Special Introduction (1 Co. 12-14)
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A special introduction to 1 Corinthians, chapters
12-14
(From this point on I will be using the New
King James Version)
Chapter 12:1 & 2
1. Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:
1. Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:
2. You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to
these dumb idols, however you were led.
Just as he
began chapter 10, Paul shows again that he is an enemy of ignorance among
Christians. He states in 10:1, “I would
not, brethren, have you ignorant…” (ASV)
concerning Old Testament accounts, and he uses the exact same Greek word here
in 12:1, “I do not want you to be ignorant,” and in his second letter
to the Corinthians: “We would not have
you ignorant, brethren…” (2
Co.1:8) of the personal troubles that Paul’s team experienced. He affirms the
same to the Thessalonians: “We would not
have you ignorant, brethren…” (1
Th.4:13), concerning the Lord’s return for His church.
The reason
that I make this point so emphatically is because there are some, who seem to
think that ignorance is an advantage among Christians. Obviously, these people
do not agree with the apostles. Though many Christians, like Peter, have simple
backgrounds, it isn’t long until they become well-informed concerning spiritual
truth. Towards that end, God has given us a big book to study and it is called,
The Bible. He has also given us a wise
Teacher, who is neither human nor angelic, but is the divine, omniscient Holy
Spirit. Jesus said: “He shall teach you
all things” and “He will guide you
into all truth” (Jn.14:26; 16:13).
His text
book will be the Scriptures, of which He is the author: “Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2
P.1:21). The written Word of God is of absolute authority and decides all
questions in the church. The writer of Hebrews determined that, what is written
in the Bible is equal to the voice of God: “Therefore,
as the Holy Spirit says…” (He.3:7) and he quoted the Old Testament Scripture.
A few chapters later, he spoke of a truth, concerning the Holy of Holies in the
Tabernacle, and concluded that the Holy Spirit was teaching directly through this
Scripture: “The Holy Spirit indicating
this…” (He.9:8).
If Paul
chalked up the misuse of spiritual gifts by the Corinthians to ignorance, how
can we give any better assessment to those teachers, who have never had a
chance to misuse them, because they have never experienced them. Old Jim Carson
went to be with his Lord long ago. In his youth, he actually drove a 40
mule-team in the forests of northern Minnesota. God saved him out of the
rough-and-tumble life of a lumberjack. One Sunday morning, he happened to go into
a church, in which the pastor gave a message against speaking in tongues. Jim
approached the man after the service and didn’t mince words: “Preach what you know, pastor, not what you
don’t know!” Amen, Jim. How can anyone give an accurate Bible teaching over
any subject, of which he has no personal knowledge? He is teaching theory,
unproven in his own life.
We noted a
little earlier in our study that pagan idolatry is largely practiced in ignorance.
Pagan priests would have their followers steeped in ignorance, in order to
better control them and… empty their pockets! Paul reminded the Corinthians, “You know that you were Gentiles, carried
away to these dumb idols, however you were led” (2). False Christianity
follows closely in their footsteps. For that exact reason, the medieval Roman
Church opposed the printing of Bibles in the language of the common people.
 |
| Ruins of the temple of Athena Pronaia, Delphi, Greece |
I read a
little yesterday about the famous Oracle of Delphi, Pythia, a soothsayer who
worked in Delphi on Mt. Parnassus near the Temple of Athena Pronaia, which
stood a half mile away from a massive Temple of Apollo. Many Greek authors
mention her. She was described as being filled by the spirit of the god Apollo,
and would give her prophecies in a state of ecstasy. She was consulted
internationally, even by kings, before making important decisions. As we learn
concerning pagan religion, it is extremely lucrative and there were various
treasuries in Delphi. Reading this history, I gain more understanding about the
soothsayer slave girl in Philippi. Although she did not possess equal fame with
the Oracle of Delphi, she proclaimed that Paul and Silas were servants of the
most high God, and enriched her masters with her fortune-telling. Luke writes
that she was possessed with a spirit of divination.
As I studied the seven churches and cities in Asia Minor, it became very clear to me that the pantheon of gods and goddesses of ancient Greece was nothing less than a religion of demons. Asia Minor was rife with demon activity, complete with medicinal institutions, hence the medical symbol of a snake wrapped around a rod. Wikipedia informs “the Rod of Asclepius is a serpent-entwined rod wielded by the Greek god Asclepius, a deity associated with healing and medicine.” Great libraries were full of books on occult, spiritual magic. The Ephesian believers rid themselves of thousands of dollars-worth of cultic literature, equivalent to the yearly salaries of 150 men. All this is taking place in an area of the world, where Greek culture and high intellectualism reigned, products, in large part, of the Greek philosophers. Educational knowledge does not eliminate dark paganism, it simply sophisticates it.
A little sidelight, related by Luke, adds to the prominence of demon control over Ephesus. He tells of seven sons of a Jewish priest, who attempted to imitate Paul in the exorcism of an Ephesian man. “The man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded” (Ac.19:16). It was necessary for God to counter the pagan power of the Ephesians, demonstrating His power through the apostle by unusual miracles. The sick were healed and evil spirits went out of people (Ac.19:11-12).
As I studied the seven churches and cities in Asia Minor, it became very clear to me that the pantheon of gods and goddesses of ancient Greece was nothing less than a religion of demons. Asia Minor was rife with demon activity, complete with medicinal institutions, hence the medical symbol of a snake wrapped around a rod. Wikipedia informs “the Rod of Asclepius is a serpent-entwined rod wielded by the Greek god Asclepius, a deity associated with healing and medicine.” Great libraries were full of books on occult, spiritual magic. The Ephesian believers rid themselves of thousands of dollars-worth of cultic literature, equivalent to the yearly salaries of 150 men. All this is taking place in an area of the world, where Greek culture and high intellectualism reigned, products, in large part, of the Greek philosophers. Educational knowledge does not eliminate dark paganism, it simply sophisticates it.
A little sidelight, related by Luke, adds to the prominence of demon control over Ephesus. He tells of seven sons of a Jewish priest, who attempted to imitate Paul in the exorcism of an Ephesian man. “The man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded” (Ac.19:16). It was necessary for God to counter the pagan power of the Ephesians, demonstrating His power through the apostle by unusual miracles. The sick were healed and evil spirits went out of people (Ac.19:11-12).
God anointed
the rod of Moses to counter all the powerful demon activity of the priests of
Pharaoh in ancient Egypt. Up to a certain point, they were able to follow Moses
and Aaron with the same supernatural signs. However, they came to a level,
where they could no longer duplicate the power of Jehovah of Israel. He
glorified Himself in Egypt, as Lord of Lords! Yes, our enemy can do miracles
and deceive people through them, as Simon the magician did in the times of the
apostles, but that is all the more reason why God will rise up in holy zeal to
glorify His name.
I propose to you that His power needs to be manifested in this 21st Century as much, or more, than ever before. The minds of people today, led by evil politicians, are deceived and controlled by demons. As I watch them on the news, I am appalled by the state of their minds and emotions. Many of them are radically promoting the abortion of unborn babies. They have moved their agenda ahead to the point, where now they are even suggesting that it should be legal, in some cases, to take the lives of some, who are newly born. That is open infanticide! A few days ago, I watched U. S. Senator Schumer, in front of the Supreme Court building, rail against Justices Kavanaugh and Gorsuch, because they oppose abortion. Later, he tried to explain his wild threats against them, but the truth is that he cannot help himself; his mind and emotions have been taken over by demons. I listened to the daughter of a former U. S. president make the idiotic statement that she would consider herself a poor Christian, if she didn’t believe in abortion!
I propose to you that His power needs to be manifested in this 21st Century as much, or more, than ever before. The minds of people today, led by evil politicians, are deceived and controlled by demons. As I watch them on the news, I am appalled by the state of their minds and emotions. Many of them are radically promoting the abortion of unborn babies. They have moved their agenda ahead to the point, where now they are even suggesting that it should be legal, in some cases, to take the lives of some, who are newly born. That is open infanticide! A few days ago, I watched U. S. Senator Schumer, in front of the Supreme Court building, rail against Justices Kavanaugh and Gorsuch, because they oppose abortion. Later, he tried to explain his wild threats against them, but the truth is that he cannot help himself; his mind and emotions have been taken over by demons. I listened to the daughter of a former U. S. president make the idiotic statement that she would consider herself a poor Christian, if she didn’t believe in abortion!
Mothers and
fathers have surrendered their unborn children, at a point in their development
that they can feel pain, to be cruelly torn apart, piece by piece, from the
womb. Respected and highly educated doctors and nurses perform these
travesties. At the same time, homosexual rights are being equaled to that of
the emancipation of slavery and the voting rights of women. The sophistication
of our times and higher education have not stopped, or even slowed, the flow of
demon activity.
How
are we supposed to wrestle against a supernatural enemy, with only a human
spear and sword? We certainly would be defeated. It is said that, before any of
the great revivals of the church began, there were first clear manifestations
of demon powers. The reality of the spiritual world drove desperate and humble
people to seek the power of God… and God poured His power upon them
At the same
time, we are hearing a doctrine, promoted by evangelicals, who term themselves cessationists. It limits the
supernatural presence of some spiritual gifts, if not all, to the time of the
apostles and we are not to expect them in these modern times. Some would claim,
as the Jehovah Witnesses have, that all modern-day miracles are more likely to
be the works of Satan.
I agree, we
have the full canon of Scripture since the beginning of the Second Century. We
rely totally on its absolute authority. . My question is: What is to take the
place of supernatural gifts in the church in our times? Paul likens the church
to a human body, each member having its particular gift in order that the body
may move and fulfill its purpose. If the members of the church were given the
gifts mentioned in the beginning, now how is the church to function without
them? Is the church not a supernatural organism, conceived in heaven? It is
unique on this earth and are we to rely on the wisdom and abilities of men, in
order that it may take its place in society? We have to do more than speculate
on this issue; we must have an answer that is entirely biblical.
I have no
reason to claim more authority over this subject than anyone else. My concern
is that the reader will see the error of the cessationist and turn again to the
Holy Spirit for his empowering in these momentous days. I could testify of first-hand
personal experience in the observation of the supernatural work of God in pioneer
mission work, as well as in evangelized territories, where the Christian church
has been established. However, I am not writing just to debate the issue, but
with the conviction that it is one of the signs of a low level of Christianity
in our times, in which the power of God is being challenged by churchmen. It is
of greatest concern to me that, as Paul prophesied, “(In the last days… men will be) having a form of godliness but denying
its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 T.3:5). With me, it is not a
matter of debate or of being right, but a concern for the powerless state of
the church in our days.
Some, who oppose a
post-conversion experience, called the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and the
subsequent gifts of the Spirit, think that these are doctrines invented during
the Pentecostal movement at the beginning of the 20th Century; some
Pentecostals may agree with them. That, in fact, is an outright lie. Beware of
limiting this experience in time or quality.
Allow me to quote
John Wesley who, as early as the 18th Century, called on Christians
to reject the idea, which we find so prominent today. In a letter written in June of
1746: “I can recall no
Scripture where it teaches us that miracles should be confined to the apostolic
age or any other period of time.”
Speaking of Wesley, I
personally knew Leonard Ravenhill, who was raised a Methodist, and perhaps we
could say that he saw the miraculous from a Methodist’s perspective. In any
case Ravenhill was an advocate of the moving of the Spirit in revival. I don’t
want to speak for Paul Washer, a man who has gained the respect of many serious
Christians in our times, but I think that he would agree that Len Ravenhill had
some influence upon his life. He was asked publicly concerning spiritual gifts
and answered: “We should be constantly
praying for greater and greater manifestations of the Spirit, outpourings of
the Spirit. Our lives should be supernatural. I cannot say in my conscience
that the gifts of the Spirit have ceased. John Piper is another
contemporary Baptist, who is an advocate of biblical
gifts of the Spirit and has spoken publicly on the issue.
Now I ask
you to learn from a former medical doctor and gifted theologian, associate
pastor to a great man of God, G. Campbell Morgan, of the Westminster Chapel
near Buckingham palace. I refer to D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981), who later
became the senior pastor of that church and was co-founder of The Banner of Truth Trust. This Welshmen
knew of the reality of spiritual revival and of the power behind it. His sane
approach to evangelical Christianity is admired throughout the world. I am going
to turn to his writings, at this point, concerning the subject before us:
He
saw “an argument that is being put
forward at the present time, and which has been put forward very largely during
this present (20th)
century. Let me begin to answer it by giving you just one thought at this
point. It is this: the Scriptures never anywhere say that these things (miraculous
things) were only temporary – never!
There is no such statement anywhere.”
“‘Ah but,’ says somebody, ‘what
about that passage from 1 Corinthians 13?’ You see what we are asked to believe
by that kind of exposition? We are told that the coming of the New Testament
Scriptures puts us into a place of perfection; whereas if you look at verse 12,
it actually says: ‘For now we see,’- that
is the apostle and others. The apostle is included with all other Christian
believers before the New Testament canon, much of which was written by Paul
himself, had been completed. We read: ‘Now
we see though a glass, darkly; but then’ – when the Scriptures have come
and are complete – ‘face to face:’ Now I
know in part; but then’ – which they say means the completion of the
Scriptures – ‘shall I know even as also
I am known.’ You see what that involves? It means that you and I, who have
the Scriptures open before us, know much more than the apostle Paul of God’s
truth. That is what it means and nothing less, if that argument is correct. It
means that we are altogether superior to the early church and even to the
apostles themselves, including the apostle Paul! It means that we are now in a
position in which we know ‘face to face’ that ‘we know, even as also we are
known’ by God because we have
the Scriptures. It is surely unnecessary to say more.”
“What the apostle is, of
course, dealing with in 1 Corinthians 13 is the contrast between the highest
and the best that the Christian can ever know in this world and in this life
and what he will know in the glory everlasting. The ‘now’ and the ‘then’ are
not the time before and after the Scriptures were given. That position is
inconsistent, and contradictory – indeed, there is only one word to describe
such a view, it is nonsense. The ‘then’ is the glory everlasting. It is only
then we shall see him as he is. It will be direct and ‘face to face’. So you
see the difficulties men land themselves in when they dislike something and
cannot fully understand it and try to explain it away.
While the cessationists argue that the times of miracles do not reach us today, I doubt that anyone is denying that witchcraft is still practiced and that there are still people, who are demon-possessed. As I stated previously, society clearly manifests the enemy’s power, as never before in world history, led by the insanity of politicians, totally deceived by the devil. So I ask: What does the church have to offer, in order to confront this attack? I see it weakened, functioning under human power, and not capable of defeating the enemy’s forces or delivering people enslaved by him. It doesn’t matter that we sing and mouth praises… Is God receiving the glory that He deserves from us? Is this marvelous gospel being preached in a way that sinners fall under the grips of conviction, and then are transformed into saints shining with heavenly light?
When Moses and Aaron first presented themselves before the most powerful man in that day, the Pharaoh, and when Egypt was the world power of the day, the king said that he did not know Jehovah of Israel. Then they demonstrated a power that shamed the king’s priests and humbled Pharaoh to the extent that he finally pleaded for His blessing. In Egypt, the God of Israel became the Lord of Lords y His servants were greatly respected by the Egyptian population, even those who worked in Pharaoh’s palace. Are we going to be satisfied with less? Martyn Lloyd-Jones, burning with godly jealousy, spoke of supernatural works and miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, saying:
While the cessationists argue that the times of miracles do not reach us today, I doubt that anyone is denying that witchcraft is still practiced and that there are still people, who are demon-possessed. As I stated previously, society clearly manifests the enemy’s power, as never before in world history, led by the insanity of politicians, totally deceived by the devil. So I ask: What does the church have to offer, in order to confront this attack? I see it weakened, functioning under human power, and not capable of defeating the enemy’s forces or delivering people enslaved by him. It doesn’t matter that we sing and mouth praises… Is God receiving the glory that He deserves from us? Is this marvelous gospel being preached in a way that sinners fall under the grips of conviction, and then are transformed into saints shining with heavenly light?
When Moses and Aaron first presented themselves before the most powerful man in that day, the Pharaoh, and when Egypt was the world power of the day, the king said that he did not know Jehovah of Israel. Then they demonstrated a power that shamed the king’s priests and humbled Pharaoh to the extent that he finally pleaded for His blessing. In Egypt, the God of Israel became the Lord of Lords y His servants were greatly respected by the Egyptian population, even those who worked in Pharaoh’s palace. Are we going to be satisfied with less? Martyn Lloyd-Jones, burning with godly jealousy, spoke of supernatural works and miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, saying:
“My friends, this is to me one
of the most urgent matters at this hour. With the church as she is and the
world as it is, the greatest need today is the power of God through his Spirit
in the church that we may testify not only to the power of the Spirit, but to
the glory and the praise of the one and only Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord, Son
of God and Son of Man.”
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