I. WHAT IS TO BE THE BASIS OF OUR STUDY
A. I Corinthians 12:1-2 “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.”
- 1. Does God want us to be ignorant concerning spiritual gifts?
2. Should we get carried away by ignorance or opinion?
B. Galatians 1:6-10 “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.”
- 1. If we change the gospel of Christ, are we removed from the grace of God?
2. What is to happen to an Angel, an Apostle, or any person who changes the gospel?
3. Are we to persuade God to accept men's will or persuade men to accept God's will?
4. If we teach different than what the Bible says, are we servants of Christ?
C. Deuteronomy 18:20-22 “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ 21“And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’ 22“when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him..”
- 1. If anyone speaks falsely for the Lord, what was to happen to them under the old law?
2. How can one tell if a prophet has spoken falsely?
3. Are we to pay attention to prophets who speak presumptuously?
D. Deuteronomy 13:1-5 “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, 2“and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—‘and let us serve them,’ 3“you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4“You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. 5“But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst.”
- 1. If someone gives a sign or works a miracle, are they to be automatically followed?
2. Who are we to obey?
3. What is to be a sign that someone is from God?
4. How seriously did God feel against people claiming falsely that they could perform miracles?
II. WHAT ARE THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS?
A. I Corinthians 12:8-11 “for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”
1. Gift of Wisdom (Ability to discern right choice)
2. Gift of Knowledge (Instant knowledge of God's will)
3. Gift of Faith (Faith the size of a grain of mustard seek)
4. Gift of Healing (Full and instantaneous healing)
5. Gift of Miracles (Turning water into wine - etc)
6. Gift of Prophecy (Fore telling future events )
7. Discerning of Spirits (try every spirit)
8. Tongues (Greek Word "glossa" - language)
9. Interpretation of Tongues
III. WHAT IS THE GIFT OF TONGUES?
A. Acts 2:1-11 “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.5And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8“And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9“Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10“Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11“Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”
- 1. What signs accompanied the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
2. Were the Apostles able to speak with other tongues?
3. How many countries were people from?
4. Were the apostles talking in groups or to one crowd?
5. Were they able to hear the Apostles speaking in their native languages?
6. Could people understand what was being spoken?
7. What did they hear?
B. I Corinthians 14:1-5 “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.”
- 1. Are Christians to desire to be able to teach others?
2. If a person speaks in an unknown tongue, do they speak unto men?
3. Who do they speak to?
4. What does one speak, who talks in an unknown tongue?
5. If someone preaches who do they speak to?
6. What is the purpose of preaching?
7. If someone speaks in an unknown tongue, do they edify the church?
8. Why is the church not edified?
9. Who do they edify?
10. When a person speaks in an unknown tongue, do they understand what they say?
11. Which is greater, one who edifies or one who speaks in tongues?
12. When tongues is spoken, what must be done for edification to take place?
C. I Corinthians 14:7-9 “Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? 8For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.”
- 1. How does one know what is played on a musical instrument?
2. What tells a soldier to prepare for battle?
3. If the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, will the soldier know what to do?
4. Does preaching help prepare the Christian to battle Satan?
5. If the preacher does not talk where they can be understood, will the Christian be edified?
6. If one speaks in an unknown tongue, what does he speak into?
D. I Corinthians 14:10-11 “There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. 11Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.”
- 1. Does every voice spoken have significance?
2. If I cannot understand what is spoken, what am I to the speaker?
3. If I can not understand the speaker, what is the speaker to me?
E. I Corinthians 14:13-17 “Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 16Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? 17For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.”
- 1. What is one who speaks in an unknown tongue to do?
2. If one prays in an unknown tongue, what is praying?
3. What does not bring forth fruit when one prays in an unknown tongue?
4. Does one who prays in an unknown tongue understand what they are saying?
5. How is one to pray?
6. How is one to sing?
7. Are we to pray and sing with feeling?
8. Are we to understand the things we speak?
9. Are we to speak where others can understand what is being said?
10. Is it important that everyone is edified by everything that takes place in the worship?
F. I Corinthians 14:26-28 “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.”
- 1. What is to be the purpose of everything that is done in the assembly of the church?
2. Is someone to speak in a foreign language, if there is no interpreter present?
3. How is the interpretation of the foreign language to take place?
4. If there is no interpreter present, what is the person who does not speak the language to do?
G. I Corinthians 14:31-33 “For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”
- 1. How many people may preach during the assembly?
2. How many may teach at one time?
3. Can the Christian control their spirit and what they say?
4. Is God the author of confusion in the church?
5. If someone says that they cannot control what they say, is it from God?
III. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MIRACULOUS GIFTS?
A. John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. ”
- 1. Who is the Comforter?
2. Who sent the Holy Ghost?
3. What was the purpose of the Holy Ghost?
4. Had the New Testament been written yet?
5. What purpose would the gift of knowledge play in the purpose of the Holy Ghost?
6. What purpose would the discerning of spirits play in the purpose of the Holy Ghost?
7. Was the will of God revealed all at once to the church or a little at a time?
B. I Corinthians 14:21 “In the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me ”
- 1. Was it written in the law of Moses that the new testament would be delivered in other languages?
2. Would Israel accept the message of the New Testament?
C. Isaiah 28:11-13 “For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, 12To whom He said, “This is the rest with which
You may cause the weary to rest,” And, “This is the refreshing”; Yet they would not hear. 13But the word of the LORD was to them, “Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little,” That they might go and fall backward, and be broken And snared and caught.”
- 1. How did Isaiah say that God would speak to Israel?
2. Would Israel hear the message?
3. How was the New Testament to be delivered?
4. Did God have a reason to deliver the New Testament the way that it was?
5. What was God's reason for having the New Testament a little at a time?
D. I Corinthians 14:22 “Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.”
- 1. Is the gift of tongues to be a sign to the believer?
2. Who is the gift of tongues to be a sign to?
3. Does preaching serve the believer or the non-believer?
4. Was a purpose for the miraculous gifts to confirm the word of God?
IV. HOW LONG WILL THE MIRACULOUS GIFTS LAST?
A. I Corinthians 13:8 “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.”
- 1. Will the love of God ever fail?
2. What will happen to the ability to foretell the future?
3. What will happen to the gift of tongues?
4. What will happen to the miraculous ability to gain knowledge?
5. Would God let these disappear before their purpose was fulfilled?
B. I Corinthians 13:9-10 “For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.”
- 1. Are miraculous gifts associated with that which is in part or that which is perfect?
2. What would happen to the things that were in part?
3. When would the things in part be done away with?
C. James 1:25 “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”
- 1. What makes a someone a doer of the work?
2. Who will be blessed in their deeds?
3. What is spoken of as perfect?
4. Can following the law of liberty allow one to grow unto maturity?
D. II Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
- 1. Who inspired the writing of the Bible?
2. What is the Bible profitable for?
3. Can the man of God reach perfection (maturity) following the scriptures?
4. Does the Bible contain everything necessary to equip the Christians to handle all good works?
5. Do Christians need anything other than the Bible to know the will of God?
E. I Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
- 1. What does a child do when it is a child?
2. What does a man do when he grows up?
3. Is a child able to take care of itself or does it need to be taken care of?
4. In its infancy, did the church need to be taken care of?
5. When the church had the ability to take care of itself, what would happen to the miraculous gifts?
6. What gave the church the ability to take care of itself?
F. I Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”
- 1. When that which is in part is in place, how do we see?
2. How will we see when that which is in part is done away?
3. Are miraculous gifts during the time of knowing in part?
4. When miraculous gifts are around, how shall we know?
5. When that which is part is done away, how shall we know?
G. John 12:48 “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.”
- 1. How do we reject Jesus?
2. If we reject Jesus, do we have one to judge us?
3. What will judge us on the last day?
4. How shall we be known on the last day?
5. How can we know as we shall be known?
H. Revelations 20:12 “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.”
- 1. Who shall stand before God?
2. By what shall they be judged?
3. What are the books that are opened?
4. How will we be known on judgment day?
5. When can we know as we shall be known?
V. ONLY THE APOSTLES COULD IMPART SPIRITUAL GIFTS
A. Acts 1:26 - 2:4 “And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.1When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
- 1. Who was gathered together in one place on the day of Pentecost?
2. Who was baptized in the Holy Ghost?
3. What signs accompanied the baptism of the Holy Ghost?
B. Acts 6:1-6 “Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3“Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4“but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.”
- 1. Who had the hands of the apostles laid on them?
2. Was Philip among the seven?
C. II Timothy 1:6 “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”
- 1. Did Timothy have a gift of God within him?
2. Did he receive that gift by the laying on of the hands of an apostle?
D. Acts 8:5-19 “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8And there was great joy in that city.9But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” 11And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. 12But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.14Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
- 1. Who went to Samaria preaching the gospel?
2. Did he have the ability to work miracles?
3. Had Philip had the hands of the Apostles laid on him?
4. When those in Samaria were baptized, did they receive the Holy Ghost?
5. What had to be done for the Christians to receive the Holy Ghost?
6. Why did the Apostles have to come to impart the Holy Spirit?
7. When the Apostles all died, who would be able to impart the Holy Spirit?
VI. THE BIBLE SAYS HOW LONG MIRACULOUS GIFTS WOULD LAST
A. Micah 7:15-20 “As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, I will show them wonders.”16The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might; They shall put their hand over their mouth; Their ears shall be deaf.17They shall lick the dust like a serpent; They shall crawl from their holes like snakes of the earth. They shall be afraid of the LORD our God, And shall fear because of You.18Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.19He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea. 20You will give truth to Jacob And mercy to Abraham, Which You have sworn to our fathers From days of old.”
- 1. How long would God show marvelous things?
2. How long did Israel wonder through the wilderness after leaving Egypt?
3. When would this begin to take place?
4. When did God begin to forgive sins?
5. Approximately what year did this take place?
<-------------- 40 YEARS ---------->
+ +------------------------------------+------+
33 AD.....................................70 AD 73 AD
Christ's...................................Destruction
Crucifixion................................of Jerusalem
V. SUMMARY
A. The basis of any Bible topic is the Bible, not human emotion or feelings.
B. If we change the doctrine that God gave, we will be anathema.
C. If a prophet claimed something would happen and it didn't, they were to be stoned to death.
D. If a prophet gave a sign or wonder that came to pass, but they taught different than the known scripture, they were to be stoned to death.
E. The gift of Tongues was the miraculous ability to speak & understand a foreign language without studying.
F. The gift of Tongues could be controlled by the speaker.
G. The gift of Tongues served no purpose in the Church unless it was interpreted.
H. The purpose of everything done in Church is for the edification of the listeners.
I. An Apostle traveling from place to place had opportunity to speak in foreign languages more than an entire congregation.
J. If a preacher speaks a foreign language and there is no interpreter, the preacher MUST keep silent.
K. Only one preacher may speak at a time, the rest MUST keep silent while he is speaking.
L. If the people involved are Christians, they WILL follow God's commandments regarding these things.
M. The Holy Ghost was sent to the Apostles to help them to clearly remember the things Jesus said unto them while he was with them on the Earth.
N. The purpose of the miraculous gifts was to confirm the Word of the Apostles.
O. The purpose of the gift of tongues was not for the believer, but was for the unbeliever.
P. Miraculous Gifts were only in part and were never expected to last.
Q. Miraculous Gifts were needed when the Church was in it's infancy, but would be put away when the Church was able to take care of itself.
R. Miraculous Gifts were needed when the New Testament had not been written, but would be done away when the New Testament was finished.
S. The Old Testament prophecy in Micah shows that Miraculous Gifts (Wonderful Things)would last 40 years.
T. Only the Apostles could pass on Miraculous Gifts through the laying on of hands and after the Apostles died the Miraculous Gifts rapidly passed out of existence.
A friendly welcome awaits you. We do not wish to embarrass you in any way. You will not be asked for contributions. We assemble for Bible study and worship each Sunday morning and we welcome you to meet with us. We would be happy to talk to you about your questions and we want to be of encouragement.
If you have any comments or questions --- or would like the location and contact names of a congregation of the church belonging to Jesus Christ near you, please e-mail me at BibleTruths@hotmail.com or call 253-396-0290. Thanks Dennis Crawford, editor.
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