The Strand Study Bible

Written From Ephesus During Paul’s Third Missionary Journey I CORINTHIANS 12:10 c Discerning of spirits” is one of the nine serving gifts. It is God-given ability to discern (through judgments of reasoning) the spirit and attitude of other believers concerning their spiritual well being. It is a counseling gift, enabling the Christian with the gift to discern root problems in the lives of other believer’s in order to help them spiritually. 12:10 d Divers kinds of tongues is one of the six speaking gifts. It is the God-given ability to learn different foreign languages easily so as to proclaim God’s truths to men (Acts 21:40). Missionaries would certainly need this gift. This gift has nothing to do with speaking in some kind of unintelligible prayer language. 12:10 e Interpretation of tongues is linked to the “ divers kinds of tongues” speaking gift. It is the God-given ability to interpret foreign languages easily in order to translate truths to others (I Cor 14:27). Again, missionaries would certainly need this gift. 12:11 a According to I Corinthians 12, it is the SPIRIT OF GOD who decides what gift(s) a believer receives ( dividing to every man severally ). The believer has no “say so” whatsoever concerning the gift(s) he receives. Therefore, it is unscriptural for a Christian to demand certain gifts of the SPIRIT . 12:11 b According to I Corinthians 12:11, the HOLY SPIRIT has a “will” ( as he will ). Therefore, He is a person, not an influence or a force. His active interest and participation in the affairs of men proves He has a personality (distinctive individual qualities that make up His person). Jack Graham in New Life in Christ notes: The Holy Spirit is not an “it” or a “force,” but rather a He . He is the third person of the Trinity–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit–with a distinct personality and ministry. 1 There are three essential characteristics that make up a personality: (1) mind (intellect - I Cor 2:11 and Rom 8:26-27); (2) heart (emotion - Eph 4:30 and I Thess 5:19); and (3) will (choice - I Cor 12:11, Heb 9:14 and Acts 8:39). NOTE – The SPIRIT’S “will” determines His work and His work is seven-fold: 1. To shed light (enlighten us; illuminate us) on the Scriptures (I Cor 2:12) If the Third Person of the Triune Godhead is to become active in our life, we are going to have to get excited about the Word of God ( I Sam 19:22 , Ezk 24:18 and I Cor 2:13 ). 2. To stuff (empower, fill, anoint) the believer with power in order to reach the lost (Prov 1:23, Acts 10:44-45 & 11:15 & 15:7-8, I Sam 10:5-6,10 & 19:18-24 & Eph 5:18-20 and Acts 1:8) If the Third Person of the Triune Godhead is to become active in our life, we are going to have to get excited about prayer ( Lk 11:13 , Rom 8:26-27 and Jude 20). 3. To sentence (convict) the world of sin (Jn 16:7-11) in order to save the sinner (I Thess 2:13 and I Pet 1:22-23) If the Third Person of the Triune Godhead is to become active in our life, we are going to have to get excited about witnessing ( Mt 28:19 , Acts 5:29-32 and Rev 22:17). 4. To soothe (comfort) the saint (Jn 14:16-18,26 & 15:26), seal (Eph 1:13-14 & 4:30) and ensure (assure – Psa 37:28 & 125:1,2, Jn 10:28-29, Phil 1:6, II Tim 1:12, Eph 1:13-14 & 4:30, and Heb 7:25) him of his salvation (Rom 8:16 and I Jn 3:24 & 4:13) If the Third Person of the Triune Godhead is to become active in our life, we are going to have to get excited about working with other believers; churching ( Mt 16:18d ). 5. To sanctify (set apart unto holiness – Isa 6:3c and II Cor 3:18) and unify (Psa 133) the believer. If the Third Person of the Triune Godhead is to become active in our life, we are going to have to get excited about personal holiness . Personal holiness occurs whenever we yield to the HOLY SPIRIT within us and allow Him to take control of our lives ( Heb 12:14a,b and Gal 5:16-25). 6. To supply (equip) the Christian with certain gifts for service (I Cor 12:1,7-11) If the Third Person of the Triune Godhead is to become active in our life, we are going to have to get excited about knowing and using our gifts ( I CORINTHIANS “MINI” SERIES and II Cor 5:10-11 ). 7. To stem (restrain) lawlessness (sin that is out of control), i.e., HE holds back the world from destroying itself (Gen 6:3); and to stem the true identity of the Lawless One (Antichrist) until the Church is ready to be taken out in the Rapture (II Thess 2:6-7). The King James Study Bible notes: The presence of the Holy Spirit in this world to some extent restrains evil. Often this is accomplished through the presence of Christians who are the “salt of the earth” (Matt. 5:13). Illustration: At the Rapture, when Christians are removed and the age of the Holy Spirit ceases, this restraining ministry will be “taken out of the way” during the Great Tribulation. Application: Until that time, God will use the godly examples of Christians to restrain evil in the world. 2 If the Third Person of the Triune Godhead is to become active in our life, we are going to have to get excited about being the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Mt 5:13-16). Find the things that interest the SPIRIT and the SPIRIT will find interest in you. 12:18 Where does it say that Christians are allowed to “pick and choose” what gifts they want and where they want to be placed within the body of Christ (the Church - Eph 1:22-23, Colo 1:18 and Mt 16:18 d )? The Scripture is plain: God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him . Where does it say that a Christian has the right to flippantly pick and choose where he wants to attend church and/or what he wants to do in that church? Just as a Christian has no right to pick and choose the spiritual gift he wants (that’s the Holy Spirit’s job – I Cor 12:11), so he has no right to pick and choose where he wants to serve God. For example: * Sometimes God calls us to be missionaries, but because we choose to stay in a local church within the States, God doesn’t get His way. * Sometimes God wants us to become part of a small church, but because we choose to stay in a large church where all our 1899