Exercising Spiritual Gifts in Humility and Unity, Rev Dr John Kwasi Fosu

Amazing Grace Baptist Church Bible Study Material on 1 Cor. 12:21-30

Introduction

This lesson serves as a continuation of our studies on Paul’s response to the issue of Spiritual Gifts in the Corinthian Church. It is important to state that we are studying the subject in the light of the problems in the Corinthian church—division, immorality, lack of spiritual growth and confusion in the assembly.

We need to remind ourselves that in 1 Cor. 12, Paul explains the work of the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ as Christ bestows spiritual gifts upon the members. Chapter 13 emphasizes that the graces of the believer, flowing from love, are more important than spectacular gifts.  In chapter 14, he lays down the principles that should govern worship in the community of the church.

We Belong to Each Other (1 Cor. 12:1-20)

The division was a major problem in the church at Corinth (1:10-16, 6:1-8 and 11:18-22). Each group followed its chosen human leader, exercised its gifts selfishly and cared little for the health or ministry of the whole body. The believers at Corinth had received an abundance of spiritual gifts (1:4-7), but they were lacking in spiritual graces.  These graces are the kind which godly character is formed in the believer the Holy Spirit.  Keep in mind that spiritual gifts are not necessarily a mark of a godly character or spiritual maturity. These Corinthian believers were carnal, yet they exercised wonderful and miraculous gifts.

Overview of Spiritual Gifts in the New Testament

New Testament List of Spiritual Gifts
Romans 12:6-8, 13	I Corinthians 12:8-10	I Corinthians 12:28-30
Prophecy Serving Teaching Exhortation Giving Leading Mercy Hospitality	Word Of Wisdom Word of Knowledge Faith Healing Miracles Prophecy Discerning of Spirits Tongues Interpretation of Tongues	Apostleship Prophecy Teaching Miracles Healing Helps Administration Tongues Interpretation of Tongues
Eph. 4:11	I Peter 4:9-11
Apostleship Prophecy Evangelism Pastor/Teacher	Speaking Serving

We need each other in the exercise of our spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12 21-25)

Those believers who possessed spectacular gifts looked down upon the others and thought that they were less spiritual.  Yet here Paul teaches that every member of the body is essential to the life, health and growth of the church. (Read Ephesians 4 to see how God uses gifted people to help build the saints who in turn build the body.) No believer can say to his brother, “I don’t need you!” Those parts of our body that seem the least important can do the most good—or cause the most trouble if not functioning properly!

We affect each other in the exercise of our spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:26-31)

There should be no division in the body (verse 25) since we all share the same life through the Spirit. But it is not enough simply to avoid division.  We must also care for each other and seek to build the church and strengthen the body. In the human body, the weakness or pain of one member affects the other members. This is also true in the spiritual body.  If one believer suffers, we all suffer.  If one member grows in strength, we all receive help. This fact gives each believer the responsibility ton become the strongest member possible.  Ephesians 4:16 indicates that every part of the body makes some kind of contribution toward the growth of the church.

It is essential that we keep in mind God’s method for strengthening the body. God has chosen spiritual leaders, given them spiritual gifts, and placed them in the body as God chooses. In the early days of the church, there were apostles and prophets. The apostles were special ambassadors who took the Gospel to the lost, established churches and delivered God’s messages. Prophets were preachers who spoke as directed the Spirit. They did not preach the Bible as we know it today but conveyed God’s will immediately to the church, and only partially through the written Word, since the New Testament was not yet written.

Proper Perspective on Speaking in Tongues

It is worth observing that tongues stand last on the list.  The believers at Corinth were abusing the gift of tongues.  It was so much so that there was confusion in their public services (14:23). In fact, the “tongues members” looked down upon the other believers who did not have this particular gift. So Paul closed reminding them that we do not all possess the same gifts (verses 29-30). “Do all speak with tongues?” No. Never let anyone convince you that the gift of tongues is necessarily a mark of special spiritual power or character. This gift was possessed believers whom Paul called “carnal—babes in the Messiah” (1 Corinthians 3:1).

Conclusion

It is important that we realize our relationship to one another in the church. All true believers are indwelt the Spirit and are members of His body. There can be unity even where there is not uniformity. Jesus never prayed for uniformity in His church, but for the same spiritual unity that exists between Jesus and His Father (John 17:20-23). We should likewise pray for spiritual unity and do all we can to guard it and extend it (Ephesians 4:1) as we exercise our spiritual gifts.