340 – Speaking in Tongues
March 4, 1973
Pastor Henry F. Kulp
I Corinthians 12: 1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
The first word, now, is an interesting word in the Greek. It is not really, “now”, -- it is a little particle, “dah”. It is a grunt to wake up someone and tell them to start listening. As time went by it is changed to the point where it now means a new subject is being introduced. And that new subject is spiritual gifts. In this present day and age there is more confusion over this passage than any other in the Bible. The main problem is Corinth, and, of course, they had many problems, was speaking in tongues. So this book fits our very day.
1/ Chapter 12 is about relationships. It is the relationship of the believer with the Holy Spirit.
I Corinthians 12: 1 - 11 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 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. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 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: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
And Paul uses the word, ignorant. They were ignorant of the Holy Spirit and His relationship to them. The word, ignorant, is very interesting. In the Greek it is much stronger. It is the word, stupidity. There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. Stupidity means that you could know but you won’t, because it is too much trouble to find out. Ignorance is not being aware of the existence of the Bible, and there is not much of that kind of ignorance around today. IGNORANCE HINDERS THE BELIEVER’S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
2/ Much about the Holy Spirit that is taught and written today is sheer nonsense, and many are in ignorance which is really stupidity because they fail to find out the truth from the Word of God. We must understand the purpose of the Holy Spirit in this world. You will never understand the person or the work of the Holy Spirit unless you understand this basic truth.
John 7: 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Here is the reason why the Holy Spirit did not indwell believers in every age. The reason given is Christ was not yet glorified. So, in the Old Testament and the Gospels Christ had not yet been glorified.
John 16: 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Here we read that when the Holy Spirit will come into this world He will glorify Jesus Christ, the one who has been glorified. The Holy Spirit never speaks of Himself--He never glorifies Himself. He glorifies Jesus Christ. This is the production of the Holy Spirit.
I Corinthians 6: 19, 20 What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost, He indwells you, and this is for the reason of glorifying God in your body. A very important point. Jesus Christ is God.
3/ Ephesians 4: 11, 12 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Here we have the gifts of the Holy Spirit for our day. This is anticipating the work of the Holy Spirit as we will finally stud it. Today, He gives LEADERSHIP GIFTS and notice the reason--for the perfecting of the saints--for the edifying of the Body of Christ. Again, we come down to the work of the Holy Spirit. This includes Christ and the church for they are One. He never glorifies individuals--only the believer as he is filled with the Spirit, and glorifying Christ in his life.
4/ So that we are not stupid, we must see the difference between spiritual gifts as opposed to sign gifts. Let us make a contrast.
Mark 16: 15 – 18 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Here we have sign gifts. They are not spiritual gifts. But in I Corinthians 12: 1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. We have spiritual gifts. They are not the same. They do not have the same purpose.
Philippians 1: 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ; Here we are told to test or distinguish the things that differ.
5/ Sign gifts.
From Adam to Moses God did not work any signs, miracles or wonders through man. Moses was the first man to whom God gave sign gifts.
6/ MOSES WAS GOD’S CHOSEN VESSEL
Exodus 3: 10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Exodus 4: 1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.
Exodus 4: 8, 9 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the rive shall become blood upon the dry land.
Moses said, the people will not believe me, they will not harken unto me, for they will say, “The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.” In other words, you are not God’s man. So, God says, if they will not believe you or harken unto your voice, I will give you signs. So, sign gifts were given to convince the nation Israel that Moses was God’s chosen vessel. As you go through the Old Testament, sign gifts are for this purpose.
7/ Matthew 10: 5 - 8 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand, Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give, Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
Here we have the twelve sent out by Jesus Christ, and here only the apostles have sign gifts, and each one of the apostles has ALL the gifts – This is a very important point.
8/ Mark 16: 15 - 18 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thig, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Here all believers, not just apostles, but all that believe have all the gifts – and this is a change from Matthew 10.
9/ Acts 2: 22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Here Jesus Christ is said to have signs to prove to the nation Israel He was God’s chosen vessel – the Messiah.
10/ SPIRITUAL GIFTS WERE GIVEN TO TEACH. Sign gifts were given to prove a chosen vessel of God.
11/ THE BIG PROBLEM IN LOCAL ASSEMBLIES IS THE IGNORANCE OR STUPIDITY OF DOCTRINE.
12/ I Corinthians 12: 1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
It is clear that this church abounded in spiritual gifts, more than any other church of the ancient world. This is proven in I Corinthians 1: 7 So that ye com behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
More people spoke in tongues than in any other church. More saw visions, more prophesied. Yet, this church was the worst of all of the early churches.
I Corinthians 3: 1 - 3 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with ilk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, either yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
13/ This all proves that when spiritual gifts were in operation one was not necessarily spiritually. A man could have this gift and be carnal, worldly, childish. Yet they went around saying if you haven’t spoken in tongues or had a vision you are not spiritual. Just the way the folks do today. So, through the study of this book, we can only come to one conclusion THE POSSESSION OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS DID NOT MAKE ONE SPIRITUAL.
AMEN
Ref: KULP / 03/04/1973 / – 340 – SPEAKING IN TONGUES / May 28, 2020
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