Sermon Notes "May the Words of My Mouth..." based on 1 Corinthians 12:8
Review: Why have we been uninformed? Varieties of gifts, service, activities but same Spirit, Lord, and God who EMPOWERS them all in EVERYONE. Manifestation gifts are for common good. Manifestation gifts come out in specific moments as determined by the Spirit.
Introduction
·
Dictionary
definition-“Manifest”-demonstrate plainly, reveal, evidence of or proof
· Manifestation
gifts seem to complement other gifts a person may have. For example, manifestation
gifts often work alongside our grace gifts.
So, words of knowledge often work with gift of prophecy, wisdom often
with gift of teaching, healing with gift of mercy.
·
Personally, these manifestation gifts
often lead me to pray specifically for people and situations. I then must pray and ask God if I am to share
with the person. Sometimes it is only
for intercession or prayer purposes.
Other times, God wants me to share these words with people. I must
determine when and how to share?
·
I believe God is speaking these words of
knowledge and wisdom often to His people.
·
Not for comparison, competition, conceit
(pride)
·
These must be shared along with Fruit of
the Spirit and for God’s glory and for His Kingdom purposes.
·
1 Corinthians 2:16-“we have the mind of
Christ”
Wisdom
·
Wisdom and
Knowledge are similar, but different. If I had to explain a difference, I would
say wisdom is knowledge applied. Wisdom seems to be deeper than knowledge;
Knowledge seems to be more practical
·
Given by Spirit
·
What it is not?
Compared with human wisdom of Corinthians
o The people of Corinth exalted the wisdom of this
age. But Paul called this wisdom “folly”-see 1 Corinthians 1:20-21- “Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe?
Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of
the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the
world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what
we preach to save those who believe.” and 1 Corinthians 3:19-“ For the wisdom of this world is folly with God.”
o Paul clearly differentiates this divine wisdom from
fleshly, worldly, and mere human wisdom[1]
o I need to repent for times that I personally took
credit for my wisdom when it was clearly given by God. How often has a good or
great idea been given by God that the church or people take credit for? I need to confess that I have taken the glory
for things when it was for God’s glory.
·
What it is-definition
and example from Jesus
o C. Peter Wagner definition-The gift of wisdom is the
special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to know
the mind of the Holy Spirit in such a way as to receive insight into how given knowledge
may be best applied to specific needs arising in the Body of Christ.
o A message given by Holy Spirit to guide an
individual or church in a decision or direction.
o Jesus
shows wisdom when answering trick questions from Pharisees (taxes-Luke 20:19-26)- “Is it lawful for us to give tribute
to Caesar, or not?” 23 But he perceived
their craftiness, and said to them, 24 “Show
me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They
said, “Caesar's.” 25 He said to them, “Then render
to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are
God's.” 26 And they were not able in the presence
of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer
they became silent.”
·
Why?-For the
common good (vs. 7), to strengthen, encourage and comfort the body of Christ (1
Corinthians 14:3)
·
Personal Example-Impression
of a group of people that I understood to be the church and a hand (not God’s) taking
people one by one and creating little groups.
Scripture that then came to mind was Ecclesiastes 4:9-12-“Two are better
than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For
if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he
falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again,
if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm
alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against
one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
(Isolation, Struggling)
Knowledge
·
Given by same
Spirit
·
What it is not?
Compared with human knowledge of Corinthians
o Focus on philosophy or facts but not always truth of
the Cross or gospel. A high priority was given to the mind and debate or
proving your point through argument.
o See 1 Corinthians 2:12- “Now we have received not the spirit of the
world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand (know) the
things freely given us by God.”
o “Knowledge” deals with the explanation, the
unfolding, and the correlation of gospel facts,[2]
·
What it
is—definition and example from Jesus
o C. Peter Wagner definition-The gift of knowledge is
the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to
discover, accumulate, analyze, and clarify information and ideas that are
pertinent to the growth and well-being of the Body
o A message given by Holy Spirit to know something
about someone that you don’t personally know.
o
Jesus-woman at well-knowledge about man she was living
with- 16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband,
and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have
no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no
husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and
the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 The
woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. (John 4:16-19)
·
Why? For the
common good (vs. 7) to strengthen, encourage and comfort the body of Christ (1
Corinthians 14:3)
· Personal Example-Eisley Story-Brad shared a story about Eisley and the water fountain about a month ago. However, there was another thing that happened on this same Sunday. As Brad and I typically do, I was meeting with him to pray for him before the service. On this Sunday, Eisley was here and she came in while we were in the office. Eisley said, “I want to play with you.” I said not right now. So, we asked her to go and play by herself and as soon as we were done praying, I would go and play with her. So, she left and we shut the door. We thought she might be back and remember we needed to pray so we locked the door. Within a minute, there was a knock on the door. Brad went to the door to tell her we were not done yet. As he walked over there, he heard in his mind, “let her in.” So, we did. I explained we were going to pray and that she could pray with us. As I was praying and anointing Brad for the service, he started to cry. He was carrying something related to the service. As I was praying I heard little feet approaching, Eisley went up to Brad and gave him a hug and simply said “It will be OK” You might say that was a coincidence, but I knew the God used a 4 year old to speak words of knowledge to Brad at that moment that he needed to hear.
Closing: When we accept our gifts with humility, then we use them to promote harmony, and this helps the whole church.[3]
[1]
Lenski, R. C. H. (1963). The interpretation
of St. Paul’s First and Second epistle to the Corinthians (p.
500). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House.
[2] Lenski,
R. C. H. (1963). The interpretation
of St. Paul’s First and Second epistle to the Corinthians (p.
501). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House.
[3]
Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible
exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 608). Wheaton, IL: Victor
Books.
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