WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.799
 Hi, Ferb.

00:00:12.060 --> 00:00:14.859
 For those of you who are visiting, my name is Sean.

00:00:14.939 --> 00:00:16.600
 I'm one of the pastors of Trinity Cambridge Church,

00:00:16.760 --> 00:00:20.120
 and I have the privilege of preaching God's Word on most weeks,

00:00:20.240 --> 00:00:21.120
 so I'm going to welcome you here.

00:00:22.059 --> 00:00:26.039
 So we're at 1 Corinthians 12, because we skipped ahead to chapter 15,

00:00:26.039 --> 00:00:29.820
 actually, last Sunday, because it was Resurrection Sunday.

00:00:30.199 --> 00:00:32.119
 We wanted to talk about the Resurrection of Christ,

00:00:32.219 --> 00:00:33.359
 so we skipped ahead to 15.

00:00:33.619 --> 00:00:35.939
 We're now back to chapter 12,

00:00:36.039 --> 00:00:38.179
 because we left off at the end of 11 on Good Friday.

00:00:39.340 --> 00:00:43.840
 So that's where we are, and it talks about the body of Christ

00:00:43.840 --> 00:00:47.340
 and how we are a family of God interdependent on one another.

00:00:47.980 --> 00:00:50.280
 And as much as we in the United States here,

00:00:50.460 --> 00:00:53.400
 we laud individualism and self-reliance,

00:00:53.980 --> 00:00:56.420
 at the bottom of it, we all want friends.

00:00:56.780 --> 00:00:57.960
 We all want to belong.

00:00:57.960 --> 00:01:02.480
 And we all want to fit in and feel like we are valuable

00:01:02.480 --> 00:01:05.420
 and that we're contributing members of groups that we're a part of.

00:01:05.939 --> 00:01:07.879
 And that's because we are social creatures.

00:01:08.960 --> 00:01:11.540
 God created us to belong in community.

00:01:12.299 --> 00:01:14.500
 And this is true of all of society,

00:01:14.659 --> 00:01:17.460
 but especially so in the context of the church,

00:01:17.640 --> 00:01:21.200
 which is the family of God constituted by the Spirit of God.

00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:25.579
 And so Paul, in the preceding chapter in verse 11,

00:01:25.719 --> 00:01:28.620
 he strongly condemned the divisions within the Corinthian church

00:01:28.620 --> 00:01:30.159
 along socioeconomic lines.

00:01:30.579 --> 00:01:33.219
 He condemned that in the passage when he was talking about the Lord's Supper.

00:01:33.740 --> 00:01:36.480
 And then here, Paul continues to address divisions

00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:39.300
 that are wreaking havoc in the Corinthian church,

00:01:39.620 --> 00:01:42.659
 this time along the issues of spiritual gifts.

00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:45.200
 And so he begins in verse 1,

00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:47.200
 by now concerning,

00:01:47.519 --> 00:01:50.980
 and that's now the fourth time Paul's used that phrase in this letter.

00:01:51.460 --> 00:01:53.579
 And every time he indicates a new topic,

00:01:53.620 --> 00:01:54.760
 he's introducing a new topic

00:01:54.760 --> 00:01:58.299
 that the Corinthians themselves had written to Paul about in their letter,

00:01:58.500 --> 00:02:00.500
 and now he's taking time to address it.

00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:02.800
 They wanted to know about the spiritual gifts,

00:02:03.340 --> 00:02:04.420
 and he's addressing it.

00:02:04.420 --> 00:02:09.039
 And his main point here is that the church is to be an interdependent body

00:02:09.039 --> 00:02:10.699
 modeled after the triune God.

00:02:10.780 --> 00:02:11.460
 That's the main point.

00:02:11.780 --> 00:02:15.420
 The church is to be an interdependent body modeled after the triune God.

00:02:15.580 --> 00:02:17.500
 And he unpacks that in three parts.

00:02:17.659 --> 00:02:19.080
 First, he talks about the Trinity,

00:02:19.640 --> 00:02:20.560
 verses 1 to 11.

00:02:20.979 --> 00:02:24.759
 Secondly, he talks about diversity in verses 12 to 20.

00:02:24.759 --> 00:02:29.280
 And then lastly, he talks about unity in verses 21 to 31.

00:02:30.280 --> 00:02:34.460
 But before he addresses these manifestations of the Spirit directly,

00:02:34.599 --> 00:02:37.020
 Paul needs to deal with some preliminary concerns,

00:02:37.420 --> 00:02:38.240
 theological issues,

00:02:38.439 --> 00:02:40.659
 and that's why he has verses 1 to 3 here.

00:02:40.759 --> 00:02:41.219
 Read with me.

00:02:41.920 --> 00:02:43.840
 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers,

00:02:44.039 --> 00:02:46.099
 I do not want you to be uninformed.

00:02:46.699 --> 00:02:48.280
 You know that when you were pagans,

00:02:48.360 --> 00:02:49.960
 you were led astray to mute idols,

00:02:50.259 --> 00:02:51.180
 however you were led.

00:02:51.639 --> 00:02:53.259
 Therefore, I want you to understand

00:02:53.259 --> 00:02:55.360
 that no one speaking in the Spirit of God

00:02:55.360 --> 00:02:56.139
 ever says,

00:02:56.460 --> 00:02:57.699
 Jesus is accursed.

00:02:57.699 --> 00:02:59.479
 And no one can say,

00:02:59.619 --> 00:03:00.519
 Jesus is Lord,

00:03:00.839 --> 00:03:02.759
 except in the Holy Spirit.

00:03:03.899 --> 00:03:07.459
 While the Corinthians are uninformed about the spiritual gifts,

00:03:07.899 --> 00:03:10.099
 and they need Paul to help them to understand,

00:03:10.619 --> 00:03:12.139
 they do know something,

00:03:12.359 --> 00:03:13.599
 and Paul talks about that first.

00:03:13.759 --> 00:03:17.699
 He says that they know their former experience with idolatry.

00:03:18.439 --> 00:03:20.439
 You know that when you were pagans,

00:03:20.479 --> 00:03:22.120
 you were led astray to mute idols.

00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:24.139
 And by calling the idols mute,

00:03:24.139 --> 00:03:26.119
 Paul is pointing out and exposing

00:03:26.119 --> 00:03:28.199
 really the futility of idol worship.

00:03:28.679 --> 00:03:30.439
 I mean, you crafted that with your own hands,

00:03:30.500 --> 00:03:31.839
 and you expected to speak to you,

00:03:32.079 --> 00:03:33.099
 and to answer your prayers,

00:03:33.179 --> 00:03:34.519
 and to help you throughout your life.

00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:36.019
 So he's exposing that futility

00:03:36.019 --> 00:03:37.699
 by calling it a mute idol.

00:03:38.139 --> 00:03:39.500
 But at the same time,

00:03:39.659 --> 00:03:41.759
 he recognizes that even the idols,

00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:43.699
 even though the idols themselves are nothing,

00:03:43.879 --> 00:03:44.919
 they're not gods at all,

00:03:45.199 --> 00:03:48.099
 that behind them lies demonic influence.

00:03:49.019 --> 00:03:50.879
 And Paul talked about that earlier in the chapters as well.

00:03:51.019 --> 00:03:51.919
 So, and because of that,

00:03:51.960 --> 00:03:53.859
 he acknowledges in verse 2

00:03:53.859 --> 00:03:56.539
 that they are led astray to mute idols,

00:03:56.699 --> 00:03:58.340
 however you were led.

00:03:58.639 --> 00:03:59.959
 Those two passive verbs,

00:04:00.079 --> 00:04:01.840
 being led and being however direction,

00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:05.379
 they convey the idea of that kind of ecstasy

00:04:05.379 --> 00:04:07.799
 that pagan worshipers sometimes fall into.

00:04:07.879 --> 00:04:09.280
 They fall into some kind of trance,

00:04:09.639 --> 00:04:11.099
 and they are led to and fro,

00:04:11.240 --> 00:04:13.719
 however the demonic influences want to take them,

00:04:13.719 --> 00:04:15.599
 and they utter things that they don't remember.

00:04:15.719 --> 00:04:17.699
 That's what Paul is speaking to here.

00:04:19.100 --> 00:04:21.720
 But Paul contrasts that pagan experience

00:04:21.720 --> 00:04:24.879
 with speaking in the Spirit of God in verse 3.

00:04:25.379 --> 00:04:25.720
 He says,

00:04:25.980 --> 00:04:27.240
 Therefore, I want you to understand

00:04:27.240 --> 00:04:30.320
 that no one speaking in the Spirit of God

00:04:30.320 --> 00:04:32.840
 ever says Jesus is accursed.

00:04:33.520 --> 00:04:35.700
 And no one can say Jesus is Lord

00:04:35.700 --> 00:04:38.040
 except in the Holy Spirit.

00:04:38.560 --> 00:04:41.300
 It's not any kind of spiritual speech

00:04:41.300 --> 00:04:42.620
 that makes someone spiritual.

00:04:43.620 --> 00:04:46.520
 Even pagans have their own form of spiritual speech.

00:04:46.519 --> 00:04:49.060
 A pagan oracle loses his agency

00:04:49.060 --> 00:04:50.740
 and does not know what he is saying,

00:04:50.859 --> 00:04:54.259
 but a Christian prophet is sober-minded and composed.

00:04:54.699 --> 00:04:56.620
 And he knows exactly what he is saying.

00:04:57.439 --> 00:04:59.939
 And what sets apart speaking in the Spirit of God

00:04:59.939 --> 00:05:02.000
 is its distinctive Christian content.

00:05:02.419 --> 00:05:03.399
 And Paul uses that,

00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:05.680
 uses kind of two opposite religious extremes

00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:06.839
 and professions to make the point.

00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:07.879
 On the one hand,

00:05:07.959 --> 00:05:09.819
 one is truly speaking with the Spirit of God

00:05:09.819 --> 00:05:11.099
 cannot say Jesus is accursed.

00:05:11.100 --> 00:05:12.300
 And on the other hand,

00:05:12.360 --> 00:05:13.520
 those who are truly speaking,

00:05:13.720 --> 00:05:15.360
 or who are not speaking in the Spirit of God

00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:17.400
 cannot say that Jesus is Lord.

00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:18.920
 And of course,

00:05:19.020 --> 00:05:20.360
 Paul's not saying that,

00:05:20.680 --> 00:05:22.840
 he's not just talking about the mere words,

00:05:23.100 --> 00:05:23.780
 Jesus is Lord.

00:05:23.879 --> 00:05:25.260
 Anybody can say that, right?

00:05:25.320 --> 00:05:26.980
 Anybody can say Jesus is Lord.

00:05:27.340 --> 00:05:28.860
 Even the person

00:05:28.860 --> 00:05:30.780
 that's possessed by an evil spirit

00:05:30.780 --> 00:05:33.080
 named Legion in Mark 5-7

00:05:33.080 --> 00:05:34.780
 calls out to Jesus

00:05:34.780 --> 00:05:36.720
 as the Son of the Most High God.

00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:37.920
 So, of course,

00:05:38.100 --> 00:05:39.880
 people who are not speaking in the Spirit of God

00:05:39.880 --> 00:05:41.680
 can acknowledge Jesus is Lord,

00:05:41.860 --> 00:05:43.420
 but they are not confessing

00:05:43.420 --> 00:05:45.320
 that Jesus is their Lord.

00:05:45.840 --> 00:05:48.940
 He's not professing Jesus is my Lord.

00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:51.900
 And no one can do that

00:05:51.900 --> 00:05:54.440
 without being led by the Spirit of God.

00:05:55.060 --> 00:05:56.720
 So someone without the Spirit of God

00:05:56.720 --> 00:05:58.420
 might be able to pronounce the words,

00:05:58.560 --> 00:05:59.420
 Jesus is Lord,

00:05:59.540 --> 00:06:02.480
 but they can never profess the words in faith,

00:06:02.600 --> 00:06:04.360
 Jesus is Lord.

00:06:04.360 --> 00:06:07.620
 And Paul was basically trying to tell

00:06:07.620 --> 00:06:08.280
 the Corinthians,

00:06:08.439 --> 00:06:08.860
 teach them,

00:06:08.939 --> 00:06:09.879
 because they were so enamored

00:06:09.879 --> 00:06:10.879
 with these spiritual gifts,

00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:12.560
 especially ecstatic utterances.

00:06:13.020 --> 00:06:14.040
 He's telling them that

00:06:14.040 --> 00:06:15.980
 the gift of tongues

00:06:15.980 --> 00:06:17.340
 was their favorite go-to.

00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:18.900
 And he's trying to correct them

00:06:18.900 --> 00:06:19.439
 and teach them

00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:20.480
 that the Holy Spirit

00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:22.100
 will never contradict

00:06:22.100 --> 00:06:23.300
 the Son of God,

00:06:23.379 --> 00:06:24.020
 the Word of God.

00:06:24.340 --> 00:06:25.120
 The Spirit of God

00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:26.180
 always accompanies

00:06:26.180 --> 00:06:27.020
 and confirms

00:06:27.020 --> 00:06:28.540
 the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:06:28.680 --> 00:06:29.840
 That's why in John 16,

00:06:29.939 --> 00:06:30.520
 13-14,

00:06:31.000 --> 00:06:32.520
 Jesus described the Spirit of God

00:06:32.520 --> 00:06:33.439
 as not speaking

00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:34.560
 on his own authority,

00:06:34.899 --> 00:06:35.939
 but whatever he hears

00:06:35.939 --> 00:06:37.040
 from the Father and the Son,

00:06:37.180 --> 00:06:38.860
 he declares to us.

00:06:39.019 --> 00:06:40.180
 The job of the Holy Spirit

00:06:40.180 --> 00:06:41.480
 is to glorify the Son.

00:06:42.500 --> 00:06:44.399
 And you see all three of the Trinity,

00:06:44.620 --> 00:06:46.019
 the three persons of the Trinity here.

00:06:46.120 --> 00:06:47.180
 We see God mentioned,

00:06:47.279 --> 00:06:48.379
 that's a reference to God the Father.

00:06:48.699 --> 00:06:50.279
 We see Lord mentioned,

00:06:50.379 --> 00:06:51.100
 that's the Lord Jesus.

00:06:51.360 --> 00:06:52.759
 And we see the Spirit mentioned,

00:06:52.860 --> 00:06:53.800
 that's the Holy Spirit.

00:06:54.159 --> 00:06:54.899
 And the Trinity,

00:06:55.139 --> 00:06:56.720
 they form the foundation

00:06:56.720 --> 00:06:58.060
 of all the spiritual gifts

00:06:58.060 --> 00:06:59.759
 that Paul is going to talk about.

00:07:00.100 --> 00:07:00.980
 And he unpacks

00:07:00.980 --> 00:07:01.939
 those two relationships

00:07:01.939 --> 00:07:02.779
 between the Trinity

00:07:02.779 --> 00:07:03.639
 and the gifts

00:07:03.639 --> 00:07:04.660
 in verses 4-6.

00:07:04.779 --> 00:07:05.300
 Read with me.

00:07:06.259 --> 00:07:08.420
 Now there are varieties of gifts,

00:07:08.719 --> 00:07:09.959
 but the same Spirit.

00:07:10.459 --> 00:07:12.040
 And there are varieties of service,

00:07:12.279 --> 00:07:13.319
 but the same Lord.

00:07:13.540 --> 00:07:14.980
 And there are varieties of activities,

00:07:15.180 --> 00:07:16.600
 but it is the same God

00:07:16.600 --> 00:07:17.819
 who empowers them

00:07:17.819 --> 00:07:19.199
 all in everyone.

00:07:19.819 --> 00:07:21.079
 By using this neat

00:07:21.079 --> 00:07:22.240
 kind of parallel structure,

00:07:22.579 --> 00:07:25.720
 he repeats the word varieties

00:07:25.720 --> 00:07:26.279
 three times

00:07:26.279 --> 00:07:27.139
 and repeats the word

00:07:27.139 --> 00:07:28.240
 the same three times.

00:07:28.399 --> 00:07:29.360
 He's making the point

00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:30.980
 that the diversity and unity

00:07:30.980 --> 00:07:32.340
 of the spiritual gifts

00:07:32.340 --> 00:07:34.160
 is rooted in the diversity

00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:36.139
 and unity of the triune God.

00:07:37.020 --> 00:07:38.420
 And the varieties of gifts

00:07:38.420 --> 00:07:39.819
 and service and activities

00:07:39.819 --> 00:07:40.780
 are overlapping

00:07:40.780 --> 00:07:42.020
 kind of parallel categories.

00:07:42.580 --> 00:07:43.580
 So they don't,

00:07:43.840 --> 00:07:44.860
 I don't think they're intended

00:07:44.860 --> 00:07:46.900
 to delineate three distinct categories

00:07:46.900 --> 00:07:47.680
 that are separate.

00:07:48.080 --> 00:07:49.040
 And the reason for that

00:07:49.040 --> 00:07:49.960
 is because those words

00:07:49.960 --> 00:07:51.500
 are used flexibly

00:07:51.500 --> 00:07:52.699
 throughout this passage itself.

00:07:52.699 --> 00:07:54.160
 The word activities,

00:07:54.280 --> 00:07:54.660
 for example,

00:07:54.740 --> 00:07:56.340
 is used to refer to miracles,

00:07:56.339 --> 00:07:58.459
 which is usually lumped

00:07:58.459 --> 00:07:59.819
 with the category of gifts.

00:08:00.539 --> 00:08:01.759
 And then on one point,

00:08:01.819 --> 00:08:02.919
 he says that the workings

00:08:02.919 --> 00:08:03.399
 of miracles,

00:08:03.500 --> 00:08:04.259
 activities of miracles

00:08:04.259 --> 00:08:05.299
 is attributed to the Spirit.

00:08:05.419 --> 00:08:06.000
 In another place,

00:08:06.039 --> 00:08:07.500
 it's attributed to God the Father.

00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:08.759
 So it's these,

00:08:09.239 --> 00:08:10.979
 the point that Paul's trying to make

00:08:10.979 --> 00:08:12.459
 is not that there's

00:08:12.459 --> 00:08:13.359
 these three different types

00:08:13.359 --> 00:08:13.799
 of things,

00:08:13.939 --> 00:08:15.039
 gifts, services, and activities,

00:08:15.259 --> 00:08:16.459
 and they each relate

00:08:16.459 --> 00:08:17.719
 respectively to the three persons

00:08:17.719 --> 00:08:18.159
 of the Trinity.

00:08:18.239 --> 00:08:19.259
 That's not what he's trying to say.

00:08:19.620 --> 00:08:20.459
 What he's trying to say

00:08:20.459 --> 00:08:22.479
 is that all these different kinds

00:08:22.479 --> 00:08:23.419
 of spiritual things

00:08:23.419 --> 00:08:25.039
 are associated with

00:08:25.039 --> 00:08:26.000
 the triune God.

00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:26.899
 They're all activities

00:08:26.899 --> 00:08:29.000
 of the same triune God.

00:08:29.819 --> 00:08:31.620
 And that's why Paul summarizes it

00:08:31.620 --> 00:08:32.740
 in this way in verse 7.

00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:34.259
 To each is given

00:08:34.259 --> 00:08:36.179
 the manifestation of the Spirit

00:08:36.179 --> 00:08:38.240
 for the common good.

00:08:38.980 --> 00:08:40.860
 All the gifts, service,

00:08:41.080 --> 00:08:41.740
 and activities

00:08:41.740 --> 00:08:42.899
 are manifestations

00:08:42.899 --> 00:08:44.639
 of the Spirit.

00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:46.340
 The emphasis then

00:08:46.340 --> 00:08:48.059
 is not on the gifts themselves,

00:08:48.360 --> 00:08:49.600
 but in the fact that gifts

00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:50.539
 are manifestations

00:08:50.539 --> 00:08:51.200
 of the Spirit.

00:08:51.500 --> 00:08:52.919
 We won't have any of the gifts

00:08:52.919 --> 00:08:54.879
 unless the Spirit of God,

00:08:54.960 --> 00:08:55.440
 the living God,

00:08:55.480 --> 00:08:55.879
 is present.

00:08:56.559 --> 00:08:57.580
 Unless he is active

00:08:57.580 --> 00:08:58.000
 in our midst,

00:08:58.039 --> 00:08:58.620
 we will not see

00:08:58.620 --> 00:09:00.379
 any of these gifts.

00:09:01.940 --> 00:09:02.899
 And that's why

00:09:02.899 --> 00:09:03.759
 it's often

00:09:03.759 --> 00:09:04.639
 all these things,

00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:05.279
 service gifts,

00:09:05.379 --> 00:09:05.659
 activities,

00:09:05.740 --> 00:09:06.259
 are spoken of

00:09:06.259 --> 00:09:07.360
 in one large category

00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:07.899
 of the gifts

00:09:07.899 --> 00:09:08.919
 of the Spirit

00:09:08.919 --> 00:09:09.580
 because they are

00:09:09.580 --> 00:09:10.500
 manifestations

00:09:10.500 --> 00:09:12.059
 of the Spirit.

00:09:12.740 --> 00:09:13.779
 And because of this,

00:09:13.899 --> 00:09:15.019
 even though there are

00:09:15.019 --> 00:09:16.519
 varieties of recipients

00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:17.440
 of these gifts,

00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:18.820
 they all serve

00:09:18.820 --> 00:09:19.820
 the same purpose.

00:09:20.440 --> 00:09:21.100
 They're given

00:09:21.100 --> 00:09:21.659
 not merely

00:09:21.659 --> 00:09:22.960
 for our personal benefit,

00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:24.620
 but for the corporate

00:09:24.620 --> 00:09:25.680
 benefit of the church.

00:09:26.540 --> 00:09:27.600
 And that means,

00:09:27.700 --> 00:09:28.560
 this is helpful for us,

00:09:28.620 --> 00:09:29.060
 because that means

00:09:29.060 --> 00:09:29.879
 when a Christian brother

00:09:29.879 --> 00:09:30.460
 or sister

00:09:30.460 --> 00:09:32.519
 possesses a gift

00:09:32.519 --> 00:09:34.019
 that we do not have,

00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:35.580
 it's no reason

00:09:35.580 --> 00:09:36.639
 to be jealous,

00:09:37.300 --> 00:09:37.940
 but reason

00:09:37.940 --> 00:09:39.040
 to rejoice.

00:09:39.580 --> 00:09:41.040
 Because it has been

00:09:41.040 --> 00:09:43.100
 given for our good.

00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:44.280
 You guys follow

00:09:44.280 --> 00:09:45.019
 what I'm saying?

00:09:45.019 --> 00:09:47.100
 The gifts are given

00:09:47.100 --> 00:09:47.699
 individually

00:09:47.699 --> 00:09:49.379
 to each believer,

00:09:49.799 --> 00:09:50.779
 but they are given

00:09:50.779 --> 00:09:52.019
 for the benefit

00:09:52.019 --> 00:09:53.759
 of the whole church.

00:09:53.860 --> 00:09:54.419
 A spiritual gift

00:09:54.419 --> 00:09:54.819
 that is given

00:09:54.819 --> 00:09:55.740
 to one of us

00:09:55.740 --> 00:09:56.399
 is given

00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:57.980
 for all of us.

00:09:58.279 --> 00:09:58.879
 And that's why

00:09:58.879 --> 00:09:59.840
 we could embrace

00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:01.000
 everyone's gifts

00:10:01.000 --> 00:10:02.220
 and rejoice in it

00:10:02.220 --> 00:10:03.179
 and use those gifts

00:10:03.179 --> 00:10:04.039
 and encourage those gifts

00:10:04.039 --> 00:10:04.600
 in one another.

00:10:05.980 --> 00:10:06.779
 And the church

00:10:06.779 --> 00:10:07.360
 is supposed to be

00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:08.279
 an interdependent body

00:10:08.279 --> 00:10:09.000
 modeled after

00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:10.079
 the triune God.

00:10:10.679 --> 00:10:11.899
 Then in verses 8 to 10,

00:10:12.139 --> 00:10:13.019
 Paul goes on to list

00:10:13.019 --> 00:10:14.019
 some of the manifestations

00:10:14.019 --> 00:10:14.740
 of the Spirit.

00:10:15.299 --> 00:10:16.159
 But these are not

00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:17.559
 intended to be exhaustive.

00:10:17.960 --> 00:10:18.519
 We know that

00:10:18.519 --> 00:10:19.419
 because Paul produces

00:10:19.419 --> 00:10:20.199
 similar lists

00:10:20.199 --> 00:10:20.860
 in other parts.

00:10:21.059 --> 00:10:21.379
 For example,

00:10:21.460 --> 00:10:22.199
 Ephesians 4,

00:10:22.379 --> 00:10:23.059
 Romans 12.

00:10:23.939 --> 00:10:25.740
 But there are overlaps,

00:10:25.819 --> 00:10:26.419
 but they're not

00:10:26.419 --> 00:10:27.480
 exactly the same.

00:10:27.819 --> 00:10:28.399
 There's also

00:10:28.399 --> 00:10:29.120
 key differences.

00:10:29.620 --> 00:10:30.319
 So this is not

00:10:30.319 --> 00:10:31.740
 an exhaustive list,

00:10:31.860 --> 00:10:32.419
 but rather it's

00:10:32.419 --> 00:10:33.539
 a representative list

00:10:33.539 --> 00:10:34.299
 of some of the gifts

00:10:34.299 --> 00:10:34.980
 of the Spirit.

00:10:35.699 --> 00:10:36.779
 Let me just explain

00:10:36.779 --> 00:10:37.419
 them briefly

00:10:37.419 --> 00:10:39.120
 as we go

00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:40.399
 because some of you

00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:41.059
 might not be familiar

00:10:41.059 --> 00:10:42.259
 with what these gifts mean.

00:10:42.759 --> 00:10:43.620
 So first he writes,

00:10:43.740 --> 00:10:44.699
 For to one is given

00:10:44.700 --> 00:10:45.560
 through the Spirit

00:10:45.560 --> 00:10:47.379
 the utterance of wisdom

00:10:47.379 --> 00:10:48.780
 and to another

00:10:48.780 --> 00:10:50.340
 the utterance of knowledge

00:10:50.340 --> 00:10:51.540
 according to the same Spirit.

00:10:52.180 --> 00:10:53.300
 These two gifts

00:10:53.300 --> 00:10:54.160
 mentioned here

00:10:54.160 --> 00:10:54.620
 at the beginning

00:10:54.620 --> 00:10:55.640
 are not mentioned

00:10:55.640 --> 00:10:56.500
 anywhere else

00:10:56.500 --> 00:10:57.400
 in all of Scripture.

00:10:58.160 --> 00:10:59.060
 So I think

00:10:59.060 --> 00:11:00.259
 that that's a clue.

00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:01.580
 The clue to their meaning

00:11:01.580 --> 00:11:02.220
 has to lie

00:11:02.220 --> 00:11:03.160
 in the context

00:11:03.160 --> 00:11:04.100
 of 1 Corinthians

00:11:04.100 --> 00:11:05.480
 because it's the only letter

00:11:05.480 --> 00:11:06.340
 where it's mentioned.

00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:07.520
 And thankfully,

00:11:07.640 --> 00:11:09.160
 there's plenty of contextual clues

00:11:09.160 --> 00:11:09.940
 throughout the letter.

00:11:09.940 --> 00:11:11.320
 The phrase

00:11:11.320 --> 00:11:12.420
 utterance of wisdom

00:11:12.420 --> 00:11:13.000
 is literally

00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:14.200
 word of wisdom

00:11:14.200 --> 00:11:15.040
 and phrase

00:11:15.040 --> 00:11:15.880
 utterance of knowledge

00:11:15.880 --> 00:11:16.420
 is literally

00:11:16.420 --> 00:11:18.020
 word of knowledge.

00:11:18.520 --> 00:11:19.300
 And if you know,

00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:19.980
 if you've been with us

00:11:19.980 --> 00:11:20.560
 throughout the series,

00:11:20.680 --> 00:11:21.820
 you know that the words

00:11:21.820 --> 00:11:22.540
 word,

00:11:23.180 --> 00:11:23.640
 knowledge,

00:11:23.800 --> 00:11:24.480
 and wisdom

00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:25.940
 are all key words

00:11:25.940 --> 00:11:26.920
 throughout 1 Corinthians.

00:11:27.540 --> 00:11:28.920
 They occur repeatedly

00:11:28.920 --> 00:11:30.080
 and the Corinthians

00:11:30.080 --> 00:11:31.120
 were known

00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:32.060
 to be boasting

00:11:32.060 --> 00:11:33.040
 in so-called

00:11:33.040 --> 00:11:33.880
 words of wisdom,

00:11:34.260 --> 00:11:35.180
 so-called knowledge,

00:11:35.580 --> 00:11:36.600
 and lofty words

00:11:36.600 --> 00:11:37.020
 and wisdom.

00:11:37.019 --> 00:11:37.779
 This is what

00:11:37.779 --> 00:11:38.679
 the Corinthians

00:11:38.679 --> 00:11:39.379
 boasted in,

00:11:39.539 --> 00:11:40.519
 prided themselves in.

00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:41.740
 And Paul,

00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:42.579
 in chapter 2,

00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:43.879
 6-7,

00:11:44.220 --> 00:11:45.340
 he contrasted

00:11:45.340 --> 00:11:45.939
 the wisdom

00:11:45.939 --> 00:11:46.860
 of this age,

00:11:47.340 --> 00:11:48.279
 which is doomed

00:11:48.279 --> 00:11:49.000
 to pass away,

00:11:49.139 --> 00:11:49.879
 he contrasted

00:11:49.879 --> 00:11:50.399
 that wisdom

00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:51.460
 from the secret

00:11:51.460 --> 00:11:52.639
 and hidden wisdom

00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:53.279
 of God,

00:11:53.939 --> 00:11:55.039
 which God decreed

00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:55.779
 before the ages

00:11:55.779 --> 00:11:56.259
 for our glory.

00:11:56.379 --> 00:11:57.179
 So this wisdom

00:11:57.179 --> 00:11:57.579
 of God,

00:11:57.679 --> 00:11:58.379
 Paul explains,

00:11:58.799 --> 00:11:59.579
 is the message

00:11:59.579 --> 00:12:00.840
 of Jesus Christ

00:12:00.840 --> 00:12:02.279
 and Him crucified.

00:12:03.720 --> 00:12:04.759
 So it's a reference

00:12:04.759 --> 00:12:06.019
 to God's salvation plan

00:12:06.019 --> 00:12:06.919
 which culminated

00:12:06.919 --> 00:12:07.379
 in the person

00:12:07.379 --> 00:12:08.139
 and work of Jesus.

00:12:08.459 --> 00:12:09.339
 It's the gospel

00:12:09.339 --> 00:12:10.019
 of Jesus Christ.

00:12:10.120 --> 00:12:11.679
 That's what this wisdom is.

00:12:12.099 --> 00:12:13.039
 So the utterance

00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:13.879
 of wisdom then

00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:15.019
 is best construed

00:12:15.019 --> 00:12:16.279
 as the gift

00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:17.179
 of teaching

00:12:17.179 --> 00:12:18.579
 and communicating

00:12:18.579 --> 00:12:19.519
 the gospel

00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:20.339
 of Jesus Christ

00:12:20.339 --> 00:12:20.779
 in a way

00:12:20.779 --> 00:12:21.679
 that comes home

00:12:21.679 --> 00:12:22.240
 to people

00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:23.279
 with the Spirit's

00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:24.620
 power and persuasiveness.

00:12:25.620 --> 00:12:26.539
 I think of someone

00:12:26.539 --> 00:12:27.879
 like Billy Graham,

00:12:28.079 --> 00:12:28.279
 right?

00:12:29.099 --> 00:12:30.319
 He preached

00:12:30.319 --> 00:12:31.199
 a very simple

00:12:31.199 --> 00:12:32.059
 gospel message

00:12:32.059 --> 00:12:33.179
 all his ministry,

00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:34.120
 yet every time

00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:35.000
 he preached the gospel,

00:12:35.259 --> 00:12:36.759
 it was electric.

00:12:37.299 --> 00:12:38.039
 People respond

00:12:38.039 --> 00:12:38.699
 because he came

00:12:38.699 --> 00:12:39.599
 with the Spirit's power.

00:12:40.019 --> 00:12:40.779
 That's the gift

00:12:40.779 --> 00:12:41.339
 of the word

00:12:41.339 --> 00:12:41.919
 of wisdom.

00:12:42.979 --> 00:12:44.679
 As for the utterance

00:12:44.679 --> 00:12:45.379
 of knowledge,

00:12:45.620 --> 00:12:46.459
 the word of knowledge,

00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:47.559
 in chapter 8,

00:12:48.019 --> 00:12:48.659
 1 to 13,

00:12:48.759 --> 00:12:49.199
 Paul spoke

00:12:49.199 --> 00:12:49.899
 of how the Corinthians

00:12:49.899 --> 00:12:51.459
 used their so-called

00:12:51.459 --> 00:12:52.019
 knowledge

00:12:52.019 --> 00:12:52.979
 that there is

00:12:52.979 --> 00:12:54.199
 no God but one,

00:12:54.259 --> 00:12:55.139
 which is the truth,

00:12:55.699 --> 00:12:56.459
 to justify

00:12:56.459 --> 00:12:57.319
 participating

00:12:57.319 --> 00:12:58.459
 in pagan feasts

00:12:58.459 --> 00:12:59.899
 and thereby leading

00:12:59.899 --> 00:13:01.459
 brothers and sisters

00:13:01.459 --> 00:13:02.559
 with weaker consciences

00:13:02.559 --> 00:13:03.159
 into sin.

00:13:03.159 --> 00:13:04.740
 And so in that context,

00:13:04.839 --> 00:13:05.620
 Paul was rebuking

00:13:05.620 --> 00:13:06.019
 the Corinthians

00:13:06.019 --> 00:13:06.919
 for misusing

00:13:06.919 --> 00:13:08.120
 their partial knowledge.

00:13:08.659 --> 00:13:10.059
 He called their knowledge

00:13:10.059 --> 00:13:11.339
 knowledge that puffs up

00:13:11.339 --> 00:13:12.480
 as in contrast

00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:13.259
 with the love

00:13:13.259 --> 00:13:14.100
 that builds up.

00:13:14.740 --> 00:13:15.259
 And then similarly,

00:13:15.419 --> 00:13:16.500
 later in chapter 13,

00:13:16.919 --> 00:13:17.539
 he says this,

00:13:17.539 --> 00:13:18.659
 As for prophecies,

00:13:18.759 --> 00:13:19.600
 they will pass away.

00:13:19.699 --> 00:13:20.319
 As for tongues,

00:13:20.419 --> 00:13:21.279
 they will seize.

00:13:21.579 --> 00:13:22.519
 As for knowledge,

00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:23.519
 it will pass away.

00:13:23.839 --> 00:13:24.980
 For we know in part

00:13:24.980 --> 00:13:26.219
 and we prophesy in part,

00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:26.939
 but when the perfect

00:13:26.939 --> 00:13:27.620
 comes, the partial

00:13:27.620 --> 00:13:28.339
 will pass away.

00:13:28.740 --> 00:13:29.620
 For now we see

00:13:29.620 --> 00:13:30.580
 in a mirror dimly,

00:13:30.680 --> 00:13:31.740
 but then face to face.

00:13:32.100 --> 00:13:33.620
 Now I know in part,

00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:35.800
 then I shall know fully,

00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:36.820
 even as high

00:13:36.820 --> 00:13:38.320
 I have been fully known.

00:13:38.700 --> 00:13:39.560
 So Paul's speaking

00:13:39.560 --> 00:13:40.100
 about the fact

00:13:40.100 --> 00:13:40.940
 that believers today,

00:13:41.080 --> 00:13:41.780
 we have partial

00:13:41.780 --> 00:13:42.540
 knowledge of God,

00:13:42.660 --> 00:13:43.960
 but when Jesus returns,

00:13:44.060 --> 00:13:44.840
 we will have full

00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:45.620
 knowledge of God.

00:13:46.019 --> 00:13:47.040
 And so this knowledge

00:13:47.040 --> 00:13:48.160
 seems to speak to,

00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:49.000
 in both contexts

00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:49.600
 that I mentioned,

00:13:49.940 --> 00:13:50.940
 some kind of knowledge

00:13:50.940 --> 00:13:51.860
 that has to do

00:13:51.860 --> 00:13:52.660
 with God.

00:13:52.940 --> 00:13:53.940
 Knowledge of God

00:13:53.940 --> 00:13:55.180
 and knowledge about God.

00:13:55.560 --> 00:13:56.840
 So I think the utterance

00:13:56.840 --> 00:13:57.879
 of knowledge then

00:13:57.879 --> 00:13:59.159
 is best understood

00:13:59.159 --> 00:14:00.379
 as the gift of teaching

00:14:00.379 --> 00:14:01.340
 and communicating

00:14:01.340 --> 00:14:02.820
 scriptural truths,

00:14:03.220 --> 00:14:04.539
 imparting the knowledge

00:14:04.539 --> 00:14:05.759
 of God in a way

00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:06.860
 that lands on you

00:14:06.860 --> 00:14:07.600
 with clarity

00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:09.120
 and spiritual power.

00:14:10.200 --> 00:14:10.939
 I think of someone

00:14:10.939 --> 00:14:12.080
 like John Piper,

00:14:12.279 --> 00:14:13.720
 whose teaching

00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:15.399
 is thoroughly scriptural

00:14:15.399 --> 00:14:16.939
 and really doesn't seem

00:14:16.939 --> 00:14:17.980
 to include much

00:14:17.980 --> 00:14:18.799
 of anything else,

00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:20.000
 yet somehow,

00:14:20.220 --> 00:14:20.960
 always it seems

00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:22.299
 to open up new vistas

00:14:22.299 --> 00:14:23.019
 into the knowledge

00:14:23.019 --> 00:14:23.399
 of God.

00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:24.940
 The gift of word

00:14:24.940 --> 00:14:25.440
 of knowledge,

00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:26.059
 word of wisdom.

00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:27.799
 Then in verse 9,

00:14:27.879 --> 00:14:28.399
 Paul mentions

00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:29.120
 two other gifts.

00:14:29.539 --> 00:14:29.919
 To another,

00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:31.620
 faith by the same spirit.

00:14:31.939 --> 00:14:32.320
 To another,

00:14:32.580 --> 00:14:33.600
 gifts of healing

00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:34.820
 by the one spirit.

00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:36.679
 By faith,

00:14:36.840 --> 00:14:37.980
 Paul is not referring

00:14:37.980 --> 00:14:39.960
 to faith in Jesus Christ

00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:41.120
 through which we are saved.

00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:44.159
 That faith is a gift also,

00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:44.740
 but it's given

00:14:44.740 --> 00:14:45.580
 to all believers.

00:14:46.360 --> 00:14:47.340
 But Paul here

00:14:47.340 --> 00:14:48.480
 is speaking of gifts

00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:49.399
 that are given

00:14:49.399 --> 00:14:50.580
 to one but not to another.

00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:52.399
 This is the gift of faith

00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:53.340
 that is given to some

00:14:53.340 --> 00:14:53.980
 but not to others.

00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:55.480
 The spiritual gift of faith

00:14:55.480 --> 00:14:56.360
 that Paul has in mind

00:14:56.360 --> 00:14:57.200
 is something that he talks

00:14:57.200 --> 00:14:58.580
 about later in chapter 13 too.

00:14:58.680 --> 00:14:59.379
 It's the faith

00:14:59.379 --> 00:15:01.919
 so as to remove mountains.

00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:04.919
 It's certain faith.

00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:06.440
 It's a certain faith

00:15:06.440 --> 00:15:07.379
 that God can

00:15:07.379 --> 00:15:08.159
 and will do

00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:09.460
 something extraordinary.

00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:11.180
 And Jesus spoke

00:15:11.180 --> 00:15:11.779
 of this gift

00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:12.919
 in Mark 11,

00:15:13.019 --> 00:15:13.840
 22 to 24.

00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:14.180
 He said,

00:15:14.179 --> 00:15:15.739
 Have faith in God.

00:15:16.519 --> 00:15:17.359
 Truly I say to you,

00:15:17.439 --> 00:15:18.879
 whoever says to this mountain,

00:15:19.199 --> 00:15:19.919
 Be taken up

00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:21.199
 and thrown into the sea

00:15:21.199 --> 00:15:22.719
 and does not doubt

00:15:22.719 --> 00:15:23.339
 in his heart

00:15:23.339 --> 00:15:24.379
 but believes that

00:15:24.379 --> 00:15:25.039
 what he says

00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:26.019
 will come to pass,

00:15:26.199 --> 00:15:27.819
 it will be done for him.

00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:29.399
 Therefore I tell you,

00:15:29.459 --> 00:15:30.659
 whatever you ask in prayer,

00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:32.959
 believe that you have received it

00:15:32.959 --> 00:15:34.839
 and it will be yours.

00:15:36.599 --> 00:15:37.799
 Moving a mountain

00:15:37.799 --> 00:15:39.099
 is Hebrew idiom

00:15:39.099 --> 00:15:39.819
 for doing something

00:15:39.819 --> 00:15:41.000
 that is very, very difficult,

00:15:41.219 --> 00:15:42.319
 that is seemingly impossible.

00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:44.500
 So God's never going to give you

00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:45.140
 a gift of faith

00:15:45.140 --> 00:15:46.180
 in the context of actually

00:15:46.180 --> 00:15:46.980
 removing a mountain

00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:48.140
 because that's not consistent

00:15:48.140 --> 00:15:48.860
 with the will of God.

00:15:49.260 --> 00:15:50.040
 But some of you

00:15:50.040 --> 00:15:50.900
 have probably experienced

00:15:50.900 --> 00:15:51.660
 this gift of faith

00:15:51.660 --> 00:15:52.940
 so you may have encountered

00:15:52.940 --> 00:15:55.720
 a very severe dilemma

00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:56.400
 or a problem.

00:15:56.520 --> 00:15:57.740
 Maybe it's a vocational problem.

00:15:58.180 --> 00:15:59.400
 Maybe it's a relational problem.

00:15:59.800 --> 00:16:00.660
 And you're pouring out

00:16:00.660 --> 00:16:01.820
 your heart to God in prayer.

00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:02.980
 And as you're laying down

00:16:02.980 --> 00:16:04.100
 your requests before him,

00:16:04.280 --> 00:16:06.000
 there comes a surging sense

00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:06.840
 of confidence

00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:09.240
 that God is going to do

00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:10.580
 what you just asked him to do.

00:16:10.580 --> 00:16:13.240
 That's the gift of faith.

00:16:13.940 --> 00:16:15.620
 And I think some of you have that.

00:16:15.660 --> 00:16:16.840
 I've experienced that as well.

00:16:16.920 --> 00:16:17.200
 At times,

00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:19.040
 that's the gift of faith

00:16:19.040 --> 00:16:20.259
 that God will do something

00:16:20.259 --> 00:16:21.100
 and when you believe that

00:16:21.100 --> 00:16:21.680
 with certainty,

00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:22.620
 it happens.

00:16:23.780 --> 00:16:24.660
 The gift of faith

00:16:24.660 --> 00:16:25.560
 is closely tied

00:16:25.560 --> 00:16:26.840
 to the gifts of healing

00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:28.920
 and the workings of miracles.

00:16:29.300 --> 00:16:29.960
 And I think that's why

00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:31.240
 they follow next logically

00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:31.720
 in the list.

00:16:32.460 --> 00:16:33.920
 And frequently in Jesus' ministry,

00:16:34.020 --> 00:16:35.879
 we see him connect faith

00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:37.740
 as a prerequisite for healing.

00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:39.840
 So he tells a woman

00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:41.340
 that had the problem

00:16:41.340 --> 00:16:42.240
 with this illness

00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:43.200
 of discharge of blood,

00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:44.100
 she tells her,

00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:44.940
 take heart, daughter,

00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:46.680
 your faith has made you well.

00:16:47.419 --> 00:16:48.759
 And in another context,

00:16:48.899 --> 00:16:50.039
 in Matthew 13, 58,

00:16:50.379 --> 00:16:51.100
 Jesus talks about

00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:52.220
 how he didn't do,

00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:53.399
 the narrator talks about

00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:54.240
 how Jesus didn't do

00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:55.360
 many mighty works there

00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:57.899
 because of their unbelief,

00:16:58.019 --> 00:16:58.899
 because their lack of faith.

00:16:59.220 --> 00:17:00.299
 So faith is often tied

00:17:00.299 --> 00:17:01.100
 to gifts of healing

00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:02.779
 and works of miracles.

00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:04.279
 Gifts of healing

00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:05.039
 is pretty obvious.

00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:06.960
 God heals people

00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:08.639
 of sicknesses.

00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:11.099
 And there was a man

00:17:11.099 --> 00:17:12.299
 from the church

00:17:12.299 --> 00:17:12.980
 that sent us out,

00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:13.539
 King of Grace,

00:17:13.639 --> 00:17:14.519
 who had cancer.

00:17:15.399 --> 00:17:16.980
 He was given

00:17:16.980 --> 00:17:18.279
 not much time to live.

00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:19.420
 We prayed for him.

00:17:19.460 --> 00:17:20.039
 He went back.

00:17:20.399 --> 00:17:21.059
 They did a scan.

00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:22.339
 There was no cancer at all.

00:17:23.079 --> 00:17:24.159
 The doctor just says,

00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:25.220
 oh, your immune system

00:17:25.220 --> 00:17:25.680
 took over.

00:17:26.440 --> 00:17:27.019
 Okay, well,

00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:28.460
 who made the immune system

00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:28.859
 took over?

00:17:28.859 --> 00:17:32.240
 I think God still heals today.

00:17:32.679 --> 00:17:33.740
 And that's part of,

00:17:34.179 --> 00:17:35.079
 and a lot of people

00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:35.839
 can attest to this.

00:17:36.579 --> 00:17:37.419
 And gifts of healing,

00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:38.319
 workings of miracles,

00:17:38.459 --> 00:17:39.619
 I think is a broader category

00:17:39.619 --> 00:17:40.359
 that would include

00:17:40.359 --> 00:17:40.979
 gifts of healing.

00:17:41.379 --> 00:17:43.019
 But it would also include

00:17:43.019 --> 00:17:43.959
 other things like,

00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:44.240
 you know,

00:17:44.779 --> 00:17:46.139
 when God calls out judgments

00:17:46.139 --> 00:17:47.579
 or we cast out demons

00:17:47.579 --> 00:17:48.319
 in Christ's name.

00:17:49.919 --> 00:17:51.279
 And notice something

00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:51.879
 interesting here.

00:17:51.979 --> 00:17:53.099
 It's the word gift,

00:17:53.859 --> 00:17:55.279
 used in gift of healing,

00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:55.979
 is in plural.

00:17:55.980 --> 00:17:58.799
 It says gifts of healing.

00:17:59.480 --> 00:17:59.920
 And similarly,

00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:00.759
 in the phrase,

00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:02.180
 workings of miracles,

00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:04.000
 the workings is in plural.

00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:06.160
 And I think these two

00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:07.039
 are in plural

00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:08.519
 in order to point out

00:18:08.519 --> 00:18:09.700
 that these are not

00:18:09.700 --> 00:18:10.480
 gifts that are given

00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:12.079
 as permanent possessions

00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:12.720
 of believers

00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:13.559
 who have the gifts.

00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:14.720
 So, for example,

00:18:14.839 --> 00:18:16.039
 oh, I have the gift of healing

00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:16.740
 so I can heal

00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:17.500
 whenever I want.

00:18:17.620 --> 00:18:17.900
 So, I mean,

00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:18.960
 come, bring everybody

00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:19.700
 and I'll heal them

00:18:19.700 --> 00:18:20.299
 whenever they come.

00:18:20.519 --> 00:18:21.660
 I don't think that's how

00:18:21.660 --> 00:18:22.960
 these gifts of healing function.

00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:24.400
 I think they're in the plural

00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:25.339
 to indicate that

00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:26.500
 every instance

00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:27.779
 of the healing

00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:29.099
 is itself a gift.

00:18:29.579 --> 00:18:30.759
 So, we receive it anew

00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:31.599
 every time a healing

00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:32.259
 takes place.

00:18:32.379 --> 00:18:33.240
 We receive the miracle

00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:33.939
 anew every time

00:18:33.939 --> 00:18:34.740
 a miracle takes place.

00:18:35.059 --> 00:18:36.379
 So, that's why I'm skeptical

00:18:36.379 --> 00:18:37.559
 when someone starts

00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:38.139
 a TV show

00:18:38.139 --> 00:18:39.480
 saying that he's this healer

00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:40.959
 and says he could heal everyone

00:18:40.959 --> 00:18:41.740
 even if he claims

00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:42.399
 to be a Christian.

00:18:42.939 --> 00:18:43.059
 Right?

00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:44.019
 Because these are gifts

00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:45.039
 that God gives

00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:47.480
 in its own context.

00:18:48.459 --> 00:18:49.740
 And I think that may also

00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:50.740
 be the reason why

00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:51.319
 in the Bible

00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:52.419
 no one is called

00:18:52.419 --> 00:18:53.079
 a healer.

00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:55.259
 No one is called

00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:56.039
 a miracle worker.

00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:57.599
 The Bible calls

00:18:57.599 --> 00:18:58.699
 people who are gifted

00:18:58.699 --> 00:18:59.500
 in evangelism

00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:00.259
 and those

00:19:00.259 --> 00:19:01.099
 apostles,

00:19:01.319 --> 00:19:01.919
 those who have

00:19:01.919 --> 00:19:02.960
 the gift of utterance

00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:03.419
 of wisdom,

00:19:03.779 --> 00:19:04.779
 they have titles.

00:19:04.879 --> 00:19:05.839
 They're called evangelists.

00:19:05.899 --> 00:19:06.559
 They're called apostles.

00:19:07.099 --> 00:19:07.819
 People who have

00:19:07.819 --> 00:19:08.699
 the gift of prophecy

00:19:08.699 --> 00:19:09.779
 are called prophets.

00:19:10.199 --> 00:19:11.199
 People who have

00:19:11.199 --> 00:19:12.179
 the gift of teaching,

00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:13.139
 the word of knowledge,

00:19:13.299 --> 00:19:14.240
 they're called teachers.

00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:16.079
 But nowhere in Scripture

00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:17.439
 are people called healer

00:19:17.439 --> 00:19:18.899
 or miracle worker.

00:19:18.900 --> 00:19:21.320
 to the New Testament,

00:19:21.560 --> 00:19:22.360
 to the people,

00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:23.160
 to members of the church.

00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:23.900
 I think it's because

00:19:23.900 --> 00:19:24.780
 these are gifts

00:19:24.780 --> 00:19:25.400
 that are given

00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:26.180
 in and of themselves

00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:27.700
 in specific contexts

00:19:27.700 --> 00:19:28.519
 and situations.

00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:29.880
 And they're not intended

00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:31.259
 to be permanent possession

00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:32.120
 of believers

00:19:32.120 --> 00:19:33.140
 who have received them.

00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:35.120
 Let me ask you,

00:19:35.140 --> 00:19:36.160
 do we have faith

00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:36.960
 that God can

00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:37.820
 and will heal today?

00:19:38.820 --> 00:19:39.900
 Do we have faith

00:19:39.900 --> 00:19:40.759
 that God can

00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:41.720
 and will work

00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:43.060
 miracles today?

00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:45.080
 We believe that

00:19:45.080 --> 00:19:45.560
 as a church.

00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:47.659
 And Paul took it

00:19:47.659 --> 00:19:48.220
 for granted

00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:49.559
 that these gifts

00:19:49.559 --> 00:19:50.759
 would all function

00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:51.339
 in the life

00:19:51.339 --> 00:19:51.859
 and ministry

00:19:51.859 --> 00:19:52.399
 of the church.

00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:53.440
 I mean,

00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:54.480
 look at how he lists them.

00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:56.319
 He's not writing,

00:19:56.679 --> 00:19:57.579
 expecting people

00:19:57.579 --> 00:19:58.579
 to be astonished

00:19:58.579 --> 00:19:58.859
 and like,

00:19:58.960 --> 00:19:59.200
 whoa,

00:19:59.299 --> 00:20:00.119
 tell me more about this.

00:20:00.159 --> 00:20:01.240
 No, he just lists them

00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:02.179
 in a matter-of-fact way

00:20:02.179 --> 00:20:03.200
 like a grocery list.

00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:05.019
 He expects these gifts

00:20:05.019 --> 00:20:05.720
 to function

00:20:05.720 --> 00:20:06.679
 in the life of the church.

00:20:08.059 --> 00:20:09.099
 And we need to recover

00:20:09.099 --> 00:20:09.899
 our faith for them,

00:20:10.099 --> 00:20:10.940
 pray for these gifts

00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:12.159
 and start to utilize them.

00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:13.819
 Next is prophecy.

00:20:14.579 --> 00:20:15.619
 Since I'm going to speak

00:20:15.619 --> 00:20:16.599
 at length about this

00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:18.000
 when we get to chapter 14,

00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:19.500
 I'm going to be brief here.

00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:20.480
 But basically,

00:20:20.599 --> 00:20:20.960
 those who have

00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:21.779
 the gift of prophecy

00:20:21.779 --> 00:20:23.559
 receive God's revelation,

00:20:24.200 --> 00:20:25.200
 interpret it,

00:20:25.399 --> 00:20:26.179
 and apply it

00:20:26.179 --> 00:20:26.679
 for the sake

00:20:26.679 --> 00:20:27.679
 of building up the church.

00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:28.700
 But prophecy,

00:20:28.899 --> 00:20:29.579
 unlike scripture,

00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:31.379
 is not normative revelation.

00:20:31.599 --> 00:20:32.379
 It's not revelation

00:20:32.379 --> 00:20:32.939
 that is given

00:20:32.939 --> 00:20:33.879
 for all people

00:20:33.879 --> 00:20:34.639
 at all times.

00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:35.179
 Rather,

00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:36.599
 it's given for specific people

00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:37.460
 at specific times

00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:38.279
 to edify them,

00:20:38.379 --> 00:20:39.159
 to build them up.

00:20:39.639 --> 00:20:40.720
 It frequently involves

00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:41.740
 spontaneous knowledge

00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:43.099
 into people's circumstances

00:20:43.099 --> 00:20:44.059
 and conditions.

00:20:44.719 --> 00:20:45.639
 And its purpose,

00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:47.240
 as stated later in chapter 14,

00:20:47.379 --> 00:20:48.519
 is for the up-building

00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:49.339
 and encouragement

00:20:49.339 --> 00:20:50.419
 and consolation

00:20:50.419 --> 00:20:51.500
 of the church.

00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:52.839
 Now,

00:20:52.899 --> 00:20:54.299
 just because it's intended

00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:55.099
 for up-building

00:20:55.099 --> 00:20:55.639
 and encouragement

00:20:55.639 --> 00:20:56.199
 and consolation

00:20:56.199 --> 00:20:56.879
 doesn't mean that

00:20:56.879 --> 00:20:57.939
 it only includes

00:20:57.939 --> 00:20:59.000
 saying nice things.

00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:00.559
 Sometimes,

00:21:00.980 --> 00:21:02.019
 in 1 Corinthians 14,

00:21:02.199 --> 00:21:02.819
 it says that

00:21:02.819 --> 00:21:03.719
 the unbeliever

00:21:03.719 --> 00:21:04.659
 who hears a prophecy

00:21:04.659 --> 00:21:05.759
 in the context of the church,

00:21:06.179 --> 00:21:06.699
 it says that

00:21:06.699 --> 00:21:08.219
 the secrets of his heart

00:21:08.219 --> 00:21:09.219
 are disclosed,

00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:11.099
 and so falling on his face,

00:21:11.159 --> 00:21:12.059
 he will worship God

00:21:12.059 --> 00:21:13.240
 and declare that God

00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:14.440
 is really among you.

00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:15.359
 Sometimes,

00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:16.819
 the most up-building thing

00:21:16.819 --> 00:21:17.639
 that God can do

00:21:17.639 --> 00:21:18.720
 is to humble us

00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.740
 and expose our sin,

00:21:20.139 --> 00:21:21.799
 and that's part of prophecy too.

00:21:23.339 --> 00:21:24.599
 Charles Spurgeon,

00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:26.399
 who is not known

00:21:26.399 --> 00:21:27.039
 for his use

00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:27.839
 of the gifts of the Spirit,

00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:29.519
 includes this instance

00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:30.980
 in his autobiography.

00:21:31.399 --> 00:21:32.119
 He was preaching,

00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:32.779
 and all of a sudden,

00:21:32.839 --> 00:21:34.000
 he pointed to a corner

00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:34.419
 of a crowd

00:21:34.419 --> 00:21:34.799
 and said,

00:21:35.099 --> 00:21:36.720
 that man stole his gloves today

00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:37.559
 from his employer,

00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:40.440
 and after the service,

00:21:40.619 --> 00:21:41.779
 the man comes up

00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:42.279
 trembling,

00:21:43.159 --> 00:21:43.379
 saying,

00:21:43.579 --> 00:21:44.720
 this is the first time

00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:45.399
 I've only done this.

00:21:45.419 --> 00:21:46.639
 Can you please not tell

00:21:46.639 --> 00:21:47.259
 my employer?

00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:49.240
 And he's converted

00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:50.319
 as a result of that.

00:21:50.980 --> 00:21:51.159
 I mean,

00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:52.099
 that's the kind of things

00:21:52.099 --> 00:21:52.879
 that happens today.

00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:53.799
 It happens in the context

00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:54.599
 of many of the churches

00:21:54.599 --> 00:21:55.299
 that I've worshipped

00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:57.059
 within our domination.

00:21:58.019 --> 00:21:58.679
 Of course,

00:21:58.839 --> 00:21:59.940
 those who claim

00:21:59.940 --> 00:22:01.159
 to speak in the Holy Spirit

00:22:01.159 --> 00:22:02.679
 can actually be lying,

00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:04.539
 and they can be channeling

00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:05.299
 an evil spirit,

00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:06.419
 which necessitates

00:22:06.419 --> 00:22:07.379
 the next gift,

00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:09.539
 distinguishing between spirits.

00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:11.680
 This gift seems to be

00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:12.779
 specifically related

00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:13.659
 to prophecy,

00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:14.720
 because whenever Paul

00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:15.539
 mentions prophecy,

00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:17.619
 he also follows it up

00:22:17.619 --> 00:22:18.740
 with the need to test it

00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.599
 and to weigh it.

00:22:20.059 --> 00:22:21.019
 So later he says

00:22:21.019 --> 00:22:21.700
 in 1429,

00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:23.359
 let two or three prophets speak,

00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:24.419
 and let the others

00:22:24.419 --> 00:22:25.740
 weigh what is said.

00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:27.639
 And then he says

00:22:27.639 --> 00:22:29.000
 in 1 Thessalonians 5,

00:22:29.059 --> 00:22:29.799
 19 to 22,

00:22:29.940 --> 00:22:31.460
 do not despise prophecies,

00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:32.879
 but test everything.

00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:33.280
 Right?

00:22:34.060 --> 00:22:34.400
 So,

00:22:35.060 --> 00:22:36.380
 and the closest parallel

00:22:36.380 --> 00:22:37.740
 really is 1 John 4,

00:22:37.840 --> 00:22:38.800
 where it's very similar

00:22:38.800 --> 00:22:39.760
 to what Paul says earlier

00:22:39.760 --> 00:22:40.940
 about how only in the Spirit

00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:42.060
 you can say Jesus is Lord.

00:22:42.520 --> 00:22:42.820
 He says,

00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:44.480
 do not believe every spirit,

00:22:44.820 --> 00:22:45.980
 but test the spirits

00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:47.580
 to see whether they are from God.

00:22:47.860 --> 00:22:49.420
 For many false prophets

00:22:49.420 --> 00:22:50.720
 have gone out into the world.

00:22:51.140 --> 00:22:52.040
 By this you know

00:22:52.040 --> 00:22:52.800
 the Spirit of God.

00:22:53.120 --> 00:22:54.640
 Every spirit that confesses

00:22:54.640 --> 00:22:55.640
 that Jesus Christ

00:22:55.640 --> 00:22:56.520
 has come in the flesh

00:22:56.520 --> 00:22:57.420
 is from God,

00:22:57.580 --> 00:22:58.280
 and every spirit

00:22:58.280 --> 00:22:59.600
 that does not confess Jesus

00:22:59.600 --> 00:23:01.860
 is not from God.

00:23:01.859 --> 00:23:06.399
 The responsibility

00:23:06.399 --> 00:23:07.839
 of weighing prophecies,

00:23:07.979 --> 00:23:08.619
 testing prophecies,

00:23:08.699 --> 00:23:09.679
 falls on all of us,

00:23:09.779 --> 00:23:10.879
 but particularly on those

00:23:10.879 --> 00:23:11.579
 who have the gift

00:23:11.579 --> 00:23:12.319
 of distinguishing

00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:13.500
 between spirits.

00:23:14.219 --> 00:23:15.719
 The next two gifts listed

00:23:15.719 --> 00:23:16.839
 are the most controversial

00:23:16.839 --> 00:23:17.359
 of them all.

00:23:17.899 --> 00:23:19.119
 Paul tacks on the gift

00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:20.799
 of various kinds of tongues

00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:22.699
 and the interpretation of tongues

00:23:22.699 --> 00:23:23.679
 at the end of the list,

00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:25.559
 and he does the same

00:23:25.559 --> 00:23:26.699
 later in verse 30.

00:23:27.199 --> 00:23:28.599
 And the reason he includes it

00:23:28.599 --> 00:23:29.240
 at the end

00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:30.000
 is not because

00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:31.500
 it's the least important gift,

00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:33.079
 but because it was the gift

00:23:33.079 --> 00:23:34.220
 that was causing problems

00:23:34.220 --> 00:23:35.200
 in the Corinthian church.

00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:37.480
 And so we know

00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:38.500
 from chapter 14

00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:39.299
 that these believers

00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:40.059
 were obsessed

00:23:40.059 --> 00:23:41.200
 with the gifts of tongues,

00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:43.039
 and they used it

00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:43.480
 in the context

00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:44.299
 of corporate worship

00:23:44.299 --> 00:23:45.400
 in an unruly,

00:23:45.859 --> 00:23:46.779
 disorderly way.

00:23:47.460 --> 00:23:48.920
 And interestingly enough,

00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:49.799
 the gift of tongues

00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:50.819
 is usually what causes

00:23:50.819 --> 00:23:52.500
 problems nowadays too, right?

00:23:53.380 --> 00:23:54.539
 There are people

00:23:54.539 --> 00:23:55.519
 who insist that

00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.319
 gift of tongues

00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:57.319
 marks a new level

00:23:57.319 --> 00:23:58.000
 of spirituality,

00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:58.519
 spirituality,

00:23:58.839 --> 00:23:59.799
 that only those

00:23:59.799 --> 00:24:01.000
 who speak in the gift

00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:01.440
 of tongues

00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:02.799
 have been really baptized

00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:03.400
 in the Spirit,

00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:04.099
 they say, right?

00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:07.079
 And so they kind of

00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:07.920
 create a new category

00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:08.640
 of Christians,

00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:09.940
 but that's an unbiblical

00:24:09.940 --> 00:24:10.460
 attitude

00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:12.059
 that resembles

00:24:12.059 --> 00:24:12.720
 the attitude

00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:13.440
 of the Corinthians

00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:15.180
 who are valuing tongues

00:24:15.180 --> 00:24:16.180
 above everything else.

00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:18.059
 And I'll speak

00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:19.240
 on the gift of tongues

00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:19.619
 at length

00:24:19.619 --> 00:24:20.700
 in chapter 14 also,

00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:21.619
 so I'm going to

00:24:21.619 --> 00:24:23.160
 be brief here,

00:24:23.259 --> 00:24:23.759
 but basically

00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:25.720
 he says in 14.2,

00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:26.600
 one who speaks

00:24:26.600 --> 00:24:27.339
 in a tongue

00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:29.579
 speaks not to men

00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:30.980
 but to God.

00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:32.640
 For no one

00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:33.900
 understands him

00:24:33.900 --> 00:24:34.960
 but he utters

00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:36.759
 mysteries in the Spirit.

00:24:36.839 --> 00:24:37.380
 That's how Paul

00:24:37.380 --> 00:24:38.140
 describes the gift

00:24:38.140 --> 00:24:38.500
 of tongues.

00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:40.000
 So that verse,

00:24:40.259 --> 00:24:40.980
 in my opinion,

00:24:41.100 --> 00:24:42.220
 proves definitively

00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:42.960
 that contrary

00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:43.839
 to popular opinion,

00:24:43.980 --> 00:24:44.579
 the gift of tongues

00:24:44.579 --> 00:24:45.559
 is not an ability

00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:46.339
 to speak other

00:24:46.339 --> 00:24:47.059
 human languages.

00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:48.960
 Rather,

00:24:49.120 --> 00:24:49.980
 it's more akin

00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:50.519
 to the tongues

00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:51.059
 of angels

00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:51.900
 which Paul mentions

00:24:51.900 --> 00:24:52.759
 in chapter 13,

00:24:52.860 --> 00:24:53.259
 verse 1.

00:24:53.660 --> 00:24:55.059
 It's spirit-inspired

00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:55.700
 utterances

00:24:55.700 --> 00:24:56.619
 that is not

00:24:56.619 --> 00:24:57.960
 humanly intelligible

00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:59.299
 and that's why

00:24:59.299 --> 00:25:00.039
 it requires

00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:01.139
 another spiritual gift

00:25:01.139 --> 00:25:01.960
 for understanding it.

00:25:02.059 --> 00:25:02.819
 It's the interpretation

00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:03.619
 of tongues.

00:25:04.659 --> 00:25:05.259
 And some people

00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:06.359
 try to explain away

00:25:06.359 --> 00:25:07.099
 the gift of tongues

00:25:07.099 --> 00:25:07.919
 by comparing it

00:25:07.919 --> 00:25:09.599
 to forms of ecstatic

00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:10.480
 speech found

00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:11.799
 in various cultures

00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:12.399
 throughout the world

00:25:12.399 --> 00:25:13.720
 but Paul's instruction

00:25:13.720 --> 00:25:16.079
 makes it really clear

00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:17.919
 that this is not

00:25:17.919 --> 00:25:18.799
 ecstatic speech.

00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:19.639
 People who speak

00:25:19.639 --> 00:25:20.159
 in tongues

00:25:20.159 --> 00:25:21.240
 have full possession

00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:22.639
 of their mental faculties

00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:24.580
 and they speak

00:25:24.580 --> 00:25:25.200
 in various kinds

00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:25.520
 of tongues.

00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:27.220
 And so all these gifts

00:25:27.220 --> 00:25:27.700
 Paul writes

00:25:27.700 --> 00:25:28.360
 in verse 11

00:25:28.360 --> 00:25:29.460
 are empowered

00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:30.480
 by one

00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:31.960
 and the same spirit

00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:32.980
 who apportions

00:25:32.980 --> 00:25:34.140
 to each one

00:25:34.140 --> 00:25:35.120
 individually

00:25:35.120 --> 00:25:37.420
 as he wills.

00:25:37.420 --> 00:25:38.380
 See that diversity

00:25:38.380 --> 00:25:39.740
 in unity.

00:25:40.520 --> 00:25:41.900
 Throughout verses 8-10

00:25:41.900 --> 00:25:42.580
 Paul repeats

00:25:42.580 --> 00:25:43.140
 that pattern.

00:25:43.280 --> 00:25:44.560
 To one is given this,

00:25:44.620 --> 00:25:45.460
 to another this,

00:25:45.600 --> 00:25:46.400
 to another this,

00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:48.680
 but by the same spirit

00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:49.580
 to teach that

00:25:49.580 --> 00:25:50.460
 the different gifts

00:25:50.460 --> 00:25:51.900
 given to different people

00:25:51.900 --> 00:25:52.960
 that they're all

00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:54.640
 from the same spirit

00:25:54.640 --> 00:25:55.160
 of God.

00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:57.200
 And Paul concludes this

00:25:57.200 --> 00:25:58.200
 by reiterating that truth.

00:25:58.320 --> 00:25:59.720
 All these are empowered

00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:01.680
 by one and the same spirit

00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:02.840
 who apportions

00:26:02.840 --> 00:26:03.580
 to each one

00:26:03.580 --> 00:26:04.100
 individually

00:26:04.100 --> 00:26:06.040
 as he wills.

00:26:06.120 --> 00:26:07.280
 This is so important

00:26:07.280 --> 00:26:07.980
 for us to grasp.

00:26:08.620 --> 00:26:10.040
 It's the spirit of God

00:26:10.040 --> 00:26:10.880
 who apportions

00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:11.620
 to each one

00:26:11.620 --> 00:26:12.160
 individually

00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:13.900
 as he wills.

00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:15.460
 Meaning,

00:26:15.700 --> 00:26:17.280
 it's his prerogative.

00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:19.980
 You can't earn it.

00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:21.300
 You can't work really hard

00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:22.319
 to get these gifts.

00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.359
 They're gifts.

00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:25.339
 It's the spirit

00:26:25.339 --> 00:26:26.680
 who sovereignly decides

00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:27.659
 whom he gives it to

00:26:27.659 --> 00:26:28.720
 and he's the one

00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:29.919
 who apportions it.

00:26:29.960 --> 00:26:31.500
 And this is a liberating truth

00:26:31.500 --> 00:26:32.319
 because that means

00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:33.039
 we can't control

00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:34.059
 which gift we get

00:26:34.059 --> 00:26:34.500
 and that means

00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:35.399
 we don't have to fret

00:26:35.399 --> 00:26:36.359
 or worry about it.

00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:38.119
 God alone sees

00:26:38.119 --> 00:26:38.799
 the whole picture

00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:39.399
 of the church

00:26:39.399 --> 00:26:40.240
 and how it's going

00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:40.799
 to function.

00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:42.440
 So I have one gift,

00:26:42.599 --> 00:26:43.460
 but if I have one gift

00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:44.200
 but not the other,

00:26:44.359 --> 00:26:44.759
 not another,

00:26:44.859 --> 00:26:45.359
 but that's because

00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:46.480
 God saw it fit

00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:47.119
 to do so.

00:26:47.899 --> 00:26:48.700
 They're called gifts

00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:49.360
 for that reason.

00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:51.519
 Christian theologian

00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:52.380
 Alistair McGrath

00:26:52.380 --> 00:26:54.500
 explains the difference

00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:55.299
 between the fruit

00:26:55.299 --> 00:26:55.860
 of the spirit

00:26:55.860 --> 00:26:57.019
 and the gifts

00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:57.580
 of the spirit

00:26:57.580 --> 00:26:58.720
 with a really helpful

00:26:58.720 --> 00:26:59.580
 illustration.

00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:01.500
 He says it this way,

00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:02.120
 the fruit of the spirit

00:27:02.120 --> 00:27:03.200
 is love, joy, peace,

00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:03.880
 patience, kindness,

00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:04.900
 goodness, faithfulness,

00:27:04.900 --> 00:27:05.680
 gentleness, self-control.

00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:07.860
 That's from Galatians 5.

00:27:08.220 --> 00:27:09.680
 And he says this,

00:27:09.940 --> 00:27:10.039
 quote,

00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:11.220
 Think of two trees.

00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:13.359
 One is an apple tree.

00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:15.240
 If it really is an apple tree,

00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:16.200
 it ought to bear apples.

00:27:17.059 --> 00:27:18.980
 You know it by its fruit.

00:27:19.659 --> 00:27:20.079
 Similarly,

00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:21.079
 Christians ought to show

00:27:21.079 --> 00:27:22.000
 the fruit of the spirit

00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:22.659
 in their lives,

00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:24.079
 although the extent

00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:25.440
 will vary from one person

00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:25.859
 to another.

00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:27.099
 Now,

00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:28.659
 think of two fir trees.

00:27:29.259 --> 00:27:30.000
 One is growing

00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:30.639
 in a forest.

00:27:31.079 --> 00:27:32.399
 The other is a Christmas tree

00:27:32.399 --> 00:27:33.079
 inside a home

00:27:33.079 --> 00:27:34.420
 with presents

00:27:34.420 --> 00:27:35.359
 around its base.

00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:36.680
 Those presents

00:27:36.680 --> 00:27:38.279
 have nothing to do

00:27:38.279 --> 00:27:39.240
 with the tree.

00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:41.720
 They didn't grow there.

00:27:42.359 --> 00:27:43.460
 They were placed there

00:27:43.460 --> 00:27:44.079
 by someone.

00:27:44.659 --> 00:27:46.339
 They are someone's gifts,

00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:48.159
 not the natural fruit

00:27:48.159 --> 00:27:48.779
 of the tree.

00:27:49.659 --> 00:27:49.980
 Now,

00:27:50.099 --> 00:27:51.220
 not every fir tree

00:27:51.220 --> 00:27:52.299
 becomes a Christmas tree

00:27:52.299 --> 00:27:52.940
 and gets surrounded

00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:53.680
 by presents,

00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:55.139
 but that doesn't deny

00:27:55.139 --> 00:27:56.759
 that they are fir trees.

00:27:57.559 --> 00:27:58.440
 Spiritual gifts

00:27:58.440 --> 00:27:59.440
 are gifts.

00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:00.579
 God gives them

00:28:00.579 --> 00:28:01.519
 to those who he feels

00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:02.200
 need them

00:28:02.200 --> 00:28:03.279
 or who he feels

00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:03.960
 can use them

00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:04.700
 especially well,

00:28:04.859 --> 00:28:05.720
 but they are not

00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:07.339
 all given to everyone.

00:28:07.859 --> 00:28:08.960
 It is no stigma

00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:10.380
 to lack a charisma.

00:28:10.660 --> 00:28:11.799
 That's a Greek word

00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:12.220
 for gift.

00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:14.019
 A particular spiritual gift.

00:28:14.519 --> 00:28:15.980
 So don't be discouraged

00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:16.779
 that you lack

00:28:16.779 --> 00:28:17.579
 some or most

00:28:17.579 --> 00:28:18.700
 of these spiritual gifts.

00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.819
 It doesn't change

00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:21.340
 the fact that

00:28:21.340 --> 00:28:21.900
 you're a Christian.

00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:22.559
 It doesn't make you

00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:23.819
 any less valued

00:28:23.819 --> 00:28:24.620
 in the eyes of God.

00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:25.940
 You have the fruit

00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:26.440
 of the Spirit,

00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:27.220
 but the gifts

00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:27.640
 of the Spirit

00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:28.120
 are distributed

00:28:28.120 --> 00:28:28.860
 in different ways.

00:28:29.340 --> 00:28:29.900
 But let's not

00:28:29.900 --> 00:28:31.100
 be complacent either.

00:28:32.200 --> 00:28:32.700
 These gifts

00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:33.819
 are intended

00:28:33.819 --> 00:28:34.680
 to function

00:28:34.680 --> 00:28:35.240
 in the life

00:28:35.240 --> 00:28:35.559
 and ministry

00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:36.079
 of the church.

00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:36.919
 That's why

00:28:36.919 --> 00:28:37.919
 later in chapter 14,

00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:39.059
 Paul exhorts us

00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:39.740
 to earnestly

00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:41.619
 desire the spiritual gifts.

00:28:41.899 --> 00:28:42.799
 Ask God for them

00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:43.579
 because he's the one

00:28:43.579 --> 00:28:44.240
 who gives them.

00:28:44.819 --> 00:28:45.659
 We should seek them.

00:28:46.019 --> 00:28:47.439
 And look at Paul.

00:28:47.599 --> 00:28:48.859
 Paul doesn't expect

00:28:48.859 --> 00:28:50.159
 these to be rarities.

00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:51.179
 He expects to see them

00:28:51.179 --> 00:28:52.339
 function in the life

00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:52.740
 of the church

00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:53.339
 as I said earlier.

00:28:54.179 --> 00:28:55.199
 And so this is

00:28:55.199 --> 00:28:55.980
 the point he's trying to make.

00:28:56.039 --> 00:28:56.639
 The church is to be

00:28:56.639 --> 00:28:57.679
 an interdependent body

00:28:57.679 --> 00:28:59.319
 modeled after the triune God.

00:28:59.379 --> 00:29:00.339
 And so that's the foundation

00:29:00.339 --> 00:29:01.059
 of the Trinity,

00:29:01.220 --> 00:29:02.139
 the diversity and unity

00:29:02.139 --> 00:29:02.579
 in the Trinity

00:29:02.579 --> 00:29:03.960
 which forms the basis

00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:04.699
 for the diversity

00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:05.100
 and unity

00:29:05.100 --> 00:29:06.299
 of the spiritual gifts.

00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:08.200
 And now in verses 12 to 20

00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:09.400
 he speaks of the diversity

00:29:09.400 --> 00:29:10.000
 of the gifts.

00:29:10.880 --> 00:29:11.960
 And he uses the metaphor

00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:13.000
 of the human body

00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:14.519
 to illustrate this.

00:29:15.100 --> 00:29:16.180
 He says in verse 12,

00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:18.160
 For just as the body

00:29:18.160 --> 00:29:18.700
 is one

00:29:18.700 --> 00:29:19.960
 and has many members

00:29:19.960 --> 00:29:21.200
 and all the members

00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:21.759
 of the body

00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:22.259
 though many

00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:23.160
 are one body

00:29:23.160 --> 00:29:24.819
 so it is with Christ.

00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:26.480
 Our bodies are made up

00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:29.039
 of approximately

00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:30.620
 I just did a Google search

00:29:30.620 --> 00:29:31.799
 for these 80 organs,

00:29:31.799 --> 00:29:33.700
 200 bones,

00:29:34.099 --> 00:29:35.859
 650 skeletal muscles,

00:29:35.859 --> 00:29:37.859
 and over 30 trillion cells.

00:29:39.819 --> 00:29:41.500
 In a healthy body

00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:43.039
 at any given moment

00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:45.139
 many of these diverse parts

00:29:45.139 --> 00:29:46.500
 are working in concert

00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:48.200
 to enable us

00:29:48.200 --> 00:29:50.099
 to live and function.

00:29:51.059 --> 00:29:54.139
 So it is with Christ.

00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:56.180
 The church is described

00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:56.619
 in scripture

00:29:56.619 --> 00:29:57.700
 as the body of Christ

00:29:57.700 --> 00:29:58.759
 and for all of us

00:29:58.759 --> 00:29:59.879
 who are members of the body

00:29:59.880 --> 00:30:01.580
 the same diversity

00:30:01.580 --> 00:30:03.440
 and unity hold for us.

00:30:03.800 --> 00:30:04.900
 We are many, yes,

00:30:05.020 --> 00:30:06.000
 but we are one.

00:30:06.360 --> 00:30:07.940
 And this is not hypothetical

00:30:07.940 --> 00:30:09.500
 or aspirational.

00:30:09.760 --> 00:30:11.140
 It's a real unity

00:30:11.140 --> 00:30:11.740
 and diversity

00:30:11.740 --> 00:30:12.840
 that God has placed

00:30:12.840 --> 00:30:13.800
 within the church.

00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:15.500
 And Satan violently

00:30:15.500 --> 00:30:16.620
 opposes this reality.

00:30:16.820 --> 00:30:18.200
 He sows denial.

00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:19.460
 He sows doubt

00:30:19.460 --> 00:30:20.580
 and discord.

00:30:20.820 --> 00:30:21.740
 But we must cling

00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:22.520
 to this reality

00:30:22.520 --> 00:30:23.200
 by faith

00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:24.340
 and daily strive

00:30:24.340 --> 00:30:25.740
 to live in light of it.

00:30:26.120 --> 00:30:26.840
 We are united

00:30:26.840 --> 00:30:27.400
 to one another

00:30:27.400 --> 00:30:28.220
 by virtue of our union

00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:28.779
 with Christ.

00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:30.839
 And here's how we came

00:30:30.839 --> 00:30:31.839
 to be united with Christ.

00:30:31.980 --> 00:30:33.200
 Paul explains in verse 13.

00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:35.400
 For in one spirit

00:30:35.400 --> 00:30:36.579
 we were all baptized

00:30:36.579 --> 00:30:37.860
 into one body,

00:30:38.440 --> 00:30:39.440
 Jews or Greeks,

00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:40.920
 slaves or free,

00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:42.420
 and all were made

00:30:42.420 --> 00:30:44.240
 to drink of one spirit.

00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:46.539
 The Holy Spirit

00:30:46.539 --> 00:30:47.779
 is the bond

00:30:47.779 --> 00:30:49.100
 of our union with Christ.

00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:49.600
 He's the one

00:30:49.600 --> 00:30:50.480
 that brings us together

00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:52.240
 with our Savior spiritually.

00:30:53.120 --> 00:30:54.380
 It's not our ethnic

00:30:54.380 --> 00:30:55.400
 or social background

00:30:55.400 --> 00:30:56.220
 that brings us together.

00:30:56.319 --> 00:30:57.799
 It's our union with Christ.

00:30:57.799 --> 00:30:59.039
 It's the bond of the spirit

00:30:59.039 --> 00:31:00.559
 that brings us together.

00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:01.960
 Really, that's what it means

00:31:01.960 --> 00:31:02.559
 to be a Christian.

00:31:02.899 --> 00:31:03.960
 A Christian is someone

00:31:03.960 --> 00:31:04.759
 by definition

00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:06.000
 who is immersed

00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:06.779
 in the spirit

00:31:06.779 --> 00:31:08.119
 and has imbibed

00:31:08.119 --> 00:31:09.079
 the Holy Spirit

00:31:09.079 --> 00:31:10.740
 as this verse talks about.

00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:12.639
 A Christian is someone

00:31:12.639 --> 00:31:13.639
 who is dripping wet

00:31:13.639 --> 00:31:14.980
 with the cleansing water

00:31:14.980 --> 00:31:15.480
 of the spirit.

00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:16.859
 A Christian is someone

00:31:16.859 --> 00:31:17.559
 who is filled

00:31:17.559 --> 00:31:18.720
 with the invigorating

00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:20.019
 and life-giving water

00:31:20.019 --> 00:31:21.659
 of the spirit.

00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:24.299
 There is no such thing

00:31:24.299 --> 00:31:25.039
 as a Christian

00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:26.359
 who does not have

00:31:26.359 --> 00:31:27.179
 the spirit of God.

00:31:28.779 --> 00:31:29.979
 The very definition

00:31:29.979 --> 00:31:30.479
 of a Christian

00:31:30.479 --> 00:31:31.119
 is to be filled

00:31:31.119 --> 00:31:31.599
 with the spirit.

00:31:32.179 --> 00:31:32.679
 And of course,

00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:33.699
 we have varying degrees

00:31:33.699 --> 00:31:34.259
 of the fullness

00:31:34.259 --> 00:31:34.899
 of the spirit,

00:31:35.240 --> 00:31:36.599
 but we are all filled

00:31:36.599 --> 00:31:37.359
 with the spirit,

00:31:37.539 --> 00:31:38.919
 indwelled by the spirit.

00:31:39.719 --> 00:31:40.519
 And note that Paul

00:31:40.519 --> 00:31:41.599
 is not speaking here

00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:42.439
 of water baptism.

00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:44.479
 He's speaking of the baptism

00:31:44.479 --> 00:31:45.319
 in the Holy Spirit.

00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:47.119
 And we experience

00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:48.439
 this baptism in the Holy Spirit

00:31:48.439 --> 00:31:49.639
 at the point of conversion.

00:31:50.599 --> 00:31:51.199
 But of course,

00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:52.179
 Christian conversion

00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:54.519
 is marked by water baptism,

00:31:54.860 --> 00:31:56.640
 which is why

00:31:56.640 --> 00:31:57.580
 throughout church history

00:31:57.580 --> 00:31:59.140
 often there is a relation

00:31:59.140 --> 00:32:00.259
 between water baptism

00:32:00.259 --> 00:32:01.060
 and being filled

00:32:01.060 --> 00:32:01.860
 with the Holy Spirit.

00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:03.299
 But it's not because

00:32:03.299 --> 00:32:04.299
 the water baptism

00:32:04.299 --> 00:32:05.740
 itself confers the spirit,

00:32:05.880 --> 00:32:07.440
 but because it's

00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:08.580
 associated with conversion,

00:32:08.700 --> 00:32:09.220
 which is the point

00:32:09.220 --> 00:32:09.900
 in which we are filled

00:32:09.900 --> 00:32:10.420
 with the spirit.

00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:11.500
 And that's why

00:32:11.500 --> 00:32:12.779
 Acts 2.38 says,

00:32:13.120 --> 00:32:14.820
 Repent and be baptized,

00:32:15.320 --> 00:32:16.160
 every one of you,

00:32:16.320 --> 00:32:17.759
 in the name of Jesus Christ

00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:18.400
 for the forgiveness

00:32:18.400 --> 00:32:19.160
 of your sins,

00:32:19.160 --> 00:32:21.100
 and you will receive

00:32:21.100 --> 00:32:23.300
 the gift of the Holy Spirit.

00:32:24.360 --> 00:32:25.100
 We see here

00:32:25.100 --> 00:32:25.900
 distinct,

00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:26.660
 three distinct

00:32:26.660 --> 00:32:27.840
 yet inseparable aspects

00:32:27.840 --> 00:32:28.880
 of Christian conversion.

00:32:29.080 --> 00:32:29.360
 First,

00:32:29.800 --> 00:32:31.200
 repentance by the individual,

00:32:31.380 --> 00:32:32.160
 repentance and faith.

00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:32.920
 Second,

00:32:33.080 --> 00:32:34.279
 baptism by the church.

00:32:34.740 --> 00:32:35.259
 Third,

00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:37.560
 regeneration by the Holy Spirit.

00:32:37.940 --> 00:32:39.040
 The individual,

00:32:39.400 --> 00:32:39.779
 the church,

00:32:39.840 --> 00:32:40.400
 and the Holy Spirit

00:32:40.400 --> 00:32:41.580
 each play a distinct

00:32:41.580 --> 00:32:43.480
 yet inseparable role

00:32:43.480 --> 00:32:44.180
 in someone's,

00:32:44.180 --> 00:32:45.360
 roles in someone's conversion.

00:32:45.779 --> 00:32:47.080
 So you shouldn't feel like

00:32:47.080 --> 00:32:48.340
 you need to be more filled

00:32:48.339 --> 00:32:49.220
 with the Holy Spirit

00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:51.199
 before you can be baptized.

00:32:52.659 --> 00:32:53.500
 Baptism marks

00:32:53.500 --> 00:32:54.099
 the Christian's

00:32:54.099 --> 00:32:55.019
 spiritual birthday.

00:32:55.179 --> 00:32:56.500
 It's not a coming-of-age party.

00:32:57.480 --> 00:32:58.899
 And it's a sign of birth,

00:32:59.019 --> 00:32:59.179
 right,

00:32:59.199 --> 00:33:00.199
 not maturity.

00:33:00.539 --> 00:33:01.599
 And just as the water

00:33:01.599 --> 00:33:02.319
 breaking from

00:33:02.319 --> 00:33:03.599
 a pregnant woman's

00:33:03.599 --> 00:33:04.339
 amniotic sac

00:33:04.339 --> 00:33:05.119
 marks the arrival

00:33:05.119 --> 00:33:05.779
 of the baby,

00:33:06.379 --> 00:33:07.539
 the water of baptism

00:33:07.539 --> 00:33:08.379
 marks the Christian's

00:33:08.379 --> 00:33:08.879
 new birth

00:33:08.879 --> 00:33:09.819
 into the family of God.

00:33:10.639 --> 00:33:12.519
 And just as up to 60%

00:33:12.519 --> 00:33:13.759
 of our human bodies

00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:15.199
 consists of water,

00:33:15.559 --> 00:33:16.879
 the defining characteristic

00:33:16.879 --> 00:33:17.839
 of the body of Christ

00:33:17.839 --> 00:33:18.399
 is the water

00:33:18.399 --> 00:33:19.799
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:33:20.899 --> 00:33:21.980
 Christians are indwelled

00:33:21.980 --> 00:33:22.559
 by the Spirit

00:33:22.559 --> 00:33:23.079
 and they have been

00:33:23.079 --> 00:33:24.639
 immersed in the Spirit

00:33:24.639 --> 00:33:25.919
 and they have imbibed

00:33:25.919 --> 00:33:27.019
 the Spirit.

00:33:28.059 --> 00:33:28.919
 And using this

00:33:28.919 --> 00:33:29.619
 continuing metaphor,

00:33:29.819 --> 00:33:30.480
 Paul highlights

00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:31.220
 the diversity

00:33:31.220 --> 00:33:32.939
 of the body of Christ

00:33:32.939 --> 00:33:34.259
 in verses 14 to 20.

00:33:34.579 --> 00:33:35.319
 He says in verses

00:33:35.319 --> 00:33:36.259
 14 to 16,

00:33:36.359 --> 00:33:36.899
 For the body

00:33:36.899 --> 00:33:37.659
 does not consist

00:33:37.659 --> 00:33:38.519
 of one member

00:33:38.519 --> 00:33:39.519
 but of many.

00:33:39.980 --> 00:33:41.079
 If the foot should say,

00:33:41.179 --> 00:33:42.139
 Because I am not a hand,

00:33:42.179 --> 00:33:43.419
 I do not belong to the body,

00:33:43.720 --> 00:33:44.639
 that would not make it

00:33:44.639 --> 00:33:45.579
 any less a part

00:33:45.579 --> 00:33:46.099
 of the body.

00:33:46.099 --> 00:33:47.599
 And if the ear should say,

00:33:47.699 --> 00:33:48.679
 Because I am not an eye,

00:33:48.719 --> 00:33:49.799
 I do not belong to the body,

00:33:49.919 --> 00:33:51.019
 that would not make it

00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:52.219
 any less a part

00:33:52.219 --> 00:33:53.599
 of the body.

00:33:54.439 --> 00:33:55.799
 No one in the church

00:33:55.799 --> 00:33:56.559
 should say,

00:33:57.099 --> 00:33:58.119
 Because I am not

00:33:58.119 --> 00:33:59.039
 a pastor,

00:33:59.500 --> 00:34:00.959
 I am not a part

00:34:00.959 --> 00:34:01.500
 of the church.

00:34:03.439 --> 00:34:04.359
 Because I am not

00:34:04.359 --> 00:34:04.899
 a deacon,

00:34:05.159 --> 00:34:05.980
 I am not a part

00:34:05.980 --> 00:34:06.500
 of the church.

00:34:07.379 --> 00:34:08.159
 Because I am not

00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:08.880
 an evangelist,

00:34:08.940 --> 00:34:09.679
 I am not a part

00:34:09.679 --> 00:34:10.239
 of the church.

00:34:10.239 --> 00:34:14.299
 your role

00:34:14.299 --> 00:34:15.500
 and function

00:34:15.500 --> 00:34:16.399
 in the body

00:34:16.399 --> 00:34:17.839
 is irrelevant

00:34:17.839 --> 00:34:18.599
 to the question

00:34:18.599 --> 00:34:19.519
 of whether you belong

00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:20.519
 to the body or not.

00:34:22.339 --> 00:34:23.299
 Do you belong

00:34:23.299 --> 00:34:24.519
 to Jesus Christ?

00:34:24.959 --> 00:34:25.959
 Because if your answer

00:34:25.959 --> 00:34:26.559
 to that question

00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:27.119
 is yes,

00:34:27.500 --> 00:34:28.839
 you have received

00:34:28.839 --> 00:34:29.579
 the Holy Spirit

00:34:29.579 --> 00:34:30.679
 and you are part

00:34:30.679 --> 00:34:31.559
 of the body of Christ,

00:34:31.619 --> 00:34:32.719
 whether you like it or not.

00:34:33.819 --> 00:34:35.239
 Whether you believe it or not.

00:34:36.199 --> 00:34:37.339
 To belong to Christ

00:34:37.339 --> 00:34:38.439
 means to be

00:34:38.439 --> 00:34:39.159
 the church.

00:34:39.159 --> 00:34:40.159
 that's why

00:34:40.159 --> 00:34:41.259
 it is inconsistent

00:34:41.259 --> 00:34:42.440
 and unbiblical

00:34:42.440 --> 00:34:43.859
 for any Christian

00:34:43.859 --> 00:34:44.159
 to say,

00:34:44.279 --> 00:34:44.899
 I'm a Christian

00:34:44.899 --> 00:34:45.559
 but I'm not

00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:46.379
 a part of a church.

00:34:49.539 --> 00:34:50.779
 I have a relationship

00:34:50.779 --> 00:34:51.379
 with God,

00:34:51.480 --> 00:34:52.319
 a personal relationship

00:34:52.319 --> 00:34:53.099
 with Jesus Christ,

00:34:53.199 --> 00:34:54.119
 but I don't really

00:34:54.119 --> 00:34:54.819
 have relationship

00:34:54.819 --> 00:34:55.599
 with Christians.

00:34:56.440 --> 00:34:57.179
 I've committed

00:34:57.179 --> 00:34:58.339
 myself to Christ.

00:34:59.719 --> 00:35:00.899
 I refuse to commit

00:35:00.899 --> 00:35:02.000
 myself to a church.

00:35:04.579 --> 00:35:05.659
 That kind of thinking

00:35:05.659 --> 00:35:06.420
 completely

00:35:06.420 --> 00:35:08.579
 is completely

00:35:08.579 --> 00:35:09.380
 foreign to scripture.

00:35:10.719 --> 00:35:11.940
 To live like that

00:35:11.940 --> 00:35:13.699
 is to be a dislocated limb,

00:35:14.199 --> 00:35:15.099
 a severed limb

00:35:15.099 --> 00:35:15.860
 that's trying to do

00:35:15.860 --> 00:35:16.619
 its own thing

00:35:16.619 --> 00:35:17.460
 apart from the body.

00:35:17.559 --> 00:35:18.360
 It doesn't work.

00:35:19.559 --> 00:35:20.279
 The one body

00:35:20.279 --> 00:35:21.199
 is made up of man.

00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:23.299
 Paul continues

00:35:23.299 --> 00:35:23.860
 to expound

00:35:23.860 --> 00:35:24.460
 on the necessity

00:35:24.460 --> 00:35:24.980
 of diversity

00:35:24.980 --> 00:35:25.799
 in verse 17.

00:35:26.179 --> 00:35:27.139
 If the whole body

00:35:27.139 --> 00:35:27.960
 were an eye,

00:35:28.380 --> 00:35:29.019
 where would be

00:35:29.019 --> 00:35:29.880
 the sense of hearing?

00:35:30.119 --> 00:35:31.159
 If the whole body

00:35:31.159 --> 00:35:31.860
 were an ear,

00:35:32.039 --> 00:35:32.699
 where would be

00:35:32.699 --> 00:35:34.219
 the sense of smell?

00:35:34.219 --> 00:35:35.559
 Every part

00:35:35.559 --> 00:35:36.179
 of the body

00:35:36.179 --> 00:35:37.599
 has its own function

00:35:37.599 --> 00:35:38.779
 and as such

00:35:38.779 --> 00:35:39.679
 it is necessary

00:35:39.679 --> 00:35:40.439
 for the body.

00:35:41.299 --> 00:35:41.939
 You might look

00:35:41.939 --> 00:35:42.500
 at yourself

00:35:42.500 --> 00:35:43.559
 and think to yourself,

00:35:43.779 --> 00:35:44.779
 if the whole church

00:35:44.779 --> 00:35:45.439
 were filled with

00:35:45.439 --> 00:35:46.559
 more people like me,

00:35:46.699 --> 00:35:47.500
 then the church

00:35:47.500 --> 00:35:48.399
 would be so much

00:35:48.399 --> 00:35:49.039
 more healthy.

00:35:49.539 --> 00:35:50.779
 But that's not true.

00:35:53.779 --> 00:35:55.319
 You might look

00:35:55.319 --> 00:35:56.179
 at another believer

00:35:56.179 --> 00:35:57.099
 and think to yourself,

00:35:57.359 --> 00:35:58.480
 if the whole church

00:35:58.480 --> 00:35:59.099
 were filled with

00:35:59.099 --> 00:36:00.159
 more people like her

00:36:00.159 --> 00:36:01.599
 and less like me,

00:36:01.899 --> 00:36:02.599
 then the church

00:36:02.599 --> 00:36:03.239
 would be healthy.

00:36:04.299 --> 00:36:05.619
 But that's not true either.

00:36:07.920 --> 00:36:09.799
 God gave each of us

00:36:09.799 --> 00:36:11.659
 a unique complex

00:36:11.659 --> 00:36:12.500
 of gifts

00:36:12.500 --> 00:36:13.759
 and experiences

00:36:13.759 --> 00:36:15.539
 and if the whole church

00:36:15.539 --> 00:36:16.719
 were made up of people

00:36:16.719 --> 00:36:17.500
 like that one

00:36:17.500 --> 00:36:18.460
 particular person,

00:36:18.799 --> 00:36:19.759
 we would not have

00:36:19.759 --> 00:36:20.679
 a healthy body

00:36:20.679 --> 00:36:21.880
 but a disabled body.

00:36:25.099 --> 00:36:26.000
 Do you have

00:36:26.000 --> 00:36:26.799
 the gift of prophecy?

00:36:27.299 --> 00:36:28.279
 Do you have

00:36:28.279 --> 00:36:29.380
 the gift of hospitality?

00:36:29.739 --> 00:36:30.299
 Do you have

00:36:30.299 --> 00:36:31.960
 the gift of administration?

00:36:31.960 --> 00:36:32.740
 Do you have

00:36:32.740 --> 00:36:34.159
 the gift of evangelism?

00:36:34.220 --> 00:36:34.599
 Do you have

00:36:34.599 --> 00:36:35.480
 the gift of helping?

00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:36.519
 Do you have

00:36:36.519 --> 00:36:37.400
 the gift of teaching?

00:36:37.619 --> 00:36:37.960
 Do you have

00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:38.820
 the gift of faith?

00:36:39.699 --> 00:36:40.360
 Whatever your

00:36:40.360 --> 00:36:41.139
 gifting might be,

00:36:41.260 --> 00:36:42.019
 whatever your

00:36:42.019 --> 00:36:42.900
 God-given role

00:36:42.900 --> 00:36:43.940
 might be in this church,

00:36:44.099 --> 00:36:45.059
 you are integral

00:36:45.059 --> 00:36:46.019
 to the body of Christ

00:36:46.019 --> 00:36:47.000
 and we need you.

00:36:52.760 --> 00:36:53.500
 It's when,

00:36:53.820 --> 00:36:55.400
 as Ephesians 4.16 says,

00:36:55.740 --> 00:36:56.960
 joined and held

00:36:56.960 --> 00:36:57.679
 together by

00:36:57.679 --> 00:36:58.860
 every joint

00:36:58.860 --> 00:36:59.820
 with which

00:36:59.820 --> 00:37:00.420
 it is equipped,

00:37:00.420 --> 00:37:02.039
 when each part

00:37:02.039 --> 00:37:03.460
 is working properly

00:37:03.460 --> 00:37:04.420
 that makes

00:37:04.420 --> 00:37:05.039
 the body

00:37:05.039 --> 00:37:05.880
 grow

00:37:05.880 --> 00:37:06.659
 so that it

00:37:06.659 --> 00:37:07.460
 builds itself

00:37:07.460 --> 00:37:08.340
 up in love.

00:37:09.380 --> 00:37:10.360
 The body

00:37:10.360 --> 00:37:11.180
 of Christ

00:37:11.180 --> 00:37:12.099
 is counting

00:37:12.099 --> 00:37:13.059
 on you.

00:37:14.019 --> 00:37:14.720
 We are

00:37:14.720 --> 00:37:15.800
 dependent on you.

00:37:17.260 --> 00:37:18.500
 Are you doing

00:37:18.500 --> 00:37:19.059
 your part?

00:37:21.659 --> 00:37:22.880
 Are you using

00:37:22.880 --> 00:37:23.400
 your gifts?

00:37:23.400 --> 00:37:23.460
 gifts?

00:37:25.139 --> 00:37:25.760
 You have

00:37:25.760 --> 00:37:26.300
 a gift.

00:37:27.460 --> 00:37:27.820
 Probably

00:37:27.820 --> 00:37:28.500
 more than one.

00:37:29.160 --> 00:37:29.619
 That's what it

00:37:29.619 --> 00:37:29.960
 means to be

00:37:29.960 --> 00:37:30.240
 a part of

00:37:30.240 --> 00:37:30.539
 the body

00:37:30.539 --> 00:37:31.039
 of Christ.

00:37:34.539 --> 00:37:35.559
 And the diversity

00:37:35.559 --> 00:37:36.539
 of the body

00:37:36.539 --> 00:37:37.039
 that Paul's

00:37:37.039 --> 00:37:37.420
 talking about here

00:37:37.420 --> 00:37:38.180
 is not a nice

00:37:38.180 --> 00:37:38.559
 bonus.

00:37:38.700 --> 00:37:39.039
 It's woven

00:37:39.039 --> 00:37:39.519
 into the very

00:37:39.519 --> 00:37:40.260
 fabric of the

00:37:40.260 --> 00:37:40.400
 church.

00:37:40.480 --> 00:37:40.800
 It's not a

00:37:40.800 --> 00:37:41.599
 peripheral reality.

00:37:41.700 --> 00:37:42.400
 It's an essential

00:37:42.400 --> 00:37:43.400
 reality to the

00:37:43.400 --> 00:37:43.619
 church.

00:37:43.940 --> 00:37:44.360
 That's why it

00:37:44.360 --> 00:37:44.760
 says in verse

00:37:44.760 --> 00:37:45.119
 18,

00:37:45.200 --> 00:37:45.760
 but as it is,

00:37:46.019 --> 00:37:46.980
 God arranged

00:37:46.980 --> 00:37:47.519
 the members

00:37:47.519 --> 00:37:48.039
 in the body,

00:37:48.300 --> 00:37:49.019
 each one of

00:37:49.019 --> 00:37:49.240
 them,

00:37:49.400 --> 00:37:50.360
 as He

00:37:50.360 --> 00:37:51.160
 chose.

00:37:51.159 --> 00:37:52.319
 God chose

00:37:52.319 --> 00:37:52.859
 to put you

00:37:52.859 --> 00:37:53.179
 where you

00:37:53.179 --> 00:37:53.420
 are.

00:37:54.279 --> 00:37:55.199
 God gifted

00:37:55.199 --> 00:37:56.399
 you to be

00:37:56.399 --> 00:37:56.960
 the way you

00:37:56.960 --> 00:37:57.259
 are.

00:37:57.619 --> 00:37:58.239
 You are not

00:37:58.239 --> 00:37:58.879
 a divine

00:37:58.879 --> 00:37:59.859
 afterthought.

00:38:00.539 --> 00:38:00.920
 You've not

00:38:00.920 --> 00:38:01.460
 been placed

00:38:01.460 --> 00:38:02.000
 in our church

00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:03.039
 haphazardly,

00:38:03.219 --> 00:38:04.339
 but intentionally

00:38:04.339 --> 00:38:05.699
 and precisely

00:38:05.699 --> 00:38:06.699
 according to

00:38:06.699 --> 00:38:07.579
 God's sovereign

00:38:07.579 --> 00:38:08.500
 and perfect

00:38:08.500 --> 00:38:09.119
 plan.

00:38:11.460 --> 00:38:12.399
 So Paul

00:38:12.399 --> 00:38:12.799
 writes,

00:38:12.960 --> 00:38:13.460
 verse 19,

00:38:13.559 --> 00:38:14.599
 if all were

00:38:14.599 --> 00:38:15.299
 a single

00:38:15.299 --> 00:38:15.719
 member,

00:38:16.059 --> 00:38:16.920
 where would

00:38:16.920 --> 00:38:17.420
 the body

00:38:17.420 --> 00:38:17.799
 be?

00:38:18.739 --> 00:38:19.259
 If the

00:38:19.259 --> 00:38:19.639
 whole

00:38:19.639 --> 00:38:21.199
 face

00:38:21.199 --> 00:38:21.619
 were made

00:38:21.619 --> 00:38:21.900
 up of

00:38:21.900 --> 00:38:22.379
 eyes,

00:38:22.839 --> 00:38:23.460
 or a

00:38:23.460 --> 00:38:24.079
 whole body

00:38:24.079 --> 00:38:24.539
 made up

00:38:24.539 --> 00:38:25.339
 of arms,

00:38:25.779 --> 00:38:26.480
 that's not

00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:26.980
 an ideal

00:38:26.980 --> 00:38:27.359
 body.

00:38:27.460 --> 00:38:27.759
 That's a

00:38:27.759 --> 00:38:28.519
 mantrasity.

00:38:33.119 --> 00:38:33.519
 Thankfully,

00:38:33.679 --> 00:38:34.119
 this is not

00:38:34.119 --> 00:38:34.440
 how the

00:38:34.440 --> 00:38:34.739
 body of

00:38:34.739 --> 00:38:35.119
 Christ is

00:38:35.119 --> 00:38:35.659
 constituted.

00:38:37.099 --> 00:38:37.719
 As it is,

00:38:37.779 --> 00:38:37.980
 there are

00:38:37.980 --> 00:38:38.699
 many parts,

00:38:38.879 --> 00:38:39.460
 yet one

00:38:39.460 --> 00:38:40.219
 body.

00:38:40.319 --> 00:38:40.579
 That's the

00:38:40.579 --> 00:38:41.319
 diversity of

00:38:41.319 --> 00:38:41.599
 the body

00:38:41.599 --> 00:38:42.079
 of Christ.

00:38:43.739 --> 00:38:44.319
 And verse

00:38:44.319 --> 00:38:45.139
 20 serves

00:38:45.139 --> 00:38:45.579
 as Paul's

00:38:45.579 --> 00:38:46.059
 transition to

00:38:46.059 --> 00:38:46.379
 the next

00:38:46.379 --> 00:38:46.559
 point,

00:38:46.619 --> 00:38:47.139
 the unity

00:38:47.139 --> 00:38:47.579
 of the

00:38:47.579 --> 00:38:47.900
 body of

00:38:47.900 --> 00:38:48.159
 Christ.

00:38:48.420 --> 00:38:48.679
 He says,

00:38:48.679 --> 00:38:48.960
 there are

00:38:48.960 --> 00:38:49.759
 many parts,

00:38:49.899 --> 00:38:50.059
 yes,

00:38:50.159 --> 00:38:50.799
 yet one

00:38:50.799 --> 00:38:51.699
 body.

00:38:52.079 --> 00:38:52.500
 And he

00:38:52.500 --> 00:38:53.039
 continues the

00:38:53.039 --> 00:38:53.679
 illustration in

00:38:53.679 --> 00:38:54.199
 verse 21,

00:38:54.319 --> 00:38:54.960
 the eye cannot

00:38:54.960 --> 00:38:55.679
 say to the

00:38:55.679 --> 00:38:56.039
 hand,

00:38:56.339 --> 00:38:57.059
 I have no

00:38:57.059 --> 00:38:57.440
 need of

00:38:57.440 --> 00:38:57.699
 you,

00:38:57.960 --> 00:38:58.480
 nor again

00:38:58.480 --> 00:38:58.879
 the head

00:38:58.879 --> 00:38:59.159
 to the

00:38:59.159 --> 00:38:59.359
 feet,

00:38:59.539 --> 00:38:59.899
 I have

00:38:59.899 --> 00:39:00.460
 no need

00:39:00.460 --> 00:39:01.059
 of you.

00:39:01.599 --> 00:39:02.299
 Notice that

00:39:02.299 --> 00:39:03.059
 Paul's now

00:39:03.059 --> 00:39:03.779
 comparing different

00:39:03.779 --> 00:39:04.299
 body parts

00:39:04.299 --> 00:39:04.699
 than the ones

00:39:04.699 --> 00:39:05.000
 he used

00:39:05.000 --> 00:39:05.339
 earlier.

00:39:05.940 --> 00:39:06.419
 Before,

00:39:06.579 --> 00:39:07.219
 he compared

00:39:07.219 --> 00:39:08.000
 foot to

00:39:08.000 --> 00:39:08.460
 the hand,

00:39:08.639 --> 00:39:08.980
 which are

00:39:08.980 --> 00:39:09.480
 both pretty

00:39:09.480 --> 00:39:09.879
 similar,

00:39:10.319 --> 00:39:10.619
 and he

00:39:10.619 --> 00:39:11.339
 compared eye

00:39:11.339 --> 00:39:11.659
 to the

00:39:11.659 --> 00:39:11.899
 ear,

00:39:12.019 --> 00:39:12.259
 which are

00:39:12.259 --> 00:39:12.799
 also both

00:39:12.799 --> 00:39:13.219
 similar,

00:39:13.359 --> 00:39:13.519
 they're

00:39:13.519 --> 00:39:13.839
 sensory

00:39:13.839 --> 00:39:15.159
 functions.

00:39:15.779 --> 00:39:17.299
 But there

00:39:17.299 --> 00:39:17.859
 he compared

00:39:17.860 --> 00:39:19.280
 comparable parts

00:39:19.280 --> 00:39:19.640
 of the body,

00:39:19.700 --> 00:39:20.680
 but here he

00:39:20.680 --> 00:39:21.320
 is comparing

00:39:21.320 --> 00:39:22.880
 two contrasted

00:39:22.880 --> 00:39:23.260
 parts of the

00:39:23.260 --> 00:39:23.460
 body.

00:39:23.820 --> 00:39:24.300
 So he compares

00:39:24.300 --> 00:39:25.140
 the eye to

00:39:25.140 --> 00:39:25.700
 the hand,

00:39:26.019 --> 00:39:27.059
 and head to

00:39:27.059 --> 00:39:27.480
 the feet,

00:39:27.599 --> 00:39:28.140
 so two very

00:39:28.140 --> 00:39:28.700
 different parts

00:39:28.700 --> 00:39:29.059
 of the body,

00:39:29.140 --> 00:39:29.559
 and he does

00:39:29.559 --> 00:39:29.980
 that for a

00:39:29.980 --> 00:39:30.220
 reason,

00:39:30.660 --> 00:39:31.160
 because the

00:39:31.160 --> 00:39:32.019
 eye directs

00:39:32.019 --> 00:39:32.460
 the hand

00:39:32.460 --> 00:39:33.079
 where to go,

00:39:33.300 --> 00:39:34.579
 and it's the

00:39:34.579 --> 00:39:35.260
 head that

00:39:35.260 --> 00:39:36.039
 occupies the

00:39:36.039 --> 00:39:36.599
 most prominent

00:39:36.599 --> 00:39:37.099
 place in the

00:39:37.099 --> 00:39:37.340
 body,

00:39:37.579 --> 00:39:38.280
 and the feet

00:39:38.280 --> 00:39:39.019
 that occupies

00:39:39.019 --> 00:39:39.559
 the least

00:39:39.559 --> 00:39:40.200
 prominent place

00:39:40.200 --> 00:39:40.539
 in the body,

00:39:40.579 --> 00:39:40.820
 and it has

00:39:40.820 --> 00:39:41.360
 to support

00:39:41.360 --> 00:39:41.720
 the head.

00:39:43.120 --> 00:39:43.620
 So by

00:39:43.620 --> 00:39:44.180
 adjusting the

00:39:44.180 --> 00:39:44.760
 illustration this

00:39:44.760 --> 00:39:44.940
 way,

00:39:45.019 --> 00:39:45.700
 Paul's addressing

00:39:45.699 --> 00:39:46.119
 those who

00:39:46.119 --> 00:39:46.799
 occupy more

00:39:46.799 --> 00:39:47.659
 prominent roles

00:39:47.659 --> 00:39:48.279
 and positions

00:39:48.279 --> 00:39:49.199
 within the

00:39:49.199 --> 00:39:49.559
 body of

00:39:49.559 --> 00:39:49.939
 Christ,

00:39:50.539 --> 00:39:50.960
 those who

00:39:50.960 --> 00:39:51.639
 have the

00:39:51.639 --> 00:39:52.279
 view from

00:39:52.279 --> 00:39:52.679
 above,

00:39:52.759 --> 00:39:53.319
 so to speak,

00:39:53.980 --> 00:39:54.559
 and calling

00:39:54.559 --> 00:39:54.759
 them,

00:39:54.779 --> 00:39:55.199
 he's calling

00:39:55.199 --> 00:39:55.579
 them to

00:39:55.579 --> 00:39:55.960
 unity,

00:39:56.659 --> 00:39:57.519
 just because,

00:39:57.799 --> 00:39:58.079
 and he says

00:39:58.079 --> 00:39:58.719
 in verse 22,

00:39:58.799 --> 00:39:59.619
 on the contrary,

00:39:59.980 --> 00:40:00.559
 the parts of

00:40:00.559 --> 00:40:01.219
 the body that

00:40:01.219 --> 00:40:02.039
 seem to be

00:40:02.039 --> 00:40:03.219
 weaker are

00:40:03.219 --> 00:40:04.399
 indispensable.

00:40:05.539 --> 00:40:06.279
 A sense of

00:40:06.279 --> 00:40:07.419
 superiority can

00:40:07.419 --> 00:40:08.019
 lead to an

00:40:08.019 --> 00:40:08.799
 illusion of

00:40:08.799 --> 00:40:09.699
 self-sufficiency,

00:40:10.159 --> 00:40:10.879
 but Paul says,

00:40:10.980 --> 00:40:11.779
 don't you dare

00:40:11.779 --> 00:40:13.019
 think that just

00:40:13.019 --> 00:40:13.519
 because you

00:40:13.519 --> 00:40:14.779
 occupy a more

00:40:14.780 --> 00:40:15.519
 prominent place,

00:40:15.640 --> 00:40:16.040
 a more

00:40:16.040 --> 00:40:16.800
 public place,

00:40:17.060 --> 00:40:17.360
 a more

00:40:17.360 --> 00:40:18.280
 glamorous role

00:40:18.280 --> 00:40:18.960
 that because

00:40:18.960 --> 00:40:19.420
 of that you

00:40:19.420 --> 00:40:19.780
 are more

00:40:19.780 --> 00:40:20.620
 valuable than

00:40:20.620 --> 00:40:21.100
 these people.

00:40:23.940 --> 00:40:24.920
 The eye can

00:40:24.920 --> 00:40:25.860
 feast over a

00:40:25.860 --> 00:40:26.519
 delicious meal

00:40:26.519 --> 00:40:27.680
 all it wants,

00:40:27.820 --> 00:40:28.480
 but the body

00:40:28.480 --> 00:40:29.440
 will derive no

00:40:29.440 --> 00:40:30.340
 nourishment from

00:40:30.340 --> 00:40:31.080
 that feasting

00:40:31.080 --> 00:40:31.780
 unless the hand

00:40:31.780 --> 00:40:32.519
 takes the food

00:40:32.519 --> 00:40:33.100
 to the mouth.

00:40:34.620 --> 00:40:35.480
 The head can

00:40:35.480 --> 00:40:36.460
 be full of

00:40:36.460 --> 00:40:37.460
 useful knowledge

00:40:37.460 --> 00:40:38.760
 that can serve

00:40:38.760 --> 00:40:39.240
 the rest of the

00:40:39.240 --> 00:40:39.480
 body,

00:40:39.560 --> 00:40:41.120
 but you can put

00:40:41.120 --> 00:40:41.820
 little of it to

00:40:41.820 --> 00:40:42.580
 use unless the

00:40:42.580 --> 00:40:43.900
 feet takes it

00:40:43.900 --> 00:40:44.580
 to places where

00:40:44.579 --> 00:40:44.920
 it needs to

00:40:44.920 --> 00:40:45.119
 go.

00:40:46.199 --> 00:40:47.099
 The diversity

00:40:47.099 --> 00:40:47.739
 of spiritual

00:40:47.739 --> 00:40:48.179
 gifts that

00:40:48.179 --> 00:40:48.579
 God has

00:40:48.579 --> 00:40:49.420
 distributed among

00:40:49.420 --> 00:40:50.779
 us, we need

00:40:50.779 --> 00:40:51.360
 that, and

00:40:51.360 --> 00:40:52.159
 because we need

00:40:52.159 --> 00:40:52.840
 each other, we

00:40:52.840 --> 00:40:53.599
 need unity.

00:40:54.480 --> 00:40:55.159
 We cannot fully

00:40:55.159 --> 00:40:55.920
 function without

00:40:55.920 --> 00:40:57.039
 unity in the

00:40:57.039 --> 00:40:57.340
 church.

00:41:00.599 --> 00:41:01.880
 The appendix,

00:41:02.219 --> 00:41:02.480
 I don't know if

00:41:02.480 --> 00:41:02.840
 you guys know

00:41:02.840 --> 00:41:03.739
 about it, every

00:41:03.739 --> 00:41:04.460
 time I say this,

00:41:04.659 --> 00:41:05.059
 there's always

00:41:05.059 --> 00:41:05.539
 someone in the

00:41:05.539 --> 00:41:05.960
 crowd that says,

00:41:06.199 --> 00:41:07.059
 oh, but appendix

00:41:07.059 --> 00:41:07.699
 doesn't have any

00:41:07.699 --> 00:41:08.199
 function in the

00:41:08.199 --> 00:41:08.880
 body, right, so

00:41:08.880 --> 00:41:09.319
 it's a useless

00:41:09.319 --> 00:41:09.719
 part of the

00:41:09.719 --> 00:41:10.199
 body, right?

00:41:11.039 --> 00:41:12.940
 But the appendix

00:41:12.940 --> 00:41:13.699
 actually, it's

00:41:13.699 --> 00:41:14.179
 like that, it's

00:41:14.179 --> 00:41:14.839
 that small tube

00:41:14.839 --> 00:41:15.299
 like organ

00:41:15.299 --> 00:41:15.879
 attached to our

00:41:15.879 --> 00:41:16.639
 intestines, and

00:41:16.639 --> 00:41:17.639
 for many years,

00:41:17.719 --> 00:41:18.339
 it actually was

00:41:18.339 --> 00:41:19.000
 thought that the

00:41:19.000 --> 00:41:19.500
 appendix didn't

00:41:19.500 --> 00:41:20.039
 have any useful

00:41:20.039 --> 00:41:21.500
 functions, but

00:41:21.500 --> 00:41:22.159
 now people

00:41:22.159 --> 00:41:23.699
 believe that it

00:41:23.699 --> 00:41:24.339
 actually, it

00:41:24.339 --> 00:41:25.539
 keeps good

00:41:25.539 --> 00:41:26.259
 bacteria in our

00:41:26.259 --> 00:41:27.379
 bodies to help

00:41:27.379 --> 00:41:27.919
 our digestive

00:41:27.919 --> 00:41:28.419
 systems.

00:41:28.839 --> 00:41:29.419
 So it does

00:41:29.419 --> 00:41:29.960
 have an integral

00:41:29.960 --> 00:41:31.019
 role and function

00:41:31.019 --> 00:41:31.939
 in the body.

00:41:32.079 --> 00:41:33.000
 Similarly, no one

00:41:33.000 --> 00:41:33.619
 in the church, I

00:41:33.619 --> 00:41:34.559
 assure you, is

00:41:34.559 --> 00:41:36.159
 extraneous or

00:41:36.159 --> 00:41:37.039
 superfluous.

00:41:38.379 --> 00:41:39.119
 Don't believe

00:41:39.119 --> 00:41:40.480
 Satan's lies that

00:41:40.480 --> 00:41:42.500
 no one would miss

00:41:42.500 --> 00:41:43.219
 you if you left

00:41:43.219 --> 00:41:43.639
 the church.

00:41:47.800 --> 00:41:48.760
 Don't believe

00:41:48.760 --> 00:41:50.159
 Satan's lies that

00:41:50.159 --> 00:41:51.360
 you have nothing

00:41:51.360 --> 00:41:52.260
 worthwhile to

00:41:52.260 --> 00:41:53.420
 contribute to this

00:41:53.420 --> 00:41:53.780
 church.

00:41:56.059 --> 00:41:57.800
 We need each

00:41:57.800 --> 00:41:58.920
 other, and this

00:41:58.920 --> 00:42:00.659
 calls for unity in

00:42:00.659 --> 00:42:01.500
 the body of Christ.

00:42:05.340 --> 00:42:06.179
 Similarly, Paul

00:42:06.179 --> 00:42:07.360
 continues in 23,

00:42:07.460 --> 00:42:08.440
 24, on those

00:42:08.440 --> 00:42:09.219
 parts, the body

00:42:09.219 --> 00:42:09.780
 that we think

00:42:09.780 --> 00:42:11.139
 less honorable, we

00:42:11.139 --> 00:42:12.400
 bestow the greater

00:42:12.400 --> 00:42:13.460
 honor, and our

00:42:13.460 --> 00:42:14.739
 unpresentable parts

00:42:14.739 --> 00:42:15.579
 are treated with

00:42:15.579 --> 00:42:17.000
 greater modesty,

00:42:17.259 --> 00:42:17.960
 which our more

00:42:17.960 --> 00:42:19.019
 presentable parts do

00:42:19.019 --> 00:42:20.099
 not require.

00:42:21.699 --> 00:42:22.779
 There's a series of

00:42:22.779 --> 00:42:23.639
 word plays here, and

00:42:23.639 --> 00:42:24.379
 to bring that out,

00:42:24.480 --> 00:42:24.900
 like, we could

00:42:24.900 --> 00:42:25.460
 translate it this

00:42:25.460 --> 00:42:25.900
 way, it says, on

00:42:25.900 --> 00:42:26.619
 those parts of the

00:42:26.619 --> 00:42:27.460
 body that we think

00:42:27.460 --> 00:42:28.259
 less honorable, we

00:42:28.259 --> 00:42:28.980
 bestow the greater

00:42:28.980 --> 00:42:29.920
 honor, and our

00:42:29.920 --> 00:42:31.159
 immodest parts are

00:42:31.159 --> 00:42:32.199
 treated with greater

00:42:32.199 --> 00:42:33.559
 modesty, which our

00:42:33.559 --> 00:42:34.539
 more modest parts do

00:42:34.539 --> 00:42:35.099
 not require.

00:42:35.179 --> 00:42:35.739
 So Paul's here

00:42:35.739 --> 00:42:36.960
 speaking euphemistically

00:42:36.960 --> 00:42:38.059
 of the sexual organs,

00:42:38.059 --> 00:42:39.840
 and there are

00:42:39.840 --> 00:42:40.659
 parts of the body

00:42:40.659 --> 00:42:41.239
 that are deemed

00:42:41.239 --> 00:42:42.639
 less honorable and

00:42:42.639 --> 00:42:44.079
 immodest to show,

00:42:44.820 --> 00:42:46.320
 yet precisely for

00:42:46.320 --> 00:42:47.699
 that reason, we

00:42:47.699 --> 00:42:49.440
 accord them special

00:42:49.440 --> 00:42:50.139
 honor, don't we

00:42:50.139 --> 00:42:50.320
 not?

00:42:53.119 --> 00:42:54.619
 And we accord to

00:42:54.619 --> 00:42:55.699
 them special modesty

00:42:55.699 --> 00:42:56.679
 by covering them

00:42:56.679 --> 00:42:56.860
 up.

00:42:59.139 --> 00:43:00.440
 The presentable parts

00:43:00.440 --> 00:43:01.159
 of our body, like

00:43:01.159 --> 00:43:03.480
 the face, do not

00:43:03.480 --> 00:43:04.960
 need special treatment,

00:43:05.179 --> 00:43:05.440
 but our

00:43:05.440 --> 00:43:07.440
 unpresentable parts do

00:43:07.440 --> 00:43:08.579
 need special

00:43:08.579 --> 00:43:09.019
 treatment.

00:43:09.500 --> 00:43:10.139
 Paul's trying to

00:43:10.139 --> 00:43:10.639
 teach us that

00:43:10.639 --> 00:43:11.800
 appearances can be

00:43:11.800 --> 00:43:12.320
 deceiving.

00:43:12.880 --> 00:43:13.700
 If there's a member

00:43:13.700 --> 00:43:14.599
 of the church who

00:43:14.599 --> 00:43:15.860
 doesn't shower

00:43:15.860 --> 00:43:16.800
 frequently enough so

00:43:16.800 --> 00:43:18.059
 that he or she

00:43:18.059 --> 00:43:21.360
 stinks, if there's a

00:43:21.360 --> 00:43:22.019
 member of the church

00:43:22.019 --> 00:43:22.720
 who is socially

00:43:22.720 --> 00:43:23.840
 awkward and sometimes

00:43:23.840 --> 00:43:25.059
 rude for that reason,

00:43:26.519 --> 00:43:27.900
 if there's a member

00:43:27.900 --> 00:43:29.539
 of the church who is

00:43:29.539 --> 00:43:30.380
 simply embarrassing

00:43:30.380 --> 00:43:33.720
 to you, don't for a

00:43:33.720 --> 00:43:35.639
 moment think that you

00:43:35.639 --> 00:43:36.440
 would be better off

00:43:36.440 --> 00:43:37.159
 without him or her

00:43:37.159 --> 00:43:37.679
 in the church.

00:43:40.480 --> 00:43:41.800
 Accord the greater

00:43:41.800 --> 00:43:42.860
 honor to that

00:43:42.860 --> 00:43:43.220
 person.

00:43:44.099 --> 00:43:44.880
 Treat him or her

00:43:44.880 --> 00:43:46.059
 with special care.

00:43:46.539 --> 00:43:47.740
 That emotionally

00:43:47.740 --> 00:43:49.400
 exhausting member,

00:43:50.119 --> 00:43:52.119
 that needy member,

00:43:52.500 --> 00:43:54.380
 is not a nuisance,

00:43:54.720 --> 00:43:56.139
 but an advantage for

00:43:56.139 --> 00:43:57.539
 us, a privilege for

00:43:57.539 --> 00:43:57.659
 us.

00:43:57.700 --> 00:43:58.639
 That person is not a

00:43:58.639 --> 00:43:59.619
 burden to us, but an

00:43:59.619 --> 00:44:01.019
 opportunity for us to

00:44:01.019 --> 00:44:02.159
 demonstrate Christ-like

00:44:02.159 --> 00:44:03.280
 love and service.

00:44:03.280 --> 00:44:06.900
 that person in God's

00:44:06.900 --> 00:44:07.920
 providence and

00:44:07.920 --> 00:44:09.140
 sovereignty is serving

00:44:09.140 --> 00:44:11.400
 a very important role

00:44:11.400 --> 00:44:12.260
 in the church.

00:44:15.720 --> 00:44:16.920
 Because, as it says,

00:44:17.140 --> 00:44:18.260
 verse 24 to 25,

00:44:18.500 --> 00:44:20.360
 God has so composed the

00:44:20.360 --> 00:44:21.540
 body, giving greater

00:44:21.540 --> 00:44:22.600
 honor to the part that

00:44:22.600 --> 00:44:23.680
 lacked it, that there

00:44:23.680 --> 00:44:24.900
 may be no division in

00:44:24.900 --> 00:44:25.940
 the body, but that the

00:44:25.940 --> 00:44:27.340
 members may have the

00:44:27.340 --> 00:44:28.600
 same care for one

00:44:28.600 --> 00:44:28.980
 another.

00:44:29.540 --> 00:44:31.300
 If one member suffers,

00:44:31.300 --> 00:44:32.539
 all suffer together.

00:44:32.900 --> 00:44:34.039
 If one member is

00:44:34.039 --> 00:44:36.140
 honored, all rejoice

00:44:36.140 --> 00:44:36.880
 together.

00:44:37.019 --> 00:44:38.560
 The church is a body.

00:44:38.680 --> 00:44:39.440
 It's like a living

00:44:39.440 --> 00:44:41.100
 organism that needs

00:44:41.100 --> 00:44:42.240
 all of its limbs and

00:44:42.240 --> 00:44:43.460
 organs to function.

00:44:43.780 --> 00:44:44.720
 It's that, so that when

00:44:44.720 --> 00:44:46.180
 even one part fails,

00:44:46.300 --> 00:44:48.360
 the whole body is

00:44:48.360 --> 00:44:48.780
 ailing.

00:44:49.920 --> 00:44:50.920
 We need each other.

00:44:51.680 --> 00:44:52.220
 There should be no

00:44:52.220 --> 00:44:53.100
 division in the body,

00:44:53.180 --> 00:44:53.920
 and we should have the

00:44:53.920 --> 00:44:54.860
 same care for one

00:44:54.860 --> 00:44:55.120
 another.

00:44:58.660 --> 00:44:59.780
 This next illustration

00:44:59.780 --> 00:45:00.700
 will be a favorite of

00:45:00.699 --> 00:45:01.819
 Steve's, but at the end

00:45:01.819 --> 00:45:04.399
 of 2017, James Harrison,

00:45:04.679 --> 00:45:05.819
 a linebacker in the NFL,

00:45:06.480 --> 00:45:07.219
 who was the franchise

00:45:07.219 --> 00:45:08.219
 sack leader of the

00:45:08.219 --> 00:45:09.739
 Pittsburgh Steelers, was

00:45:09.739 --> 00:45:11.179
 released by the team and

00:45:11.179 --> 00:45:12.439
 was soon picked up by the

00:45:12.439 --> 00:45:13.480
 best and greatest team in

00:45:13.480 --> 00:45:14.500
 NFL history, the New

00:45:14.500 --> 00:45:15.279
 England Patriots.

00:45:16.159 --> 00:45:17.539
 And reflecting on that

00:45:17.539 --> 00:45:18.919
 during a quiet moment in

00:45:18.919 --> 00:45:19.839
 the locker room, he said

00:45:19.839 --> 00:45:21.839
 to an interviewer, I don't

00:45:21.839 --> 00:45:22.899
 have ill will toward the

00:45:22.899 --> 00:45:23.239
 Steelers.

00:45:23.619 --> 00:45:24.399
 At the end of the day,

00:45:24.460 --> 00:45:25.059
 it's a business.

00:45:25.819 --> 00:45:26.659
 That's the thing people

00:45:26.659 --> 00:45:27.460
 don't understand.

00:45:28.199 --> 00:45:29.219
 It's not a family.

00:45:29.219 --> 00:45:31.279
 We may say we're

00:45:31.279 --> 00:45:32.419
 family, but when it

00:45:32.419 --> 00:45:33.859
 comes down to it, if you

00:45:33.859 --> 00:45:35.079
 can't do what the company

00:45:35.079 --> 00:45:36.139
 wants you to do anymore,

00:45:36.239 --> 00:45:37.079
 they'll get rid of you.

00:45:37.579 --> 00:45:38.339
 So it's a business.

00:45:38.919 --> 00:45:40.059
 I understand that.

00:45:40.319 --> 00:45:41.639
 I've been cut eight, nine,

00:45:41.859 --> 00:45:42.279
 ten times.

00:45:42.339 --> 00:45:43.379
 It's nothing new to me.

00:45:45.219 --> 00:45:46.719
 That was a very revealing

00:45:46.719 --> 00:45:47.159
 statement.

00:45:48.459 --> 00:45:49.819
 Because nowadays, everyone

00:45:49.819 --> 00:45:50.839
 likes to throw around the

00:45:50.839 --> 00:45:51.419
 word family.

00:45:52.079 --> 00:45:53.199
 Schools say that they're

00:45:53.199 --> 00:45:53.719
 a family.

00:45:54.259 --> 00:45:55.319
 Sports teams say that

00:45:55.319 --> 00:45:56.000
 they're a family.

00:45:56.319 --> 00:45:57.139
 Companies say that

00:45:57.139 --> 00:45:57.739
 they're a family.

00:45:57.739 --> 00:45:58.799
 But at the end of the

00:45:58.799 --> 00:45:59.659
 day, we know that

00:45:59.659 --> 00:46:00.599
 they're not families by

00:46:00.599 --> 00:46:01.479
 the way they treat their

00:46:01.479 --> 00:46:01.819
 members.

00:46:03.119 --> 00:46:04.179
 If you don't make the

00:46:04.179 --> 00:46:05.039
 grade, you lose your

00:46:05.039 --> 00:46:05.859
 scholarship and you have

00:46:05.859 --> 00:46:06.479
 to drop out.

00:46:07.639 --> 00:46:08.759
 If you don't play well,

00:46:08.819 --> 00:46:09.379
 you get cut.

00:46:10.299 --> 00:46:11.279
 If you don't generate

00:46:11.279 --> 00:46:12.359
 enough profit, you get

00:46:12.359 --> 00:46:12.819
 fired.

00:46:13.379 --> 00:46:15.239
 But the church really is

00:46:15.239 --> 00:46:16.479
 the family of God.

00:46:17.099 --> 00:46:18.479
 We are one body.

00:46:22.079 --> 00:46:23.399
 So we stick with each

00:46:23.399 --> 00:46:24.259
 other through thick and

00:46:24.259 --> 00:46:24.539
 thin.

00:46:24.539 --> 00:46:27.380
 good times and bad

00:46:27.380 --> 00:46:27.779
 times.

00:46:28.179 --> 00:46:29.559
 If one member suffers,

00:46:29.679 --> 00:46:30.920
 all suffer together.

00:46:31.759 --> 00:46:33.239
 If one member is

00:46:33.239 --> 00:46:34.940
 honored, all rejoice

00:46:34.940 --> 00:46:35.920
 together.

00:46:41.320 --> 00:46:42.639
 When we pull a muscle

00:46:42.639 --> 00:46:44.559
 in our leg, we walk

00:46:44.559 --> 00:46:45.599
 with a limp and let the

00:46:45.599 --> 00:46:46.480
 other parts compensate

00:46:46.480 --> 00:46:47.000
 for it.

00:46:48.239 --> 00:46:49.179
 When we have a tooth

00:46:49.179 --> 00:46:50.119
 ache on one side of our

00:46:50.119 --> 00:46:52.199
 mouth, we let chew on

00:46:52.199 --> 00:46:52.920
 the other side.

00:46:52.920 --> 00:46:55.619
 make up for that until

00:46:55.619 --> 00:46:56.700
 we can go to a dentist.

00:46:57.659 --> 00:46:58.780
 When you have a cut on

00:46:58.780 --> 00:46:59.680
 your finger, do you out

00:46:59.680 --> 00:47:01.200
 of annoyance amputate it?

00:47:02.340 --> 00:47:03.840
 No, you bandage it.

00:47:04.860 --> 00:47:05.480
 I mean, of course, that'd

00:47:05.480 --> 00:47:07.200
 be stupid, but you put a

00:47:07.200 --> 00:47:08.059
 ornament on it.

00:47:08.119 --> 00:47:08.960
 You take care of it.

00:47:09.000 --> 00:47:09.860
 You nurse it.

00:47:10.079 --> 00:47:12.220
 That's what we do to one

00:47:12.220 --> 00:47:12.559
 another.

00:47:15.980 --> 00:47:18.360
 Have the same care for

00:47:18.360 --> 00:47:18.860
 one another.

00:47:18.860 --> 00:47:20.920
 That's the kind of radical

00:47:20.920 --> 00:47:22.099
 community that the body

00:47:22.099 --> 00:47:23.840
 of Christ is meant

00:47:23.840 --> 00:47:24.500
 to be.

00:47:27.880 --> 00:47:29.660
 So Paul concludes in

00:47:29.660 --> 00:47:30.440
 verse 27.

00:47:31.160 --> 00:47:33.900
 Now you are the body

00:47:33.900 --> 00:47:35.099
 of Christ and

00:47:35.099 --> 00:47:36.900
 individually members

00:47:36.900 --> 00:47:37.380
 of it.

00:47:38.099 --> 00:47:39.019
 And God has appointed

00:47:39.019 --> 00:47:39.780
 in the church first

00:47:39.780 --> 00:47:40.660
 apostles, second

00:47:40.660 --> 00:47:41.840
 prophets, third

00:47:41.840 --> 00:47:43.059
 teachers, and miracles,

00:47:43.200 --> 00:47:44.120
 and gifts of healing,

00:47:44.480 --> 00:47:45.620
 helping, administrating,

00:47:45.700 --> 00:47:47.599
 and various kinds of

00:47:47.599 --> 00:47:47.960
 tongues.

00:47:51.039 --> 00:47:51.880
 I've run out of time,

00:47:51.960 --> 00:47:52.519
 so I'm not going to go

00:47:52.519 --> 00:47:53.880
 into detail with those

00:47:53.880 --> 00:47:55.319
 points because I think

00:47:55.319 --> 00:47:56.179
 you know most of them

00:47:56.179 --> 00:47:57.139
 I've dealt with in

00:47:57.139 --> 00:47:57.940
 the recent past.

00:47:58.659 --> 00:47:59.920
 But what's remarkable is

00:47:59.920 --> 00:48:00.759
 that he adds here

00:48:00.759 --> 00:48:02.360
 gifts of helping

00:48:02.360 --> 00:48:04.199
 and administrating.

00:48:04.639 --> 00:48:06.099
 So helping is a

00:48:06.099 --> 00:48:06.839
 general term for all

00:48:06.839 --> 00:48:07.799
 kinds of assistance,

00:48:08.400 --> 00:48:09.400
 especially helping the

00:48:09.400 --> 00:48:09.619
 weak.

00:48:10.000 --> 00:48:10.279
 And the word

00:48:10.279 --> 00:48:11.420
 administrating means to

00:48:11.420 --> 00:48:12.579
 steer or pilot.

00:48:12.719 --> 00:48:13.420
 It refers to some

00:48:13.420 --> 00:48:14.199
 kinds of leadership

00:48:14.199 --> 00:48:14.639
 gift.

00:48:14.639 --> 00:48:16.519
 And these are what

00:48:16.519 --> 00:48:17.239
 we would think of as

00:48:17.239 --> 00:48:18.960
 very natural gifts.

00:48:19.519 --> 00:48:20.659
 They're not supernatural

00:48:20.659 --> 00:48:21.619
 in our own perception.

00:48:22.159 --> 00:48:23.019
 But in scripture,

00:48:23.179 --> 00:48:24.079
 there is no distinction

00:48:24.079 --> 00:48:25.339
 between natural gifts

00:48:25.339 --> 00:48:26.519
 and supernatural gifts.

00:48:26.940 --> 00:48:28.980
 They all alike come

00:48:28.980 --> 00:48:30.579
 from the same spirit of

00:48:30.579 --> 00:48:32.119
 God and are given for

00:48:32.119 --> 00:48:33.139
 the upbuilding of the

00:48:33.139 --> 00:48:33.480
 church.

00:48:36.039 --> 00:48:37.659
 So don't despise the

00:48:37.659 --> 00:48:38.739
 more ordinary natural

00:48:38.739 --> 00:48:39.139
 gifts.

00:48:39.400 --> 00:48:40.699
 Among us, they are no

00:48:40.699 --> 00:48:42.339
 less needed and they are

00:48:42.340 --> 00:48:44.140
 no less spiritual.

00:48:46.640 --> 00:48:47.960
 And the answer to the

00:48:47.960 --> 00:48:49.000
 rhetorical questions that

00:48:49.000 --> 00:48:50.140
 Paul asks at the end is

00:48:50.140 --> 00:48:50.460
 no.

00:48:50.720 --> 00:48:51.680
 Not all are prophets.

00:48:51.980 --> 00:48:52.880
 Not all are apostles.

00:48:53.059 --> 00:48:53.980
 Not all speak in tongues.

00:48:54.180 --> 00:48:55.400
 He takes that for granted

00:48:55.400 --> 00:48:56.840
 because that's God's

00:48:56.840 --> 00:48:57.440
 design.

00:48:58.000 --> 00:48:58.820
 Because if everybody

00:48:58.820 --> 00:48:59.780
 could do everything,

00:49:00.059 --> 00:49:00.680
 then there would be no

00:49:00.680 --> 00:49:01.600
 need for the church.

00:49:02.019 --> 00:49:03.019
 He's designed that the

00:49:03.019 --> 00:49:03.579
 church would be

00:49:03.579 --> 00:49:04.720
 interdependent.

00:49:06.320 --> 00:49:07.760
 An interdependent body,

00:49:07.880 --> 00:49:09.220
 not a jumble of

00:49:09.220 --> 00:49:10.519
 independent limbs and

00:49:10.519 --> 00:49:11.079
 organs.

00:49:11.079 --> 00:49:15.259
 The diversity of the

00:49:15.259 --> 00:49:16.679
 gifts represented in the

00:49:16.679 --> 00:49:18.019
 body necessitate that we

00:49:18.019 --> 00:49:19.179
 seek unity so that we

00:49:19.179 --> 00:49:20.199
 can fully function with

00:49:20.199 --> 00:49:21.340
 each part doing its part.

00:49:22.059 --> 00:49:22.920
 But of course, if we're

00:49:22.920 --> 00:49:23.659
 honest with ourselves,

00:49:23.759 --> 00:49:24.400
 we have to acknowledge

00:49:24.400 --> 00:49:26.179
 that the very diversity

00:49:26.179 --> 00:49:27.679
 that necessitates unity

00:49:27.679 --> 00:49:29.539
 also makes unity more

00:49:29.539 --> 00:49:29.920
 difficult.

00:49:32.319 --> 00:49:33.719
 Our pride in thinking

00:49:33.719 --> 00:49:34.940
 that our own gifts are

00:49:34.940 --> 00:49:35.679
 more integral to the

00:49:35.679 --> 00:49:36.299
 body than that of

00:49:36.299 --> 00:49:36.639
 others.

00:49:37.539 --> 00:49:38.679
 Our narrow understanding

00:49:38.679 --> 00:49:39.860
 of the gifts that make

00:49:39.860 --> 00:49:41.120
 us mistrust and

00:49:41.120 --> 00:49:42.460
 misunderstand others and

00:49:42.460 --> 00:49:43.059
 their gifts.

00:49:43.500 --> 00:49:45.160
 These all conspire together

00:49:45.160 --> 00:49:46.800
 to make it more difficult

00:49:46.800 --> 00:49:48.240
 to reflect the unity that

00:49:48.240 --> 00:49:49.480
 is ours in the Holy Spirit.

00:49:50.320 --> 00:49:51.500
 For this reason,

00:49:51.760 --> 00:49:53.400
 Paul adds this one verse,

00:49:53.940 --> 00:49:55.380
 and he pushes us toward the

00:49:55.380 --> 00:49:56.440
 higher gifts on the one

00:49:56.440 --> 00:49:57.920
 hand, and he points us

00:49:57.920 --> 00:49:59.120
 toward a still more

00:49:59.120 --> 00:50:01.500
 excellent way in verse 31.

00:50:01.880 --> 00:50:03.420
 The higher gifts is a

00:50:03.420 --> 00:50:05.420
 reference to gifts that have

00:50:05.420 --> 00:50:06.420
 greater potential for

00:50:06.420 --> 00:50:07.300
 building up the body.

00:50:07.300 --> 00:50:08.900
 That's how Paul ranks them

00:50:08.900 --> 00:50:10.640
 in chapter 14.

00:50:10.960 --> 00:50:11.680
 That's why he says

00:50:11.680 --> 00:50:12.860
 prophecy is great in tongues

00:50:12.860 --> 00:50:13.840
 because it has more

00:50:13.840 --> 00:50:14.960
 potential for building up

00:50:14.960 --> 00:50:15.720
 the body of Christ.

00:50:16.380 --> 00:50:17.880
 So for Paul, what's

00:50:17.880 --> 00:50:18.960
 amazing, what makes a

00:50:18.960 --> 00:50:20.400
 gift better is not his

00:50:20.400 --> 00:50:21.100
 wow factor.

00:50:21.300 --> 00:50:22.440
 Oh, wow, that's amazing.

00:50:22.800 --> 00:50:24.640
 But it's potential to

00:50:24.640 --> 00:50:25.420
 build up a church.

00:50:26.480 --> 00:50:28.080
 So if we focus on that,

00:50:28.160 --> 00:50:29.320
 if we pursue the higher

00:50:29.320 --> 00:50:30.700
 gifts, then our focus is

00:50:30.700 --> 00:50:31.720
 not on ourselves and our

00:50:31.720 --> 00:50:33.300
 own glory, but in the good

00:50:33.300 --> 00:50:34.039
 of the church, and that

00:50:34.039 --> 00:50:34.840
 brings us together.

00:50:34.840 --> 00:50:37.340
 And then also he says

00:50:37.340 --> 00:50:39.460
 seek a still more

00:50:39.460 --> 00:50:40.880
 excellent way, and he

00:50:40.880 --> 00:50:42.160
 will elaborate on that

00:50:42.160 --> 00:50:43.280
 in the entire chapter of

00:50:43.280 --> 00:50:44.760
 chapter 13, and talk

00:50:44.760 --> 00:50:46.640
 about love, which is the

00:50:46.640 --> 00:50:47.700
 fruit of the Spirit, not a

00:50:47.700 --> 00:50:48.900
 gift of the Spirit, but

00:50:48.900 --> 00:50:50.620
 it's the context, the only

00:50:50.620 --> 00:50:52.460
 context in which these

00:50:52.460 --> 00:50:53.840
 gifts can function the way

00:50:53.840 --> 00:50:55.720
 they're supposed to, so

00:50:55.720 --> 00:50:56.519
 that we can reflect the

00:50:56.519 --> 00:50:57.300
 diversity and unity of

00:50:57.300 --> 00:50:57.440
 the church.

00:50:57.480 --> 00:50:59.079
 It has to be characterized

00:50:59.079 --> 00:51:00.220
 by love.

00:51:00.219 --> 00:51:03.000
 In short, what he's saying

00:51:03.000 --> 00:51:04.159
 is that we have to follow

00:51:04.159 --> 00:51:06.059
 Christ's example.

00:51:07.379 --> 00:51:09.059
 John 1, 14, 16 tells us

00:51:09.059 --> 00:51:10.559
 that Christ was full of

00:51:10.559 --> 00:51:11.859
 grace and truth, and it

00:51:11.859 --> 00:51:13.359
 was from his fullness that

00:51:13.359 --> 00:51:14.939
 we received grace upon

00:51:14.939 --> 00:51:15.379
 grace.

00:51:15.679 --> 00:51:17.699
 The word grace in Greek is

00:51:17.699 --> 00:51:19.579
 charis, from which we get

00:51:19.579 --> 00:51:21.399
 the word gift, charisma.

00:51:22.759 --> 00:51:24.500
 The Christ's grace toward us

00:51:24.500 --> 00:51:25.759
 is the source of all

00:51:25.759 --> 00:51:27.279
 spiritual gifts.

00:51:27.280 --> 00:51:29.160
 And Christ was the only

00:51:29.160 --> 00:51:30.540
 human being to ever live

00:51:30.540 --> 00:51:32.019
 that had God's grace and

00:51:32.019 --> 00:51:32.440
 fullness.

00:51:32.840 --> 00:51:33.900
 He's the only person to

00:51:33.900 --> 00:51:35.200
 ever live that didn't need

00:51:35.200 --> 00:51:37.519
 us, that didn't need the

00:51:37.519 --> 00:51:37.960
 church.

00:51:39.480 --> 00:51:40.740
 Yet he gathered his

00:51:40.740 --> 00:51:42.340
 disciples and built the

00:51:42.340 --> 00:51:42.660
 church.

00:51:43.780 --> 00:51:45.820
 Instead of being selfish in

00:51:45.820 --> 00:51:47.040
 his self-sufficiency, he

00:51:47.040 --> 00:51:48.519
 poured out his gifts to

00:51:48.519 --> 00:51:48.980
 the church.

00:51:52.160 --> 00:51:54.760
 And how did Christ pour out

00:51:54.760 --> 00:51:55.840
 his gifts to the church?

00:51:55.840 --> 00:51:57.440
 He won the right to do

00:51:57.440 --> 00:51:57.680
 so.

00:51:57.840 --> 00:51:59.000
 He received the Spirit of

00:51:59.000 --> 00:52:00.800
 God for our sake to do so

00:52:00.800 --> 00:52:02.360
 by giving his life on the

00:52:02.360 --> 00:52:05.180
 cross as a self-sacrifice

00:52:05.180 --> 00:52:05.880
 for sin.

00:52:07.059 --> 00:52:08.600
 He humbled himself by

00:52:08.600 --> 00:52:09.760
 taking on human flesh, and

00:52:09.760 --> 00:52:10.760
 he humbled himself still

00:52:10.760 --> 00:52:12.019
 further by becoming

00:52:12.019 --> 00:52:14.480
 obedient to death, so that

00:52:14.480 --> 00:52:15.600
 through his death we might

00:52:15.600 --> 00:52:18.760
 have life, joy, and freedom.

00:52:20.860 --> 00:52:22.900
 That's the pattern, the

00:52:22.900 --> 00:52:24.380
 gospel pattern of Christ with

00:52:24.380 --> 00:52:25.539
 which we are to use our

00:52:25.539 --> 00:52:25.800
 gifts.

00:52:25.800 --> 00:52:27.840
 Do nothing from selfish

00:52:27.840 --> 00:52:30.160
 ambition or conceit, but in

00:52:30.160 --> 00:52:32.780
 humility count others more

00:52:32.780 --> 00:52:34.619
 significant than yourselves.

00:52:35.260 --> 00:52:36.599
 Look not only to your own

00:52:36.599 --> 00:52:38.599
 interests, but also to the

00:52:38.599 --> 00:52:40.200
 interests of others.

00:52:40.460 --> 00:52:44.900
 It's only when we do this and

00:52:44.900 --> 00:52:48.119
 use our gifts, that's when we

00:52:48.119 --> 00:52:49.740
 grow up in every way to him

00:52:49.739 --> 00:52:50.819
 who is the head.

00:52:52.759 --> 00:52:54.939
 As we, each part does its

00:52:54.939 --> 00:52:56.639
 work properly, and we build

00:52:56.639 --> 00:52:57.659
 ourselves up in love.

00:52:58.679 --> 00:53:00.839
 Let's reflect on that in a

00:53:00.839 --> 00:53:01.479
 moment of silence.

00:53:01.480 --> 00:53:05.380
 And we'll have our prayer

00:53:05.380 --> 00:53:06.480
 leader come up to lead us in

00:53:06.480 --> 00:53:06.659
 prayer.