Sermon Notes: "I Don't Understand?! based on 1 Corinthians 12:10
Introduction: Happy New Year! 2020 was not what any of us expected, but even in the craziness we can still be thankful for God who remained faithful and in control through all of it. God truly is For Us, With Us and Loves Us. So, you might have expected a New Year’s message today. I am not one who makes resolutions for a few reasons. The first is very few get followed through (i.e. busy gym in January, a new diet that lasts until Valentine’s Day, etc.) The second is the focus on ME rather than Him. So, I debated about what to share today and decided to return back to 1 Corinthians because I believe in 2021 rather than resolutions the church needs power and gifts. What if in 2021 Hesston MB experienced the manifestation gifts in operation? It is what I am praying for. I believe God wants to answer that prayer and He needs you and me to humble ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to empower us so that we can make much of Jesus for the glory of the Father.
Review:
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. We have now covered wisdom, knowledge,
faith and discernment.
·
Manifestation
gifts seem to complement other gifts a person may have.
So, words of knowledge often work with gift of prophecy, wisdom often with gift
of teaching, healing with gift of mercy.
·
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.
Definition
by Sam Storms-Tongues are directed
or addressed to God…fundamentally worship and intercession!
Complicated
·
How it has been
taught?
o
You must speak
in tongues as proof that you have been filled with the Holy Spirit. (Overemphasized
its importance-Sam Storms)
o
It is proof you
are more spiritual than someone who does not. (Flaunting-Sam Storms)
o
For less
educated? Focus on experience over truth.
·
Difference
between Pentecost and other places in Scripture
o
Acts 2:6-8-clear
the tongues are human languages not learned by the speaker for the gospel to be
shared with all in attendance.
o
What does it
mean to pray in the Spirit-1 Corinthians 14:15 (read later); Ephesians 6:18 “praying at
all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.”
·
Public vs.
Private
o
Tongues in the
church as we will see when we get to 1 Corinthians 14 must be interpreted if
part of the corporate worship service.
o
1 Corinthians 14:15- “What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I
will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing
with my mind also.”
Communicating
·
Vs. 10-Various
kinds?
o
Human Languages
and Heavenly Languages
o
The ambiguous evidence regarding the exact
nature of tongues raises the question of whether even Paul himself or the other
earliest Christians knew the exact nature of the phenomenon. Clearly Paul knew
that it was a blessing from God that was intended to edify the body of Christ
but that was having a negative effect due to the way it was being abused.[1]
See 1 Corinthians 14:5,18-19
·
Vs.
10-Interpretation
o
The whole argument seems to assume that
Paul knew the phenomenon that he and his churches experienced was a
nonlinguistic reality, a sort of verbal but inarticulate communicate of
emotional and psychological feelings and longings.[2]
·
Personal Use
I attended Urbana in the year 2003. Urbana is a mission’s conference for young
adults and has many mission agencies sharing information as well as many sessions
to attend. I went to a session on the
Holy Spirit and the speaker offered for all who were interested to stay after
the session to ask for the gift of speaking in tongues. I went forward and asked and nothing happened
… until 3 weeks later. I didn’t
understand this gift very well. Some of
my friends said it wasn’t speaking in tongues but instead what they called a
prayer language.
Over the past 16 years, as I spend time with Jesus
in the morning or as I pray alone, I will use this prayer language. I have not
told many people about this gift. I
don’t know why except that it is out of fear or that it would lead to
confusion. God had gifted me in the way He wanted. I needed to be content and
use the gift for his glory and the furthering of His kingdom.
·
Ministry Use
o
Praying for you-
when I don’t know what to pray and when a situation
seems impossible or difficult. The result of this prayer language is God will
often give words and Scriptures to pray for others.
§ Romans 8:26-27 says “26 Likewise the Spirit helps us
in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the
Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he
who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit
intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
o Praying With Small Groups
§ Spiritual Warfare
o Worship
Closing: Wiersbe Quote & Praying
for 2021 for HMBC the Holy Spirit to
empower us so that we can make much of Jesus for the glory of the Father.
[1] Ciampa, R. E., & Rosner, B. S.
(2010). The First Letter to
the Corinthians (p. 586). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.:
William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
[2] Ciampa, R. E., & Rosner, B. S.
(2010). The First Letter to
the Corinthians (p. 587). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.:
William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
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