King James Bible Study – [Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.]
Date: Friday, December 03, 2021
Chapters: I Corinthians 12-14
Message: Using Your Spiritual Gifts
Hello My Friend,
Yesterday I had a job interview that I really was not that thrilled about, I asked God to give me a call from someone about a job so that I would not have to go there. Twenty minutes later, I got a phone call, he described the perfect job, awesome pay, Sunday’s off, and full-time. He took down some information, sent me a test to take, and said someone else would be calling me to conduct the interview. Well, I was so nervous and excited that I tanked the test, but kept praying and asking God to let this job be in His will for me. Well, it took the entire day, I was able to retake the test, and she did call, and was hired. No sooner than she called, there was a knock on the door, I received a security deposit refund check. All I have to say is, Praise God! Praise God! Praise God! I cannot praise God enough, and account all this to the fact that I stopped doubting and God finally saw that. Let me tell you, when you are faithful to God and pray to Him without doubt, you definitely will receive what you are asking for, [Mark 11:23-24 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.]
Well, this lesson is actually not about prayer, doubt, or being faithful to God, and well, if you question either of those things, then you have bigger problems. Every saved, born again Christian has one thing in common, well, actually that joins them together as one, and that is the Holy Spirit. Yes, He indwells in each and every one of us, and if you do not think that it matters, think again. God uses each and every one of us, some of us, and we will see this as we read these chapters, are used more than others, but we are all joined together by the same Spirit, and contribute in some way. And as we continue in the reading if 1 Corinthians, Paul stresses the importance of us understanding what true diversity is, [1 Corinthians 12:3-7 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.]
[is given to every man to profit withal.] [Withal; With the rest; together with; likewise; at the same time.] The gift of the Holy Spirit manifests itself through us, and is given to each of us for the profit of the whole body of Christ. While some of us are stronger than others, it is actually the least of the members that make the biggest impact. What do I mean by that? Take someone with a learning disorder, or someone deaf, blind, or cannot walk, and watch how God uses them to be an inspiration and encouragement to bring others to Christ. We are not defined by our infirmities, but by our faith.
[1 Corinthians 12:13-14,18,21-23,26 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.]
[upon these we bestow more abundant honour;] No matter how big or small the skill, we all belong to Christ, therefore, everything we do for Him matters, and is used as He pleases. We may think someone born with a disability is broken or imperfect, but that is just the opposite to God, to Him they are perfect, and precious, and will receive much more honor than we who are perfect in ever Christ will. You see, they already have a place in heaven, and if we have faith in that, we can have faith in Christ, [Psalms 139:13-18 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.]
And here I am with tears in my eyes once again, as Christians, we struggle so much with our inability to go one day without failing God at some point that we lose sight of the fact that, [It Is Finished]. We are not trying to maintain our salvation and failing miserably here, Christ ended that at the cross. What we are doing here is allowing Christ to take reins and let Him guide us, teach us, correct us, and perfect us until He brings us home. Some of us may have more tasks than others, but that does not mean that we are better Christians, it is just means that some tasks have more responsibility than others, [1 Corinthians 12:28-31 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.]
[and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.] It does not matte what skills God has given us to fulfill those tasks, it is the Holy Spirit that will teach us how to use them wisely. Quite clearly, there are some skills that we are not able to or mature enough to handle, and for that reason, God refrains from giving them to us. Every saved, born again Christian, even if they have only one of these gifts, is a part of the body of Christ, and we are not to be made to feel as though we are less important than the other. And by the way, there are no more apostles, these are those who walked with, and served Christ when He was here in the flesh. The prophets of today are Christ saints who peach the Gospel and of what is to come when Jesus returns. Speaking in tongues means that you are able to speak and interpret more than one language. Nevertheless, God saw fit to make sure that Paul explains that no matter how many gifts we have, there is something we need even more.
[1 Corinthians 13:1-8 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.]
[I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.] [Charity; In a general sense, love, benevolence, good will; that disposition of heart which inclines men to think favorably of their fellow men to think favorably of their fellow men, and to do them good. In a theological sense, it includes supreme love to God, and universal good will to men.] Many times the word charity is replaced by the word love, and while love is a good part of it, I do believe that charity is much more than that. Charity is the agape that we talked about a couple of days ago. It does not matter how many talents we have, if we do not have that agape when we do them, we are just making a bunch of noise, and God will never see our efforts, [1 Peter 5:2-4 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.]
[Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,] Paul is speaking relatively here, yes, he could speak a couple of languages, and as long as we are saved we can understand the angles because they only speak what God tells them to speak. And speaking in tongues merely means one who is capable of speaking several languages, and was not the same as when Peter was in tongues, [Acts 2]. Paul stresses the importance of us understanding that tongues is actually speaking in a particular language unknown to others.
[1 Corinthians 14:2–3,5,22-25 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. 22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. 23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? 24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: 25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.]
[for greater is he that prophesieth] [Prophecy; to preach; to instruct in religious doctrines; to interpret or explain Scripture or religious subjects; to exhort.] Remember, prophecy is not the same thing as it was before the Holy Spirit came to earth, prophecy today is telling people about Jesus returning, also teaching the Gospel as well as helping people understand the Word of God. Since I am a teacher of God’s Word I would be considered as having the gift of prophecy, even though I am no prophet, [Joel 2:28-29 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.]
God is not the author of confusion, He makes things simple, it is man who make it complicated. Speaking in tongues is just another way of being bilingual, it is not the mumbo jumbo you hear the charismatics proclaim. God wants us to teach the Gospel in a language that people understand, not something no one understands at all. Since all spiritual gifts come from the Holy Spirit that indwells us, no one is above anyone else, we are all here to preach the same message through the gifts we are given.
[1 Corinthians 14:33-39 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? 37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. 39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.]
[Let your women keep silence in the churches:] People love to chop up this verse as well, especially men who do not like when they are convicted of the Holy Spirit by something that a woman teaches. This verse is referring to women who are just members of the church and not knowledgeable in the Word of God and does not mean that women are not able to teach God’s Word in the church. It means that they are not to be pastors or have authority over men in the church, and if they do have a question to speak to them privately and not in front of anyone. Why? Because it was Eve who enticed Adam, [1 Timothy 2:12-15 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.]
Let Us Pray: God, It is truly amazing all the things I have learned over the years, and that You use all of them for me to serve a purpose for You. Thank You for Your mercy, grace, and love, and for giving the spiritual gifts You have given me, may I know how to use them all for Your glory. Lord, lead me and guide me, help me learn to yield to the Holy Spirit as He teaches me to serve You with all my heart, soul, might, and to have charity just like Jesus. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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