The Doctrine of Christ no 22

Misunderstanding

Brian Kocourek

October 12^th, 2011

I Corinthians 12: 1 Now concerning spiritual [gifts], brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

Let us pray, Dear Father we come to Thee this evening in the precious name of Your eldest son Jesus who came in Your name, and we understand that it is in that name we are to take all our requests. And we know your son said that “he that believeth in me, ask the Father anything in my name and I will give it.”, and we know that is a promise to us Dear Father, therefore we would ask that you might enlighten us concerning what the Apostle Paul warning to the church here in 1 Corinthians 12. For we ask it in Jesus Christ's name, amen.

Notice the apostle Paul said, “Now concerning spiritual [gifts], brethren, I would not have you ignorant.” Now this word ignorant means to be Misinformed. In other words, these people have a propensity to be informed incorrectly, so there's something about spiritual gifts he wants us to know and he wants us to be sure that we do not misunderstand what he is saying about them.

“Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led”. In other words, because you were raised up as Gentiles without a true understanding, I don't want you to revert back to your old way of thinking concerning these things that I am about to tell you. And since you have had a propensity to be carried away after dumb idols, you may have a pull to do the same with these spiritual gifts. But remember, you came out from that type of thinking, so do not ever revert back to that way of thinking again.

“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.”

Now, remember, he began by saying not to go to overboard about these gifts and be led astray by every wind as you were led to serve gods that were not gods back when you were Gentiles.

So too, I believe here Paul wants us to be careful how we view gifts. Because he is warning us here that although someone would show or manifest one of these gifts that he will mention, he is warning us up front that the gift is no evidence that you are even born again.

He says, “no man that is truly born again could ever say that Jesus is accursed.” Now this word “Accursed” was translated from the Greek word “anathema” which means “to be devoted to God with no hope of being redeemed”. Therefore that anathema is doing something like worshiping God knowing full well it won’t do you any good. Totally separated from God. And remember 2 millions children of Israel left following The Pillar of Fire, and they all perished in the wilderness, and Jesus said they are every one dead, which brother Branham said means “they were eternally separated from God.”

What a terrible thing it would be, to be in that condition. Worshipping God apart from a God-birthed-Life.

Then Paul says, No man can call Jesus Lord except by the Holy Ghost. Now, brother Branham told us the True interpretation of this statement. He said, "you might say that He is, but just because you say it doesn't make it so, your Life must be a witness to it." It must be manifested in your Life, then your Life is the Vindication that The Holy Ghost is Lord of your Life.”

So we see the Apostle Paul set forth a warning before he tells the people about the gifts of the Spirit, because people can get caught up into a false security by having the gifts and yet even born again. Now we all know this is true about tongues, but let's see what other gifts Paul is speaking of here that could give you this false security.

“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.”

Ok, here he tells us that there are many different kinds of gifts but they all come from the same giver.

“And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.”

Now this word administration here comes from the root to minister. Ad-minister . So we see it has to do with the way that these gifts can be utilized. The way that they can be handed out or dispensed.

“And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which works all in all.”

He says there are also differences in the operations of these gifts as well.

The word operations here means the effects that are produced. So he is telling us that these gifts will have different effects that are produced from them. But they are still affected by the same God.

In other words, the Word hardens one and softens another, and so too the gifts that Paul is going to tell us about will have different effects on different people.

Just look what effect tongues has on a Pentecostal baby. It gets them all excited and they really think they have arrived, and some will actually disbelieve the word because of what someone spoke in tongues. They'll believe the gift even above the very Word of God. This is why Paul begins by warning the Corinthians here. He says, don't ever, ever, ever, forget what you came out from and do not ever, ever, ever, think to go back to that nonsense. When a seasoned Christian hears tongues & interpretation, he'll take it back to the Word. When he receives a dream or vision from God he will always take it back to the Word of God just like William Branham did.

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”

Paul is saying here, that the real purpose behind the gifts of the Spirit is to bring the people together and uplift and edify the body of Christ.

Paul is saying, “though each person may have some different form of God's Spirit manifesting through them, the gift is not given for that person alone, but for the betterment of the common good”.

Now, let's see just what these gifts are because, remember,

1) They are for the common good of all

2) But people can be lulled into a false security by the gifts

3) These gifts have a different effect upon each person who is ministered to by them.

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; Wisdom = This is the same word here as used in Ephesians 1: 17 that speaks of the Spirit of Wisdom and revekation in the knowlkedge of God.

Colossians 3: 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 6Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, That word wisdom was translate from the Greek word Sophia which means skill and truth in imparting Christian Truth, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. Now, this word Known was translated from the Greek word gnosis, meaning a deeper and more enlarged knowledge. So it was apparent that had the had this “gnosko”, this intimate relationship with God, they would not have crucified His son. Had Josephs brethren truly been filled with the same Spirit of God that was leading joseph they would not have sold him into slavery or tried to kill him.

Then Paul adds, To another faith is given by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing are given by the same Spirit;

Therefore it is the same Spirit that gives these gifts the church, and each one does not necessarily have what the other receives. Just like a father doesn't give each of his children the same gifts, and neither does our heavenly Father. Yet why then do we try to rate a child of God by what Gift that child has received from God. And why do some children try to destroy other children by putting down that child of God who doesn't have the same Faith or revelation that the other might have. Did not Paul tell us we each have a measure of faith? So if my measure is different than your measure why would we think that one is more special than the other.

I have never rated my children against each other, and by God's grace I never will. Each is unique and different, in their own ways they are uniquely born.

Hebrews 11: 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 10: 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Romans 5: 1 -2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28And 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. 29Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

Then, what about healing? 30Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

In other words all these gifts have one purpose and that is to effectually show forth the Spirit.

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also [is] Christ.

And this is the key here.. The body has many members but it is one body. Therefore it is not natural for the members of the body to fight one another. A body that does that is sick. Brother Branham said “Bride does not fight bride”. Therefore by fighting bride you are disqualifying yourself as being bride. Because you do not have a right to choose who you believe is bride and who is not. And each of you has a right given to you by God's prophet to believe if there is only one who is bride in your city, that you are that one. So who are we to disqualify others from being bride.

“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.”

Don't ever forget that. “We have all been made to drink of that One Spirit”.

So although God may choose to place a gift in a certain person, that gift is to cause us to drink of the Fountain which is Christ. I believer the main focus then of these gifts in the church is to try to get His body to hunger and thirst for more of Him. We are not to worship or elevate the ones with these gifts, but the purpose then of these gifts is to create within us a thirst which will cause us to want to drink from the fountain.

For the body is not one member, but many. Therefore, though one has a gift that is looked upon as being great, yet that person is not great, but is only just one of the members in the body. The real great One is Christ Himself. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand,

I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

Like brother Branham said, "Just because you say it doesn't make it so." And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

If the whole body [were] an eye, where [were] the hearing? If the whole [were] hearing, where [were] the smelling? Now, I believe this principle here is very important. Too often we overlook the less attractive parts of the body in favor of those who are what we consider to be the gifted ones. Sometimes we think, boy is that person ignorant. But I like what Will Rogers said, he said, "We are all ignorant. It just depends upon the subject. So when we begin to get lifted up and think we are better than the next guy just because we might have a better understanding than they, we had better get braced for a fall, because it's sure to come.

"pride cometh before a fall."

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. Now, I want you to notice this. God places each member into the body just as it pleases Him. So if you do not have some great gift of Wisdom or knowledge, do not fret. God made you the way you are for a purpose. But I believe, He that hungers and thirsts for righteousness, will be filled. And that is what I would worry about the most, whether I had a hunger and thirst for God. Because if I do, I also have a promise that I will be filled.

19 And if they were all one member, where [were] the body? If we were all the same, who would need me? If we were all the same who would need brother Vayle's teaching ministry? But this is why God has made us all different, so we can minister to each other the things God has given us that are different than what the other has. If I have plenty of something that you also have the same as I, then what good will I do you and what good will you do for me. But if I have something you don't have and you have something I don't have, then we can get together and help each other. 20 But now [are they] many members, yet but one body. 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:

Brother Branham said, If there were not a people, Moses would not of had a message. So every one is needed. If God gives a Pastor an ability to express His Word and manifest His Life, what good would it do if there were no congregation to hear it, recognize it, and act upon it. Then the gifts that He has given to the church would cease to be of any good to any one, and they might as well cease to be used.

23 And those [members] of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely [parts] have more abundant comeliness. More abundant assessment or greater value. 24 For our comely [parts] have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that [part] which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but [that] the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. Doxazo filled with the opinion, assessment and Judgment of God. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, 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 what’s that? To find out we must go into chapter 13 which is the chapter on Love.

And in it we find out that though we have all the gifts in the world, from God, they don't mean a thing if we do not have Love. And God is Love. Therefore, if we do not have the expression of the Revealed Word in us then the gifts really don't mean a thing. What good is your gift if it isn't an expression of the Revelation of Christ. How does our body change come? By renewing the mind, right? By expressing the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Then without the Revealed Word expressing itself through us, what have we got but a mental conception and religion.

Ephesians 4:30: ... grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed until the... (next revival?)... until the day of your redemption. ... grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed until the day of your redemption. 242 ... whereby you're sealed until the day of your redemption.

Let us pray.