The Strand Study Bible

Written From Ephesus During Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

I CORINTHIANS

1900

“wants” are met, God doesn’t get His way. * Sometimes God wants us to become part of a larger church, but because we choose to stay in a small church where we like being a “big fish” in a small pond, God doesn’t get His way. Sadly, too many Christians are where they “want to be” instead of where God wants them to be. Again, Christianity is not about us; it’s about everyone around us. Are you where God wants you to be within the body of Christ or are you where you want to be? Just because the local church you attend is convenient and comfortable doesn’t mean you’re supposed to be there. 12:28 a The greatest ( first and foremost) gift that God has given to the Church is leadership. This came about at the ascension of CHRIST (Eph 4:7-12). Thus, according to Ephesians 4:11-12, God gave to the Church four different kinds of specially gifted men and women in order to lead the saints of God to work out God’s plan and purpose for the Jewish/Gentile Church: 1. Apostles –These are specially gifted believers who are sent forth to liberate the Church in order to motivate her to move forward for God (Acts 2:40-47 & 4:33 & 5:12-14 & 13:2 & 14:14). They start spiritual programs for God. 2. Prophets – These are specially gifted believers who are sent forth to cleanse the Church in order to keep it fit for the Master’s use (Acts 2:17-18 & 21:9, Exo 15:20, Num 11:25-29, Jud 4:4, II Ki 22:14 and Lk 2:36) 3. Evangelists – These are specially gifted believers who are sent forth to help the Church to grow (Acts 21:8 and II Tim 4:5) 4. Teaching pastors – These are specially gifted believers who not only feed the flock, but tend to the flock as well (I Tim 3:1-5, Titus 1:5-7, Acts 20:28 and I Pet 5:1-3) NOTE – Interestingly enough, when it comes to the gifts, “ diversities of tongues ” is at the bottom of the list of importance. 12:28 b Helps is one of the nine serving gifts. It is the God-given ability to exchange aid; to support the poor, the weak, the handicapped, and the less fortunate . This word is used only 4 times in the entire NT: I Cor 12:28, Lk 1:46-54, Acts 20:35 and I Tim 6:2. Those with this gift have a heart to aid the “less fortunate.” They help the dysfunctional become functional within their local church. 12:28 c Governments is one of the nine serving gifts. It is the God-given ability to pilot, guide, and steer the ship (God’s Church) in the right direction so that the goods (the Gospel on the Gospel ship) get to their destination in good condition. This word is used only 3 times in the entire New Testament (I Cor 12:28, Acts 27:9-11 and Rev 18:17). Those with the gift of governments are to walk “sentry” around their local church, keeping the Gospel from becoming watered down. 12:30 “ Do all speak with tongues ?” The question answers itself. According to the context, not every Christian is going to speak with tongues. Therefore, it is unscriptural to demand that all believers speak with tongues. It is also unscriptural to think that people who speak in tongues are more spiritual than those who do not. Former Pentecostal pastor, R.J. Storms, in I Chose not to be a Charismatic notes: I was proud to be full Gospel, and I even preached sermons on being “full Gospel,” because I was convinced that those who did not speak with tongues were second-rate Christians. 3 Interestingly enough, Jesus never spoke in tongues. Neither did John the Baptist. Are people who speak in tongues today better than them? I think not! In fact, if Christ thought speaking in tongues (even as a prayer language) was so important, why didn’t He add it to His blue print on prayer ( Lk 11:1,2 )? According to I Corinthians 12:11, it is the Spirit who decides what gift(s) a believer is to receive, not the believer. Note the following unscriptural teachings that often accompany the push for every believer to speak in tongues: 1. Believing that speaking in tongues is a prerequisite for SPIRIT -fullness It is not. According to Hebrews 1:9, Christ was filled with the Spirit more than any other person, yet He never spoke in tongues. Neither did John the Baptist, who was filled with the Spirit from birth (Lk 1:13-15). While it is true that Christians are under the command to be filled with the Spirit ( Eph 5:18 c ), it is not true that speaking in tongues is a prerequisite for Spirit- fullness. In fact, according to I Corinthians 12:29-30, not every Christian is going to speak in tongues, so how can speaking in tongues be a prerequisite for Spirit-fullness? 2. Believing that you cannot be filled with the HOLY SPIRIT and speak in tongues until you have been baptized Not so. According to Acts 10:44-48, just the opposite is true. The Gentiles under Peter’s preaching were Spirit-filled before they were baptized, not after they were baptized. 3. Believing that speaking in tongues is one of the visible evidences of SPIRIT -fullness. It is not. According to the Bible, there are only seven visible evidences of Spirit-fullness. Speaking in “tongues” is not one of them ( Acts 4:13 ). According to Acts 10:44-46 & 19:6 , Spirit-fullness leads to magnifying God and/or prophesying in one’s “native” tongue, not speaking in tongues. 4. Believing that although not every Christian will manifest the gift of tongues in public worship, yet in private devotion every believer is to express himself through tongues Not so. Again, according to verse 30, the question answers itself. According to the context, not every Christian is going to speak with tongues –not publicly or privately. Not only that, but where, in the context of this passage, is there a contrast being made between public and private worship? Verses 29-30 have absolutely nothing at all to do with any contrast between public and private worship and the gift of tongues. None whatsoever. 5. Believing that speaking in tongues is more spiritual than teaching the Word and preaching the Gospel It is not. According to I Corinthians 14:5, “… greater is he that prophesieth (teaches the Word and preaches the Gospel) than he that speaketh with tongues …” ( I Cor 14:19 ).

1 Graham, Jack. New Life in Christ , Dallas, TX, Jack Graham Pub., 2012. Print. 2 The King James Study Bible . Nashville, TN, Thomas Nelson Pub., 1988. Print. 3 Storms, R.J. I Chose not to be a Charismatic , Brooksville, FLA, Way of Life. Print.