WEBVTT 00:00:00.001 --> 00:00:11.160 Now, two things are required for there to be unity, and obviously we're called, as the Church of God described, to maintain the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace. 00:00:11.160 --> 00:00:17.440 And I believe unity is one of the core attributes of a true church. 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:20.600 So unity is a huge thing in God's mind. 00:00:20.600 --> 00:00:25.039 And I think, politically speaking, everybody wants unity. 00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:32.039 Wouldn't it be nice if we had unity in our country, but our country is not united. 00:00:32.039 --> 00:00:35.960 It's very divisive, especially in today's climate. 00:00:35.960 --> 00:00:40.479 And sometimes churches can get divisive and work against itself. 00:00:40.479 --> 00:00:46.679 Well, we're to strive for unity, but unity takes two things. 00:00:46.679 --> 00:01:03.600 And it's easy to think that unity is simply uniformity, that we all have to have the same gifts, the same abilities, and look the same and be the same, be little clones of one another. 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:10.439 And we think if we're going to be unified, we need to be identical in every way. 00:01:10.439 --> 00:01:18.760 So sometimes unity is falsely this attempt to make us all, in some sense, all equal. 00:01:18.760 --> 00:01:20.879 We're all identical. 00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:29.920 And this is the false notion of Marxism, really, and the false notion of today, this pushing of equality. 00:01:29.920 --> 00:01:34.319 It's not this notion of unity, per se. 00:01:34.319 --> 00:01:44.620 It's the notion of having everybody having the same resources, the same outcome, everybody being identical. 00:01:44.620 --> 00:01:53.400 As if someone has more of something, someone has less than they're going to be envy and jealousy and that's going to create problems. 00:01:53.400 --> 00:01:58.519 And I think there's truth to that in the sense that envy does create problems. 00:01:58.519 --> 00:02:04.760 If someone has more money and someone's poor, it's easy for the one who has rich to look down on the poor person. 00:02:04.760 --> 00:02:08.800 And it's easy for the poor person to be envious of the rich person. 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:20.960 It's like, well, if we're going to have unity, we just need to eliminate wealth and eliminate poverty and redistribute all the, if you would, all the resources evenly. 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:26.400 And so we can all look the same, dress the same, be the same, and then we'll have peace. 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:30.840 Well, that's not God's plan for unity. 00:02:30.840 --> 00:02:47.460 That's not God's plan for unity in the church, for all of us to have the same spiritual gifts and all have the same spiritual fruit, for all of us to look the same, for there to be unity in God's perspective, true unity, there has to be a measure of diversity. 00:02:47.460 --> 00:02:53.960 There has to be the blessing of diversity, some differences among us. 00:02:53.960 --> 00:02:57.879 Obviously, there's going to need to be some commonality. 00:02:57.879 --> 00:03:03.080 It can't be unified if we're completely different and we don't have a common objective. 00:03:03.080 --> 00:03:18.039 And so in this text, we'll see the unity and diversity of the church and the beauty of the diversity when it comes to establishing the unity and the common good of the whole. 00:03:18.039 --> 00:03:28.479 So what he does is contrasting the things that we have in common, one Lord, one Spirit, one God, one confession. 00:03:28.479 --> 00:03:41.719 But in making sure that this is what's unifying us, we have one gospel, not two gospels, one Lord, not two Lords, one objective, not two objectives. 00:03:41.719 --> 00:03:52.219 So we're unified in some of these things, but we're going to be diversified in our spiritual giftings and callings and our workings and ministries. 00:03:52.219 --> 00:03:53.960 And that is not a negative. 00:03:53.960 --> 00:03:58.879 That's actually a very positive when it comes to the church of the living God. 00:03:58.879 --> 00:04:07.000 This is not today's sermon, but in the next text, we're talking about the unity of the body, having different particular body parts. 00:04:07.000 --> 00:04:10.639 And these body parts are not the same and they're not designed to be the same. 00:04:10.639 --> 00:04:14.340 If everybody was an eye, we wouldn't be able to walk. 00:04:14.340 --> 00:04:21.519 We have to have a diversity to function and we need a diversity of believers in any body. 00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:32.860 We need to be diversified and we need to be rejoicing in our diversity so that we can function well and be united well together. 00:04:32.860 --> 00:04:48.199 What was happening in the church, of course, was they were over elevating the importance of the revelatory gifts, which are speaking in tongues and interpretation and prophecies that is interpreting tongues. 00:04:48.199 --> 00:04:59.199 These spiritual gifts were designed to provide temporal or provide communication from God while the New Testament was being written. 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:05.560 Right here in the church of Corinth in the fifties, mid fifties, they didn't have the Bible. 00:05:05.560 --> 00:05:06.800 They didn't have the New Testament. 00:05:06.800 --> 00:05:12.720 So God provided them a means in which he would speak to them. 00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:17.279 And it wasn't the best means because the Bible is the best means to speak to them. 00:05:17.279 --> 00:05:24.480 But these revelatory gifts that were signs that the apostolic position had authority, which I believe worked. 00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:25.480 They were temporary. 00:05:25.480 --> 00:05:26.680 They weren't to last forever. 00:05:26.680 --> 00:05:30.319 But nevertheless, these revelatory gifts were very showy. 00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:36.519 They were very impressive and everybody wanted to have them. 00:05:36.519 --> 00:05:37.720 Everybody coveted them. 00:05:37.720 --> 00:05:48.920 At least it seems that way in the church of Corinth that they elevated speaking in tongues, principally speaking in tongues as the highest and the most important spiritual gift. 00:05:48.920 --> 00:05:57.639 And many of our charismatic friends, though we don't hold to the gifts continuing, they still do that today. 00:05:57.639 --> 00:06:04.360 They make the importance of speaking in tongues as the litmus test if you're a Christian, you speaking tongues. 00:06:04.360 --> 00:06:10.800 If you don't speak in tongues, you need a question if you're even filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:13.879 And this is what the Corinthians were doing. 00:06:13.879 --> 00:06:22.279 They have elevated gifts to such a high extent that they wanted everybody to have the same gifting. 00:06:22.279 --> 00:06:26.680 And if you didn't have them, you should envy them or covet them and want them. 00:06:26.680 --> 00:06:32.480 And so this led to all kinds of problems in the church of Corinth. 00:06:32.480 --> 00:06:35.879 It calls them to minimize the other spiritual giftings. 00:06:35.879 --> 00:06:38.199 We see that in Chapter 12, 4 through 11. 00:06:38.199 --> 00:06:45.360 It calls them to elevate their independent personal experiences above the unity of the church. 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:46.759 We see that in 12 through 30. 00:06:46.759 --> 00:06:49.360 The speaking in tongues become the greatest gift. 00:06:49.360 --> 00:06:56.079 From Paul, we see in the next chapter, he says, don't all strive after speaking in tongues. 00:06:56.079 --> 00:07:06.279 If you want one gift to strive for that we all should strive for, that we should all be unified in, if there's going to be one gift that you put at the top, choose love. 00:07:06.279 --> 00:07:09.040 That's the higher way. 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:10.480 Let us all have that. 00:07:10.480 --> 00:07:16.160 That's one gift we all should seek to have and a great abundance. 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:28.279 And finally, we'll see in Chapter 14 that this elevation of speaking in tongues brought such confusion to the church of Corinth that it brought a lot of disorder in their congregation and their worship service. 00:07:28.279 --> 00:07:31.120 They begin to speak over one another and brought a lot of disorder. 00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:33.079 It's like, you don't need to be doing this. 00:07:33.079 --> 00:07:37.600 If best you have one or two people at a time and no more than that. 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:49.319 And he says, if you don't have an interpreter, you don't need to be doing it because without understanding of the mind, if you're just speaking in a language that no one can comprehend, then it does us no good. 00:07:49.319 --> 00:07:54.040 There's no value if you don't understand what's being said. 00:07:54.040 --> 00:07:55.560 And so here we are. 00:07:55.560 --> 00:08:03.360 We don't necessarily at GBC struggle with that particular issue, but we may struggle in other ways with spiritual gifting. 00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:10.879 We may struggle in thinking that you may struggle in some ways by thinking, well, I'm not that gifted. 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:16.519 I lack spiritual gifting and I don't understand my role in the church because of it. 00:08:16.519 --> 00:08:21.959 I'm not a preacher or I'm not, you know, I'm not good with music or I can't do this or don't do that. 00:08:21.959 --> 00:08:24.319 And I just don't know my place. 00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:27.439 And I think that's a common experience between with church members. 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:30.980 I want to serve, but I don't know how to serve. 00:08:30.980 --> 00:08:32.240 And I don't know my gifting. 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:35.840 I don't feel competent to serve the church. 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:44.000 So that's a common thing that we struggle with and we may elevate certain gifts to high and think, well, I don't have those gifts. 00:08:44.000 --> 00:09:00.320 So you're envious or you're maybe discouraged or you're like confidence or we may be those who are gifted in a particular area and we elevate or evaluate others based upon our strength. 00:09:00.320 --> 00:09:02.440 I see, I see this as I've done this. 00:09:02.440 --> 00:09:03.440 We've all done this. 00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:15.299 I'm sure maybe we're gifted hospitality or maybe we're, we're gifted with, with giving or maybe gifted at seeing needs and we see needs that other don't see. 00:09:15.299 --> 00:09:18.000 We got the discernment to go, oh, that person's struggling. 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:21.360 And you have that gift to go and help that person. 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:23.799 And you wonder, why am I the only one here? 00:09:23.799 --> 00:09:26.600 Why am I the only one doing this? 00:09:26.600 --> 00:09:27.960 Where's everybody else at? 00:09:27.960 --> 00:09:38.940 And you begin to become critical of why people are not doing what we're doing and we feel alone in what we're doing in the church because other people are not assisting us. 00:09:38.940 --> 00:09:45.799 But we're looking at the whole church based upon our strength and thinking this is the way to serve the Lord. 00:09:45.799 --> 00:09:46.840 This is the method. 00:09:46.840 --> 00:09:47.840 This is the ministry. 00:09:47.840 --> 00:09:48.840 This is what I'm good at. 00:09:48.840 --> 00:09:49.960 This is what I enjoy. 00:09:49.960 --> 00:09:53.519 Why is other people not doing likewise? 00:09:53.519 --> 00:09:58.759 And maybe you're an eye and you think, well, I can see well, but you don't realize feet don't see very good. 00:09:58.759 --> 00:10:06.840 But you don't walk around very well, you know, or you got other areas that you're unaware of, of your shortcomings. 00:10:06.840 --> 00:10:08.919 And God has purposely learned this. 00:10:08.919 --> 00:10:19.799 We're not going to go to it, but we can learn in Ephesians chapter four, God has purposely built a church where he brings in Christians and he says, he doesn't say, I'm going to give you every spiritual gift. 00:10:19.799 --> 00:10:23.279 There's only one man who had all the spiritual giftings. 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:25.080 His name is Jesus. 00:10:25.080 --> 00:10:27.759 He had them perfectly all of them. 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:29.860 He was the perfect man. 00:10:29.860 --> 00:10:35.399 But the rest of us were imperfect and incomplete and we're not designed to be complete men. 00:10:35.399 --> 00:10:37.799 If you were a perfect man, you wouldn't need the church. 00:10:37.799 --> 00:10:41.440 She's like, well, I can do everything. 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:48.399 But you're made with strengths and you're made with weaknesses and order that you may have to become you. 00:10:48.399 --> 00:10:51.919 You're interdependent upon others. 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:57.679 And you'll see that you're interdependent upon God's people in order to be fulfilled yourself. 00:10:57.679 --> 00:11:07.720 That is, God has made the Christian church and God's body to be unable or unable or incompetent to function alone. 00:11:07.720 --> 00:11:11.159 We're not able to say, I'm just going to go do home church. 00:11:11.159 --> 00:11:12.679 I'm just going to do this by myself. 00:11:12.679 --> 00:11:20.080 I mean, the church has got full of problems and people are they irritate me and I get upset with everybody. 00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:24.039 I'm just going to be alone and Jesus is perfect and I'm just going to serve him by myself. 00:11:24.039 --> 00:11:32.919 But you'll find that those who isolate themselves are not wise, but they find that they'll find that you're going to be maybe strong in the area of your strength. 00:11:32.919 --> 00:11:40.179 But in all the other areas that you need to correct it in and help in those areas are just going to get worse and worse in your life. 00:11:40.179 --> 00:11:41.519 You need an eye. 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:46.080 We all need one another and God has made us different. 00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:48.440 So we will be unified. 00:11:48.440 --> 00:11:51.519 It's our diversity that helps the unity. 00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:59.000 It's our weaknesses that make us dependent upon one another and there's our strengths is not to be used for ourself. 00:11:59.000 --> 00:12:09.919 You know, your spiritual fruit that God has given you and the spiritual discernment or wisdom or kindness or faith. 00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:16.039 Whatever God is spiritually gifted you with, that's not for yourself. 00:12:16.039 --> 00:12:21.360 Your gifting was made for the church to serve his bride. 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:26.360 And so in this we see the unity and diversity and we see this. 00:12:26.360 --> 00:12:29.399 He wants us not to be verse one. 00:12:29.399 --> 00:12:32.080 He says now concerning spiritual gifts. 00:12:32.080 --> 00:12:35.799 Brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 00:12:35.799 --> 00:12:37.879 That is we have a wrong print. 00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:48.200 The Corinthians at least had a wrong understanding of spiritual gifting and they were basing their unity on these gifts rather than upon the gospel. 00:12:48.200 --> 00:12:56.200 And so he's going to give us several things in which we're different and several things in which were similar. 00:12:56.200 --> 00:13:07.559 He's going to show us that there are some things that all of us have in common and he's going to show us there's some things that we have that are uniquely different from one another. 00:13:07.559 --> 00:13:16.559 And one says, first of all, verses two and three, we see that we all have different backgrounds, but we have one same profession. 00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:18.840 We all may have served different idols. 00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:24.480 Not all of us serve the same idols, but now we all serve the same Lord. 00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:33.120 You know, we didn't come from the same place, but we have ended up with the same profession of faith. 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:47.559 Now it does seem according to verse two and three that the Corinthians were using the spiritual gifts, especially speaking in tongues and as a like a litmus test, like, okay, you're spiritually minded. 00:13:47.559 --> 00:13:49.639 You're filled with the spirit or you're a Christian. 00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:55.919 We know you're a Christian because look, you're able to do these things that are observable. 00:13:55.919 --> 00:14:04.000 I see observable clear evidence that you're filled with the spirit and you know, some of the spiritual giftings are not that observable. 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:10.960 I mean, if you're a prayer warrior and you close your door in the closet and you're praying for the church and no one's aware of it, that's not as observable. 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:11.960 Is it? 00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:16.519 So it's easier to think about the spiritual gifts that you can see and demonstrate. 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:19.879 All those are the important ones. 00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:34.080 And this is seems to be going on and and and what we see in verse two and three, what Paul is saying is, you know, the litmus test that you're Christian is not that you speak in tongues. 00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:38.279 The litmus test that you're Christian is that you say Jesus is Lord. 00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:41.879 Look what it says. 00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:44.960 You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to mute idols. 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:47.000 However you were led. 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:57.320 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the spirit of God ever says Jesus is a cursed and no one can say Jesus is Lord except in the Holy Spirit. 00:14:57.320 --> 00:15:01.279 Now how do they come out of this paganism? 00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:03.159 I mean, what is the evidence? 00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:12.039 Paul said to the Thessalonians, I know your election and I know it because you used to be serving all these idols. 00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:18.519 And you've turned from serving these dumb idols, these idols that can't speak. 00:15:18.519 --> 00:15:19.519 These mute idols. 00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:22.360 You turn from that to serving the living God. 00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:24.960 This is the evidence of your salvation. 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:27.320 This is what Paul is basically saying here. 00:15:27.320 --> 00:15:36.480 I see the evidence that you're filled with the Holy Spirit, not because you speak in tongues, but because you confess Jesus is Christ. 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:42.000 He talks about how our formal lives just doesn't make sense. 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:49.039 It says you were pagans and all of us were pagans in this room. 00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:52.279 We do have that in common, but we had different idols. 00:15:52.279 --> 00:15:55.840 You know, we didn't all serve the same models. 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:58.100 Some of us worship football. 00:15:58.100 --> 00:15:59.679 Some of us worshiped our careers. 00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:01.600 Some of us worshiped ourselves. 00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:05.759 Some of us worship pleasure. 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:07.080 Some of us worship education. 00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:14.000 I mean, we all had different bits and heat. 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:19.039 Whatever bit we were bent towards or whatever idol that we served. 00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:22.240 Paul says, I don't even know how you were led down that path. 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:26.480 It's like it doesn't make sense that you were led to worship idols. 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:40.480 I mean, as he thinks about the Corinthians, like what led you to bow down and worship an object that's made out of stone or wood? 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:44.200 Hebrews two, eighties four in making trust in his own creation. 00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:46.639 He makes idols that cannot speak. 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:49.879 Psalm 115 tells us in verse five, they have mouths, but they cannot speak. 00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:53.159 They have eyes, but they cannot see. 00:16:53.159 --> 00:17:01.320 You know, Isaiah 44 talks about a man who has some wood and he builds a fire and he warms themselves, cooks his fish on it, goes, Oh, that was good. 00:17:01.320 --> 00:17:02.759 And then what I do with a leftover stick. 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:03.759 Oh, I know what I'll do. 00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:06.960 I'll make an idol out of it and then I'll worship it. 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:08.960 And he's making fun of that process. 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:14.279 It's like how foolish, how naive, how crazy must you be? 00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:21.720 It's easy for us who may have never had a wooden object or a metal object that we prayed to. 00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:22.720 Maybe we've never done that. 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:25.920 But think about your own former life. 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:28.400 Was your life any more sane? 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:35.480 Can you tell any more wisdom because you worship yourself rather than God? 00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:44.240 I mean, that may be a little bit better than worshiping a stick, but is that really an insane act, a sane act to worship yourself? 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:46.240 No. 00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:49.000 So he said, I don't know how you were led. 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:52.599 What motivated you to worship these things? 00:17:52.599 --> 00:18:00.880 But now what you do have in common is now that you all say Christ is Lord. 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:12.200 He says in verse three, I want you to understand that no one's speaking in the spirit of God ever since Jesus is a curse and no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. 00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:14.839 And this is one thing you can say, well, am I a Christian? 00:18:14.839 --> 00:18:17.880 Well, put this test to you. 00:18:17.880 --> 00:18:19.960 Now you can say the words. 00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:23.680 Paul pinned the words. 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:26.240 And I just read the words. 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:30.240 So it's not just saying the words, it's meaning it in your heart. 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:36.319 Anyone here, could you say curse Christ? 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:39.440 Think about it for a minute. 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:44.160 This is, you know, I mean, think about saying that for a second in your conscience. 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:45.160 Think about it. 00:18:45.160 --> 00:18:48.319 Could you say that? 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:51.839 If you can, you're not a Christian. 00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:53.839 It's that simple. 00:18:53.839 --> 00:19:00.200 But for the Christian who has the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is not going to allow you to do that. 00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:04.000 I mean, you could be put under torture. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:10.000 You can you can I mean, if they caught you and capture you say, hey, tell me where they're at. 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:11.000 Well, I'll tell you they're here. 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:12.000 They're there. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:14.319 You might be able to get some information out of you. 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:15.319 But you know what? 00:19:15.319 --> 00:19:16.319 One thing they can't get out of you. 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:17.920 They've never done it throughout church history. 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:19.759 They persecuted us. 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:20.880 They put us to the rack. 00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:22.440 They have imprisoned us. 00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:27.839 I mean, our Christian forefathers and not once has a true child of God ever said curse Christ. 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:32.240 In fact, they marbled at the early church. 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:36.559 So in fact, they couldn't get them to do it. 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:42.519 And you can't even contemplate the thought of doing it because it's repulsive to say curse Christ. 00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:43.519 He's your salvation. 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:45.160 He's your life. 00:19:45.160 --> 00:19:46.160 He's your all. 00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:47.160 He's your God. 00:19:47.160 --> 00:19:49.599 Well, why do you say that? 00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:53.640 Because you say it in the flesh because you're strong because you're intelligent. 00:19:53.640 --> 00:19:54.880 You don't do it because of you. 00:19:54.880 --> 00:20:04.200 You do it because you have the Holy Spirit and you who are filled with all the spirit, you cannot curse Christ and anyone who without the Holy Spirit in the same way. 00:20:04.200 --> 00:20:08.240 If you don't have the Holy Spirit, you can't bow down to Jesus is Lord. 00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:13.960 You cannot confess Christ is Lord and mean it in your heart. 00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:17.559 This is what we have in common. 00:20:17.559 --> 00:20:25.039 So what is like we are all different and we have our unique giftings and personalities and workings and ministries. 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:26.119 We'll talk about that in a second. 00:20:26.119 --> 00:20:39.200 But here's one thing you we all have in common is we all have battled the need to the Lord Jesus Christ because all true Christians have the Holy Spirit. 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:42.920 So that is a common thing in even in our diversity. 00:20:42.920 --> 00:20:47.900 We may all have weird backgrounds, educated, uneducated from this way. 00:20:47.900 --> 00:20:53.599 That way we don't we don't unify because we come from the same place. 00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:56.680 We're unified because we have the same Lord. 00:20:56.680 --> 00:21:04.359 Finally verse four, we have different gifts, but we have the same spirit. 00:21:04.359 --> 00:21:08.799 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same spirit. 00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:14.200 This word gifts here literally was where we get the word charismatic. 00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:21.599 The Greek word means cares us, Maddock, which means a grace gift, a gift that received by grace. 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:25.400 The gifts that we have are not natural dispositions. 00:21:25.400 --> 00:21:26.680 We're not born with them. 00:21:26.680 --> 00:21:29.319 They're not something that belong to us. 00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:31.960 They come by the working of the Holy Spirit. 00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:34.839 They're gifts of the spirit. 00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:37.440 And when you're saved, the spirit has gifted you. 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:38.599 He's given you by grace. 00:21:38.599 --> 00:21:39.599 You didn't earn it. 00:21:39.599 --> 00:21:44.200 You didn't deserve it, but it's a part of being filled with the spirit that you have been gifted. 00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:45.839 Well, how have I been gifted? 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:53.240 Well, you've been gifted differently and uniquely by the spirit, as we'll see, as he has chosen to give you gifts. 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:59.279 We all have different gifts and all these gifts are necessary and important, but they are different. 00:21:59.279 --> 00:22:06.160 It says a diversity of gifts or a variety of gifts. 00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:17.039 Now think about and I love the story of Exodus 35 when Moses is building the tabernacle and he's got to build this tabernacle and Moses. 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:18.640 I mean, when's he going to build it? 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:21.960 He's not necessarily gifted at carpentry. 00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:30.460 So what the Bible tells us is that he raised up a man, a particular man and gifted that man to build the tabernacle. 00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:46.319 And chapter 35 of Exodus, verse 30 says, then Moses said to the people of Israel, see the Lord has called by name, Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of her, of the tribe of Judah. 00:22:46.319 --> 00:23:05.240 And he has filled him with the spirit of God and with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge and with craftsmanship to devise artistic designs to work in gold and silver and bronze and cutting stones for setting and the carving of wood for work and ever skilled craft. 00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:07.339 This is amazing thing. 00:23:07.339 --> 00:23:17.279 God raised up this man and he must have been the carpenter of all carpenters because his skill set was given to him by the Holy Spirit. 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:19.759 He says, I put intelligence in him. 00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:20.759 I put wisdom. 00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:27.480 I gave his hands the skill to do all these artistic things to work with silver and gold. 00:23:27.480 --> 00:23:30.039 I would have loved to seen his work, but isn't it amazing? 00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:39.000 Have you ever been impressed when you see someone that knows what they're doing and that can do things that like, man, I wouldn't want to touch that one time. 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:43.359 Tommy and I, Tommy Walls were working. 00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:51.839 I mean, working like in the sense of construction work in a house. 00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:56.799 And I was, I mean, I can handle my screwdriver and a hammer and I can be a golfer. 00:23:56.799 --> 00:24:07.240 I can do some things, but we got to a problem with this big beam that was put across the ceiling and I thought we're going to have to call someone. 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:09.480 You know, that's what I do when I run into problems. 00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:13.319 I got to call someone. 00:24:13.319 --> 00:24:17.240 Everybody knows how often I've called Elvis up to help. 00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:22.119 I mean, I, however, I was sitting there looking at this beam. 00:24:22.119 --> 00:24:24.039 I'm like, who are we going to call? 00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:28.039 Well, Tommy's not thinking that Tommy looked at it for about 10 minutes. 00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:29.039 Like, okay, we got to do this. 00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:31.599 And five minutes later, he had the thing. 00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:34.200 He made a particular brace. 00:24:34.200 --> 00:24:36.599 He made a brace out of wood first to do this thing. 00:24:36.599 --> 00:24:39.079 And then it just fit right in place. 00:24:39.079 --> 00:24:43.279 I was like, how did he know to do that? 00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:45.799 Where did he get that wisdom? 00:24:45.799 --> 00:24:48.880 You know, how did he figure that out on the spot like that? 00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:52.720 It's like, that's a gift. 00:24:52.720 --> 00:25:00.839 And I mean, obviously, God skipped over me when he was passing out those gifts. 00:25:00.839 --> 00:25:07.839 You know, another gift he skipped over me on and I'm somewhat upset about. 00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:11.599 I mean, I'm kidding, but I'm not kidding. 00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:20.960 God lined us all up in eternity past, you know, and one of the greatest gifts, I mean, I'm trying to tell you there's no, there's all gifts are important, but just lay that aside for a second. 00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:24.799 One of the greatest gifts is singing. 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:30.480 Don't you think, don't you love to hear a good voice? 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:33.519 And it's like, here's what we're all lined up in. 00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:35.160 God's like, you get a lot. 00:25:35.160 --> 00:25:38.519 You get some, you get a some, you get more, you get some. 00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:39.519 And here I am. 00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:47.440 And he's like, walks around me and I'm like, Hey, I want some just a little back. 00:25:47.440 --> 00:26:03.599 Can I hold a tune at least, you know, something, you know, but we're all, but I do, I do really appreciate those who can see or keep timing, hold a tune at least, you know, I appreciate it. 00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:05.279 But we're not all gifted the same. 00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:07.440 Are we? 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:09.559 We have weaknesses. 00:26:09.559 --> 00:26:17.640 We have areas that were not that good in, you know, ever met someone that loves everybody, but it's a little naive. 00:26:17.640 --> 00:26:24.319 Doesn't have the discernment, but they outstrip us all and love because they think the best of everybody. 00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:27.279 It's like, wow, that's a, that's good. 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:31.759 It comes with a weakness, but yet there's some strength there that we can learn from. 00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:38.279 And we, we tend to, you know, we're always evaluating one another, aren't we? 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:45.440 And often that's again, we're evaluating other strengths and we're like, Oh, you're good here, but we're critical of this. 00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:58.799 But maybe God's put that deficit see there in them for a reason and we don't need to be critical because they can't sing or they can't build things or they can't have all the discernment that they need. 00:26:58.799 --> 00:27:05.640 You know, maybe that's why God's designed us to have weaknesses and strengths. 00:27:05.640 --> 00:27:07.680 You know, some of us have the gift of service. 00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:10.240 Some of you have the gift of encouragement. 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:14.019 I could tell you, I can know all the people in here that have the gift of encouragement. 00:27:14.019 --> 00:27:17.880 It's like, I think that's what keeps this place going. 00:27:17.880 --> 00:27:21.160 You know, there wasn't people coming by and going, Hey, appreciate that. 00:27:21.160 --> 00:27:22.160 Thank you for that. 00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:23.160 Keep that up. 00:27:23.160 --> 00:27:25.079 I really am encouraged by what you're doing there. 00:27:25.079 --> 00:27:31.480 If you hadn't got some people just kind of building you up and applauding you some, it's like, well, I don't want to make you proud. 00:27:31.480 --> 00:27:34.599 Listen, you need to tell people that they're doing a good job. 00:27:34.599 --> 00:27:35.599 Take about your own kids. 00:27:35.599 --> 00:27:40.079 What happened if you didn't tell your kids, Hey, I'm proud of you. 00:27:40.079 --> 00:27:41.079 Keep that up. 00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:42.079 Keep going. 00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:43.759 Keep striving in that area. 00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:45.440 That's a gift of encouragement. 00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:46.799 Some people have it. 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:50.400 Thank the Lord. 00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:52.079 Some have the gift of hospitality. 00:27:52.079 --> 00:27:59.119 Some people have the gift of sacrificially giving and just giving, giving, give. 00:27:59.119 --> 00:28:00.119 But we're all different. 00:28:00.119 --> 00:28:05.759 We all have different giftings, but you know, one thing we all have the same. 00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:12.880 It says now there are varieties of gifts, but the same spirit. 00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:14.440 This is what makes the gift. 00:28:14.440 --> 00:28:19.039 Wonderful is because it comes from the Holy Spirit. 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:20.519 That's the unity. 00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:25.680 The bond is the fact that there's one spirit. 00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:39.160 Now look, it goes on to the third thing we see here in verse five that there are different services, but the same Lord look, verse five says, and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord. 00:28:39.160 --> 00:28:44.119 One version says there's a variety of ministries. 00:28:44.119 --> 00:28:45.839 That's a good way of looking at this way. 00:28:45.839 --> 00:28:46.839 Service. 00:28:46.839 --> 00:28:48.640 We all serve or to serve the church. 00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:50.839 We have different ways of serving. 00:28:50.839 --> 00:28:51.839 We have we go. 00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:52.839 Well, that's my ministry. 00:28:52.839 --> 00:28:54.240 Well, what's your ministry? 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:56.160 Well, this is what I do. 00:28:56.160 --> 00:28:57.880 This is where I'm uniquely gifted. 00:28:57.880 --> 00:28:59.119 This is what I enjoy doing. 00:28:59.119 --> 00:29:01.240 This is where I find some fulfillment in. 00:29:01.240 --> 00:29:07.359 We have all different types of ministries. 00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:22.279 You know, as a church at GBC, we want to be a simple church, but we want to be a simple church that has a lot of complexities when it comes to the individual ministries of the body. 00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:26.440 There is as many members, there's that many ministries. 00:29:26.440 --> 00:29:28.640 How many ministries that GBC have? 00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:29.880 Well, we just do this. 00:29:29.880 --> 00:29:30.920 We only have a simple thing. 00:29:30.920 --> 00:29:32.920 We do this, this and this, this. 00:29:32.920 --> 00:29:34.839 Well, how many ministers do you have? 00:29:34.839 --> 00:29:39.720 Well, we have as many ministers as we have members. 00:29:39.720 --> 00:29:42.240 How many ministries do we have? 00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:48.880 We have as many ministries as we have family units in the church. 00:29:48.880 --> 00:29:52.200 And these ministries are often behind the scenes. 00:29:52.200 --> 00:29:53.759 They're not getting advertised. 00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:57.279 There's not announcements saying this is going on. 00:29:57.279 --> 00:30:01.400 And as some of the, a lot of these ministries, a lot of times I hear, can you announce my ministry? 00:30:01.400 --> 00:30:02.400 Can you announce that? 00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:03.720 I mean, listen, there's so many ministries. 00:30:03.720 --> 00:30:06.160 You can't answer them all. 00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:07.160 They're kind of organic. 00:30:07.160 --> 00:30:11.380 They're just happening underneath the surface or they're happening behind the scenes. 00:30:11.380 --> 00:30:15.799 They're happening with all the one another's just taking place every day. 00:30:15.799 --> 00:30:17.000 And we don't see them. 00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:20.599 God sometimes hides these things from us. 00:30:20.599 --> 00:30:22.920 Sometimes you've ever felt like, Hey, I'm only one working around here. 00:30:22.920 --> 00:30:26.740 And you don't realize this a bunch of more people that are working. 00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:27.740 You just don't see it. 00:30:27.740 --> 00:30:31.039 And you don't know what they're doing because they're not advertising it. 00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:32.680 They're not bringing attention to it. 00:30:32.680 --> 00:30:47.440 I mean, I know so many people that are praying, praying and praying, but I don't know all the people are praying because it's a lot of people are praying and they don't ever tell anybody they're praying because they don't want to their left hand to know what their right hand is doing. 00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:59.359 And they're just, they're just doing what they're doing behind the scenes and they're serving God, serving the church, and they're holding the church together by their ministries, but we're unaware of what's happening. 00:30:59.359 --> 00:31:02.539 And I'm thankful for every one of you. 00:31:02.539 --> 00:31:04.079 God is thankful for what you're doing. 00:31:04.079 --> 00:31:08.000 I mean, think about all of the ministries in this church. 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:09.559 We have evangelism ministries. 00:31:09.559 --> 00:31:10.980 We have nursing home ministries. 00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:12.220 We have prayer ministries. 00:31:12.220 --> 00:31:13.440 We have outreach ministries. 00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:16.039 We have giving ministries. 00:31:16.039 --> 00:31:18.319 I mean, these are diversities, right? 00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:23.279 They said diversity of services that's going on. 00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:25.880 We have people that love cleaning and putting up things. 00:31:25.880 --> 00:31:29.720 So we just, I had a guy come over the other day. 00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:32.599 I had, well, my lawnmower broke. 00:31:32.599 --> 00:31:33.599 And what do you do? 00:31:33.599 --> 00:31:34.599 Do I get the ratchet out? 00:31:34.599 --> 00:31:36.160 No, I use my cell phone. 00:31:36.160 --> 00:31:40.640 That's my, that's my tool. 00:31:40.640 --> 00:31:44.880 And I called my friend up and said, listen, I got a problem here. 00:31:44.880 --> 00:31:50.240 He says, I'll be, I mean, listen, this, he said, I'll be right there. 00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:51.759 I didn't mean for him to break away. 00:31:51.759 --> 00:31:54.000 What he was doing is last Saturday, I'll be right there. 00:31:54.000 --> 00:32:02.680 I was like, well, I feel bad about that because I was in the middle of mowing my yard and it just broke. 00:32:02.680 --> 00:32:04.880 He came and he tried to fix it on the spot. 00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:08.880 He says, well, I'm going to have to take this in and I'm going to take it to my shop. 00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:12.759 He says, but I'm going to come back and mow your yard so you don't have to wait. 00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:15.480 I was like, don't do that. 00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:16.480 Don't do that. 00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:17.480 I don't mind it. 00:32:17.480 --> 00:32:18.480 Moat and grow it. 00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:19.480 No, I'm going to mow it for you. 00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:20.480 Don't worry about it. 00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:27.160 And he comes and mows my yard last Saturday and then he fixes it and brings it back and it runs like new. 00:32:27.160 --> 00:32:30.960 I was like, who does that? 00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:34.359 I mean, it's a spiritual gifting. 00:32:34.359 --> 00:32:35.359 It's a serve. 00:32:35.359 --> 00:32:38.359 It's a ministry of service. 00:32:38.359 --> 00:32:43.319 It's serving the body and I can tell you I've seen you. 00:32:43.319 --> 00:32:49.000 I've seen, I mean, I don't want to embarrass anybody, but I see your, I mean, I don't see God sees it. 00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:50.720 Who cares if pastor Jeff sees it. 00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:56.380 If I don't do it to be safe, but God sees what you're doing. 00:32:56.380 --> 00:32:59.359 We don't all see what each other's doing. 00:32:59.359 --> 00:33:02.039 But God does it. 00:33:02.039 --> 00:33:16.619 It's not, you know, if you just give a cup of cold water, just a cup of cold water is all you have to do to be recognized by God and that cup of cold water given to another church member for anything to help them out, encourage them. 00:33:16.619 --> 00:33:21.339 That cup of cold water is not forgotten by God. 00:33:21.339 --> 00:33:29.000 So remember, we all do different things, but look, but we all have the same Lord. 00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:36.039 What's driving us to serve the body is not that the body is the ultimate object of our worship. 00:33:36.039 --> 00:33:39.440 We're doing it as unto the Lord. 00:33:39.440 --> 00:33:43.440 I love how the Lord says, if you want to love me, you love my body. 00:33:43.440 --> 00:33:48.880 But in giving a cup of cold water to one of my members, you're doing it as unto me. 00:33:48.880 --> 00:33:54.279 The day of judgment, when he rewards us, he's going, hey, when I was hungry, you fed me. 00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:55.880 And when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. 00:33:55.880 --> 00:33:57.640 When I was in prison, you came and visited me. 00:33:57.640 --> 00:33:58.759 Well, I was at the nursing home. 00:33:58.759 --> 00:34:00.880 You came and sit next to me. 00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:03.039 When I was sick, you came by my bedside. 00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:05.240 When I was struggling, you gave me a word of encouragement. 00:34:05.240 --> 00:34:07.759 When I needed you, you sent me a text message. 00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:10.159 So when I do that, I didn't ever saw it. 00:34:10.159 --> 00:34:11.159 I didn't ask. 00:34:11.159 --> 00:34:15.199 He says, when you've done it to these, you've done it to my body. 00:34:15.199 --> 00:34:16.400 Here's another side note. 00:34:16.400 --> 00:34:22.960 This is just for us to take home with this little extra note is and I think about this because I've hurt people. 00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:24.440 I've wounded Christians before. 00:34:24.440 --> 00:34:25.440 I've hurt people. 00:34:25.440 --> 00:34:27.559 I might have hurt some of you. 00:34:27.559 --> 00:34:32.239 It's like, man, if you hurt someone, you're hurting God. 00:34:32.239 --> 00:34:33.559 If you help someone, you're helping God. 00:34:33.559 --> 00:34:38.519 If you hurt one of God's people, you're hurting God. 00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:46.079 But here in the positive, as we're serving the body, you're doing it as unto the Lord. 00:34:46.079 --> 00:34:48.599 So love the body. 00:34:48.599 --> 00:34:49.599 Love one another. 00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:52.360 Don't be critical to one another. 00:34:52.360 --> 00:34:53.719 Build up one another. 00:34:53.719 --> 00:34:55.320 There's plenty of default funding. 00:34:55.320 --> 00:34:57.920 There's plenty of that to find. 00:34:57.920 --> 00:35:10.880 But I think God would be more pleased with us if we're finding the good and lifting one another up encouragement rather than through criticism. 00:35:10.880 --> 00:35:14.639 Look forcefully, different activities, but the same God, let's look at verse 16. 00:35:14.639 --> 00:35:17.280 He says basically the same thing in another way. 00:35:17.280 --> 00:35:23.000 And there are varieties of activities, but the same God who empowers them all and everyone. 00:35:23.000 --> 00:35:31.480 These word activities literally means a grace felt, a grace empowered work. 00:35:31.480 --> 00:35:34.079 The working of energy that comes from the grace of God. 00:35:34.079 --> 00:35:38.119 That's the meaning of the word, these activities. 00:35:38.119 --> 00:35:48.519 It's the word using cautions 129 to this in I also labor or I have the energy, I work striving according to his working, which he works in me, modally. 00:35:48.519 --> 00:35:49.519 So here it is. 00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:55.239 The spirit that gives us in is the it's God who empowers us. 00:35:55.239 --> 00:35:59.079 What do we get the power to minister? 00:35:59.079 --> 00:36:01.300 What are we get the shrink to serve? 00:36:01.300 --> 00:36:02.480 It doesn't come from selfishness. 00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:03.760 It doesn't come from self. 00:36:03.760 --> 00:36:06.960 It comes from God. 00:36:06.960 --> 00:36:09.639 God working in you mightily. 00:36:09.639 --> 00:36:13.320 Jesus says greater works than these you will do. 00:36:13.320 --> 00:36:14.639 You were going to do good works. 00:36:14.639 --> 00:36:16.119 You're saved to do good work. 00:36:16.119 --> 00:36:17.119 You're saved to work. 00:36:17.119 --> 00:36:26.940 You're saved to serve and your spiritual fruit is designed to benefit the body designed to help and assist the growth of the body. 00:36:26.940 --> 00:36:34.559 And this comes from power from God in our lives. 00:36:34.559 --> 00:36:39.239 But you see there's different variety of activities at different levels of energy. 00:36:39.239 --> 00:36:40.440 Some of us are high energy. 00:36:40.440 --> 00:36:43.199 We have we could produce hundred fold. 00:36:43.199 --> 00:36:44.440 Some of us are 60 fold. 00:36:44.440 --> 00:36:46.400 Others are 40 fold, but we're all working. 00:36:46.400 --> 00:36:49.219 We may not do the same amount of work. 00:36:49.219 --> 00:36:54.420 We may not do the same type of work, but we're all if you're a Christian you're working. 00:36:54.420 --> 00:36:56.920 If you're saved you're serving. 00:36:56.920 --> 00:37:07.699 If you're born again you have a spiritual gift or have multiple spiritual gifts because God's designed you to be a benefit to the whole body. 00:37:07.699 --> 00:37:10.039 There's no just like your human body. 00:37:10.039 --> 00:37:12.300 There's really no part that's not needed. 00:37:12.300 --> 00:37:13.900 There's no member that's not needed. 00:37:13.900 --> 00:37:17.360 There's no member needed. 00:37:17.360 --> 00:37:21.840 Same God who empowers them all in every one. 00:37:21.840 --> 00:37:23.280 Fifthly different. 00:37:23.280 --> 00:37:24.280 Not only there. 00:37:24.280 --> 00:37:26.380 Here's another diversity thing. 00:37:26.380 --> 00:37:30.760 There are different manifestations of the spirit, but the same objective. 00:37:30.760 --> 00:37:38.480 Look at verse seven to each is given the manifestation of the spirit for the common good. 00:37:38.480 --> 00:37:40.400 Now it's not just speaking in tongues. 00:37:40.400 --> 00:37:41.400 Some people didn't speak in tongues. 00:37:41.400 --> 00:37:47.920 In fact, I would say in the first church of the first century most people did. 00:37:47.920 --> 00:37:51.079 But he lists a lot of different gifts. 00:37:51.079 --> 00:37:52.079 Verse eight. 00:37:52.079 --> 00:38:16.320 For to one is given through the spirit the utterance of wisdom another the utterance of knowledge according to the same spirit to another faith by the same spirit to another gifts of healing by this one spirit to another by the working of miracles to another prophecy to another ability to distinguish between spirits another various kinds of tongues another the interpretation of tongues and he's just given a sampling of the spiritual gifting that God has given the church. 00:38:16.320 --> 00:38:20.239 He's not trying to give us an exhaustive list. 00:38:20.239 --> 00:38:22.079 But not everybody is doing the same thing. 00:38:22.079 --> 00:38:25.880 Everybody has the same gifting. 00:38:25.880 --> 00:38:28.559 But we see here the diversity of manifestation. 00:38:28.559 --> 00:38:30.199 That is how do you see the spirit in your life? 00:38:30.199 --> 00:38:34.599 You see it in the spiritual gifting in your life. 00:38:34.599 --> 00:38:39.559 And the diversity of manifestation is in accordance with the spirits will look at verse 11. 00:38:39.559 --> 00:38:47.480 All these are empowered by the one and the same spirit who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 00:38:47.480 --> 00:38:58.559 That is it really was the Holy Spirit after Christ accomplished the work of our salvation and all the fruit that we would produce at the cross by dying for us. 00:38:58.559 --> 00:39:16.440 The Bible says in Ephesians four that he ascended to heaven and he dispersed out gifts to man and he gave apostles prophets evangelist teachers and so forth for the benefit in the working of the building of the body and it's the Holy Spirit his sovereign will the Holy Spirit the person of the Holy Spirit. 00:39:16.440 --> 00:39:25.800 He's the one who decides who gets what and how much of what he gives and he's the one that says you get this you get this you get this. 00:39:25.800 --> 00:39:29.519 I'm giving you this every one of us has something. 00:39:29.519 --> 00:39:41.920 So well I didn't get to choose no the spirit shows for you what you've got and it's learning to be content with the gifting that you're called with and to serve with the energy that God gives you. 00:39:41.920 --> 00:39:46.440 But why did he each gift us not for ourselves. 00:39:46.440 --> 00:39:53.840 He's called us not to be using our our gifts talents. 00:39:53.840 --> 00:40:05.519 Ministries for self exaltation look at me for building up a cell or for isolation is called you to use it for the building up of the body. 00:40:05.519 --> 00:40:11.760 Look at us what it says it going back to verse seven to each is given the manifestation of the spirit for the common good. 00:40:11.760 --> 00:40:22.639 The diversity brings in unity the fact that we don't have if you would perfect equality we all have the same wealth we all have the same resources we all have the same. 00:40:22.639 --> 00:40:27.840 No some of us are rich some of us are poor some of us have some over here some of us don't have that. 00:40:27.840 --> 00:40:43.840 It's God's decision to diversify the giftings and not to be envious or discontent with what we have where to be content is satisfied with what we have and we're to use what we have for the common good of the body. 00:40:43.840 --> 00:40:54.840 First Peter four put it this way verse ten as each one has received a gift minister it to one another as God stewards of the manifold grace of God. 00:40:54.840 --> 00:41:07.840 If anyone speaks let him speak as the oracles of God if anyone ministers let him do it as with the ability which God supplies then in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom being the glory and the dominion forever and ever. 00:41:07.840 --> 00:41:09.199 Amen. 00:41:09.199 --> 00:41:16.840 Just do what you have with what you got and it's like well people are not going to be satisfied with that just do what you can't. 00:41:16.840 --> 00:41:31.199 Older minister of mind a friend of mine North Carolina East twenty years above me and he asked talking to him like how do you handle criticism people that like your preaching want this you to change here want that to change how do you handle all that. 00:41:31.199 --> 00:41:40.039 He goes well it helped me he said you know when you're young you have these ambitions of being a great preacher and you're going to be the next Spurgeon or you're going to be this person or that person. 00:41:40.039 --> 00:41:46.159 He says value kind of settle into where your giftings are and who you are you realize you're no one else but yourself. 00:41:46.159 --> 00:42:05.360 He says I'm just going to give my best and that's all that God requires of me. 00:42:05.360 --> 00:42:10.440 That's all he requires of any of us. 00:42:10.440 --> 00:42:16.239 He's not overly scrutinizing your service. 00:42:16.239 --> 00:42:19.199 It's been covered by the blood of Christ. 00:42:19.199 --> 00:42:20.960 He's happy with it. 00:42:20.960 --> 00:42:23.679 He's pleased with it. 00:42:23.679 --> 00:42:30.619 Romans twelve four says for as we have many members in one body but all the members do not have the same function. 00:42:30.619 --> 00:42:41.119 So we being many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us. 00:42:41.119 --> 00:43:01.000 Prophecy let us prophesy in proportion to our faith our ministry let us use it to our ministry he who teaches in teaching he who exhorts and exhortation he gives with Liberty he leads with diligence he who shows mercy with cheerfulness I mean we're all going to have a role to play. 00:43:01.000 --> 00:43:09.760 And sometimes we're not good at other things. 00:43:09.760 --> 00:43:13.320 But it's the body is love. 00:43:13.320 --> 00:43:18.039 It's love that should motivate us to serve one another. 00:43:18.039 --> 00:43:50.519 Finally I don't want to get into verses twelve through fourteen too much because I think I'm going to handle that more fully in the next message but he carries on the idea at least that there are different members but one body for just as their body is one and has many members and all the members of the body though many are one body so it is with Christ for in one spirit we all are baptized into one body Jews are Greek slaves are free all were made to drink of one spirit for the body does not consist of many members. 00:43:50.519 --> 00:43:59.760 It does not consist of one member but many say that is going back to this unity and diversity there you're not made to be alone. 00:43:59.760 --> 00:44:01.760 You are not the body of Christ. 00:44:01.760 --> 00:44:15.260 We are the body of Christ though we're many we've been unified if you're Jew or Greek bond or slave we've been unified in Christ Jesus. 00:44:15.260 --> 00:44:36.280 So our unity unity is not human uniformity is some kind of cold that wants to make us all look the same make us all gifted the same that that would be a cult leader that's trying to force you into a pigeonhole of what your Christian service looks like. 00:44:36.280 --> 00:44:39.920 Unity is not individual equality. 00:44:39.920 --> 00:44:48.480 There are some who are gifted more or have different unique gifts others are gifted less. 00:44:48.480 --> 00:44:57.920 Some are gifted in different ways but they're all every gift is essential for the function of the body. 00:44:57.920 --> 00:45:33.500 You see unity has a common objective common purpose for the building up you can read Ephesians for we're going to get into this more in detail next time when the eye cannot say to the hand I don't need you you cannot say hey I don't need the other gifts I'm self-sufficient or nor should you say everyone should look like me and everyone should have the same ministry or the same gifting or race need to evangelize the same way I've been July as everybody needs to do hospitality ministry the way I do it everybody needs to give a certain percentage money that I give you know thank the Lord that we're all different. 00:45:33.500 --> 00:45:39.000 We should not an application we should not despise or envy those who are gifted differently than us. 00:45:39.000 --> 00:45:44.019 We should rather be thankful for the diversity of the body. 00:45:44.019 --> 00:46:08.400 You should also remember that we need others for our own spiritual growth remember that you're deficient in some areas and you need others it wasn't the church I mean the church needs that I like the thought that if God brings members to our churches because we needed that and we were deficient in that area. 00:46:08.400 --> 00:46:58.760 So now the Lord has provided something we needed also others need us don't ever believe this is one of my last applying principles here don't believe the lie from Satan that you're not needed or you're not useful or you don't have a role to play that you have nothing to contribute or to give or to help to assist we need you the saints need you therefore we all should seek to use whatever we have what energy we have what gifts we have to serve God's people for the good of the whole for the glory of the one we serve let's pray. 00:46:58.760 --> 00:47:23.800 The Lord thank you for the body and how you arranged it how you have equipped us uniquely and differently but you brought us in by the same spirit given us a same confession of faith that Jesus is Lord that we would serve the one God and that we be built up together this we pray in your son's name. 00:47:23.800 --> 00:47:24.199 Amen. 00:47:24.199 --> 00:47:34.199 [BLANK_AUDIO]