Every human proposition can be carried to an extreme. For example, freedom can be carried so far that it becomes self-interest. And no one else is considered.
In the field of Christian doctrine, extremes emerge, too. Some have little tolerance for any modified understanding of biblical teaching. On the opposite side, we do not condone false teaching.
Some controversial teachings lie in the exercise of the spiritual gifts. From I Corinthians 12:1-11, I now explain how I understand Paul’s teaching on THE MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
As we study the several important CONSIDERATIONS regarding the Spirit and His ministry, I want to stay as close to the Bible as possible.
First, I want to consider:
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Paul’s desire was that the Corinthian believers should know the Spirit’s work. He wanted no question in their minds about this wonderful teaching. We learn that the Spirit is essential. We grow only when we know. Our minds and spirits reach for knowledge. We are made to learn. We are made to retain in our minds, our memories.
Paul reminded the Corinthians of their past. They were, he said, “Gentiles according to the flesh.” They were carried away by dumb idols. We need to understand what he means by the term Gentiles. In the Old Testament there were two classifications of the human race. There were what the Hebrew words ammim and goyim identify. The ammim were considered to be the family of God, the children of Israel, and the Jews. And the goyim were all the rest. The goyim were classified as pagans, heathens. Paul described them here: “You know that you were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.” Gentiles, pagans, and idol worshipers are the way Paul described them.
Paul then defined the essentiality of the Spirit. The Spirit is closely related to Jesus. When Jesus promised the disciples the...
