Daily Devotions
Filled with the Holy Spirit
"No one speaking by the Spirit of God..."
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:3
A GENTILE IDOLATROUS PAST
Many of the Corinthians had a Gentile background. However, their ethnic origin is not the root of the problem. The root of the problem lay in their idolatrous past.
“You know that you were Gentiles,
carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.
Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by
the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed,
and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 12:2-3
1. “You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols”
a) This is a factual statement that cannot be denied.
b) The past of the Corinthians:-
i) They were Gentiles.
ii) They were idol worshippers.
c) They were carried away… however they were led.
i) This is a reference to how they had been led, more correctly “misled”.
ii) Paul did not discuss how they were led, but they were carried away, ending up in the worship of dumb idols.
2. “Therefore I make known to you”
a) Some were not sure about the leading of the Spirit of God.
b) Some may have felt that they were led by the Spirit.
c) Paul had to teach the Church at Corinth about spiritual gifts and the leading of the Spirit.
3. “Speaking by the Spirit of God”
a) Anyone could claim that he is speaking, led by the Holy Spirit.
b) The word “speaking” in this particular context would most likely be a reference to one who functions as a servant of the Lord (as a speaker/ or pastor-teacher).
4. Two broad guidelines (to begin with)
a) He who is truly led by the Spirit of God cannot end up declaring Jesus as “accursed”.
b) He who is truly led by the Spirit of God will end up confessing that Jesus is indeed Lord!
ONE REASON WHY THESE TWO GUIDELINES WERE HIGHLIGHTED
There were some who probably claimed that they were being led by the Spirit of God to speak on His behalf. However, their messages seemed to be in conflict with other teachings. The doctrines of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit seemed to be in conflict somehow. Paul had to make an important point right at the beginning! The Holy Spirit could never lead anyone to speak against the Person whom He was sent to represent!