting it happen.  Like then, still today this is causing division among God’s people.

Paul then speaks in chapter two about the work of holy spirit in man giving us wisdom that is not of this world.  I feel Paul is letting the church know without the manifestation of holy spirit we can never fully understand God’s purpose.  For god’s plan and wisdom is only revealed by the holy spirit.

(1 Cor 2:10-12 NRSV)  these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. {11} For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God's except the Spirit of God. {12} Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God.

Could it be that those who deny the work of holy spirit is denying the wisdom and purpose of God?  

(1 Cor 2:14-16 NRSV)  Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. {15} Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else's scrutiny. {16} "For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

Maybe those who are too focused on what other men teach or their handed down traditional doctrines never come to understand God and how He may work in the church.  It could even be the intellect of many that they rely on their own wisdom that they miss out on the simple wisdom of God.  In chapter three Paul tells the church there is only one message.  There may be many types of personalities and gifts but one message, one foundation, Jesus and the gospel he laid out.

In today’s world I see much of chapter three working in the church.  Many of today’s Christians have bought into the current world view of God, His word, and His moral way of living.  I grew up in church and I can tell you first hand that in all the years I can recollect, I am seeing a decline in the faith and moral godly living among so called Christians.  I know there will be those who will call me old fashion or judgmental.  I may be a little old fashion, but I am not judging anyone.  It is the fruit and evidence I see in the church as a whole.  When I began to pastor some years ago, I never dreamed I would deal with some of the issues I have among Christians that grew up in church or had been a believer for many years.  It is like the church stopped growing spiritually and began to rely more on the wisdom of this world rather than God’s gift to the church, holy spirit.

(1 Cor 3:18-20 NRSV)  Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise. {19} For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness," {20} and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."

We have a responsibility to Christ and are the ones who have the secrets of the kingdom.  We are called to be faithful to Jesus, and His message of the kingdom.  We are to be fools in this world to be what God has called us to be.  Jesus told us in John that we would be hated by this world, but yet we find the church trying to be accepted by the world. 

(1 Cor 4:20 NRSV)  For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power.

We need to grow spiritually and let the holy spirit be manifested in this generation.  This generation needs the truth and a demonstration of God’s power and Glory.  Yet, like Paul was dealing with issues we still today deal with those same issues.

 (1 Cor 5:1-2 NRSV)  It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father's wife. {2} And you are arrogant! Should you not rather have mourned, so that he who has done this would have been removed from among you?

Immoral behavior had entered the church and the church was not dealing with it.  This was the same church that Paul deals with in chapters twelve thru fourteen about spiritual manifestations and gifts.  So, for those who reject manifestations just because of the behavior of some of those that have the manifestations working in them, this church was full of error, yet seem to flourish in the manifestations. Notice nowhere does Paul tell them to stop in the manifestations.

  (1 Cor 6:1 NRSV)  When any of you has a grievance against another, do you dare to take it to court before the unrighteous, instead of taking it before the saints?

Then there was the issue of slander and lawsuits.  They were taking matters among themselves to secular courts.  My heart just breaks when I see church matters taken to government courts.  Christians suing Christians, churches suing churches, rights and demands handled through our court systems.  What has worldly wisdom got that the church can not find in God and His word?  

At one time I belonged to a fellowship that I already struggled with because I did not agree with much of their teachings, but I loved the fellowship and loved many of its members.  The last straw was the day I received a letter explaining their reason for taking a church to court over compliance to their bylaws.  I felt this was something I could no longer be a part of and quietly quit the fellowship.

Paul deals with divorce, foods, rights, and getting along with each other.  You may ask the question what has this to do with spiritual gifts and manifestations?  I am building a platform to the spiritual matters Paul deals with in the context of all this. We must recognize that Paul was dealing with all these things as he brings up the subject of spiritual gifts.  I feel the need to lay this all out before I can deal with what Paul teaches about spiritual gifts.  He is not just teaching, but also correcting what is wrong and we need to discern them both.  I have come to believe that much of what many Pentecostals teach about spiritual gifts and manifestations have been wrong.  I don’t know about you, but I do not want to be ignorant in spiritual maters.  So, let’s talk about this more next time.