Wild & Free: The Supernatural Reality

June 6th, 2021/Riverside & Lookout

Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:1-13 CSB

Now concerning spiritual gifts: brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be unaware. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you used to be enticed and led astray by mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person. 7 A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good: 8 to one is given a message of wisdom (1) through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge (2) by the same Spirit, 9 to another, faith (3) by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing (4) by the one Spirit, 10 to another, the performing of miracles (5), to another, prophecy (6), to another, distinguishing between spirits (7), to another, different kinds of tongues (8), to another, interpretation of tongues (9). 11 One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.

12 For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink.

Pray:

Title: The Supernatural Reality

Big Idea:

The supernatural reality is that the Holy Spirit empowers us for unity, diversity, and ministry in the body of Christ.

Main Points: Clarity for Spiritual Unity

1. We confess “Jesus as Lord”
   1. Now concerning spiritual gifts: brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be unaware. (*I want to bring clarity here) 2 You know that when you were pagans, you used to be enticed and led astray by mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

   2. Let’s bring some clarity

      1. Paul writes to the church at Corinth and says “I do not want you to be unaware.” In other words, I want to bring clarity to something that is clearly getting misunderstood. They were fully aware of the gifts themselves, Paul began the letter giving thanks to God for evidence among the church at Corinth that they did “not lack any spiritual gifts.” (1:7) They needed help understanding and stewarding the gifts.
      2. The Corinthians were abusing some of the gifts and acting out in public gatherings, specifically the use of tongues. They also misunderstood the Spirit's work as it relates to them losing self control, negating the will. (14:32)
      3. Here we see a response to help bring clarity to not only public gatherings, but the manifestation of the Spirit in the lives of the individual for the benefit of the church.

      4. Gifts are not evidence of superiority or spirituality, but the sovereignty of God.

         3. The manifestations of the Holy Spirit will speak to the truth of who Jesus is and will bring about true and genuine repentance for those that say “Jesus is Lord”.

      5. I spoke to this last week as well, but the main purpose of the Holy Spirit is to bring people under the Lordship of Jesus.

      6. “I don't want the world to define God for me. I want the Holy Spirit to reveal God to me.” - a line often attributed to A.W. Tozer
      7. I guess you could say that He meets people where they are and points them to Jesus.
      8. MISSION STATEMENT: This is the main reason for our mission statement, it’s that we meet people where they are and point them to Jesus… through the power of the Holy Spirit at work in and through our lives!
      9. Let me say this loud and clear, we don’t change people, we serve and love people and God does the changing. We share the love of Jesus, the Holy Spirit does the drawing, revealing, and regenerating! Are we listening?!
      10. “If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95 percent of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference.” - a line often attributed to A.W. Tozer
      11. Application: What does this mean for us today? It means that we have GOT to get serious about listening, yielding, and obeying the Holy Spirit in our lives.

      12. We use gifts for the common good

          1. 4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person. 7 A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good:
          2. Our giftings, ministries, and activities can all be different and the Trinity is very active in the diversity and creativity of them all!
          3. Verses 8-11 give a list of spiritual gifts, but this is not a fully comprehensive list of all the gifts mentioned in Scriptures, but these are a few that we can receive from the Holy Spirit for the good of the body and to glorify God.

      13. In chapter 13 another defining characteristic of the Spirit in the body is love.

      14. Unity, diversity, and love are anchors in your life if you desire to live a Spirit filled and Spirit led life.

          4. Everyone has a contribution to make that benefits and builds up the whole!

      15. Wise counsel - spiritual advice given in a moment in alignment with the purpose, Word, and will of God.

      16. Clear understanding - supernatural revelation of information to a specific person or event for a specific purpose.
      17. Great faith - a greater measure of trust and dependence in God that does not doubt assignments or matters involved.
      18. Healing the sick - when God calls you to supernaturally heal the sick around you through prayer.
      19. Miraculous acts - miraculous acts are supernatural acts that are impossible in the natural realm.
      20. Prophecy - proclaiming the truth of God's Word or a sudden prompting of the Spirit in exhortation, edifying revelation, or comfort.
      21. Distinguishing between spirits - ability to discern the spirit realm and to discern motives.
      22. Tongues - speaking in a supernatural language not known to the individual. Singing in the Spirit and prayer, mostly in private settings. (14:14-19)

      23. Interpretation of tongues - is the ability to interpret a message of the Spirit meaningful to others.

          5. 11 One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as He wills.

      24. Each gift or supernatural ability is unique, but they all have the same source, the Spirit of God.

      25. He decides who gets what and when. Therefore, our posture is simply to be grateful for the gifts, yield to His Spirit, and activate the gifts in our lives.
      26. Application: Since He is the giver of the gifts, then we should be careful to not compare or compete, lest we forget the purpose of gifts all together.
      27. Application: We can know our gifts through prayer, service, and community.

      28. We have experienced the same baptism

          1. 12 For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink.
          2. Paul is using the human body as an analogy to describe the church. Here we see the Apostle Paul emphasize unity in diversity. For those that feel inferior he reminds us that there is no part that isn’t of significant value. And to those that feel superior in their gifts, he reminds us that we would not be complete apart from being wholly together.

      29. He alone fashioned the body just as He saw fit. You are graced with exactly what you need. You have been given what is needed.

      30. ALL THAT YOU HAVE, IS ALL THAT YOU NEED.
      31. That doesn’t mean you can’t desire more, but don’t dwell on more. That doesn’t mean you can’t ask, just don’t become discontent. We can and should desire gifts, but it’s the Holy Spirit that determines and distributes them.
      32. Diversity in the gifts should not cause division in the church. This is in stark contrast to its anchor and purpose. Gifts are to serve people and point them to Jesus! Let’s say that together, “my gift is to serve others and point them to Jesus!”
      33. Question: If you are not activating and maximizing your current gifts, then why would you expect to receive more?
      34. Application: We are called to accept our gifts in humility, exercise our gifts in harmony, and celebrate our gifts in diversity.

Closing:

1. Spiritual Gifts/Pneumatikon - from the Spirit, air, breath. Comes from the greek word pneuma.

   1. The NLT says “Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us.“
   2. A spiritual gift is a Spirit-given and empowered ability to serve Him in ways that benefit others and point to Jesus.
   3. Pneuma is Spirit in the original greek, it’s the same word that we get pneumonia or pneumatic tools. It means breath, air, wind, or Spirit.

   4. Illust: Pneumatic Tool & Air Compressors

   5. Has anyone used pneumatic tools? They are wildly helpful if you are in construction, mechanics, or engineering.

   6. “Some people think of air compressors as tools. In actuality, an air compressor is a device that powers an array of tools by means of pressurized air for various applications.” - WWW.
   7. I found this interesting because the compressor is not the same thing as the tools utilizing its power. It’s the same compressor, but different tools, different functions, different purposes.
   8. Application: When I’m working and doing everything in my own effort then I’m not only not getting anywhere, I’m not accomplishing its purpose, I’m not being efficient, and eventually I will damage the tool. The same is true in our lives. If we’re not connected to the power, the Pneuma, The Spirit of the Living God, then we’re going to be tired, ineffective, and ultimately damaged. There’s a supernatural reality that you can tap into as a follower of Jesus. It’s the POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Let Him do the work and you yield to His work in your life.
   9. “Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind. We are useless.” - Charles Spurgeon

The supernatural reality is that the Holy Spirit empowers us for unity, diversity, and ministry in the body of Christ.