Episodes
Saturday Nov 30, 2013
1 Corinthians; Chapter 15, LIFE after life.
Saturday Nov 30, 2013
Saturday Nov 30, 2013
[1Cr 15:1 ESV] Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,
[1Cr 15:2 ESV] and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you--unless you believed in vain.
[1Cr 15:3 ESV] For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
[1Cr 15:4 ESV] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
Peter & the 12. 500 more; You can go talk to them even now.
[1Cr 15:5 ESV] and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
[1Cr 15:6 ESV] Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
Which James is this? James:
(2.) The son of Alphaeus, or Cleopas, "the brother" or near kinsman or cousin of our Lord (Gal 1:18,19), called James "the Less," or "the Little," probably because he was of low stature. He is mentioned along with the other apostles (Mat 10:3; Mar 3:18; Luk 6:15). He had a separate interview with our Lord after his resurrection (1Cr 15:7), and is mentioned as one of the apostles of the circumcision (Act 1:13). He appears to have occupied the position of head of the Church at Jerusalem, where he presided at the council held to consider the case of the Gentiles (Act 12:17; 15:13-29: 21:18-24). This James was the author of the epistle which bears his name.
[1Cr 15:7 ESV] Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
Ordained by Christ, Affirmed by the Apostles.
[1Cr 15:8 ESV] Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
[1Cr 15:9 ESV] For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Ordained by Christ:
[Act 9:1 ESV] But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
[Act 9:2 ESV] and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
[Act 9:3 ESV] Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.
[Act 9:4 ESV] And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
[Act 9:5 ESV] And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
[Act 9:6 ESV] But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do."
[Act 9:7 ESV] The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.
[Act 9:8 ESV] Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
[Act 9:9 ESV] And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Affirmed by the Apostles.
[Gal 2:7 ESV] On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised
[Gal 2:8 ESV] (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles),
[Gal 2:9 ESV] and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
Run in the Grace!
[1Cr 15:10 ESV] But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
Holy Information: Holy Post, Holy Reply.
[1Cr 15:11 ESV] Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Faith is Acknowledge and Trust In the Truth.
[Rom 10:8 ESV] But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);
[Rom 10:9 ESV] because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
[Rom 10:10 ESV] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
[Rom 10:11 ESV] For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."
[Rom 10:12 ESV] For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
[Rom 10:13 ESV] For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
[Rom 10:14 ESV] How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
[Rom 10:15 ESV] And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"
[Rom 10:16 ESV] But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?"
[Rom 10:17 ESV] So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
I Emotionally, Spiritually, Behaviorally, lean or rely on the following facts about me and God.
1. I am truly evil in the sight of God and His Righteousness Law.
2. I will be justly punished forever for breaking His Laws and personally rebelling against Him.
3. I cannot save myself through ANY kind of deed or action.
4. God Himself had to supply a way to do the following.
a. Satisfy His Justice
b. Express His Love & Forgiveness
c. Design a way for a rebel to be reconciled to Him.
5. He sent Jesus, The God-Man.
a. Lived a Sinless life
b. Died & was punished with a sinners death
c. Raised back to life
d. Satisfied God’s Justice, Defeated Death, and provided any person anywhere in the world to reconciled to Jesus.
The Resurrection & Life after this life.
The Gospel Hinge: The Resurrection of Christ
If there is No Resurrection, Christianity is the worst religion.
[1Cr 15:12 ESV] Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
[1Cr 15:13 ESV] But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
[1Cr 15:14 ESV] And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.
[1Cr 15:15 ESV] We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.
[1Cr 15:16 ESV] For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.
[1Cr 15:17 ESV] And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.
[1Cr 15:18 ESV] Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
[1Cr 15:19 ESV] If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
[1Cr 15:20 ESV] But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Foundational Facts of the whole Bible is found in Genesis 1-11.
[1Cr 15:21 ESV] For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
[1Cr 15:22 ESV] For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
A Real Historical Adam.
[Gen 3:17 ESV] And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
[Gen 3:18 ESV] thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.
[Gen 3:19 ESV] By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
There is no conflict between Empirical, Observable Science and God.
Keep in mind Laws are transcendent.
They do not need the physical to continue to be true.
They are above the physical.
Laws = Law giver. Windows 7, computer programmers
Complex Designs = Designer
It is completely irrational and unscientific to reject the Transcendent nature of TRUTH. Physical or Moral
The conflict is between Historical Science and God.
Why? Historical science are speculations based off human biased more than facts.
Example, scientist who hate God, make up an unscientific, unobservable myth to how the Universe came into existence.
Forensics: specific for a crime, but the concept is universal.
[1Cr 15:23 ESV] But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
[1Cr 15:24 ESV] Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
[1Cr 15:25 ESV] For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
[1Cr 15:26 ESV] The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
[1Cr 15:27 ESV] For "God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "all things are put in subjection," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.
[1Cr 15:28 ESV] When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
Saturday Nov 23, 2013
1 Corinthians 14; The Controversial Gifts
Saturday Nov 23, 2013
Saturday Nov 23, 2013
1 Corinthians 14; The Controversial Gifts
This is a personal observation of my study and listening to the sermons I preached and edited the podcast.
Concerning Spiritual Gifts.
I know the Holy Spirit has not stopped working nor has He stopped performing miracles in their various manifestations.
I have begun this study as a Continuationist.
As I prepared the sermons, I noted great differences defined in the New Testament and the lack of any real & genuine manifestations of the exact same nature current day.
There is a clear difference of what is exhibited in the New Testament writings and what we are observing today.
This leads to a crisis point for Continuationist. In order to remain in that position you are forced to redefine Spiritual Gifts spelled out in the Bible to “make them fit” into present day phenomena.
Redefining Scripture is Eisegesis. BAD.
In this sermon you will hear me struggle to make Gifts of the Spirit fit from what is written to present day experiences.
I have no problem sharing my Spiritual journey with you, because the goal of studying our Bible is to allow the Scriptures to change US. We do not change the Scriptures.
[Rom 12:2 ESV] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Who: Paul
• When: Writes "1 Corinthians" [Corinthians B] (c. AD 54-55)
From Where? : Ephesus 1 Cor. 16:8
AUTHOR: PAUL, the apostle (1Cr 1:1; 1Cr 16:21)
PLACE OF WRITING: EPHESUS (1Cr 16:8)
TIME OF WRITING: Probably in the spring of 57 A.D., shortly before the Jewish feast of Pentecost (1Cr 16:8), during his third missionary journey (Act 19).
You can learn about how the Corinth church was established in Act 18
The Big Picture.
Chapter 12: Holy Spirit, Body of Christ, Unity
Chapter 13: LOVE
Chapter 14: Get Organized
[1Cr 12:1 ESV] Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
Unity & Diversity in the gifts of the Holy Spirit
1 Holy Spirit
1 body of Christ
The purpose is to tell people about Jesus.
The Great Commission:
[Mat 28:18 ESV] And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
[Mat 28:19 ESV] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
[Mat 28:20 ESV] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Define the Following:
Miracles
Spiritual Gifts in general
Spiritual Gifts specifically.
Did they stop?
1. Not if we define them correctly; Time and Place.
Defining the Miraculous.
1. Miraculous signs; to designate authority of the messenger that what they said is true.
The point of the miraculous is that is it NOT NORMAL. Not all the time. Not Natural
Super Natural is not natural. Contrary to nature. Something out of nothing.
[Jhn 10:27 ESV] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
[Jhn 10:28 ESV] I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
[Jhn 10:29 ESV] My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
[Jhn 10:30 ESV] I and the Father are one."
[Jhn 10:31 ESV] The Jews picked up stones again to stone him.
[Jhn 10:32 ESV] Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?"
[Jhn 10:33 ESV] The Jews answered him, "It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God."
[Jhn 10:34 ESV] Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods'?
[Jhn 10:35 ESV] If he called them gods to whom the word of God came--and Scripture cannot be broken--
[Jhn 10:36 ESV] do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?
[Jhn 10:37 ESV] If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me;
[Jhn 10:38 ESV] but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."
Healings, freeing people from spirits, feeding people.
Jesus healed on the Sabbath, just to make the religious leaders mad.
[Jhn 3:1 ESV] Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
[Jhn 3:2 ESV] This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him."
2. GCC’s The clear hand of God directing from above when we see no way.
The Book of Esther. It’s supernatural intervention using the natural to get it done.
Are we defining the gifts properly?
Defining Spiritual Gifts:
Not given once for all time, but infrequently for a certain circumstance and limited time.
Apostles. Done.
Their exhibit of Spiritual Gifts are done also.
However the Body of Believers, the church seems to be continuing.
A. The Bible
B. It’s what we are exhibiting today.
) Word of Wisdom
) Word of Knowledge
) Faith
) Gifts of Healing
) Working of Miracles strength power, ability
A. inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth
B. power for performing miracles
) Discerning of Spirits
) Divers (or different) kinds of Tongues
) Interpretation of (different) Tongues
) Prophecy Foretelling and Forth-Telling.
Forth telling (usually in a Biblical context) means telling forth - as in spreading the Word,
Whereas foretelling means declaring future events.
In either case if it is for the Glory of God.
When O.T. Prophets, Jesus or the Apostles Prophesied.
We wrote it down because it was The WORD OF GOD.
We recognized it as Divine in origin, inspired, perfect and complete.
There were O.T. and N.T. prophecies we did not write down. 1 Samuel 10:9-13.
O.T. Saul prophesied and we did not write it down.
N.T. Philips daughters prophesied and we did not write it down.
[Act 21:9 ESV] He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied.
[Act 21:10 ESV] While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
[Act 21:11 ESV] And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'"
Now what is this? A pastor emailed me on Linked In, just this week.
Subject: Welcome to your month of comfort
Hello,
God shall comfort you in the new month. He will cause you to recover all that you have lost this year.
The last two months of this year shall be bring turn around breakthroughs that will cause you to bubble in joy, abundance and fulfillment
I appreciate our connection always and hope for a more fruitful and symbiotic relationship
Have a very comforting month
Best regards,
Declaring the Bible Forth-telling, convicts hearts.
[1Cr 14:24 ESV] But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,
[1Cr 14:25 ESV] the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
Gifts to obey the Great Commandment and Great Commission.
[Rom 12:6 ESV] Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them:
if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
[Rom 12:7 ESV] if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;
[Rom 12:8 ESV] the one who exhorts, in his exhortation;
the one who contributes, in generosity;
the one who leads, with zeal;
the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Observational & Historical evidence continues.
The most conservative Christian preachers have witnessed the miraculous infrequently.
Even the most conservative preachers have witnessed healings.
Unusual events of communication when ministering in foreign countries.
The Greater the Presence of the Holy Spirit, The Greater the Self-Control
[Gal 5:22 ESV] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
[Gal 5:23 ESV] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
The presence of the Holy Spirit brings greater self-control to the people, not lack of control.
Empowerment to share truth is not losing control, but boosting you with Power, in something you lack.
“Self-Control” Fruit of the Spirit. A “gift” of Holy Spirit would not negate the Fruit of the Spirit.
The power of the Holy Spirit allows us to look at our own sin.
To share Jesus with others, despite our fears.
To be reconciled to our Christian family.
Saturday Nov 16, 2013
1 Corinthians; Chapter 14 Part III, Order In The Church
Saturday Nov 16, 2013
Saturday Nov 16, 2013
Chapter 12: Holy Spirit, Body of Christ, Unity
Chapter 13: LOVE
Chapter 14: Get Organized
Brief overview of 1 Corinthians 14.
Prophecy better than speaking tongues = foreign languages
Prophecy Defined:
1. Foretelling
2. Forth-telling: even when there was no finished New Testament to forth-tell from.
One thing is definitively for sure.
What was taking place during the lives of the First Churches around the ministry of the Apostles we are hard pressed to find genuine activities of the same nature.
Spiritual Gifts Defined
The Holy Spirit is still working.
Looking for Evidence of the Holy Spirit?
Salvation = Born Again.
[Jhn 6:41 ESV] So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven."
[Jhn 6:42 ESV] They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?"
[Jhn 6:43 ESV] Jesus answered them, "Do not grumble among yourselves.
[Jhn 6:44 ESV] No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
[Jhn 6:45 ESV] It is written in the Prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me--
[Jhn 6:65 ESV] And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father."
[Jhn 6:66 ESV] After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.
Sanctification:
[Rom 8:29 ESV] For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
[Rom 8:30 ESV] And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
[Rom 8:31 ESV] What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
The Fruit of the Spirit
[Gal 5:18 ESV] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
[Gal 5:19 ESV] Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
[Gal 5:20 ESV] idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
[Gal 5:21 ESV] envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
[Gal 5:22 ESV] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
[Gal 5:23 ESV] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
[Gal 5:24 ESV] And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
The Ability to pray
[Rom 8:26 ESV] 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.
[Rom 8:27 ESV] 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.
The Ability to Understand & Believe the Bible.
[1Cr 2:9 ESV] But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"--
[1Cr 2:10 ESV] these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
[1Cr 2:11 ESV] For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
[1Cr 2:12 ESV] Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.
[1Cr 2:13 ESV] And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
[1Cr 2:14 ESV] The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
[1Cr 2:15 ESV] The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.
[1Cr 2:16 ESV] "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
I am still growing also. I may be wrong.
Spiritual Gifts Defined (The reason for all the confusion)
1. Yes! The Holy Spirit is still doing miraculous things that are similar to the Spiritual Gifts
2. There is a difference!
a. Biblically: What they experienced in the first churches started by the Apostles is not what we are experiencing today.
i. How many of you are speaking 2 or more earth languages by way of instant miracle?
ii. How many of you zapping people in the hospitals for healing?
iii. How many of you continually prophesy to people about their future “with details”.
b. Not all gifts seem to be given, “once and for all.”
i. Early Church: People were labeled “prophets” Bam! They were empowered and it never stopped.
No Christian group anywhere will disagree that there are Miraculous Spiritual Interventions of the Holy Spirit. Can we call them (Spiritual Gifts)?
The Big difference I Observe for most gifts. Some I believe stick around longer or permanently.
They are provided at certain times & circumstance for specific purpose, then they are done.
More like a meal, than a third arm.
If I were to give you a gift card to Olive Garden.
You received it in full, used it entirely, then it was done. I did not take it back.
Healings: in our church this spring.
Camp prophecy:
Order in the Church! 14:26-40
Remember Gift of the Spirit: Self-Control!
The Corinthian Church had a different church bulletin than current churches.
The goal: To encourage each other with Biblical Truth. Not warm fuzzies.
[1Cr 14:26 ESV] What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
*Put a schedule of events on your Church Bulletin. Start with “ONE AT A TIME.”
Concerning Spiritual Empowered Foreign Languages. If no one is there to interpret, don’t talk. (So much for ecstatic prayer languages.)
[1Cr 14:27 ESV] If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret.
[1Cr 14:28 ESV] But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.
Concerning Foretelling & Forth-Telling prophecy.
[1Cr 14:29 ESV] Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.
[1Cr 14:30 ESV] If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent.
[1Cr 14:31 ESV] For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged,
You will be held accountable for what you “prophecy”
[1Cr 14:32 ESV] and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
Ladies; Save it for home.
[1Cr 14:33 ESV] For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,
[1Cr 14:34 ESV] the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.
[1Cr 14:35 ESV] If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.
Women had the gifts also, but they were not allowed to use it corporate group meetings.
[Act 21:8 ESV] On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.
[Act 21:9 ESV] He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied.
Paul concludes: These Orders are from God.
If you disagree with me, you are a fraud.
[1Cr 14:36 ESV] Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached?
[1Cr 14:37 ESV] If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.
[1Cr 14:38 ESV] If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
Use your spiritual gifts as designated on the Church Bulletin.
[1Cr 14:39 ESV] So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
[1Cr 14:40 ESV] But all things should be done decently and in order.
Saturday Nov 09, 2013
1 Corinthians; Chapter 14 Part 1, Say What!?
Saturday Nov 09, 2013
Saturday Nov 09, 2013
Chapter 12: Holy Spirit, Body of Christ, Unity
Chapter 13: LOVE
Chapter 14: Get Organized
[1Cr 12:1 ESV] Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
Unity & Diversity in the gifts of the Holy Spirit
1 Holy Spirit
1 body of Christ
A Point: The Holy Spirit is working Right Now. Looking for Evidence of the Holy Spirit?
Salvation = Born Again.
Sanctification
The Fruit of the Spirit
The Ability to pray
Answered Prayer
The Hermeneutical Gap. Cultural & linguistic
In a time when multiple cultures and languages where mixed together. A trade language which was common and native languages.
It makes since that the first believers were given “A Gift of multiple Languages” the bilingual or trilingual or even like Paul, “a whole bunch lingual”
All Empowering of Holy Spirit same type of event as that at the Pentecost Event. WHY?
The real goal is to spread the Word! Not spread the gifts.
Sensational-ism. It’s easier to be religious than to obey Jesus.
Tongues is a language for non-believers. The purpose is share Jesus in their own language.
One thing it most defiantly is not, is a prayer language for gathered Christians in a church.
It’s not a build up of Holy Spirit filling that reaches level where tongues spills out.
It’s a gift, so it effortless. No emotion needed. Blam! you are speaking Arabic!
Watch out for “showboating”
It is said don’t put God in a box, but if the only time your demonstrating the “gifts of the spirit” is during church time, that is a box.
If the sign gifts are being manifest, it is in the highways and byways, not on TV & large meetings.
People with the “gift of healing” should be in the hospitals.
People with the “gift of tongues” should know what language they are speaking and go be missionary.
The Greater the Presence of the Holy Spirit, The Greater the Self-Control
[Gal 5:22 ESV] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
[Gal 5:23 ESV] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
The presence of the Holy Spirit brings greater self-control to the people, not lack of control.
Empowerment to share truth is not losing control, but boosting you with Power, in something you lack.
“Self-Control” Fruit of the Spirit. A “gift” of Holy Spirit would not negate the Fruit of the Spirit.
The power of the Holy Spirit gives allows us to look at our own sin.
To share Jesus with others, despite our fears.
To be reconciled to our Christian family.
1 Corinthians; Paul is addressing worship issues during times of gatherings.
Disorder in the church.
Show-boating: See my spiritual gift!
Define Spiritual Gifts (Tongues=languages) & It’s Purpose.
An earthly language miraculously given for the purpose of talking about Jesus Christ.
1. The Great commission
2. Pentecost
3. Signs of the First Time Believers.
1. The Great Commission:
[Mat 28:18 ESV] And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
[Mat 28:19 ESV] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
[Mat 28:20 ESV] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
[Act 1:8 ESV] But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Point 2. Pentecost:
[Act 2:1 ESV] When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.
[Act 2:2 ESV] And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
[Act 2:3 ESV] And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.
[Act 2:4 ESV] And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
[Act 2:5 ESV] Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.
[Act 2:6 ESV] And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.
[Act 2:7 ESV] And they were amazed and astonished, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
[Act 2:8 ESV] And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?
[Act 2:9 ESV] Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
[Act 2:10 ESV] Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,
[Act 2:11 ESV] both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians--we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God."
[Act 2:12 ESV] And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?"
[Act 2:13 ESV] But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine."
3 Signs for First Time Christians:
[Act 19:1 ESV] And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples.
[Act 19:2 ESV] And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
[Act 19:3 ESV] And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism."
[Act 19:4 ESV] And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus."
[Act 19:5 ESV] On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
[Act 19:6 ESV] And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.
[Act 19:7 ESV] There were about twelve men in all.
Dive into 1 Corinthians
Prophecy is better than tongues, Compare & Contrast
(Context is key, in the local church. Why, we are talking about worship service.)
The word tongue is glōssa
Means the literal word tongue or
A. the language or dialect used by a particular people distinct from that of other nations
Paul is using a very obvious argument.
[1Cr 14:1 ESV] Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
[1Cr 14:2 ESV] For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
[1Cr 14:3 ESV] On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their up-building and encouragement and consolation.
[1Cr 14:4 ESV] The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.
[1Cr 14:5 ESV] Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
UNLESS SOMEONE INTERPRETS.
Palestinian Baptist Church, we Americans needed an interpreter
Speaking a foreign language is nothing but noise.
[1Cr 14:6 ESV] Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
[1Cr 14:7 ESV] If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played?
[1Cr 14:8 ESV] And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?
[1Cr 14:9 ESV] So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.
[1Cr 14:10 ESV] There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning,
[1Cr 14:11 ESV] but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.
[1Cr 14:12 ESV] So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
[1Cr 14:13 ESV] Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.
[1Cr 14:14 ESV] For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.
[1Cr 14:15 ESV] 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.
[1Cr 14:16 ESV] Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say "Amen" to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?
[1Cr 14:17 ESV] For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up.
Paul was gifted to speak all kinds of Languages. And he will speak your language when he is at your church. Sounds Reasonable.
[1Cr 14:18 ESV] I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
[1Cr 14:19 ESV] Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Tongues = Languages is for non-believers, not for in the Church
[1Cr 14:20 ESV] Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.
[1Cr 14:21 ESV] In the Law it is written, "By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord."
[1Cr 14:22 ESV] Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.
Paul’s example of what should happen when non-believers come to church.
[1Cr 14:23 ESV] If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
[1Cr 14:24 ESV] But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,
[1Cr 14:25 ESV] the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
Next Week:
Order in the Church!
Saturday Nov 02, 2013
1 Corinthians; Chapter 13, Are You Loving?
Saturday Nov 02, 2013
Saturday Nov 02, 2013
Chapter 12: Holy Spirit, Body of Christ, Unity
Chapter 13: LOVE
Chapter 14: Get Organized
[1Cr 12:1 ESV] Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
Unity & Diversity in the gifts of the Holy Spirit
1 Holy Spirit
1 body of Christ
Chapter 13: Grow UP, It’s about Love
This is Hyperbole, because the real issue is LOVE.
[1Cr 13:1 ESV] If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
[1Cr 13:2 ESV] And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
[1Cr 13:3 ESV] If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Def. of tongues:
A. the language or dialect used by a particular people distinct from that of other nations
Can Paul really do all these things? No.
Did Paul experience some really cool stuff? Yes!
Paul experienced all the Sign Gifts.
Here is a highlight.
[2Cr 12:1 ESV] I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
[2Cr 12:2 ESV] I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.
[2Cr 12:3 ESV] And I know that this man was caught up into paradise--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows--
[2Cr 12:4 ESV] and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.
The road to Damascus when he met Christ.
God’s Love
[1Cr 13:4 ESV] Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
[1Cr 13:5 ESV] or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
[1Cr 13:6 ESV] it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
[1Cr 13:7 ESV] Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Ten Commandments
1-4: Relationship of Man towards God
5-10: Relationship of Man towards Man.
[Mat 22:36 ESV] "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"
[Mat 22:37 ESV] And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
[Mat 22:38 ESV] This is the great and first commandment.
[Mat 22:39 ESV] And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
[Mat 22:40 ESV] On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."
Love is greater than Spiritual Gifts
[1Cr 13:8 ESV] Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
[1Cr 13:9 ESV] For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
[1Cr 13:10 ESV] but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
John connects the Love Bridge.
[1Jo 4:9 ESV] In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
[1Jo 4:10 ESV] In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
[1Jo 4:11 ESV] Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
[1Jo 4:12 ESV] No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
[1Jo 4:13 ESV] By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
[1Jo 4:14 ESV] And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
[1Jo 4:15 ESV] Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
[1Jo 4:16 ESV] So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
[1Jo 4:17 ESV] By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.
[1Jo 4:18 ESV] There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
[1Jo 4:19 ESV] We love because he first loved us.
[1Jo 4:20 ESV] If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
[1Jo 4:21 ESV] And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
We are now reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.
[Rom 5:7 ESV] For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--
[Rom 5:8 ESV] but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
[Rom 5:9 ESV] Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
[Rom 5:10 ESV] For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
[Rom 5:11 ESV] More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
What does it look like to Love your Brother.
1. Come to church
Hbr 10:24 NIV - And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,
Hbr 10:25 NIV - not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
The other Christians Need You!
It’s the foundation of all Five Christian Disciplines
Worship
Fellowship
Ministry
Evangelism
Discipleship
[Eph 4:11 ESV] And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
[Eph 4:12 ESV] to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
[Eph 4:13 ESV] until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
[Eph 4:14 ESV] so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
[Eph 4:15 ESV] Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
[Eph 4:16 ESV] from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
These gifts must be temporal spiritual gifts for certain time frames on Earth.
[1Cr 13:8 ESV] Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
[1Cr 13:9 ESV] For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
[1Cr 13:10 ESV] but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
I believe Scripture is pointing us straight to Heaven and our future with God. Full intimacy
The perfect is the return of Christ.
The question is: When will the sign gifts cease?
What is “The Perfect”?
[1Cr 13:10 ESV] but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
Two major camps of spiritual gifts. Cessation-ists and People who believe it Continues.
Many Cessationist make the claim that since the conclusion of the Cannon of Scripture is complete that is the “perfect”.
Historical, aside from the Bible, there is not much actual records of sign gifts like tongues & healing.
Is the Bible “The Perfect”?
The Word of God is Perfect, but is it The Perfect referred to by Paul?
There are several problems with that understanding.
Doubtful Paul while writing this letter, consider that his letters and a few other letters with the Gospels would become a small library and thus “complete and bring in the perfect”.
I believe the reason the gifts have not ceases is because the Holy Spirit is still manifesting Himself in powerful ways right now.
Salvation
Sanctification
The Fruit of the Spirit
The Ability to pray
Answered Prayer
On the other hand; Watch out for “showboating”
It is said don’t put God in a box, but if the only time your demonstrating the “gifts of the spirit” is during church time, that is a box.
If the sign gifts are being manifest, it is in the highways and byways, not on TV & large meetings.
People with the “gift of healing” should be in the hospitals.
People with the “gift of tongues” should know what language they are speaking and go be missionary.
[1Cr 13:11 ESV] When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
Paul is not picking on sign gifts He is emphasizing the point, that it is time to GROW UP.
Stop whining and Obey Jesus
[Jhn 14:15 ESV] "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
[Jhn 14:16 ESV] And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
[Jhn 14:17 ESV] even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
A Mirror, time frame, NOW:
[1Cr 13:12 ESV] For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
James uses a mirror as an analogy.
[Jam 1:21 ESV] Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
[Jam 1:22 ESV] But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
[Jam 1:23 ESV] For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.
[Jam 1:24 ESV] For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
[Jam 1:25 ESV] But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
The Bible is not “The Perfect” described in by Paul.
“The Perfect” is return of Christ.
The reason for this is verse 12. “then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” Emphasis a personal face to face intimacy.
[1Cr 13:13 ESV] So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.