1 Corinthians 12:2,3   Message 8 

We have learned of Paul’s concern for the Corinthians ignorance of the purpose and proper use of the gifts of God.  The church was divided, even in their claim to the leadership of God in the gifts of ministry.  Paul began to correct them, teaching them that God is not divided and will not contradict Himself in any way.  We will begin to examine –

  B. His explanation. 1 Corinthians 12:2,3

    1. The spirit of the world.

1 Corinthians 12:2  Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

      a. They had been only recently informed of the truth of the Gospel. 

Acts 18:1-6  After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

         
      b. They had been superstitious.

        1). Sacrificing to idols.
        2). Submitting to false teachings and to evil priests.

God has warned men about the spirit of this world –

1 Corinthians 10:19-21  What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

    2. The Spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 12:3

No divided loyalties can exist in the hearts of believers.  We are to be “One Way”, “Singled Minded” in our devotion to God.  When we are “…in Christ…” we can be ‘in no other’!  This includes self.  Paul expressed this truth clearly in his statement to the Galations –

Galatians 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

And commanded believers to be single minded in the letter to the Colossians –

Colossians 3:1-7  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

We are to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit’s ministry willingly, knowing that His purpose is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ in His people  –

John 14:15-17  If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

There will be no confusion in His ministry –

John 16:8-11  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

He will make the truth known and clear –

      a. He will never deny Jesus. 12:3a

1 Corinthians 12:3  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.

They spoke by the spirit of another –

2 Corinthians 11:14-15  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

As both the Jews did –

Matthew 12:24  But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

These Jews were not being directed by God when they denied that Jesus is Christ.  They were being directed by the spirit of this world.

And Gentiles did, as recorded in –

Acts 17:31-32  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

      b. He will always testify of Jesus. 12:3b

1 Corinthians 12:3  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.

        1). Note the testimony of God the Father to God the Son, Jesus of Nazareth –

Matthew 16:15-17 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

And the testimony of God the Holy Spirit –

John 16:13-14  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

        2). Note the rejection of the declaration of the spirit of this world.

Acts 16:16-18  And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

It is very possible that this young woman heard the witness of the Lord Jesus Christ from the ladies who Paul ministered to in the city.  She was conflicted, as many of us were (even though we might not have been directed by a demon spirit) once she heard the truth and cried out after these men until she was finally rescued from the evil spirit by the command given by Paul through the power of God.

The Holy Spirit convicted then, as He does now, of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, bringing men to a decision to either accept the truth of God or ignore the saving grace of God through His Son, Jesus.

Do you have the mind of Christ?  If you do, and each member also has the mind of Christ, you will be single minded, with no division at all in the church.

 Colossians 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Not me, not you, not anyone but the Lord  Jesus Christ!  This is the truth the Corinthians were being taught.  We are to be one in Him!

Why did the Lord lead Paul to write to the church in this way, rebuking them and correcting them?  Continue reading the verses from the letter Paul wrote to the Colossians –

Colossians 1:19-23  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

The members of the church in Corinth had begun moving away from the truth, the doctrine of God, not losing their salvation, but losing their testimony to the preeminence of Jesus and promoting themselves to the position that only He should hold, and in the process of doing this, claimed they were being led by the Holy Spirit to in their speech and actions.

Paul was trying to correct them, to remind them Who it was who shed blood that they could have peace with God,

that they could be reconciled to God,

that they could be holy before God,

that they could be unblameable before God,

that they could be unreproveable before God!

We need to learn today that this can happen in our lives, that even though you and I are saved, we can begin to think of ourselves more than we think of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We might claim to think of Him, especially when asked or are in church, but what do our actions say about us?

Is God’s Word more important to you than your feelings?

Is God’s Word more important to you than what others say?

Is God’s Word more important to you than being a part of the actions of those around you?

Does the Lord have first place in your life?

When we are saved, we are changed by the Lord.  Have you been changed?  Have your family and friends noticed a change, a putting the Lord before yourself?