2017.07.28 礼拝

2017.07.28 礼拝

2017.5.28 1 Corinthians 12:1-31 “Seeking the fruit of the Spirit”

When we talk about the gift of the Spirit, we might start asking ourselves “what is my gift?”. However, the question itself is useless.

➀　Before worrying about the kinds of gift, the needs of the church should be considered.
1 Corinthians 12:7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
For example, at home, rather than refusing to –
cook because you’re not gifted in cooking or help your children’s studies since you have no gift in teaching,
you would do your best to –
to cook for the sake of your family or look after your children’s studies.
What is more important than the kinds of gift…
1 Corinthians 12:4,5,6: There are different kinds of gifts, service, working,
1 Corinthians 12:7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

➁　God decides the kinds of gift
What is more important than the kinds of gift…
1 Corinthians 12:8-11 The different kinds of gifts　・message of wisdom　・message of knowledge　・faith　・gifts of healing　・miraculous power　・prophecy　・distinguishing between spirits　・speaking in different kinds of tongues　・interpretation of tongues
1 Corinthians 12:11　 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

➂　The superiority of gifts is not to be judged
1 Corinthians 12:24-25　24whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving abundant honor to that member which lacked, 25so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
1 Corinthians 12:12,　For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, s also is Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:27　Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.

＜Summary＞

・”Team work” at work is a tool to achieve a purpose.
・However, “unity in the body of Christ” is itself the purpose (goal) from God.
・In this world, self-fulfillment (career, qualification, skill, knowledge) is thought to be the purpose of life.
・As far as faith is concerned, gift of the Spirit is a means to unity at church, and whatever special gift we have would be meaningless unless it is used to bring forth unity (love one another).
・Even if there were a lot of people at church with the gift of healing, prophecy or speaking in different tongues and no matter how seriously they taught about “gift”, the church should examine its faith if it fails to bear the fruit of the Spirit.
・On the other hand, while a church has not taught much about the gift, if each person practices love of one another and forgives each other with unity, then there is a great possibility that the gift of the Spirit is demonstrated among each person without being conscious.