Unlocking Your Spiritual Gifts: A Beginner's Guide
Partnering with Holy Spirit • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 1:04:45
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· 4 viewsThe sermon "Unlocking Your Spiritual Gifts: A Beginner's Guide" discusses how everyone has special spiritual gifts meant to help others and strengthen the community. It highlights the need to understand ourselves and be open to guidance to find these gifts. Using examples from the Bible, it encourages listeners to discover and use their gifts, promising that doing so will lead to a fulfilling life of service and a closer relationship with the divine. The message ends by inviting everyone to explore and embrace their spiritual abilities for a better, more connected world.
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Partnering with Holy Spirit
Partnering with Holy Spirit
Intro
Humor
Body
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.
2 You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led.
3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.
6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.
7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.
19 If they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now there are many members, but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;
Pray
There are things to consider when we talk about Spiritual gifts.
1. They are an integral part of the Church
1. They are an integral part of the Church
The reason why I covered this entire package today was so you could see that Spiritual gifts were and still should be today an integral part of our life.
Like the Apostle Paul....I too do not want you to be unaware.
far too many christians today are ignorant of the wealth of spiritual gifts available for us.
I beleive that is why the modern church has been so ineefective in reaching the world arround us.
In a new study published in 2022, Pew Research Center projects that if the rate of switching continues to accelerate (primarily to no religious affiliation), Christians will make up less than half of the American population by 2070, with estimated ranges for that year falling between 35% and 46% of the American population (down from 64% in 2022 and down from 91% in 1976).[31] The same study found a retention rate among American Christians closer to 67%, with one-third of those who were Christian in childhood leaving the religion by age 30.[31]
This dramatic decline is very similiar in Canada.
In 2011, 67.3 per cent (about 22.1 million people) of Canadians said they were affiliated with a Christian religion. In 2019, that number had dropped to 63.2 per cent. Catholicism, Canada’s largest denomination, now accounts for 32 per cent of Canadians over 15, down from 46.9 per cent in 1996.
In fact there is a a distinct pattern along denomimational lines.
Those who reject or ignore the practical application of Holy Spirit in a beleivers life are on the verge of collapse
The United Church of Canada is losing 1 church every week.
Contrary, the denomiations that are growing in Canada are those who emphasize the person and work of Holy Spirit.
I believe Paul was very aware of this fact and that’s why He declares
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.
That’s why we as a church are going to dedicate the next 3 months
to being educated about Holy Spirit and the gifts He gives
We also want to spend time imparting these gifts and
giving you ample opportunity to practice your gifts
You may have heard me say before.
“The church is where we practice our gifts, and the world is where we use them”
We preparing for A Holy Spirit Encounter Weekend May 17-19
so book it into your Calendar, and start inviting people
2. The Holy Spirt is the source of the gifts
2. The Holy Spirt is the source of the gifts
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
This is not someones natural or learned skill
its not something you can buy
its not something you can buy
9 Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great;
18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
19 saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
21 “You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
22 “Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.
23 “For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”
You don’t earn the gifts
or even deserve them.
Like salvation is a free gift from God through Jesus
The Holy Spirit gives the gifts as He sees fit
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
There are people Like Simon the sorcerer who see the gift as something that would make them more valuable
Like believing. If I have this gift i will be more important.
People will think more highly of me !
Thats was simons thought
and yes simon was a believer
13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.
Don’t ever try to monetize the gifts
8 “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.
The gifts are a free gift from the Holy Spirit
Use them as He directs you to use them!
So the Holy Spirit gives the Gifts as He sees fit.
so Why are we to
31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts.
And I show you a still more excellent way.
This may sound confusing.
The Holy Spirit gives the gifts as He sees fit
but we are to desire the greater gifts
What are you saying he Paul?
Is Paul saying we should desire the Spiritual Gifts even if the Holy Spirit has no desire to give us that gift?
No I don’t believe he Is.
I believe the Holy Spirit prepares you, your entire life to operate in the Gifts(s) He wants to distrubute to you.
That he places in each one of us a desire for those gifts.
You will see this in your own life over the next few months.
As we discuss certain gifts you may feel that one is very cool, but Its not mine.
and other gifts you will be totally driven to and say I want that operating in my life!
The Godly desires in your life are not your own.
rather they are placede there by Holy Spirit
and that leads us to point # 3
3. Diversity of Spiritual Gifts
3. Diversity of Spiritual Gifts
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.
6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.
there is alot of talk about diversity as of late
its a buzz word that has occupied political speech in an ever increasing way over the last few years.
Yes diversity is a amazing God given thing
But theres an important truth that has been ignored by many who propose diveristy today.
Its this....
Diveristy without Unity is chaos.
If you have a football team
full of player who can all do differnt things
If they all do their own thing, and don’t work together
they will loose every game
Strength only comes when diveristy and unity come together
8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.
This chapter goes on to use the example of the human body to drive home the point of How the gifts are to operate.
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.
Please don’t think of it as some gifts are better than others.
The greatest gift as Paul refers to in 1 Cor 12:31
31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts.
And I show you a still more excellent way.
The greatest gift is the gift that is needed any and specific time.
If someone really needs direction in their life.
the gift of Hospitality can comfort them, but they really need a prophetic word.
conversely if a person is in need of a place to stay, the Gift of Hospitality is the greatest gift.
You may ask where are you getting the gift of Hospitality from.
It wasn’t on the list you read.
Your right. 1 Cor 12 is not the only list
6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;
8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
Notice there is some overlap of the gifts, but no list is complete.
Instead look at them as examples the author is using to teach a specific concept
When Paul puts a list together in chapter 12. His focus is on How gifts are diverse and operate togther for the betterment of the Body
4. Purpose of the Gifts
4. Purpose of the Gifts
7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
The purpose of spiritual gifts is for the common good and the building up of the body of Christ.
Gifts should be used in love and service to benefit others,
not for self-promotion or division.
When each member of the body of Christ uses their gifts faithfully, the church functions more effectively and grows in unity and maturity.
Just think for a moment If every believer in this church operated in the Spiritual gift the Holy Spirit imparted.
I know many of you know and operate in the Spiritual gift, and I am so greatful for that.
But dream for a moment…What would happen in this city
if each and everyone of us new our part and we played it empowered by Holy Spirit .
Where Holy Spirit empowered gifts like
Prophesy
Serving
Teaching
Encouraging
giving
Leadership
Mercy
Word of Wisdom
Word of Knowledge
Faith
Healing
Miracles
Discernment
Speaking in tongues
Interpreation of tongues
Helps
Administration
Everything the Church…the body of Christ... needs to fulfill the will of the father on the earth is provided in and through Holy Spirit
And its not just for a few
Instead for everyone who beleives
11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
This is a foundational truth we have to re-establish in the modern church
The Church leaders, primary responsibility is to equip the saints for the work of service.
What better way to do that than to help you the saints become aware of the Spiritual gifts the Holy Spirt wants to impart to you.
5. How do I receive my gift(s).
5. How do I receive my gift(s).
James 4:2b (NASB95)
You do not have because you do not ask.
Just Like the ABC’s of salvation
Ask
Believe
Confess
It is very similiar to receive your gift(s)
Ask Holy Spirit what gifts He wants to impart to you
Believe that you have received the gift
Continue to operate in the gift as Holy Spirit enables
Impartation
Let’s pray