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Lesson 9 - Building the church and the gifts of the Holy Spirit
Overview on the Church:
- Nature: Believers by faith – Israel and Gentiles entering the church by faith. (The separation between Israel and Gentiles – Israel: Abrahamic promise (Millenium) > Eternal (Gentiles and Israel) - One Church
- Marks: Right preaching, Right administration of the sacraments
- Purposes: Exaltation, edification and evangelism
- Purity and Unity: A test of reference
- Church Governance: Plural eldership (congregational)
- Church Leadership: Spiritual and servant hood in nature
- Baptism: Identification with Christ’s death
- Lord’s Supper: Memorial/spiritual presence
A The Person building the church
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matt 16:18)
Behind all our efforts in ministry we need to always remember that it is Jesus Christ who is building His church. We are merely vessels used by the Lord to accomplish His purposes. The mention of the gates of Hades states the nature of the opposition that the church faces. It is spiritual opposition from demonic forces. The rock on which the church is built is Peter’s confession of faith in Jesus as the Messiah (v.16). Jesus Christ is the foundation rock on which the church is built.
The Person building the Church > Jesus Christ.
Matthew 16:13-18
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[b] will not overcome it.
What did Jesus mean when he mentioned the word “rock”?
Roman Catholic Church interpretation: Peter is the rock.
Protestant Church interpretation : Based on Verse 16. The rock refers to Peter’s confession of faith in Christ Jesus as the Messiah.
B The Power to build the church
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
The power to build the church is the power of the Holy Spirit. However it must be noted that we are not to be witnesses to the Holy Spirit. By the Spirit’s power we are enabled to be witnesses to Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit does not draw attention to Himself but He will bring glory to Jesus (John 16:14) and lead us to Him. The extent of the proclamation of the gospel is the whole earth.
Acts 1: 8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Power of the Holy Spirit (Charismata) - power for ministry
C The Means to build the church
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. (1 Cor 12: 7-11)
The means to build the church is through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Every member of the body of Christ has been given some spiritual gift that is an evidence of the Spirit’s working in his life. All the gifts are intended to build up members of the Christian community (1 Pet 4: 10-11)(1 Cor 14: 12). They are not to be used for selfish advantage, as some in the Corinthian community apparently were doing. The Holy Spirit sovereignly determines which gift or gifts each believer should have.
Related passages referring to the gifts of the Holy Spirit: (1 Cor 12:28 , 1 Cor 7:7 , Eph 4:11 , 1 Pet 4:11 , Rom 12: 6-8 )
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit – Power actualized in our lives
1 Cor. 12: 7-11
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
1 Pet 4: 10-11
10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Cor. 14:12
So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.
1 Cor. 12:28
And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.
1 Cor. 7:7
I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
Eph. 4:11-13
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
1 Pet 4:11
If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Rom 12: 6-8
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Cessation of Gifts
1 Cor. 13: 8-12
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
There will come a time when all the gifts will cease but…..when?
It will cease at the second coming of Christ (based on verse 12 – then we shall see face to face – with Jesus Christ).
Special Note: *No problem with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit BUT the way the gifts are exercised is the problem!
John 16:14
He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.
The Holy Spirit brings glory to Jesus Christ.
1 Cor. 14:12
So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are intended to edify and to build up the church.
Caution: Don’t be caught up with the power of the Holy Spirit or to self. It is about bringing glory to Jesus Christ.
What is difference between Spiritual gifts and Spiritual manifestations?
1 Cor. 12: 7-11
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Speaking in tongues and prophesies and healing - examples Spiritual gifts
Holy laughter and rolling on the floor – examples of spiritual manifestations
Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Witness or to bring credit for Jesus Christ
Ministry – Gifts of the Holy Spirit (TO DO)
Minister – Fruit of the Holy Spirit (TO BE)
D The Maturity of the church
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever –increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Cor 3: 18)
The church matures as its members grow into Christlikeness. The reference here is to the process of Christian sanctification. We are to grow in exhibiting the fruit of the Holy Spirit : the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal 5: 22-23). A corresponding aspect of spiritual maturity is that of holding to sound doctrine (1 Tim 4: 16).
Questions
1 What is the difference between a spiritual gift and a spiritual ‘manifestation’?
2 How does natural talent and natural disposition relate to a person’s spiritual gift?
3 Contrast spiritual gifting with spiritual maturity.
4 Between character and charisma, which do you think is more important?
Spiritual maturity is Christlikeness – doctrine and the fruit of the Holy Spirit
1 Tim. 4:16
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Related sermon
The dunamis power of the gospel
Introduction
In recent weeks our nation is in the grip of GE13. We are now in a politically charged atmosphere. I believe that quite a number of you may be attending ‘ceramah’ at night. I gather there are two types of ‘ceramah’ around. There is the type where you don’t have to fork out money and on top of that you get free food and if you are fortunate you may end up getting to ride a motorbike home from the lucky draw. There is the other type where you may fork out money voluntarily but you get no food.
Whatever it is, political ceramah is about power-political power. Mao Tse Tung once said , “Power flows from the barrel of a gun”. Of course this ardent communist who is anti-God got it all wrong. In a democracy like ours political power flows from the vote in the ballot box. This is right in every sense of the institution of parliamentary democracy. So happy voting come 5th May. But of course every voting needs to be done in prayer just like every other decision that we make. A prayerful vote that justice and righteousness will prevail in our nation as the prophet Jeremiah records as the delight of the Lord in
Jer 9: 24.
However, this morning it is my task to still your heart and draw you from this politically charged environment and to draw you to our Lord Jesus Christ so that he may charge you not politically but spiritually. And I want to emphasize that there is a greater power than political power and i.e. the divine power of the gospel.
Message
Mat 24:14 There is a gospel of the kingdom to be preached. And inherent in it is kingdom power .
Rom 1:16-17 The gospel has an inherent power a kingdom power that saves. It has that power to transform the human heart, to regenerate it , to make it born again. That salvation sourced from the gospel has the power to take away the penalty of sin, to set you free from the bondage of sin and to bring reconciliation between you and God. It is an inner dunamis that works on the human heart and it far exceeds political power that may be able to change only human institutions and events but which can do nothing to transform the disposition of the human heart.
Wherein lies this dunamis of the gospel?
It is found in the power of truth. Yes
John 8:32 The truth will indeed set you free. There is both the objective aspect ;the content of the gospel that forgiveness of sins can be obtained through Jesus Christ. And the subjective aspect that the truth refers to the person of Christ in your relationship with him he sets you free. This power becomes effective in you by faith and through that faith the righteousness of Christ is imputed to you.
From Rom 1:15 we see that this gospel needs to be preached; to be proclaimed in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does two things. First He brings life into the word that from mere letter it becomes spiritual truth rhema that transforms your heart. Second He testifies to the truth of the gospel by signs , wonders and various miracles. The word dunamis is used for miracles. It is an outward divine power that works an external sign to testify to the truth of the gospel.
In John 20:30-31, the apostle John affirms the objective of miraculous signs, to help you to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the truth of the gospel.
As Jesus ministers to the people, he is always preaching the gospel, drawing people to Him. Often his miracles of healing are occasions for him to teach spiritual truths. In John 9:5-7 he heals a man born blind. And further down in v35-41, he speaks of the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees. We do well to know that miracles serve as points of contact ; not points of focus. They draw us to Christ Jesus. Let us not then draw and focus upon miracles but let us focus on the person behind the miracles. It is only then that we can focus upon what has eternal value. In Acts 3 we see Peter healing the crippled beggar and using the occasion to preach the gospel.
Conclusion
Political power in all its necessity is still temporal in nature. It is the dunamis of the gospel that results in a salvation that holds eternal value. Let us not lose sight of the fact that as a church we are invested with the greatest power on earth that far surpasses any political power. It is the dunamis of the gospel, the kingdom power of the gospel and we will cry as one with the apostle Paul that indeed the gospel is the power of God for salvation of everyone who believes. Amen!
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