WEBVTT - Chip Ingram - Oct 28 - 9:30 am 0:00:11.750 --> 0:00:14.330 Today on Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. 0:00:14.530 --> 0:00:18.850 Today's program comes with a caution, red lights flashing. 0:00:19.130 --> 0:00:20.230 It's a serious program. 0:00:20.750 --> 0:00:23.669 We've been talking about spiritual gifts, but in the arena 0:00:23.710 --> 0:00:28.110 of spiritual gifts, at times they are abused. We're going 0:00:28.150 --> 0:00:32.729 to talk about spiritual gift abuse and how at times 0:00:33.220 --> 0:00:37.020 your gift can be leveraged in ways that God never 0:00:37.180 --> 0:00:40.110 intended it. And you need to be aware of when 0:00:40.150 --> 0:00:42.769 that is, where that is, and how to prevent it. 0:00:44.970 --> 0:00:48.480 Welcome to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. Spiritual 0:00:48.520 --> 0:00:52.480 gifts are powerful. But power, when it's misapplied or driven 0:00:52.520 --> 0:00:55.860 by the wrong motives, can do real damage. Today, Chip 0:00:55.900 --> 0:00:58.770 turns to 1 Corinthians 12 and walks us through the 0:00:58.830 --> 0:01:02.390 first five of ten warning signs that spiritual gifts are 0:01:02.410 --> 0:01:06.020 being abused. If you've ever been hurt by gift abuse 0:01:06.400 --> 0:01:08.679 or wondered if you might be guilty of it yourself, 0:01:08.900 --> 0:01:12.100 today's message is exactly what you need. Well, now here's 0:01:12.160 --> 0:01:15.980 Chip Ingram with a message titled, Warning, Beware of Spiritual 0:01:16.050 --> 0:01:16.720 Gift Abuse. 0:01:17.870 --> 0:01:21.750 If you are indeed the spiritual paintbrush in God's hand 0:01:21.810 --> 0:01:24.310 by your gift, and he wants to dip it into 0:01:24.330 --> 0:01:27.110 the palette and the colors of his grace so that 0:01:27.250 --> 0:01:30.810 your life could literally begin to make imprints of grace, 0:01:31.370 --> 0:01:34.790 and change another person's life for all eternity. Something that 0:01:34.850 --> 0:01:38.070 powerful usually has a dark side. In other words, if 0:01:38.190 --> 0:01:42.130 gifts do that much good, if they're abused, if they're misused, 0:01:42.170 --> 0:01:45.190 if they're misapplied, they can have a very, very dark side. 0:01:46.250 --> 0:01:48.550 And the title of this session is we're going to 0:01:48.590 --> 0:01:52.830 talk about beware of spiritual gift abuse. I'd like you 0:01:52.850 --> 0:01:55.290 to open your teaching handout, if you will, and I 0:01:55.310 --> 0:01:57.470 want to go over what I think are the 10 0:01:57.470 --> 0:02:03.170 most common abuses of spiritual gifts. Number one, beware when 0:02:03.250 --> 0:02:06.750 spiritual gifts are used as a means of manipulation, power, 0:02:07.150 --> 0:02:11.740 or control in personal and or church relationships. And notice 0:02:11.760 --> 0:02:14.220 they're all going to start with beware. That's a warning sign. 0:02:14.620 --> 0:02:19.470 Beware when spiritual gifts are used as a means of manipulation, power, 0:02:19.660 --> 0:02:24.290 or control in personal and or church relationships. If you 0:02:24.310 --> 0:02:26.370 have your Bibles, open them, if you will, to 1 0:02:26.370 --> 0:02:30.950 Corinthians 12. And in 1 Corinthians chapter 12, verse 4, 0:02:30.950 --> 0:02:33.209 it's a common thing we've talked about. In fact, keep 0:02:33.230 --> 0:02:35.590 your finger in 1 Corinthians 12. A lot of the 0:02:35.650 --> 0:02:38.090 abuses were happening in the Corinthian church, and so a 0:02:38.130 --> 0:02:40.110 lot of the corrections are going to be there. Pick 0:02:40.150 --> 0:02:42.929 it up at verse 4. There are different kinds of gifts, 0:02:42.950 --> 0:02:45.610 but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, 0:02:45.630 --> 0:02:48.350 but the same Lord. There are different kinds of workings, 0:02:48.389 --> 0:02:50.990 but the same God who works all of them and 0:02:51.130 --> 0:02:54.970 all men. Now to each one, the manifestation of the 0:02:55.050 --> 0:03:01.380 Spirit is given for the common good. For the common good. 0:03:01.900 --> 0:03:02.130 Good. 0:03:02.380 --> 0:03:04.480 Did you notice the repetition of the word. 0:03:04.340 --> 0:03:07.700 Same, same, same? There's unity. 0:03:08.260 --> 0:03:12.180 When God is working and the Lord Jesus is exalted 0:03:12.480 --> 0:03:16.000 and the Spirit of God is bestowing gifts and operating 0:03:16.020 --> 0:03:19.540 in the body of Christ, it's for the common good. 0:03:19.919 --> 0:03:21.600 It builds people up. 0:03:21.940 --> 0:03:24.940 The focus is on the Godhead, not on the gifts. 0:03:25.340 --> 0:03:28.170 The focus is on what God is doing in the group, 0:03:28.510 --> 0:03:35.050 not on people's particular passions or bents. Personal control, manipulation, 0:03:35.230 --> 0:03:38.890 and use by gifts are always a sign that abuse 0:03:38.950 --> 0:03:42.890 is occurring. Anytime someone comes to you or someone you 0:03:42.930 --> 0:03:46.690 know and says, God revealed to me that you're supposed 0:03:46.730 --> 0:03:49.950 to do this or do that, a big red light 0:03:50.090 --> 0:03:51.670 ought to flash on the dashboard. 0:03:52.150 --> 0:03:53.230 I don't care who they are. 0:03:53.690 --> 0:03:56.590 Now, it doesn't mean that God never reveals through other people, 0:03:56.870 --> 0:03:58.810 but I came to the conclusion that on a major 0:03:58.840 --> 0:04:02.260 life decision about who to marry, where to work, what 0:04:02.320 --> 0:04:04.700 job to take, what to do with one of your kids, 0:04:05.500 --> 0:04:07.780 you would just think that God might want to tell 0:04:07.840 --> 0:04:09.400 you rather than tell someone else, right? 0:04:10.440 --> 0:04:11.200 I mean, I got a phone. 0:04:12.260 --> 0:04:14.410 And that doesn't mean that God might not bring someone 0:04:14.450 --> 0:04:17.289 into your life to say, you know, I'm concerned about this. 0:04:17.370 --> 0:04:20.230 And here's four or five reasons why, you know, I've 0:04:20.290 --> 0:04:23.560 watched this relationship. That's a little different story. But this 0:04:23.720 --> 0:04:27.500 thus says the Lord. And people end up in real 0:04:27.580 --> 0:04:31.760 high power, you know, I'm very important, and often this 0:04:31.800 --> 0:04:36.850 happens in the leadership of churches. Second warning, beware when 0:04:36.910 --> 0:04:40.109 anyone claims to have the ability to give or bestow 0:04:40.650 --> 0:04:43.610 any particular gift if you follow their formula. 0:04:44.529 --> 0:04:46.040 Notice what it says in 1 Corinthians 12, verse 11. 0:04:46.020 --> 0:04:54.530 He goes on to say, All these gifts are of 0:04:54.570 --> 0:04:58.520 the same Spirit, and He gives to each one just 0:04:58.800 --> 0:05:03.940 as He determines. He's speaking of the spiritual gifts. He says, 0:05:04.920 --> 0:05:10.489 God gives or bestows gifts. Literally, it's as He wills. 0:05:10.529 --> 0:05:12.990 The Greek word is a very interesting one. It means 0:05:13.210 --> 0:05:17.890 as He chooses after careful deliberation. Remember we said we 0:05:17.950 --> 0:05:21.300 are His workmanship, creating Christ Jesus unto good works. which 0:05:21.330 --> 0:05:23.700 God has before ordained that we should walk in them. 0:05:24.500 --> 0:05:27.219 If God has a plan for your life and he's 0:05:27.240 --> 0:05:30.020 going to gift you to fulfill the plan for your life, 0:05:30.620 --> 0:05:33.160 then the gifts that he gives you are not going 0:05:33.180 --> 0:05:36.560 to be given through some other person somewhere, sometime, some way. 0:05:36.880 --> 0:05:37.580 What have we learned? 0:05:37.900 --> 0:05:41.540 Is that when the ascended Christ, he gave gifts to 0:05:41.580 --> 0:05:46.100 men and he chooses to give you the gifts that 0:05:46.140 --> 0:05:49.340 he wants you to have so you can fulfill the 0:05:49.400 --> 0:05:52.890 purpose that you're called to. And so when someone comes 0:05:53.010 --> 0:05:55.890 up and basically says, hey, I have the power to 0:05:55.950 --> 0:05:58.600 distribute the gifts, he's taking the role of the Holy 0:05:58.660 --> 0:06:00.719 Spirit or she's taking the role of the Holy Spirit. 0:06:01.360 --> 0:06:04.580 Beware whenever anyone claims to have the ability to give 0:06:04.620 --> 0:06:09.549 or bestow any particular gift if you follow their formula. 0:06:10.300 --> 0:06:14.480 Third warning, beware when any particular gift is made universal 0:06:14.620 --> 0:06:20.050 evidence of spirituality, salvation, or other spiritual blessing. Skip down 0:06:20.170 --> 0:06:25.270 to verses 29 and 30. Chapter 12. By the way, 0:06:25.400 --> 0:06:28.140 as I read this too, in English we can't quite 0:06:28.200 --> 0:06:30.200 do it, but he's going to ask questions. 0:06:30.640 --> 0:06:31.719 But grammatically you. 0:06:31.660 --> 0:06:35.500 Can ask a question and you can use just one 0:06:35.540 --> 0:06:38.690 little word that automatically tells you that it's a rhetorical 0:06:38.730 --> 0:06:41.190 question and the answer is no. And that's this case. 0:06:41.589 --> 0:06:44.590 So these are not just questions, are all apostles. It's, 0:06:44.690 --> 0:06:46.810 are all apostles emphatically? No. 0:06:47.190 --> 0:06:48.390 Okay, so notice what it says. 0:06:48.600 --> 0:06:50.780 Verse 29, are all apostles? No. 0:06:51.040 --> 0:06:51.860 Are all prophets? 0:06:52.100 --> 0:06:52.300 No. 0:06:52.540 --> 0:06:53.300 Are all teachers? 0:06:53.540 --> 0:06:53.720 No. 0:06:54.000 --> 0:06:55.000 Do all work miracles? 0:06:55.260 --> 0:06:55.460 No. 0:06:55.700 --> 0:06:56.900 Do all have gifts of healing? 0:06:57.120 --> 0:06:57.320 No. 0:06:57.560 --> 0:06:58.740 Do all speak in tongues? 0:06:59.140 --> 0:06:59.339 No. 0:06:59.580 --> 0:07:00.479 Do all interpret? 0:07:00.500 --> 0:07:03.229 And he's making the point in 1 Corinthians 12, 29 0:07:03.230 --> 0:07:09.190 and 30 that no one has all the gifts, right? Now, 0:07:09.430 --> 0:07:11.310 this is where I'm going to, this is gentle, but 0:07:11.350 --> 0:07:13.490 you know, let me say this because I've kind of 0:07:13.510 --> 0:07:15.870 been through, both my parents came to Christ through the 0:07:15.890 --> 0:07:16.710 charismatic movement. 0:07:17.190 --> 0:07:17.490 All right? 0:07:18.110 --> 0:07:22.130 My personal experience, I've been in very, very word-centered ministries, 0:07:22.500 --> 0:07:24.520 but I've had the privilege of traveling all around the 0:07:24.560 --> 0:07:28.660 world and just teamed up with Pentecostal and charismatic brothers 0:07:28.700 --> 0:07:30.940 and sisters. And I'm going to tell you about 90%, 0:07:30.940 --> 0:07:35.940 you know, very balanced, great teaching. But there is some 0:07:36.020 --> 0:07:38.970 teaching in pockets, especially in, I guess what I'd call 0:07:39.010 --> 0:07:44.910 some older school Pentecostalism or charismatic groups that will teach 0:07:45.270 --> 0:07:47.690 that if you don't speak in tongues, you are not 0:07:47.810 --> 0:07:51.130 saved or you don't have salvation. Others will teach if 0:07:51.170 --> 0:07:53.910 you don't speak in tongues, you don't have the Holy Spirit. 0:07:54.430 --> 0:07:57.210 Somehow you have part of Christ and the only way 0:07:57.250 --> 0:07:59.310 you know for sure if you have the Holy Spirit 0:07:59.660 --> 0:08:02.440 is if you speak in another language. And here's my point. 0:08:03.740 --> 0:08:07.440 Study the gifts carefully. Tongues are a what? 0:08:08.060 --> 0:08:08.680 We looked at it. 0:08:08.820 --> 0:08:11.720 It is an ability to speak in another language for 0:08:11.760 --> 0:08:13.950 the glory of God, for the common good, in a 0:08:14.010 --> 0:08:16.750 language you haven't learned. Now, what you'll find is people 0:08:16.790 --> 0:08:19.000 will go to the book of Acts and say, well, 0:08:19.050 --> 0:08:21.290 look what happened in the early church. I would suggest 0:08:21.350 --> 0:08:25.250 that is descriptive, not prescriptive. Yes, that is what happened. 0:08:25.510 --> 0:08:29.330 And can God give an unknown language to evidence the 0:08:29.370 --> 0:08:32.390 working he did? When the Jews came to Christ, unknown language. 0:08:32.670 --> 0:08:35.730 When the Samaritans, half-breeds came to Christ, unknown language. When 0:08:35.750 --> 0:08:38.850 the Gentiles came to Christ, unknown language. But Paul would 0:08:38.910 --> 0:08:42.980 say it's an outward evidence assigned for unbelievers. And all 0:08:43.010 --> 0:08:45.340 I'm saying is your view on the gift of tongues 0:08:45.620 --> 0:08:49.320 should have nothing to do with sanctification or your walk 0:08:49.360 --> 0:08:52.580 in holiness. Okay, it's a spiritual gift, but it is 0:08:52.700 --> 0:08:54.880 not a spiritual gift that needs to be tied with 0:08:55.000 --> 0:08:58.780 evidence of salvation or evidence of your spiritual state. There 0:08:58.840 --> 0:09:01.400 are people, and I've been down this road, there are 0:09:01.460 --> 0:09:04.059 people that feel like, you know, I don't have all 0:09:04.080 --> 0:09:06.160 of God because I don't have this gift. 0:09:06.360 --> 0:09:08.600 And by the way, in some groups, it's tongues. In 0:09:08.700 --> 0:09:10.020 other groups, it's other gifts. 0:09:10.670 --> 0:09:14.199 And so anytime anyone says there's some universal gift that's 0:09:14.240 --> 0:09:17.309 a sign that really makes you a salvation or a 0:09:17.390 --> 0:09:20.819 spiritual blessing, always have that red light go off. 0:09:20.720 --> 0:09:23.920 And say, well, wait a second. Spiritual abuse number four. 0:09:24.260 --> 0:09:26.660 Beware when the focus of a church service ministry or 0:09:26.679 --> 0:09:30.500 religious event is on spiritual gifts and their manifestation rather 0:09:30.540 --> 0:09:33.140 than on the giver of the gifts and his agenda 0:09:33.160 --> 0:09:35.640 for the church. This is where you hear about the 0:09:35.760 --> 0:09:39.140 miracle service as advertised. When the focus gets on, come 0:09:39.220 --> 0:09:41.480 see the show. Here's what you can get. 0:09:41.800 --> 0:09:42.260 Beware. 0:09:43.860 --> 0:09:46.960 You know what? Just read the gospels and ask yourself, 0:09:47.100 --> 0:09:50.719 is this how Jesus did ministry? In fact, look at 0:09:50.780 --> 0:09:54.370 Ephesians chapter 4, verses 11 and 12. 0:09:54.370 --> 0:09:57.650 It's very, very clear. Just flip back a couple books, right? 0:09:58.309 --> 0:09:59.750 He gave gifts. 0:09:59.840 --> 0:10:03.000 Why did he give spiritual gifts? Did he give spiritual 0:10:03.020 --> 0:10:04.939 gifts so people could make a lot of money, put 0:10:05.000 --> 0:10:08.520 on a show, tell people how awesome, miraculous, and wonderful 0:10:08.590 --> 0:10:12.490 their deal is? He gave some as apostles. He gave 0:10:12.530 --> 0:10:15.390 some as prophets. He gave some as evangelists. He gave 0:10:15.429 --> 0:10:16.630 some as pastors and teachers. 0:10:16.710 --> 0:10:17.010 Why? 0:10:17.490 --> 0:10:19.950 For the work of service to build up the body 0:10:20.130 --> 0:10:23.610 for the work of service. Spiritually gifted people are to 0:10:23.690 --> 0:10:26.910 equip us regular believers and saints so that we can 0:10:26.950 --> 0:10:30.130 do the work of service until every single Christian grows 0:10:30.270 --> 0:10:32.470 up into maturity to all the measure of the. 0:10:32.470 --> 0:10:33.230 Fullness of Christ. 0:10:34.030 --> 0:10:36.870 The goal and the role of gifting men and women 0:10:37.330 --> 0:10:40.530 is to help other believers mature in Christ. And so 0:10:40.630 --> 0:10:43.000 anytime the focus is off the giver of the gifts 0:10:43.360 --> 0:10:48.020 and onto the show, anytime it's about showmanship instead of Christ-likeness, 0:10:48.830 --> 0:10:51.990 You better have that flashing red light and say, you 0:10:52.030 --> 0:10:54.930 know something? It may be electric in the air and 0:10:54.990 --> 0:10:58.150 people may make all kind of claims, but it doesn't 0:10:58.370 --> 0:11:01.130 pass the test of New Testament biblical Christianity. 0:11:03.170 --> 0:11:05.880 You're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. 0:11:06.240 --> 0:11:09.380 And part two of our message is coming up next. Remember, 0:11:09.440 --> 0:11:11.800 the place to go for all of these daily messages 0:11:12.179 --> 0:11:17.250 is over on our website, livingontheedge.org. There you'll find Chip's 0:11:17.290 --> 0:11:20.850 full teaching library, along with even more content like Chip's 0:11:20.910 --> 0:11:24.750 free daily discipleship tool to help you grow all week long. 0:11:25.330 --> 0:11:28.330 You can also download the Chip Ingram app absolutely free 0:11:28.650 --> 0:11:32.020 through any app store on your smart device. Now let's 0:11:32.040 --> 0:11:34.280 get back to today's message from Chip Ingram. 0:11:34.760 --> 0:11:38.800 Warning number five, beware of comparing your gifts with anyone else. 0:11:39.220 --> 0:11:45.380 It always leads to carnality. Do not compare your gifts. 0:11:45.420 --> 0:11:47.020 And even as I say that, I like to say 0:11:47.040 --> 0:11:52.189 that I never do. See, I'm there. But you will 0:11:52.210 --> 0:11:55.410 because you're human, right? I'm going to read a passage 0:11:55.450 --> 0:11:59.309 that's a little extended, but it's so important. I think 0:11:59.350 --> 0:12:02.809 it's worth reading. And have you noticed that we're still 0:12:02.929 --> 0:12:05.270 in 1 Corinthians 12? Will you go back a couple books? 0:12:06.350 --> 0:12:08.030 Some of you may be thinking, you know, I think 0:12:08.050 --> 0:12:10.310 this Corinthian church sort of had some struggles with gifts. 0:12:11.420 --> 0:12:13.840 Because all the directives about how to do it right 0:12:13.880 --> 0:12:16.080 are in 1 Corinthians 12, you know, part of 13 0:12:16.080 --> 0:12:19.780 and 14. He goes on to say, 1 Corinthians 12, 0:12:19.780 --> 0:12:22.660 beginning at verse 11, all these are the work of 0:12:22.860 --> 0:12:24.620 one and the same Spirit, and He gives them, the 0:12:24.660 --> 0:12:26.060 Spirit gives to each one. 0:12:26.500 --> 0:12:26.720 How? 0:12:27.240 --> 0:12:30.140 Just as He determines. The body is a unit. He's 0:12:30.160 --> 0:12:31.010 going to make a metaphor. 0:12:31.070 --> 0:12:33.370 Though it is made up of many parts, and though 0:12:33.570 --> 0:12:36.070 all its parts are many, they form one body. Given 0:12:36.090 --> 0:12:37.790 the human body, we have a hand, we have a head, 0:12:37.809 --> 0:12:41.020 we have eyes, we have ears, we have feet. And 0:12:41.100 --> 0:12:44.020 so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized 0:12:44.230 --> 0:12:46.730 by one spirit into one body, whether Jew or Greek, 0:12:46.750 --> 0:12:49.449 slave or free, and we were all given one spirit 0:12:49.490 --> 0:12:53.790 to drink. Now the body's made up of not one part, 0:12:53.830 --> 0:12:57.320 but many. And then here's where he goes through the analogy. 0:12:57.900 --> 0:13:00.140 If the foot should say, because I'm not a hand, 0:13:00.200 --> 0:13:03.360 I don't belong to the body, would it not for 0:13:03.380 --> 0:13:05.520 that reason cease to be any part of the body? 0:13:05.570 --> 0:13:06.230 I mean, less? 0:13:06.300 --> 0:13:06.550 No. 0:13:07.330 --> 0:13:09.130 And if the ear should say, because I'm not an eye, 0:13:09.190 --> 0:13:10.910 I don't belong to the body, it would not for 0:13:10.950 --> 0:13:12.530 that reason cease to be a part of the body, 0:13:12.630 --> 0:13:13.240 kind of would it? 0:13:13.270 --> 0:13:13.730 Well, no. 0:13:14.190 --> 0:13:15.709 If the whole body were an eye, where would the 0:13:15.750 --> 0:13:17.320 sense of hearing be? And if the whole body were 0:13:17.360 --> 0:13:19.620 an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But 0:13:19.660 --> 0:13:22.160 in fact, God has arranged the parts in the body, 0:13:22.420 --> 0:13:26.780 every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 0:13:28.179 --> 0:13:32.140 Don't compare yourself your gift to someone else's. Don't get thinking, 0:13:32.160 --> 0:13:35.340 and by the way, it's human nature, certain churches and 0:13:35.400 --> 0:13:39.480 certain backgrounds will gravitate to honor certain gifts more than 0:13:39.520 --> 0:13:42.230 other gifts. I was in one parachurch organization that I'll 0:13:42.270 --> 0:13:44.230 tell you what, if you had the gift of exhortation, man, 0:13:44.250 --> 0:13:46.410 you were a winner. If you had the gift of service, 0:13:46.429 --> 0:13:48.340 it was kind of like, well, You know, someone does 0:13:48.380 --> 0:13:49.900 need to pick up the chairs and that would be nice. 0:13:50.200 --> 0:13:52.959 If you had the gift of teaching or leadership, actually 0:13:52.980 --> 0:13:54.900 it was threatening to the group because they had a 0:13:55.200 --> 0:13:57.800 real cookie cutter formula about how they were going to 0:13:57.840 --> 0:14:00.309 raise up leaders. What they wanted was facilitators to lead 0:14:00.330 --> 0:14:02.589 these small groups. And anyone that kind of wanted, hey, 0:14:02.650 --> 0:14:04.890 why are we doing it this way? Hey, rebellious Ingram, 0:14:04.910 --> 0:14:06.510 would you just shut up and sit over there and 0:14:06.530 --> 0:14:10.230 lead your group? Well, I had some pretty strong leadership 0:14:10.250 --> 0:14:14.720 gifts and I was saying, hey, you know, uh, Basically, 0:14:14.740 --> 0:14:16.110 this seems kind of dumb. If you want to get 0:14:16.130 --> 0:14:17.949 this job done, we ought to go this way. And 0:14:18.650 --> 0:14:20.950 I was dealing with the pride issues in my life. Now, 0:14:21.490 --> 0:14:22.860 I had a lot of pride issues in my life, 0:14:22.880 --> 0:14:27.320 so it wasn't wasted. But I've been in other churches 0:14:27.360 --> 0:14:29.940 where it's this visible gift, you know, and if you 0:14:29.960 --> 0:14:31.950 can ever get up in front of the stage and so, boy, 0:14:32.210 --> 0:14:35.630 you know, the little kids by the time they're 7, 8, 9, 10, 0:14:35.630 --> 0:14:38.070 or if a kid in junior high or high school 0:14:38.090 --> 0:14:41.270 has any speaking ability, he's been called of God and 0:14:41.290 --> 0:14:42.550 they put up in front of the group and the 0:14:42.770 --> 0:14:46.490 poor kids don't know what they're saying. It all goes 0:14:46.550 --> 0:14:49.670 back to comparing our gifts rather than realizing God's got 0:14:49.690 --> 0:14:53.420 a perfect plan. And you know something, I don't know 0:14:53.440 --> 0:14:55.110 that I want to say to my eye or to 0:14:55.130 --> 0:14:58.990 my ear or to my knee that one's more important. 0:14:59.130 --> 0:15:02.750 They're all important. They're all interdependent. And I just want 0:15:02.770 --> 0:15:04.790 to say, I think you'll wrestle with this. There's a 0:15:05.460 --> 0:15:08.200 passage that's been helpful, 2 Corinthians 10-12. You might jot 0:15:08.220 --> 0:15:11.040 that in the corner of your notes. Where the Apostle 0:15:11.080 --> 0:15:14.480 Paul will say, when we compare ourselves with ourselves and 0:15:14.560 --> 0:15:19.850 measure ourselves by ourselves, we are without understanding. And I 0:15:19.890 --> 0:15:22.130 just want to say for your encouragement, I think you'll 0:15:22.170 --> 0:15:24.450 struggle with this your whole life because I do believe 0:15:24.490 --> 0:15:27.340 that all of us are desperately insecure, even as believers. 0:15:27.480 --> 0:15:29.040 I mean, I know we're going to grow, but we're 0:15:29.080 --> 0:15:33.960 desperately insecure. Don't compare yourself with other people. Don't compare 0:15:33.980 --> 0:15:38.450 your gift with other people. God made you unique. Warning 0:15:38.790 --> 0:15:44.360 number six, beware of any extreme position on spiritual gifts. i.e., 0:15:44.930 --> 0:15:49.720 they do not exist at all, to a Spirit-filled Christian 0:15:49.840 --> 0:15:51.520 will have all the gifts. 0:15:52.460 --> 0:15:53.040 I've heard both. 0:15:53.540 --> 0:15:56.400 I've been in places where gifts don't exist. I'll tell 0:15:56.440 --> 0:15:59.860 you what, you find gifts, you find disunity and division 0:15:59.900 --> 0:16:02.200 and people are arguing about them. There aren't any gifts. 0:16:02.420 --> 0:16:04.180 All the gifts are gone after the first century. I've 0:16:04.200 --> 0:16:07.739 heard people teach that. And on the other hand, I 0:16:07.760 --> 0:16:10.960 felt if you're Spirit-filled, I mean, if you're really Spirit-filled, 0:16:10.980 --> 0:16:14.050 whatever Spirit-filled means, no one really knows. I think the 0:16:14.070 --> 0:16:16.250 Bible has a pretty good definition, but depending on what group, 0:16:16.270 --> 0:16:19.210 what background, that could mean you've been to Mars and back, 0:16:19.330 --> 0:16:20.820 or it could mean that you're really walking with the 0:16:20.840 --> 0:16:21.410 Lord in the Spirit. 0:16:21.620 --> 0:16:21.920 I don't know. 0:16:22.540 --> 0:16:24.680 But if you're Spirit-filled, you'll have all the gifts. And 0:16:24.700 --> 0:16:26.280 then usually they have someone in the church who's an 0:16:26.300 --> 0:16:29.220 example of it. Brother Bob, he's got all the gifts. 0:16:30.170 --> 0:16:32.790 Go, Bob, go. I can prophesy. I can teach. You 0:16:32.810 --> 0:16:34.010 know what I mean? You can do it all. 0:16:34.770 --> 0:16:37.570 Anytime you feel those extremes, notice what it says in 0:16:37.570 --> 0:16:42.500 1 Corinthians 12, verse 1. Now, about spiritual gifts, brethren, 0:16:43.360 --> 0:16:47.260 I do not want you to be ignorant. 0:16:48.160 --> 0:16:49.790 You need to have understanding. 0:16:50.730 --> 0:16:54.200 Everyone has one primary gift, We know that he will 0:16:54.240 --> 0:16:57.090 give you ministry gifts. We understand they're for the common good. 0:16:57.330 --> 0:17:00.050 When you know those 10 basic principles, it guards against 0:17:00.090 --> 0:17:00.790 this kind of thing. 0:17:01.190 --> 0:17:02.630 Number seven, warning light. 0:17:02.910 --> 0:17:05.190 Beware of using spiritual gifts and the energy of the 0:17:05.230 --> 0:17:08.950 flesh to fulfill personal ego needs or impress other people. 0:17:09.590 --> 0:17:11.090 This is another one that I don't think you grow 0:17:11.150 --> 0:17:12.570 out of. Beware. 0:17:14.090 --> 0:17:14.609 Beware. 0:17:15.170 --> 0:17:17.880 Be on your guard. Watch over your heart with all diligence. 0:17:18.300 --> 0:17:21.460 When you have a spiritual gift, you can take a gift. 0:17:21.520 --> 0:17:22.100 It's like a tool. 0:17:22.830 --> 0:17:25.770 God doesn't take away the tool. You can be in 0:17:25.810 --> 0:17:28.510 the flesh. God will honor his word and he will 0:17:28.550 --> 0:17:30.389 honor the tool or the gift that he's placed in 0:17:30.410 --> 0:17:33.290 your hand. But I can use my gift and you 0:17:33.350 --> 0:17:36.250 can use your gift, not in submission to the spirit, 0:17:36.490 --> 0:17:38.930 but in the energy of the flesh and it produces 0:17:38.990 --> 0:17:41.750 not good things. And boy, I think this is one 0:17:41.770 --> 0:17:44.060 of those really gut check times where you have to 0:17:44.190 --> 0:17:47.530 ask and I have to ask, Is this about me 0:17:47.650 --> 0:17:51.929 using my gift to get attention, affirmation, strokes from people? 0:17:52.280 --> 0:17:55.859 Is this about impressing people? And let me just, let 0:17:55.900 --> 0:17:58.360 me apply this down to where we live. If you 0:17:58.420 --> 0:18:01.540 happen to have visible gifts, okay? There's some gifts that 0:18:01.560 --> 0:18:04.540 are upfront gifts. It might be teaching, might be exhortation, 0:18:05.240 --> 0:18:08.840 might be prophecy, might be leadership. But you find yourself 0:18:08.880 --> 0:18:11.420 where people are looking to you or you are speaking 0:18:11.640 --> 0:18:14.750 and you have a visible role. The temptation is, is 0:18:14.770 --> 0:18:17.040 to begin to get a little carried away with yourself 0:18:17.450 --> 0:18:19.040 and really like the position. 0:18:19.060 --> 0:18:21.500 And you know what? What does knowledge do? It puffs up. 0:18:22.460 --> 0:18:24.120 And I think we all struggle with that. 0:18:25.700 --> 0:18:29.480 Anytime you have to do something and you find yourself 0:18:30.240 --> 0:18:33.609 ego needs, then I think that's a warning light you 0:18:33.640 --> 0:18:36.670 need to say, wait a second here. Notice what it 0:18:36.730 --> 0:18:41.830 says in 1 Corinthians 13. Sandwiched between chapter 12, this 0:18:41.869 --> 0:18:47.439 is how to use the gifts. And then chapter 14, 0:18:47.440 --> 0:18:53.150 eagerly desire spiritual gifts. 12 says don't be ignorant about them. 0:18:53.150 --> 0:18:56.899 14 says really desire and focus. Right in between is 0:18:56.900 --> 0:19:00.020 1 Corinthians 13. And it says if I speak with 0:19:00.040 --> 0:19:02.880 the tongues of men and of angels, there's a spiritual gift. 0:19:03.720 --> 0:19:06.359 but have not love, I am only a resounding gong 0:19:06.400 --> 0:19:08.580 or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of 0:19:08.640 --> 0:19:11.179 prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and 0:19:11.200 --> 0:19:13.100 if I have faith so that I can move mountains, 0:19:13.160 --> 0:19:16.740 but have not love, I am nothing. If I give 0:19:16.760 --> 0:19:19.240 all my possessions to the poor and surrender my body 0:19:19.280 --> 0:19:22.619 to the flames, literally be a martyr, but have not love, 0:19:23.240 --> 0:19:23.960 I gain nothing. 0:19:24.700 --> 0:19:26.700 I have nothing, I gain nothing. 0:19:27.119 --> 0:19:29.520 If I have this gift of tongues, if I have 0:19:29.540 --> 0:19:31.880 this gift of prophecy, if I have this gift of faith, 0:19:32.160 --> 0:19:34.120 if I have this gift of martyrdom and be willing, 0:19:34.340 --> 0:19:37.670 but you can do, what's that passage say? You can 0:19:37.710 --> 0:19:40.890 do all those things and I can do all those things, 0:19:41.290 --> 0:19:44.530 not about love, which is what? Focusing on other people, 0:19:44.590 --> 0:19:47.560 giving other people what they need the most when they 0:19:47.580 --> 0:19:50.440 deserve it the least as your gift to God, I 0:19:50.480 --> 0:19:53.060 can do my gifts that way or it can really 0:19:53.100 --> 0:19:55.720 be a subtle way to set Chip Ingram up, to 0:19:55.760 --> 0:19:58.330 get Chip Ingram the strokes and the ego needs and 0:19:58.350 --> 0:20:00.300 the unresolved issues in his life taken care of. 0:20:01.210 --> 0:20:05.510 And so it's a warning light. Be on your guard. Beware. 0:20:05.630 --> 0:20:06.770 Number eight. 0:20:07.530 --> 0:20:11.090 Beware of confusing spiritual gifts with spiritual fruit as the 0:20:11.230 --> 0:20:15.980 evidence of spiritual growth and maturity. In some circles, the 0:20:16.020 --> 0:20:18.820 development and impact and the use of your gifts becomes 0:20:18.859 --> 0:20:22.240 kind of the test for spiritual maturity. But gifts, remember, 0:20:22.359 --> 0:20:24.639