Pod Prep: 5-18-18 Pentecost Weekend
A Deeper Look At The Gifts Of The Holy Spirit
PENTECOST, GOD'S GIFT TO MAKE US COMMUNICATION DYNAMOS
In times of crisis or great need the Holy Spirit will guide the communications message of believers beyond anything they would have been able to perform themselves. Christ told us to relax in such situations and allow the power and brilliance of the Spirit to guide us.
Mt 10:18 "You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 "But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 "for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. 21 "Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. (NKJV)
God's Holy Spirit will give us the words that the evil world will not be able to discount. The Spirit will give us the powerful message to communicate as well as the courage to deliver it. God does require courage and faith in Him to gain salvation. It is surprising but, God considers cowardice among and with very sinful traits. Note what God says in the end of His Words' to mankind.
Rev 21:7 "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (NKJV)
We need to practice developing courage now in smaller matters so that if necessary, God's Spirit can courageously speak through us. God demands faith in him and subsequent courage of that conviction. We cannot be cowards !
God punctuated the opening of the New Testament Church of God with a dazzling array and display of communications gifts. Pentecost came with a dynamic bang. The church was given powerful audio and visual special effects that wowed the crowd in Jerusalem- the sound of a mighty wind on a calm day and the sight of flames upon heads of all 120 believers. Each one was heard communicating in the specific language of the hearer and with the correct dialect. It was a sight and sound theater harnessed powerfully to amaze and attract a crowd of worshipers.
Ac 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (NKJV)
The crowd was not just amazed at the sight and sound miracles of communications, but a powerfully meaningful message was given to them to utter or preach to the crowd. All of the 120 persons were inspired to spiritual utterances. This includes men, women, young and old, all of them.
Ac 2:5 Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, pious men, from every nation of those under heaven. 6 But the rumour of this having spread, the multitude came together and were confounded, because each one heard them speaking in his own dialect. 7 And all were amazed and wondered, saying, Behold, are not all these who are speaking Galilaeans? 8 and how do *we* hear them each in our own dialect in which we have been born, 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and those who inhabit Mesopotamia, and Judaea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, (DBY)
It was, no doubt, a two way communications miracle: One of both the speaking of wonderful things of God and the hearing in many specific dialects. God started a mass conversion and pouring out of the spirit amongst thousands who had crucified Jesus. He started the miracles right in Jerusalem where Christ was martyred.
Ac 2:37 And having heard it they were pricked in heart, and said to Peter and the other apostles, What shall we do, brethren? 38 And Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptised, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for remission of sins, and ye will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 41 Those then who had accepted his word were baptised; and there were added in that day about three thousand souls. (DBY)
This was the first time in Biblical History that thousands had received the Gift of the Holy Spirit at once. Peter explained that this was a partial fulfillment of the prophesy of Joel. A new age is dawning on the world based on God's communication power.
GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE LIKE TOOLS IN A TOOL BOX FOR GOD'S PURPOSES
God has a system of diversity of spiritual gifts. The Spirit fulfills Christ Will by distributing a diversity of gifts to the body of the church for its common benefit. These gifts give brethren different areas of service, activities and functions for the body's success. One common spirit is active in all displays of the gifts of God. The gifts are tools for God to use to help the church function and complete His goals for us.
1Co 12:8 For to one, by the Spirit, is given the word of wisdom; and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; 9 and to a different one faith, in the power of the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healing in the power of the same Spirit; 10 and to another operations of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; and to a different one kinds of tongues; and to another interpretation of tongues. (DBY)
We members of the body of Christ must learn to properly accept our roles and gifts. Many in Corinth were very immature spiritually. They were showing off the gifts. Others were envious of those with more flamboyant gifts. Paul brings all these immature attitudes into a more mature perspective in I Corinthians chapters 12, 13 and 14.
1Co 12:21 The eye cannot say to the hand, I have not need of thee; or again, the head to the feet, I have not need of you. 22 But much rather, the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those parts of the body which we esteem to be the more void of honour, these we clothe with more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness; 24 but our comely parts have not need. But God has tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to the part that lacked; (DBY)
God has given honor to all of us no matter what types of gifts we are blessed with in this age.
WE MUST DESIRE THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL LOVE
The mature Christian learns to appreciate whatever gifts God has given him. Paul further explains that these
gifts are temporary and the really important permanent gifts are the ones we should be desiring. We should not be overly desiring the flashy gifts.
1Co 12:31 But desire earnestly the greater gifts, and yet shew I unto you a way of more surpassing excellence.
1Co 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. (DBY)
Love is the most important gift period! Speaking in many languages is helpful but, if used without the motive of love, it is just noise. It is like clashing cymbals. Paul is sending a message to the very carnal Corinthians about the value of the gift of tongues.
1Co 13:2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (RSV)
Paul says that if someone were a great teacher of the Bible and understood all mysteries with powerful faith, yet spoke without the motive of love that person is NOTHING. It is God's evaluation that counts. People might be impressed with the teacher but God would call him nothing.
1Co 13:3 Even though I dole my substance to the poor, even though I sacrifice my body, that I may boast, yet have not Love, it avails me nothing! (TCNT)
Paul further explains that if one gives his all to charity and his body for the selfish purpose of boasting he has gained NOTHING. All public relations type, charity work for human attention, done without love is of no spiritual benefit. Further Paul explains that all these flamboyant gifts are useful but only temporarily.
1Co 13:8 Love never fails. But, whether it be the gift of preaching, it will be done with; whether it be the gift of 'tongues' it will cease; whether it be knowledge, it, too, will be done with. 9 For our knowledge is incomplete, and our preaching is incomplete, 10 But, when the Perfect has come, that which is incomplete will be done with. (TCNT)
When this part of God's work is over and knowledge of God will be like water at the bottom of the sea, these gifts will be of no further usefulness. When one pure language is given, all other tongues will cease. So what will be left of real spiritual value for all us to desire ?
1Co 13:13 Meanwhile Faith, Hope, and Love endure- but the greatest of these is Love. (TCNT)
All of us have access to these three gifts. We should be focused on desiring these gifts. If we receive, in the course of time, other gifts, use them with love in the service of the body. But remain humble because we are just tools of the Mighty God.
