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quite naturally turn one’s head, and, there fore, careful and exact instruction was necessary. And it is quite as necessary today ; for, on the one hand, there are some who do not know that there are any such things as spiritual gifts (a direct operation of the Spirit upon their minds, qualifying them for service), and on the other hand there are those who are awaking to the fact that there are spiritual gifts for us today, and who go off into all manner of extravagancies and spiritual pride, just as did those believers in Corinth. We have an illustration of this in all the extreme and vagrant fancies and fanaticisms that have sprung up in connection with the so-called “Tongues Movement’’ in our own day. The first and great test as to whether the spirit by which one claims to be controlled is indeed “the Spirit of God’’ is, the attitude which this Spirit, who controls us, leads us to take toward Jesus, the actual histor ical Jesus (v. 3, cf. 1 John 4:2, 3; 5:12). The work of the Spirit of God centers in Jesus, He bears witness to Jesus, and glori fies Jesus and takes of the things of Jesus and shows them unto us (John 15:26; 16:14). Therefore, the one who is filled with the Spirit will be occupied with the glory and praise of Jesus. Hence it fol lows, that no man who really speaks in the “Spirit of God” will say “Jesus is anath ema (or accursed).” The Jews had said this and the heathen said it, and that proved that they were not speaking in the “Spirit of God." On the other hand, no man could really say “Jesus is Lord (i.e., our Divine and absolute Master”, except “in the Holy Spirit.” Only the Holy Spirit could so open a mind to such a real appreciation of the Divine glory of Jesus as to enable one to say “Jesus is Lord” (cf. Matt. 16:16, 17). It is true one might repeat the words “Jesus is Lord” without embracing in his heart the saving truth that He is Lord (Matt. 7:21, 22), but a real recognition of the Lordship of Jésus, that led to an intelligent and appreciative saying that “Jesus is Lord” could only come through the Holy Spirit (Rom. 10:9; John 20:28; 1 John 5:12; 1 Cor. 2:14).
Monday, Nov. 26 . i Cor. 12 : 4 - 6 .
The Holy Spirit does not impart the same gifts to all who receive Him. God calls men ta various lines of service and distrib utes the gifts of the Spirit to individuals with reference to the various forms of work to which they are called. “There are diversities of gifts, but the ( very ) same Spirif’ back of the varying gifts. “There are diversities of ministrations (i.e., forms of service to which different believers are called), but the same Lord.” There are diversities of workings (i.e., God works one way in one believer who has one kind of service to perform, and in another way in another believer who has another kind of service to perform), but the same God who worketh all things in all.” Therefore, one man who receives the Holy Spirit (or, is “baptized with the Holy Spirit”) must not suppose that because it is the same Spirit that he has received that the Spirit will work in him in just the same way in which He works in someone else who receives the Spirit (or is “baptized with the Holy Spirit”). The mistake that Paul here would guard us against is a source of endless con fusion. Many suppose that because in a number of instances those who received the Holy Spirit' in Apostolic days, spoke with tongues (Acts 2:4; 10:46; 19:16), that all who receive the Holy Spirit today will speak with tongues. This supposition con tradicts the plain and explicit teaching of this chapter (vs. 4-10, 30). Others fancy because one who receives the Holy Spirit receives the gift of an evangelist, that all who receive the gift of the Holy Spirit will receive the gift of an evangelist; but this also contradicts the plain teaching of the passage before us. Others imagine that because “gifts of healings” are imparted to some who receive the Holy Spirit, that these gifts of healing will be imparted to all, but this imagination also contradicts the plain teaching of the verses here before us. There is one Spirit, one Lord, one God, but this one Spirit, one Lord, one God, imparts “diversities of gifts,” diversities of
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