VARIETY SHOW
October 31, 2007
1 Corinthians 12:1-7, 27-30
mikematijevich
mmatevich@aol.com

Intro:
Four different kinds:
1. Revealing gifts- given to body during transitional time before the WOG completed
Purpose- to provide God's will for believers (temporary)
2. Confirming gifts- because the enemy can many times imitate some of the things that God does.
The first two are temporary.
3. Speaking gifts- in existence today - to build up God's people and to proclaim the WOG.
4. Serving gifts- valid today to minister to God's people. (1 Peter 4:10)

1 Corinthians 12 see them all then analyze them…
1 Cor 12:7-11, 27-30 two catalogues here (list different)
5 different Greek words combos (5 tumblers on a lock= 18million+ combos) so probably no one here the same exact gift!
* God can keep track of all that.
Rom 12:5-8 another list
Eph. 4:7-8, 11-12 All theses gifts operate by grace- not our natural talent
* These are the major passages concerning spiritual gifts.
* There are 18 specific gifts listed in NT…
I. THE REVEALING GIFTS
(Given to church during transition- (Ascension @ 100AD John) (@70 years until bible complete) (please put aside your prejudices & friends experiences)
A. Apostleship- 1 Cor 12 & Eph 4:11
1. "Apostle"= sent one; 12 + 1 Paul (Qualifications Acts 1)
a. Been with the Lord John's baptism to ascension
b. Eyewitness of bodily resurrected Christ
c. Had to be directly appointed by the Lord Jesus
2. Paul an enigma - appointed by Jesus himself
3. Others called "apostles"- sent ones, but not like the 12 or Paul

B. Prophecy- appears in 1 Cor. 12; Rom. 12 & Eph 4
1. "Prophet"= the supernatural ability to be God's channel in revealing God's will to man.
Sometimes they could predict the future. Forth telling & forward telling.

2. Female prophetesses- (4 daughters of the evangelist Philip Acts 21)
3. All the apostles had the gift of prophecy but not all prophets had the gift of apostleship.
a. Luke prophet but not an apostle (wrote Acts & Luke)
4. We prophecy when we "preach" the word of God- but we don't have the gift of prophecy.
See the end of prophecy by Jesus himself…
* Rev 22:16-19 certification by Jesus that the revelation is COMPLETE.

C. The Word of wisdom- (12:8) (gift that deals with speaking) = apostleship
1. The ability to receive & disclose to others God's mysteries during that transitional period of the 1st century.
NOTE: Gift of the word of wisdom more about "receiving & speaking" the revelation & the gift of "prophecy" more about the recording of the revelation.
* All Christians are to be wise but not a supernatural ability to receive & speak the mysteries of God.
D. Word of knowledge (12:8) closely associated with the apostles.
1. The supernatural ability to take the truth by divine revelation the word of wisdom & take it to a level where the body of Christ could understand the "wisdom"- (interpreter)
These four were the revealing gifts… as God was revealing himself to mankind.

II. THE CONFIRMING GIFTS (temporary to confirm the word as it had been revealed)

NOTE: God NEVER asked us to have BLIND FAITH. He never asks us to disengage our brain.
So those receiving the WOG would be confirmed.
Today we have the CONFIRMED WOG- the bible.

Note: Acts 2:22 Jesus never did RANDOM MIRACLES- Jesus was not a "trickster", all miracles were specifically related to a revealed prophecy in the OT.
1. Heb 2:3-4 Confirmed, revealing God's word by them that "heard" Him.
(v4) confirmation was given to them that heard him.
2. 2 Peter 1:19 The man Peter who eye witnessed Jesus' miracles said, we have a MORE sure word of prophecy- the BIBLE
A. 1 Cor 12:9 "Faith" - "another" of another kind; new category.
1. Faith becomes the common thread for all the gifts that follow.
2. Acts 27:25 Paul says, "Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me."
* A supernatural ability to trust God when there was NO written word.

B. 1 Cor. 12:9 "Healing" - (God still heals) but here a special category not to restore the health of those that were sick BUT to confirm the truth of God's word.
1. A supernatural gift to confirm that Jesus was the Messiah by the OT prophecies.
Some of the apostles had this gift- Luke was a physician but no where does it say he had this gift. (Not a side show type of healing) God still heals today.
C. 1 Cor. 12:10 "Miracles" - to confirm in an apostolic message in a time before the WOG completed. In the transition to confirm the Lord.

D. 1 Cor. 12:10 "Discerning spirits"- closely connected to "prophecy" to supernaturally confirm the "prophecies" from a "prophet" was proper. (To discern what was true & what was false)
- We can discern today by the WOG
E. 1 Cor. 12:10 "Divers Tongues" - the supernatural ability to speak the WOG in another language. (As in Acts 2)
- see 1 Cor 14:22 "not to those who believe…"
- Paul quotes here Isaiah 28:11-12 that when that gift appeared it was to fulfill his prophecy.

* Let's talk about gifts in our PRICE range.
1. Speaking gifts- one thing they all have in common is that they are the equipment God gives us to complete our MISSION.
- Lk 4:18 the Spirit came upon Jesus to EQUIP Him for His Mission.
- Jesus gave us the same Mission in John 20:21 "…even so send I you…"
- He even gave us the equipment to get the job done…
Lk 24:49 "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."

III. TODAY'S CHRISTIAN GIFTS
Speaking gifts:
A. Eph 4:11 "Evangelism"- Philip the only man called that in Acts 8. Every believer has the responsibility, but some have a supernatural ability to Christ.

B. 1 Cor 12:28; Rom 12:7 "Teaching"- geared to the intellect of the saved.
More than the learned ability to teach- the ability to learn & assimilate the scriptures into an eatable content to believers.

C. Eph 4:11 "Pastors & teachers" - no comma after pastors, a rule of Greek grammar that is never violated- linking the two words together.
Supernaturally gifted to pastor & a teacher, but not all teachers are pastors.

D. Rom. 12:8 "Exhortation" - aims at the will of the saved. (Barnabas)
The supernatural ability to persuade people to make right biblical decisions, & to persuade hurting people to look to God for comfort.
NOTE: There is NO place in the scripture of the "supernatural gift" of singing… yet some singers are gifted "exhorters" & through music pierce our souls & move us. Channels through which we are ministered.
NOTE: DO you see how there are differences of gifts, & administrations & operations?
Making you UNIQUE before God & His church.

* Some here have these gifts!
Serving gifts:
D. 1 Cor. 12:28 "Helps" - called the gift of ministry or serving (Rom 12:7)
Some are supernaturally gifted to serve- some around here
ALL…
E. Rom 12:8 "Mercy" - in a time distress, pain or suffering.
ALL…
F. Rom 12:8 "Giving" - we are about to embark on a great adventure- we will need people that have this gift.
ALL…
G. Rom 12:8 "Ruling" - government, administration, management - supernaturally gifted. (Not just organized)

Conclusion:
What does this have to do with you?
1. If saved all have been gifted with the Spirit & a special gift to benefit the body- church.
2. If you can't figure out what your gift it could be because you have an OBSTICAL - harboring a sin, or an attitude, something that you are not willing to turn lose of to get right with God.
3. You discover your gift when you learn to walk with God. (Discipleship, etc)
4. Try exercising the simple gifts and you will discover what you are gifted with.