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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (18-4-1999 Guisborough Evangelical Church)
The list of gifts given in 1 Corinthians 12 contains only
a few of the gifts God has given. Some gifts are not mentioned in the Bible at
all. Some are supernatural. Some are natural talents that are cleansed and used
by God. They should not arise to pride or envy, for they are meant to build up
the body of Christ and bring it to maturity.
Gifts are allotted and appointed
by the Holy Spirit in His sovereignty. We all have gifts, and it is our duty to
know and use them. We ought to pray for gifted workers. Leaders should be on the
lookout for gifts in other people, and should encourage them.
Dealing today with the gifts mentioned in the latter half of the chapter. Then going to concentrate on the subject of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Is it a second experience we all need? Should we be seeking and praying for it?
Now you are the body of
Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed
first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of
miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those
with gifts of administration (1 Corinthians 12:27,28).
The Apostles comprised the
twelve disciples, with Matthias replacing Judas, and also James (the Lord’s
brother), Paul, and perhaps Barnabas. They were especially commissioned and
chosen to be with Christ and to be eyewitnesses of the Resurrection. They were
especially taught by the Holy Spirit, and received unique revelation. They were
infallible teachers, and their teaching is the foundation of the Christian
church. The 27 books of the New Testament are by the apostles or from the
apostolic circle.
There are no longer apostles in
this sense in the church. They had no successors. None are personally authorized
by Christ and specially inspired for teaching. To speak of “apostles” in the
church today is misleading and highly dangerous. There may be “apostolic
zeal”, but no apostles.
Secondly, prophets, who were
those who uttered inspired messages from God. The Holy Spirit took over their
personality to express His message. They gave clear speech, and did not need an
interpreter. In the history of the church, prophecy continued after New
Testament times, but reduced when the New Testament scriptures were widely
circulated and the canon was fixed. The office is no longer in existence. If we
reduce the word “prophet” to “preacher”, this role does still exist. But
the essence of prophet is the organ of direct and fresh divine revelation who
spoke the very words of God, i.e. the mouthpiece of God.
God’s revelation is complete,
and the great danger is that if apostles and prophets still exist and if they
are organs of new revelation – and God still speaks through prophecy, dreams
and visions – the very dangerous situation exists of denying that God’s
revelation is complete, and therefore the Bible is not sufficient. This is the
situation with the cults, like Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons and Christian
Scientists, and also Roman Catholicism. They claim the Bible is not complete. It
has its place, but they claim the truth about God and His will is still being
revealed.
The New Testament is so clear
that the truth was completely and fully revealed in the first century. Contend
for the faith that is once for all entrusted to the saints (Jude 3). The
Christian church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets
(Ephesians 2:20).
Thirdly, teachers are those with
special gift to build up converts won through the ministry of the evangelists
and preachers. The great need in the church is not fresh revelation, but
faithful expositors of the complete and sufficient revelation which is in the
Scriptures. N.B. teaching is at the top of the five New Testament lists of
gifts.
All over the world the cry goes
out for expositors. So many converts need to be taught; else they fall back and
become prey to the cults and sects. Many in this country profess faith but have
no grasp of the truth and are floundering because they have never been taught
the basics. They may get plenty of entertainment, but precious little solid
teaching. Hence the reason for preoccupation with gifts of lesser importance.
Then there are the gifts of
miracles and healing. Some expect to see these things still; others say that
they were used at certain times in the Bible record (e.g. Exodus, Elijah, Daniel
and the Son of God). Used to vindicate new stage in God’s revelation.
Therefore we should not expect miracles, since the New Testament canon is
complete. Though this is not to say that they are impossible, because God is
sovereign. Nothing is ruled out with Him.
Similarly, healing is no longer
a gift possessed by people – though that is not to say God does not answer
prayer for healing. Even in New Testament times, not all were healed, e.g.
Trophimus was left sick at Miletus, and Paul bore his “thorn in the flesh”
(2 Timothy 4:20). So there was no healing on demand in New Testament times.
Today we see God using ordinary means through modern medicine. All healing is
divine.
Probably the most common gift of
the spirit, and the one exercised by the greatest number of Christians, is the
gift of helping others. No Christian as above ordinary humdrum and unrecognised
service. This practical general ministry includes cooking, washing up, cleaning,
moving chairs, giving a lift, flower arranging, secretarial help, errands,
gardening, painting, welcoming people, visiting, putting out books, and 1001
little chores. Its basis is natural ability, but it becomes a spiritual gift
because it is taken and energised by the Lord and for His glory.
Administrators – the Greek
word used literally means “pilotings” – a reference to the helmsman on a
ship who steers the ship and keeps it on course, avoiding dangers. In the
context of the church, God uses the right person with the right gifts to keep
all moving in the right direction, organising and arranging things to keep the
church on course.
So the list in 1 Corinthians 12 contains a few of the many gifts bestowed for the up-building and maturing of the body of Christ. Every church and every Christian has gifts. They are there to be acknowledged, recognised, consecrated and used. In this sense, every church and every Christian is “charismatic”.
For we were all baptised by
one Spirit into one body, and we were all given the one Spirit to drink (1
Corinthians 12:13). What is this baptism of the Spirit and when does it take
place? The Charismatics say that this baptism is a second and special experience
after conversion. Tongues speaking is the gateway to this blessing, and hence it
is exalted above all gifts. They point to Pentecost (Acts 2), the Samaritans
(Acts 8), Cornelius (Acts 10) and Ephesus (Acts 19) as evidence of a second
experience.
This approach can lead to
division into first-class and second-class Christians, according to whether or
not this second baptism has been received.
The New Testament position is
that the baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place at conversion. All are baptised.
All are given the Spirit. It is important to be guided by didactic portions of
Scripture, especially the Gospels and the Epistles. Nothing here to indicate a
second blessing being necessary before gifts are given, and which is marked by
tongues-speaking.
It is unwise to be guided by
narratives in Acts, because examples in Acts are sometimes special cases. We
cannot make the special cases and experiences of some people the norm for
everybody. The fact is that the baptism of the Holy Spirit happens to all
Christians when they were born again. The Holy Spirit is placed within us and we
were united to Christ and to other believers. He brings us into a new living
country – the Christian church and the Body of Christ. We become living parts
of the Body of Christ, sharing the same life. The New Testament never says some
have the baptism of the Spirit, and others do not. We are never told to ask for
it.
We all have the baptism of the
Spirit, but not all are filled, i.e. fully controlled and possessed. We are to
seek this filling. Be continually filled (Ephesians 5:18). “One
baptism, many fillings.”
This does not deny that we have
crises after conversion. Some have a clear and unmistakable second – or third
or fourth – experience where they are raised to a new level of holiness of
life and effectiveness of service, especially after times of backsliding. This
is very clear because they make a new and deeper surrender. But what is the
experience of some is not meant to be the rule for everyone.
Many Christians have known
deeper experiences, e.g. D.L.Moody, Hudson Taylor, F.R.Havergal. It would do
some of us good to have a deeper experience of the Lord. But this is not
“baptism”, this is a new filling. All should constantly seek that.
Let’s make it clear one more
time. At the time of New Birth, we are baptised by Christ with the Holy Spirit,
and we have potentially all we need for Christian holiness and service. We are
already complete in Christ, though we do not always realize it. Generally it is
appropriated more fully later. All gifts which the Spirit intends us to have are
ours from the beginning. The ideal is that we gradually grow in grace by which
we use what we already have. But it does not work out like that in all cases. If
someone has a second and deeper experience, he does not receive new gifts, but
at last he possesses his possessions, lays hold of what is his but has not so
far used.
At conversion you are baptised
with the Spirit. You cannot be baptised again. You are complete. But now you
keep on appropriating. Ask to be continually filled. The Holy Spirit is to the
Christian what fuel is to a car. Cannot walk worthily or wisely or effectively
without Him. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is a daily challenge. Can be
filled today, but tomorrow is another story. Just as the Israelites had to
gather manna daily, we have to keep being filled daily.
Many Christians do not know
anything about this. They are preoccupied with themselves, pride, self-centredness,
and selfish concerns. The result is they are spiritually empty. They
“grieve” and “quench the Spirit”. When filled with the Spirit, the
Christian is totally captive to the power and influence of the Holy Spirit. It
does not lead to wild ecstatic experiences, especially tongues, though we do
know the joy of the Lord. But we do find the fruit of the Spirit, and grow in
holiness of life and become more effective and fruitful in service.
To be filled is to say goodbye to unconfessed sin in lives. It means being yielded to the Spirit, allowing Him to work in our lives. We surrender wills and bodies, times and talents – every area of life – to His control. He has overwhelming controlling influence in life. As long as He stays in control, He fills us and we know His boldness, joy and power, and abundant life. We are very conscious of the Lord.
Teaching on gifts is a real challenge, even if some may
not be for today. There are many individuals, in many churches, who do not
contribute much to the life of the church. They believe in clericalism, which
sets them free to do nothing. Their great need is not to have orthodox views
about the Holy Spirit, but to be open to Him daily. To expose self unreservedly
to the life and power of the Holy Spirit.
When the Christian does this, he
walks in step with the Holy Spirit, and appropriates all He has to offer. Fruit
in Christian living and gifts in Christian service soon appear. As he keeps in
touch by prayer and Scripture and walking in God’s will, he stirs up God’s
gift within him, and the evidence of gifts comes. The Holy Spirit anoints
individuals, directs their natural abilities into spiritual service, and
intervenes in situations. He raises up leaders. Rejoice with fellow believers in
their gifts.
Great need is to yield to the Holy Spirit, who is already within. We need to drink of Him to enjoy the life of God. Obey Him and let Him energize life. The root of our problem is often fear or unwillingness to go so far with God. But we have to hand over completely, give Him the key to every door. It is only when Christ is glorified in Christ that the Holy Spirit pours rivers of living water.
