1 Cor. 12:4-11 Word of Wisdom & Word
of Knowledge.
Intro Last Wednesday night we had a general intro
to the subject of spiritual gifts.
Looking at verses 1-6
A) We began by noting that Paul said that he didn’t want us to be ignorant-3 fold definition of that word IGNORANT
B) 1st Don’t
ignore – Don’t say that they don’t exist
Don’t say not for today-abuses
(Paul’s approach w/Corinth – here is how they function)
2nd Don’t
be unaware – Don’t be UNAWARE
Instead need to understand – purpose function -
1)
What they are & how they are to work (not free for all)
3rd Need to have a working Knowledge – Knowledge by experience –
1)Need
to be active!!!!
Then we also noted in verses 4-6 that there is a Diversity within the Gifts
There are different gifts – they are not all the same / VARIETY
VARIOUS KINDS
There are different ministries or
operations of those gifts – not going to work the same way all the
time.
1) Work differently in
different situations as we will see tonight
C) And there are Different activities or expressions of those gifts because
the Vessels that God uses are Different.
1)
Example in teaching of Gayle Erwin & Pastor Chuck – same gift
TONIGHT WE WANT TO PICK UP IN VERSE 7 & BEGIN BY
TALKING ABOUT THE NATURE OF SPIRITUAL
GIFTS
A) (WHAT IS A SPIRITUAL GIFT?)
The word MANIFESTATION = a shining
forth, an expression.
C) SO
Spiritual gifts are in reality a shining forth of the Holy Spirit.
They are an expression NOT of man’s
ability but an expression of the person and power of the Holy Spirit.
One commentator said that the term manifestation can literally be understood to mean that which may be laid hold of by hand.
A)
The OXFORD dictionary defines manifestation as: to show plainly to the eye or mind.
B)
Interesting because the Holy Spirit is always
with us and we gather together in His name.
He is here in our midst ( 2 or
more…)
1) But He is clearly
revealed to the senses through the gifts of the Spirit.
C) Now some groups don’t feel like God has
shown up until the gifts are clearly seen.
- (Proceed to work it up)
1)
They believe that unless they see some outward manifestation of the
Spirit – God really wasn’t in the meeting.
D) Now we do NOT walk into this place &
suddenly come into the presence of the Lord.
We are always in the presence of the Lord.
1)
In Him we live & move & have our being-
E) Two or more are gathered in His name – HE IS THERE IN THE MIDST
F) So when a gift is in operation, it simply
means that the Holy Spirit has been made manifest through the gifts.
1)
He Himself remains invisible, yet His presence is made manifest.
So the nature of Spiritual gifts is: it is the shinning forth of the Holy Spirit or the means through which the Holy Spirit, who is already in our midst, makes His presence clearly Visible to our Human senses.
Now let’s
consider the PURPOSE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS Verse 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given
to each one for the profit of all:
A) Listen, Spiritual gifts are NOT given to me
for my own personal profit.
B) God does not give to me the word of
knowledge so I can bet on the NBA playoffs & make a bundle
1)
Spiritual gifts are NOT given for
us to get our kicks.
C) Nor is purpose to gather together in order to attain some spiritual high. We do NOT assemble for the sake of having some Charismatic party.
D) NO THE Gifts are to
build up the body / body blessed & edified !!!
E) NOTE:
There is only ONE gift that is said to be for personal spiritual
edification. That is the gift of
tongues.
1) 1 Corinthians 14:4 He who speaks in an unknown tongue edifies
himself.
F)
So that the rest of the church is NOT edified
unless there is an interpretation of it.
1) Needs to be an interpretation
So these gifts
of the Spirit are not to let everyone know how spiritual I am, the focus is not
me – but to build up & edify the Church.
A) Now
it is for this reason that I believe that spiritual gifts MUST be for today!!
B) Because The Body of Christ still needs to be edified and the individual believer
STILL needs to be edified.
1) So God has graciously given these gifts to achieve that purpose!
C) Spiritual gifts exist to outfit
ministry. They are God’s enablings for
God’s calling.
1)
Spiritual gifts are the means whereby man is enabled by the Holy Spirit
to do those things which are not humanly possible.
D) Understand that a true work of the Kingdom
of God true ministry is a work that is
outside of mere human capacity not
natural process - talents
1)
Example- A person might be a great math – teacher- way with numbers or
history, but unless that person is anointed & gifted by Spirit – can’t
teach Bible.
E) Because the work of the Kingdom has eternal – ramifications In order to teach the Word or minister in
any kind of capacity it takes supernatural gifting by the Holy Spirit.
F)
THEREFORE all of the ministry MUST be
accomplished in and through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Now Quickly a few Notes on DESIRING OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS 11 But
one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one
individually as He wills.
V 31 But earnestly
desire the best gifts.
A) Note 3 things. 1st note / we
are told verse 31 to earnestly Desire spiritual gifts-
B) And when we consider their purpose it is
only logical that we would desire them if we want to be effective in ministry.
1)
Because we Can’t be effective without them.
2nd ly NOTE – We are to
desire the Best Gift – but the word
Best is a relative word. Because the
TASK at hand determines the best gift
A) If someone needs a healing – a word of
Knowledge would not be the best gift.
A)
So we are to Desire the Best gift – which is the
one that fits the need at hand.
3rd ly The
Holy Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He
wills. He is sovereign!
A) He gives the gift that He determines is
right for that situation. And when He determines
B) Example If I have the gift of healing I
can’t just go down to the hospital & start pulling people out of beds -
1) Spirit is Sovereign is picking the
time & place where the gift is to function.
B) PROBLEM WITH HEALING CRUSADE – NEXT 3 NIGHTS
1) Never see that in the Bible -
Can’t schedule the Holy Spirit.
Having said
these things, let’s look at the Gifts of the Word Of Wisdom & Word of
Knowledge. (Break down our outline.)
A) Definition Of the Gift Seen in OT
Seen in NT Seen in the Church setting seen
in individual setting – (well
rounded perspective.)
B) 1st THE WORD OF WISDOM 1 Corinthians 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom.
Before we define what
a word of wisdom is – we should note that There is a difference between
KNOWLEDGE and WISDOM.
A) KNOWLEDGE
has to do with FACTS while WISDOM tells you what to do with those facts. Wisdom is the Application of Knowledge.
QUOTE: Myer Pearlman (One of the early Pentecostal movement’s finest Bible
expositors) - “Knowledge is insight into
Divine things, and Wisdom is the skill which regulates Christian life according
to its foundation principles.”
Wisdom is the power of rightly using knowledge. Wisdom is application of knowledge.
B) That
is why these gifts often work in conjunction with each other.
C) So
the gift of the word of wisdom is NOT a vast reservoir of wisdom that God gives
to you that you can draw upon at will.
D)
It is an anointing of the Spirit that comes upon you in time of need
giving to you the wisdom to rightly apply knowledge in a given situation.
1)
It is supernatural wisdom given in a certain situation / something that
didn’t come from you – (something you studied)
E) And as we look at the Biblical examples of
the Word Of Wisdom, we see that it is a
timely word that is spoken which defuses
tension, resolves an issue, or settles differences.
1st The Word Of Wisdom In The Old Testament
A) CLASSIC ILLUSTRATION IN THE LIFE OF SOLOMON
-
B) This man who had received wisdom from God
above any other man that ever lived
1)
But in 1 Kings 3 we see a situation that took place in his life /
where a word of Wisdom was in operation
C) Problem:
Two women came to Solomon claiming to be the mother of the same child.
1)
Both had babies- one rolled over in night suffocated her baby – took the
other woman’s
D) Dispute – Mine / no she stole it / - Solomon responded by saying, “Bring me a sword – cut baby in two
1)
False mom said, “Great-Divide him” / But the real mom said, “No! Let her have the baby.
E) Now this was a word of wisdom – I don’t care
how smart a person is, we just don’t come up with things like this
1)
What if it didn’t work? What if
they both said – OK!!! I take top half
F) POINT God’s Wisdom always works!!!!!!
2nd THE WORD OF WISDOM IN THE NEW TESTAMENT (Turn to Acts 15
A) In Acts 15 a problem had arisen among the
believers in Antioch because of certain men who had come from Jerusalem that
were legalistic Jews.
B) They saw the liberties that the Gentile
believers had in Jesus.
1)
They told the believers in Antioch that they could NOT be saved unless
they were circumcised.
C) These guys represented themselves as
official representatives of the Church in Jerusalem.
1)
So Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem to meet with all of the elders
& settle this issue once and for all.
D)
Now This was a very sticky problem.
It was a very DIVISIVE issue in the Church. There was some heavy discussions -
E) Paul, being the champion of Grace, said that
you did NOT have to keep the Mosaic Law to be saved,
1)
There were others that insisted that you MUST keep the Law to be saved.
F) This dispute could have caused a major split
in the early Church. There is a danger
that at this point the Church could have split in two.
1)
Peter stood up and testified of how God had worked to save the Gentiles.
Acts 15:7-12 7 “Men
and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my
mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.”8 “So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged
them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,”9 “and made no distinction between us and
them, purifying their hearts by faith.”
10 “Now
therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples
which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we
shall be saved in the same manner as they.”
Word
Of wisdomàDiffused
a tense situation
That statement was a
word of Wisdom given to Peter – Don’t put
yoke of bondage on them … … .. able to
bear.
11 Then
all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how
many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.
V13 After they were done James arose &
spoke, “Men and brethren, listen to me:
14 “Simon has declared how God
at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name:
15
“And
with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
16
‘After
this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen
down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I
will set it up;
17
So that the rest of mankind may seek the
LORD, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does
all these things.’
18
“Known
to God from all eternity are all His works.
19
“Therefore
I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are
turning to God, 20 “but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted
by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.
21 “For Moses has had
throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in
the synagogues every Sabbath.”
22 “Then it pleased the apostles and elders,
with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with
Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who is also called Barsbas, and Silas, leading
men among the brethren.
Now Notice The response of the elders to
this Word of Wisdom. Acts 15:22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders.
Those Words of wisdom given defused an
explosive situation.
Now, THE WORD OF WISDOM in the CHURCH
1st IN THE LIFE OF THE PASTOR
TEACHER – A VITAL GIFT
A) Without a doubt,
one of the most vital ministries within the church is that of TEACHING and
PREACHING the Word of God.
B) Model of the Early Church – “they continued steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine, teaching, fellowship, & breaking bread.”
1) Vital mark of the early Church.
C) It is VITAL for the spiritual GROWTH of the
individual believer and thus the growth of the Body Of Christ.
1)
It is VITAL for the EQUIPPING of the saints for the work of the ministry
(Ephesians 4 ). Apostles / prophets /
evangelist / Pastor / teacher
D)
And whenever the Church has given prominence to the preaching and
teaching of the word of God it has been strong.
E) But whenever it has left this priority and
replaced it with a preoccupation with signs and wonders
1)
or with other programs (social work or political
involvement), the church has declined in its effectiveness.
F) A gift that is often seen in preaching &
teaching is Word of Wisdom because teaching is vital to the growth and
equipping of the saints.
In the course of a message something can
be communicated that is the perfect solution to a problem going on in your
life.
A) That
was exactly what you needed to hear – You cam in with some questions – left
with answers
B) Couple of weeks ago before 2nd
service – a sister said to me – Would you
talk to someone else but me today – (caught me off guard)
C) I get that every week – people saying right
to me – reading my mail – phone tapped
1)
My favorite – We were talking about that very thing driving here &
didn’t quite understand – You talked about that.
D) It could be
application of a certain passage that comes ALIVE!!!
1)Something didn’t understand – That makes
perfect sense now (Really awesome-I
didn’t understand it. God imparts
wisdom-
ALSO SEEN IN
COUNSELING-
A) No clue – what to answer – God gives
supernatural insight – amazing!
B) Another example in
Church setting – Alan Osborn in leaders meeting was really leading – Now that
we can’t I think He is into it
THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE / WHAT IT IS/ WHAT
IT IS NOT
1st WHAT IT IS NOT:
A) We noted that the word of wisdom is NOT a vast
reservoir of wisdom that you can draw upon whenever you want.
B) But it is an ANOINTING OF THE SPIRIT in time of need giving the power to rightly apply knowledge in the settling of issues
1) or in the understanding of the mysteries of God.
C) So too, the word
of knowledge is NOT a vast reservoir of information that can be tapped
into at anytime.
WHAT IT IS:
A) The
WORD
OF KNOWLEDGE is the DIVINE IMPARTING OF KNOWLEDGE concerning a person
or a situation that you could NOT know unless the Lord gave you that
information.
B) IT IS KNOWLEDGE GIVEN YOU THAT YOU
WOULDN’T NORMALLY HAVE
C) It is a manifestation of the Spirit that
often times operates without your even being aware that it is in operation.
1)
(You might say something and people will ask
themselves: “Who told him?”)
EXAMPLE OF THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE IN THE
OLD TESTAMENT
A) In the life of Elisha/ In 2 Kings 5 We read of a captain of the Syrian army named Naaman, who was a leper. He was a brilliant military man
B) It was told him by an Israelite woman (that
was enslaved by the Syrians) that there was a man in Israel who could heal him.
1)
So he went – wash 7 times …. healed
C) Naaman praised God- wanted to bless Elisha with some gifts &
payment / Elisha refused.
D) But Gehazi later went – my master changed
his mind !!!!
2 Kings 5:25 Now he went in and stood before his
master. Elisha said to him, “Where did you go, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant did not go anywhere.” The he said to him, “Did not my heart go with you when the man
turned back from his chariot to meet you?
Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and
vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants?
BUSTED !!!!!!!! -
MOTHERS HAVE THIS GIFT !!!!!!!!!
A) Now
Elisha did NOT possess some unlimited reservoir of knowledge. He only received such knowledge as the Lord
would impart to him.
IN THE New
Testament
A)
ANNANIAS & SAPHIRA
IN THE CHURCH – PASTOR
TEACHER
A) Direct
insight into a person’s life – Teaching:
You were describing my life to a tee!
B) Friend
– You been telling him about me?
C) Yet
it is a person you have never met before
D) Describing
a situation that you knew nothing about
In The Church
setting
A) 1st in
counseling – College gal – Came to the Lord – prior to she was a real man
Chaser – but no one gave her the time of day.
C) WARNING
– GUYS YOU HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN ARE SUDDENLY GOING TO BE INTERESTED IN YOU.
1) SURE ENOUGH
In the Church service
– here is where often accompanied by words of Wisdom
A) Problem is
presented – Word of Wisdom
B) Solution to the
problem is also presented à
Gifts – today Build Up!!!!
A) Desire – (God wants us to be seeking) computer search seek & desire !!
B) Desire – God will blow your mind!
1) If motive: God just use me – bless my brothers
C) Yrs ago C.M. (prayer)
1)God was there: