The Holy Spirit part 4

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The Holy Spirit Promise

(Part 4)

 

Good Morning Jesus Church here and online!!!

If you have Bibles this mornings lets go to 1 Cor. 12

• We are on part 4 of our series on the Holy Spirit
  • I hope what we have talked about isn’t ending here
  • That the conversation would carry on to
    • Your car ride home
    • Your studies of the Bible
    • Time with family/friends
• This is stuff that needs to be meditated on
  • I really encourage you to take notes
  • Even go back and listen again – There is a lot to take in

This weeks teaching is sorta the hinge b/w 2 parts of this series

• Last three weeks have been about who the Holy Spirit is
  • Question asked – How do we live in relationship w/ Spirit of God
  • Covered: Person, Power, Presence
• Now w/ this foundation it’s time to shift gears
  • Get into all the “Stuff” the Spirit does
  • From Prophecy to healing to wisdom…
  • All amazing stuff we believe in – but a lot of time don’t practice
• Today is big picture general overview of all the stuff the Spirit does
  • Then we will go through things specifically
    • So we will talk for one Sunday about prophecy
    • Then we will talk about tongues (no one will come)
    • Then a week on healing (everyone will come w/ friends)…

Today is an overview – Best place to go for that is 1 Cor. 12

1 Cor 12:1-14

Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed”, and no one can say “Jesus is Lord”, except by the Holy Spirit.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form on body – whether Jew or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

[Pray] – You ready for this…

Story

We as a society are somewhat obsessed with superpowers

• This weekend the new Avengers movie came out – $230 million
  • Not including this one – Top 10 have made $50 billion dollars
  • That doesn’t even include Starwars
• I remember as a kid talking: If I could have one superpower…
  • Some say flying
  • Some say invisibility
  • Mine was always move things w/ my mind (lazy)
• I had this one friend – His answer was quickest wit ever
  • I totally didn’t get it
  • But he was super smart so…

Many Xians today look at the gifts of the Spirit much like superpowers

• Superhero’s (Powers) really took off in the 40’s and 50’s
  • Interesting – Spiritual gift teaching took off (Charismatic Renewal)
  • Meaning before then – Church didn’t read this like most do today
• Paul starts off this chapter “Concerning gifts – Don’t be misinformed”
  • Ironic b/c many of us 2000 years later – sorta uninformed
  • When it comes to the Spirit and what the Spirit does
    • Think about prophecy – Ya that sounds weird like Sifi movie
    • Think about tongues – That’s really not comfortable
    • Think about healing – Oh you’re one of those churches
      • We are uninformed

Tag – Goal for today is to start to change that

Part of the problem starts in how we read 1 Cor 12

Quick overview on what many of us are taught goes like this…

• Spiritual gifts (Ability) gained when become Xian or Baptized in H.S.
  • You are given at least 1 spiritual gift
  • Maybe u are lucky and have 2 or 3
  • But you all have at least 1
• There are 3 or 4 lists of these spiritual gifts in the New Testament
  • 9 in 1 Cor 12
    • Message of Wisdom & Knowledge
    • Faith & Healing
    • Miraculous Powers & Prophecy
    • Distinguishing b/w Spirits
    • Tongues & Interpretation of Tongues
  • 7 in Rom 12
    • Prophecy/Serving/Teaching
    • Encouragement/Generosity/Leadership/Mercy
  • 5 in Eph 4
    • Apostle/Prophet/Evangelist/Pastor/Teacher
• Some say there are some in Peters letter later in N.T.
  • So 20 something in total Spiritual Gifts
  • Right now u can go online & take a test to determine your gift
    • And hopefully you get something like prophecy/faith
    • Not something like giving or serving
    • Once u get your gift – Don’t have to worry about the others

Again this isn’t how WORK OF THE SPIRIT has been read historically

1 Cor 12:1 – Now about the gifts of the Spirit…

• This is not a good translation of Greek (Most scholars back that up)
  • Problem is its really the best we can do
  • “Gifts of the Spirit” is actually one word
    • Pnuematicos – Super hard word to translate to English
    • It is an adjective w/o a noun
• It can be translated “Spiritual People” or “Spiritual Things”
  • Most literal translation would be “SPIRITUALS”
  • Which would make the focus of this passage not about gifts at all
  • But instead attributes (discribings) of the Spirit
• Looking at all 3 passages on Spiritual Gifts (1 Cor/Romans/Eph)
  • Words “Spiritual Gifts” Puematicos & Karisma
  • They are never used together once
    • Spiritual is used and gifts is used
    • They are never put side by side
    • Like we think when we read “Gifts of the Spirit”

Then looking specifically at these 3 passages

Rom 12 (Teaching/Generosity/Leadership/Serving/Encouragement)

• My opinion – Not a list of Spiritual gifts that u gain as Jesus follower
  • But a list of gifts that characterize who you are
  • It’s the way God made you – What you are good at
• When someone is good at something you call them: Gifted
  • Don’t think that list is exhaustive
  • You could add musician, artist, parent, engineer, architect
  • Whatever you are wired for – That is your gift
• Point of Rom. 12 (Which uses the word gift but never spiritual)
  • Whatever God made you to do – Leverage for God’s Kingdom
    • If you are an encourager – The world needs you
      • Because Lord knows we need people who will build up
      • Way too many that just take down
    • If you are a leader – Lead people in a Godly way
      • B/C others will follow you
      • You can influence their lives

Eph 4 is a list of roles of leaders in the church (pretty understood)

• There is a huge need for all 5 listed in the church today
  • Prophet, Evangelist, Teacher, Apostle, Pastor
    • These are all needed to have a healthy church body
    • Which will lead us forward in kingdom life

1 Cor 12 – I believe is a list of “The stuff the Spirit does”

Paul uses a few different words in this chapter

Verse 7 – To each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (For everyone else)

• I love the word that is used here: Manifestation of the Spirit
  • Gk – Finerosis: Means a revelation or unveiling
  • So read – An unveiling of what the Spirit does (through us)

Paul calls this list of 9 things (wisdom/knowledge/healing/faith…)

• These are all called the manifestation of the Spirit
  • Point being: When u see prophecy/healing/miracle
  • Should say is: “Wow, that’s the Spirit of God” not “John’s gift”
  • That was voice of God speaking over my life (Prophecy)
    • It’s a revelation of Spirit of God at work in ur life or church
    • When we read it that way: Where is the emphasis??? H.S.
• Why matters? Means all of these r open to anyone who follows Jesus
  • In last 50 years – Spiritual Gifts framework
  • You have one of those… maybe 2-3 if you are really special
    • Like a super X-men w/ multiple powers
• So you take the test – Basically that is what you are allowed to do
  • So if u take the test & your gift is teaching – Never have to serve
  • And if someone is sick and you don’t have healing – good luck

This is how these scriptures have been read and its not biblically correct

• But when it come to list of 9 things (not exhaustive – prayer, visions)
  • This is stuff IF Spirit of God is in you
  • You can do all of this IF the Spirit wants to

Hinge is closing line in verse 11 – He (the Spirit) distributes to each one just as he determines

• So it’s up to God to what He does and doesn’t do (not you)
  • At the end of service – Not like lets just go do it
  • No – Open up your life to the Spirit of God
  • It’s all about what God wants to do through you
• All this to say – Don’t read list as “I wonder what gift I have”
  • Check off one or two favorite boxes
  • Then charge out to use them
• Read it as: This is kind of stuff the Spirit of Jesus wants to do thru me
  • This list is ALL Jesus stuff
  • This is stuff Spirit wants to do through His people
    • There are people who hear this (I’ve been guilty of it)
    • Walk out of service and just start looking
    • The point isn’t looking – It’s listening – It’s asking the H.S.
      • What do you want to do right now

Tag: Ok – Lets work through this list of 9

 

1. Message of Wisdom

v.8 – To one is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom

This is a message from the Spirit thru you to someone else

• Someone who needs wisdom to navigate life
  • And we all need wisdom – face decisions
  • Things where we don’t know which direction to go
• Most of the time that wisdom is right in front of you
  • If your at a bank and teller leaves with the vault open
  • You don’t need to pray/wisdom on what to do
  • Very clear from scripture that we don’t steal
• But what about those times its not right in front of you
  • If your at a bank and you want to qualify for a mortgage loan
  • Thinking maybe now is the time to buy
  • My job is stable but it could be a stretch

This is where God might want to give you a Word of Wisdom

• When we were about to move here – We knew but no one else did
  • Michelle & I were excited but obviously nervous
  • Friend of ours in Portland had a brain tumor – slurring words…
  • Visiting him in the hospital
• Looks at me in an absolute clear voice
  • Says: U are about to walk into beginning of God’s future for you
  • Says: This is a good thing and God has a great plan for your life
• So he had no idea what was going on in my life
  • Michelle & I trying to wrap our brains around what this change
  • And we got a word of wisdom straight from Heaven
    • This is the message of wisdom from the Spirit

 

2. Message of Knowledge

V.8 – To another a message of knowledge through the same Spirit…

Same idea – Instead of wisdom for decision/Knowledge of a situation

• Something that you could not know except through the Spirit
  • We see this in the life of Jesus all the time
    • Ya that’s right you are living w/ someone not ur husband
    • And you’ve been married 5 times
    • This is through the Spirit of God
• It’s a message of knowledge – Happens to me sometimes
  • Where you just know something when you see someone
  • You can’t get it off the internet – Social media
  • You just know it through the Spirit of God

When that comes to you it’s a message for someone else

• And you need to tread carefully – Knowledge is power
  • You can do a lot of damage while trying to do good
  • Advice is never accuse… but always ask
• So if you think someone is abusing prescription pills
  • Don’t go up to them with your pointed finger (pill popper)
• But this is what God often does – More when we talk on prophecy
  • This is the message of knowledge

3. Faith

V.9 – To another faith by the same Spirit.

This isn’t the ordinary saving faith that we all have as follower of Jesus

• This is special extraordinary faith to partner w/ God – Do impossible
  • This is the faith of Peter to say to the lame man

Acts 3:6

Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.

• This is one of the manifestations of the Spirit that we don’t really get
  • Partially b/c in America we don’t need “THIS” faith
  • We have health/auto insurance/airbags/crosswalks that talk to u
    • In America we value safety & security above all

John Whimber – Faith is spelled R-I-S-K

• If you want to experience this type of faith u have to step out in faith
  • As scary as it may be
  • This is something Jesus calls all of us to
  • Not only here but throughout His ministry

4. Healing (Talk about this at length in a few weeks)

Today just look at language used – Incredibly important

V. 9 – To another gifts of healing by that one Spirit.

• So healing is when God make a person whole again
  • Notice the language of “WHOLE”
    • So there is physical healing (cancer/leg/cold)
    • There is also healing emotionally (depression/anxiety/anger)
    • There is healing relationally (father wound/abuse/betrayal)
    • There is healing spiritually (from sin/addiction/demonic)
• The point is that Jesus wants to heal ALL of you – not just physical
  • Reason: Look at the wording in the scriptures
  • To another (singular) gifts (plural) of healing by that one Spirit
    • To another (Not others) – Singular man or woman
    • There are gifts – Plural – of healing

And its less like “Kingdom of God Avengers” (He’s got the superpower)

• More like (Less cool) – But you are like UPS with a package
  • Someone is sick & God gives you a gift of healing for that person
  • Of course God uses some people for this more than others
• Doesn’t mean those people should start wearing capes and masks
  • It’s more like God gives you gifts of healing for other people
  • More in this in a couple of weeks
  • But here at Jesus Church – We want to see healings happen
    • Why: Jesus wants us whole
    • It’s reason we ask u to come down after service for prayer
    • Would love to see you come today to be healed

5. Miraculous Powers

Even this language sounds really weird – Come on we don’t believe that

• Reality is all throughout scripture there are miracles
  • Old Testament – Moses/Elijah/Elisha
  • Gospels – Boy with his lunch/Lazarus/Lepers
  • Early Church – Philip/Peter/Stephen/Paul
• Church today as well… we don’t see this as much in our world
  • Although it does happen – Here in middle of our service
  • Woman died and then came back
    • Father in law prayed from a baby that died before delivery
    • Baby came back alive – named Grace
• Seen in developing world even more often (desperate & no twitter)
  • Story of a pastor speaking on this topic
  • Hard time with all these stories of signs and wonders
    • In back of prayer gathering in India he asked the pastor
    • “Have you ever actually seen someone raised from dead”
    • Answer – Yes… my wife – She died and raised 2 days later
      • She’s in the sound booth now
      • It’s what God does… not just in the 1st century but now

6. Prophecy

Talk more about this in 3 weeks – Can’t wait – Don’t think weird (not)

• This is a word/phrase/scripture/picture/dream/vision
  • It’s from the Spirit maybe for you but usually for someone else

Definition: Prophecy is a phenomenon that results directly from the access the Holy Spirit has to our minds, where he can create pictures through our imagination, supernatural dreams while we are asleep, he can put words, ideas or scriptures into our heads with such force that we know there is something with it that carries the responsibility to pass on and relay what the Holy Spirit has communicated.

• This is one thing that Paul in the scriptures really encourages
  • Michelle prophetic word to confirm moving to Phoenix
  • Ice storm in Oregon… reading her Bible

This is how it works – How God puts things into our mind to speak

• And it has to be done with a ton of humility
  • We don’t go around saying – “God told me”
    • Way too many people (pastors) throw that out
    • Almost as an argument trump card
    • B/C how do you argue w/ that… until it turns out not true
  • Point being its not necessary – Hey I felt this might be for u
    • Take it if it resonates
    • If not then leave it be

7. Distinguishing between Spirits

Sense to know if an (event/prophecy/word) is of God or something else

• Ability to know what Jesus is up to – And the enemy is up to
  • There are times you will hear or see something
  • You just know that isn’t from God
  • OR you know that is absolutely what God is doing
• First year of college – Had a friend – Could just tell something was off
  • Felt like there was this spirit of suicide on him
  • Talked to him about it
    • Told Him I felt God wanted to give him a Spirit of Hope
    • Asked if He was dealing with dark thoughts/depression
      • Sure enough he was really dealing w/ that
• This was combo of Word of Knowledge – Distinguishing (both)
  • Maybe he thought I guessed in NW winter – Everyone depressed
  • But suicidal thoughts are absolutely demonic – I felt it on him

There is a spiritual world out there – If you don’t believe it… you’re crazy

Eph. 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (1 of many verses)

• There are demonic powers according to the Bible
  • They are alive and well in our city
  • They are at war with Jesus Church & as well as others
  • For a number of us those powers are stirring thoughts in mind
    • That are not from God
• The Holy Spirit wants to help us distinguish and identify that
  • That there is hope for you
  • God can and will break that spirit of death on you/family
  • We take authority over those spirits – Tell them they must go
• We need this ability to discern what Jesus is up to / Enemy up to
  • God give us a sense of what you are up to
  • Where is the enemy going to try and attack

8. Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues (Go Together)

This always the hot one – Tongues is an odd way to interpret it

• Gk: Word is Glossa – Where we get the word Glossary
  • All it means is languages
  • Which is way less weird sounding
• Its when you speak in a language that you don’t understand
  • Not like – Oh I remember some of my Highschool Spanish
  • No: It is a language you don’t understand
  • As an act of prayer and praise to God
• So while Prophecy edifies God’s People / Tongues edifies ourselves

1 Cor. 14:4

Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

• • It’s the only gift given that isn’t on its own for the church body
    • Get into v.22 – Tongues a sign to unbelievers in few weeks
    • Lots of context needed – Hint: Read the verse before/after

Interpretation is when someone else is speaking in this language

• All of the sudden it makes sense in your mind
  • You know what they are saying
  • Not that you hear it like its in English… you just know
  • You stand up and give the interpretation to the church
• This is the only way this manifestation of Spirit is edifying to all
  • Most of these chapters are in correction to tongues abused
  • Which is why we think Paul puts it at the end of the list
    • The Corinthians were making a big deal of tongues
    • Elevating it above the other gifts – Creating chaos
• Scholars think this is Paul putting it at the end – subtle way of saying
  • Listen – This is a thing… but it’s not THE thing
  • And lots more about this in a couple weeks

That said it is an amazing manifestation of the Spirit

• There are a ton of people at Jesus Church that speak in tongues
  • I’m one of them
  • You don’t see it at weekend gatherings
    • Because of Paul’s writing to the Corinthians
    • Which we will talk about in a couple of weeks
• But this is something many enjoy and express for intimacy w/ God
  • Prayer
  • Praise
  • Intercession
• When language starts to fail you
  • Brings you to a new space of intimacy with God
  • And as we talk about it more
  • You will realize it’s not nearly as weird as it sounds

That’s it: List 9 manifestations of Spirit (not exhaustive)

This is the kind of stuff that the Spirit of Jesus wants to do through you

• To CARRY ON THE KINGDOM WORK of Jesus
  • Why the closing line on this train of thought in verse 12 says

1 Cor. 12:12

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ…

1 Cor. 12:14

Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

• Paul goes straight from list of manifestations of the Spirit
  • To an analogy of how we as church are his body
    • Hands
    • Feet
    • Legs
• We are the tangible flesh and blood expression of Jesus to the world

Frank Viola

Evil spirits desire to inhabit bodies because the crave expression. That is the whole point of possession. They seek to take over a human body so they can express themselves through it, employing for wicked purposes here on the earth. Jesus is now in the Spirit and He also craves expression. He seeks to make His life visible through a many membered being. The body of Christ (church) exists to express God in the earth.

This is why we exist – To express God right here in the Phoenix valley

• It isn’t about a spiritual high – It isn’t about a special power
  • This is about the kingdom of God
• When we say kingdom of God – Very popular thing right now
  • But most of the time we associate it w/ acts and deeds
  • And while this is good – What Jesus would be doing
• The majority of what Jesus associated w/ Kingdom of God
  • It wasn’t spreading bark dust at neighborhood park (great)
  • Bulk of Jesus’ kingdom work was
    • Healing the sick
    • Casting out demons
    • Prophecy
    • Preaching the Gospel

So if we want to be about God’s Kingdom in Phoenix

• It has to be more than volunteering at your kids school
  • Please do that – Don’t do less than that
  • But it needs to be more

I don’t know where you are at with all of this

Maybe you are 100% on board

• Itching with excitement – Ready to go
  • Excited for a little more clarity on some of it
  • But its comfortable for you and you are on board

Others are planning on being sick next Sunday – Hopefully not

• Maybe you grew up seeing this abused
  • Maybe you heard horror stories of crazy people swinging snakes
  • I don’t blame you for your hesitancy… totally get it
• I don’t like snakes – But I hope you know I do love the Bible
  • And anything that IS for us – We need to know about
    • We are just happy you’re here
    • Don’t go anywhere – Hopefully as we look at the Bible
    • You can feel more comfortable with what it says
• The wrong response to something in the Bible u don’t understand
  • Is to just reason it away/ignore it
  • That’s a path that leads to walking away from the Bible altogether

Others of you this is all brand new

• Maybe you are a blank canvas
  • Never thought one way or the other but always wondered
  • Maybe you never got any straight answers from the Bible
  • Just tons of opinions and logic
• You’re looking forward to not skipping over these passages anymore
  • Because its all over the Bible

I see 3 postures when it comes to what we getting into

1. Closed – Closed off to this – Want nothing to do with it

• It’s too subjective/Strange
  • Just leave it alone
  • It is too dangerous to talk about – Engage in
    

2. Open – I believe it… don’t practice it

• I want the Spirit of God alive in my life
  • If God put it in the Bible – I want to know more

3. Actively seeking

• Day after day asking the Spirit to do this type of stuff thru me
  • I trust in you and want to risk for you
    • I believe in the kingdom of God – Want to be about it
    • I want to be your Body
    • I want to be the expression of you to my world

Wherever you are at – You are welcome here – You have a place

• If you are closed – I pray as we study this – You would rethink that
  • Bible open: Test everything that I say
  • Write me as many emails as you would like
  • But would you at least be open
• If you are open – I think that is where a bunch of us are
  • Yes we believe… but we don’t do it
  • I’m just tired of not doing stuff that we believe
  • I mean… why???
    • So now we are actively seeking
    • Not in a weird/look at me type of way
    • Not forcing it to happen – Asking H.S. what He wants to do
  • If that’s you – Its time to open up your life
    • To all that the Spirit has for you
    • Maybe ask urself what is standing b/w u and Spirit thru you
      • Is it apathy
      • Is it doctrine
      • Is it business
      • Is it fear
  • Would you let God identify that and set you free
    • This isn’t weird stuff – It’s the kingdom of God