Gtcotr/ws101211
1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant.
Briefly re-cap from Parts 1 & 2 …
1 Corinthians 12
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
Tonight we continue our study of Spiritual Things by continuing discussing:
Verse 5: Differences of Administrations
· Administrations – Greek word Diakonia
· Ministries – Services – Administration of an Office
We discovered these differences of administrations were referred to once again by the Apostle Paul a little later in chapter 12.
1 Corinthians 12
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
The Five Fold Ministry
Ephesians 4
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Last week we talked about these were gifts given to the church. This evening we are continuing by taking a look at some additional ministries which God placed in the church to assist in administrating spiritual matters. In addition to the five-fold ministries, two other service ministries are:
Bishops and Deacons
1 Timothy 3
1 ¶ This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 ¶ Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
· By the same Lord
What about Elders?
The Greek word translated Elder in the New Testament simply refers to an older, more mature man or woman in the faith. There are many elders in the church which should be treated with respect and honor, as mothers and fathers in the faith. However, once an elder is recognized and ordained to an officially recognized position of ministry, they become an overseer of that duty or responsibility and an officer of the church assisting to administrate the spiritual things of the church.
I draw this principle from several references in the word but for brevity sake and time considerations will offer in support the passage from:
Titus 1
5 ¶ For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
6 ¶ If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
An ordained Elder is therefore ordained into the Bishopric (office or overseer ship) of a Bishop (overseer). A Bishop is the curator, guardian and superintendant of the ministry or administration to which he is over placed.
Continuing with our study of Spiritual Things we find:
1 Corinthians 12
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
Verse 6: Diversities of Operations
· Operations – Greek word Energema
· Workings;
· Both the Energy and the Energizing Effect
Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
God operates differently in different people … as he wills. For to Peter God gave the ministry to the Jews and to Paul the ministry to the Gentiles. One God calls here and another there … One He gifts one way another a different way. God moves in various ways to perform His will which no other person can orchestrate. God is both the author and the finisher.
This is further explained by Paul as he begins to describe the body of Christ. God operates everything according to His desired affect … in other words, God has put all things together on purpose for purpose – a plan!
One Body – A Many-Membered Body
Not merely a multi-membered body, but many separate members joined together as one body. And, might I add here – joined together by that which every joint supplies in accordance with:
Ephesians 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
1 Corinthians 12
12 ¶ 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.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 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?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
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:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour 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 honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Everything spiritual operates by God for His Divine purpose. We are what we have made ourselves from what God gave us. We all possess Divine strengths, weaknesses, limitations and capacities, according to God’s purpose which He designed in us before time began. We were created on purpose for purpose … His purpose.
Only when we are joined together in the Body of Christ, using the gifts given us by the Holy Spirit doing the work of God as He purposed can we completely fulfill the plan of God and be fulfilled in God’s plan. However, God did not just leave His plan at our mercy … He reserves the right to work through us without our permission.
God does not first have to seek our permission before He uses us for His purposes. This is a Spiritual Thing and we need not be ignorant of the fact the God can and does use even a donkey … He uses whom He wills. Perhaps this spiritual truth is best revealed in:
1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
Verse 7: The Manifestation of the Holy Spirit
· Manifestation – Greek word Phanerosis
· To illuminate or bring to light – to reveal – to make known
1 Corinthians 12
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Life is Spiritual and God has intended that we not be ignorant of Spiritual Things … how that He has gifted us, called us, equipped us, orchestrates all things to work together in different ways, and manifest Himself through us to a world which should see us as one body, fully functioning as many members, yet one body, working in unity and unison to accomplish the purposes of God, each part set in by God to the place of His will, joined in the Spirit, appreciative and respectful of every other part, seeing each and every one as needed and necessary for the body to be complete and whole, under the Lordship of Christ, being led by the Holy Spirit.
We are spiritual beings with spiritual gifts, subject to the operation of God and capable of being used by Him even without our permission. Yet, God wants us to understand these spiritual things so that we might have greater opportunity to be greater used for His greater plan.
