Temple Baptist Church - 3-4-2026
1 Corinthians 12:1
Introduction:
A. As we begin dealing with the use and abuse of the gifts of the Spirit, it is essential that we understand both that the transitional Period and the Book of Acts, and the work of the Holy Ghost in the life of the believer in our day.
1. The Transition Period (400 silent years plus 100 years during the four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles) was to transition from the Old Covenant of Atonement and implementation of the New Covenant of a Finished Salvation through the Gospel.
2. The work of the Holy Ghost in the Transition Period, during the absence of the New Testament completion, was to give credibility to the apostles, through transitional or passing gifts, manifesting the Power of God in the Apostolic Church.
3. As there was confusion in the Corinthian Church, there is ignorance in our day concerning these passing gifts.
B. There continues to be tremendous ignorance concerning this blessed Third Person of the Trinity, who is called the Comforter (παράκλητος paraklētos par-ak'-lay-tos: an intercessor, consoler: - advocate, comforter. ), the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Ghost. The Charismatic Movement makes much of the Holy Ghost, which is contrary to His biblical position.
C. The first danger sign of the Pentecostal, Holiness, and Charismatic Movements is their emphasis upon the work of the Holy Spirit and not on the work of Jesus Christ. They may mention Christ, but the Holy Ghost is the One who is magnified. We will look at the Holy Ghost's work in a few minutes.
1. First, we need to understand what a gift is. Gifts – χάρισμα charisma char'-is-mah – To grant as a favor. In Etymology (Etymology is the study of words: their origin and evolution of words), the term charismatic derives from the Greek word χάρισμα charisma ('gift', itself derived from χάρις (charis), meaning grace or favor.
2. We use the word “gift” in the same manner today. Something given willingly to someone without payment; a present.
3. The Charismatic and Pentecostal movements are built upon passing spiritual gifts, which are extra-biblical, so-called direct revelations from God. The King James Bible is the completed revelation of Jesus Christ from God today. Thus, the word “Charismatic.”
D. The second danger of the Pentecostal, Holiness, and Charismatic Movements is that they “cherry pick” the gifts that they misuse instead of seeking and using all the permanent gifts mentioned in this chapter that remain available, along with the gifts found in Romans 12:6-8.
1. Gifts Listed in Romans 12:6–8 (Ministry / Service Gifts)
These emphasize function within the body:
Prophecy – Speaking forth God’s truth.
Ministry – Serving (practical service).
Teaching – Explaining doctrine.
Exhortation – Encouraging and urging obedience.
Giving – Liberality in material support.
Ruling – Leadership/administration.
Mercy – Compassionate care.
These were ongoing (permanent) service gifts for the edification of the local church, yet no one seems to pray for them. Why? Because they are not charismatic!
2. Gifts Listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8–10 (Sign / Manifestation Gifts)
Word of wisdom
Word of knowledge
Faith (extraordinary faith beyond saving faith)
Gifts of healing
Working of miracles
Prophecy
Discerning of spirits (Biblically, trying them with the Word of God – 1 John 41:1
Divers kinds of tongues (notice divers kinds – plural. An Angelic tongue, which tongue talkers speak of, would all be the same tongue)
Interpretation of tongues
Given in a specific historical context at Corinth:
E. We will deal with them later also.
F. First, what is the work of the Holy Ghost? The Holy Ghost, in our day, never draws attention to Himself, but is the One who points others to Christ. If a person or supposedly spiritual acts glorify the Holy Spirit, beware! He NEVER glorifies Himself, nor does He want you to do so. Here is what our Lord said concerning the coming of the Holy Spirit (referring to His Person) and the Holy Ghost (referring to His work).
John 16:13-14 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
1. What is meant by the “Spirit of truth?” It means that all that the Holy
Ghost does will be done scripturally. Today, the Holy Ghost is blamed for things that He does not do! He will never lead you or cause you to do anything contrary to the Scriptures! The Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements do things that are contrary to clear Scripture (such as being “slain in the Spirit,” uninterpreted “tongues,” “laughing revivals,” “barking like dogs,” etc.) and say that it is the work of the Holy Spirit. Many so-called Christians do things contrary to Scripture and say that God led them to do so! Doctrines such as being “slain in the Spirit” have absolutely no Scriptural basis, and their very nature (falling backwards [as the unsaved did in the Bible] instead of forward on their faces [as the saved did in the Bible] before the power of God) is satanic.
1. He Is The Convictor Of Sin, Not The Cleanser (The error of the doctrine of Sanctification according to the Charismatic.) - 1 Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; (This is a command to the believer, not a second work of grace that brings about sinless perfection.)
2. He Is The Distributor Of The Gifts, Not The Demonstrator (The error of being out of your control while under the Spirit’s control.) - 1 Corinthians 14:32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. (The Holy Ghost never makes you do anything!)
b. The Holy Ghost is not given proper credit for the things that He does ! Without the power of God, we can do nothing according to John 15:5 which says, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” Many times, we tell others what we are doing or have done when we should tell others what He is doing and has done!
c. God’s people are being either improperly taught or partially taught on the subject of the Person and work of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual ignorance can lead to a multiplicity of problems in the church. There are many true believers who have not been taught.
The Corinthian Church was:
1. Carnal - 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
2. Contentious - 1 Corinthians 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
3. Confused - 1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
1 Corinthians 14:38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO LOOK AT THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE BELIEVER!
Not only are the Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements ignorant concerning the work of the Holy Spirit, but many fundamental Baptists are also ignorant and misled.
1. He Convicts And Convinces The Unbeliever - John 16:7-11 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
2. He Guides And Points The World To Christ – John 16:12-15 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (The Holy Ghost never brings attention to Himself! The Charismatic Movement gives Him more attention than they do Christ!)
2. He Baptizes The Believer Into The Body Of Christ Which Is The Church - Romans 6:1-14 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (This is not a reference to water baptism into a local church, but, at the instant of salvation, an immersing of the child of God into the body of Christ. The baptism of the Holy Ghost is a one-time baptism that places the new believer into the body. It is further clarified in the following verse.)
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (Not baptized by man but baptized by the Spirit of God! Those who deny this baptism make a terrific doctrinal mistake. There is the Church, which is His body [Ephesians 5] and the church, which is local. Most references to the church in the Bible are to the local church, but some are to the body of Christ.)
3. He Seals The Believer Until The Day Of Redemption - 2 Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (Earnest - money that in purchases is given as a pledge or down payment that the full amount will subsequently be paid.)
2 Corinthians 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
Ephesians 1:13-14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (A seal can only be broken by one of equal or greater power. Man cannot break what God has sealed, therefore, he is eternally saved.)
4. He Indwells The Believer - Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (The Holy Ghost takes up residence within the believer at the moment of Salvation, not later as the Pentecostal and Charismatic believer.)
1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
5. He Gives Blessed Assurance To The Believer - Romans 8:15-16 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
1 John 5:9-10 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
6. He Fills The Believer - Ephesians 5:18-21 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 (JOY) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 (CONTENTMENT) Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 (SUBMISSION) Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. (The signs are Joy, Contentment, and Submission, not speaking in tongues!)
7. He Brings Forth Fruit In The Believer - Galatians 5:19-26 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. (I wonder why professing people do not have possessing fruits???? By their fruit ye shall know them!)
8. He Empowers The Believer - Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Power to witness.)
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (Power to live.)
Romans 15:19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. (Power to preach.)
9. He Guides The Believer Into All Truth - John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
John 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (The Holy Ghost, who is the Author of the Word of God, is our blessed teacher! God is neither the Author of confusion or ignorance. This is one of the problems that I have with the Charismatic Movement. They do not care what God says and have an unteachable spirit.)
10. He Gives The Believer Spiritual Endowment – 1 Corinthians 12:7, 11-12 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. (These gifts are not received through effort, education, or emotions, but are given to the believers according to the will of the Holy Ghost!)
11. He Comforts And Communes With The Believer - John 14:26-27 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Romans 9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
12. He Prays For The Believer - Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (This is not “praying in the Holy Ghost,” which is to pray in the will of God with the leadership of the Holy Ghost, but the Holy Ghost praying for us with groanings THAT CANNOT BE UTTERED!)
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