The Need to Address Alternative and New Religious Movements

Text: 1 Corinthians 12:2-3 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. Introduction As we begin to look at 1 Corinthians 12:1-3 is that the apostle Paul was beginning to address the issue concerning spiritual gifts. The issue of spiritual gifts was, in fact, the main theme as to have an understanding of what was involved as to the issue of the gifts of the Spirit. (v. 1) In order for the Church to know that of the issue of spiritual gifts is to know and understand what is involved concerning the issue of the gifts of the Spirit. Apparently, the apostle Paul had to the issue of spiritual gifts as to where the Corinthian believers came from t

There is a vast difference between God's kingdom and man's own kingdom. The kingdom of God is based upon God's righteousness; man's kingdom is based upon the righteousness of men who seek to build their own righteousness: that of works-righteousness (Gen. 11). There are spiritual forces in the world today that goes against God's people establishing God's kingdom on the earth by which Satan is the Author of false religions (1 Tim. 4:1). Once again the kingdom of God is based upon the righteousness of God's divine character by which man-made religion seek to usurp the authority of God's kingdom (Gen. 3:5). When it comes to false religion and cults is that there is a "plethora" of sub-Christian groups and organizations that provides spiritual "alternatives" or assortment by which people can come to God (Jn. 10:1-4). It is a religion of works; not grace that seek to get God's approval by which to enter into heaven (Tit. 3:5). The On

What was it that the apostle Paul did not want the Corinthian believers to be "ignorant" or "uninformed" when it comes to the issue of spiritual gifts? (1 Cor. 12:1b)  Before I begin to address that of this particular question it is important that I shed light upon the word "ignorant" or "uninformed." According to Romans chapter 11 verse 25, the apostle Paul says to the Roman Christians, "I do not want you to be ignorant of his mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in," (Luk. 21:24) What was the great mystery by which the apostle did not want the Romans Christians to be ignorant of by which to not be conceited or prideful? In Romans 11:25b it says, "Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,..." It is true that many of the Jewish people did not believe in Chri

Why is it so important in understanding the issue of spiritual gifts? The apostle Paul begins by saying, "Now about the gifts of the Spirit my brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed." (1 Cor. 12:1)  In the first part of this verse according to 1 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 1, the apostle Paul says, "Now about the gifts of the Spirit..." In 1 Corinthians 11, the apostle Paul was addressing the issue of the abuse of the Lord's Supper. Now, going into 1 Corinthians 12:1a that the apostle Paul begins to address that of the issue of the gifts of the Spirit. The question: "What was the issue that the apostle had to address concerning spiritual gifts?" It is so important that God's people clearly understand the issue of spiritual gifts especially those who are leaders within the church today. There is such gross misunderstanding of the gifts of the Spirit by which there are those within the professing church today claim such prophetic

During that of our "interactive" Bible talk and discussion we came from 1 Corinthians 12:1 where it says, "Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers, and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed." As we look closely at this particular verse it begins by saying, "Now about the gifts of the Spirit,..." The word "now" is when the apostle Paul begins to deal with the issue of the gifts of the Spirit. There is something about the gifts of the Spirit or spiritual gifts that the apostle did not want the Corinthians to be ignorant or "uninformed." It is so easy for the Church to have such a misunderstanding of the gifts of the Spirit by which such gifts can be abused. There are many Christians especially that of the leadership of the church that thinks that they have a complete understanding of such spiritual gifts by which it causes confusion in the minds of God's people. There are some within that of evangelicalism who carelessly,