Pursuing the Most Helpful Gifts
Holy Spirit • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Today we are in week 6 in our series title:
The Holy Spirit.
(Sermon titled: Pursuing the Most Helpful Gifts)
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way.
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8a Love never ends.
1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
In studying the Bible,
both in the Old and New Testament,
it becomes very evident
that God has equipped His people with various unique gifts.
These gifts were given for the purpose,
that the people of God could accomplish the mission of God.
Throughout Scripture,
we see men and women who walked in their God-given gifting,
and God used their lives to accomplish great victories for His kingdom.
But I believe there is always a temptation,
when we see someone greatly gifted,
to begin comparing our gifts to theirs.
And when comparison takes root,
we can stop pursuing what God has called us to do
and start trying to walk in a calling that was never meant for us...
Story of Sons of Sceva in Acts 19...
(“I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” V13)
[“I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” V14]
I find that it is far too easy
to become attracted to someone else’s gifting.
You see someone gifted in music in ways you wish you were,
and suddenly you begin to covet their gifting.
You see someone who is a powerful leader,
and you start wishing you could lead the way they lead.
You see someone who communicates with clarity and influence,
and you wish you carried that same ability.
It is amazing how quickly we can become distracted from our own gifting
because we become consumed with what we believe we lack.
It is amazing how easily we lose sight of our own calling
because we are watching someone else succeed in theirs...
Comparison has a way of blinding us
to what God has already placed within us.
Instead of developing the gift He entrusted to us,
we become obsessed with gifts He entrusted to someone else...
It has been said that
“the quickest way to have your joy stolen
is by comparing your gifts to someone else’s gifts.”
And how true that is.
Because there is always the temptation to become more fascinated
with the shine of someone else’s armor
than the armor God has personally fitted for you.
But the problem is,
you cannot fight your battles effectively
wearing armor that was designed for somebody else.
God never called you to imitate another person’s assignment.
He called you to steward the grace,
the gifting,
and the calling He placed on your life...
Story of David… someone else's armor...
(Past victories in Soul’s armor)
Church, hear me this morning:
every single believer in this room has been entrusted with gifts from God.
Not by accident.
Not by chance.
But by the sovereign will of the Holy Spirit Himself.
You were not saved merely to sit in a seat.
You were saved,
filled with the Holy Spirit,
and empowered to participate in the mission of God upon the earth today.
The Spirit of God has equipped His people
so that the Church of God can walk in the fullness of its calling.
No one has been forgotten.
No one has been overlooked.
No one has been excluded from the purposes of God.
Every believer has been given measure of grace.
Every believer has been given unique giftings.
Every believer has been given a role in the Kingdom of God.
And when the people of God begin to walk in the gifts of God,
the Church becomes what heaven intended it to be.
The hurting — healed.
The lost — reached.
The broken — restored.
The Gospel advancing with power.
The gifts of the Spirit were never meant to exalt individuals;
they were given so the body of Christ could be strengthened,
unified,
and mobilized for the glory of God....
I have listed 20 Gifts found in the Scripture.
(These can be found later in sermon notes in our app)
Different kinds of gifts—but the same Spirit who gives these gifts...
Administration — 1 Corinthians 12:28
Apostleship / Apostles — 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11
Discernment / Discerning of Spirits — 1 Corinthians 12:10
Encouragement / Exhortation — Romans 12:8
Evangelism / Evangelists — Ephesians 4:11
Faith — 1 Corinthians 12:9
Gifts of Healing — 1 Corinthians 12:9; 1 Corinthians 12:28
Giving/Generosity — Romans 12:8
Interpretation of Tongues — 1 Corinthians 12:10
Leadership — Romans 12:8;
Mercy — Romans 12:8
Pastor / Shepherd — Ephesians 4:11
Prophets/Prophecy — Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:10; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11
Serving / Helps — Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Peter 4:11
Speaking Gifts — 1 Peter 4:11
Teaching — Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11
Various Kinds of Tongues — 1 Corinthians 12:10; 1 Corinthians 12:28
Word of Knowledge — 1 Corinthians 12:8
Word of Wisdom — 1 Corinthians 12:8
Working of Miracles — 1 Corinthians 12:10; 1 Corinthians 12:28
All these gifts are given for the common good of the church.
The Holy Spirit empowers believers
to do the work of ministry.
When these gifts operate from a place of love,
the impact is extraordinary.
When Kingdom-minded people
walk in the gifts they have been given,
breakthrough comes,
healing takes place,
and lives are changed.
The Holy Spirit has given every born-again believer
gifts to strengthen, build, and bring health
to the body of Christ.
There is something powerful
about believers who have been anointed by the Spirit.
There is something deeply impactful
when a child of God
begins to walk in the grace and power
the Holy Spirit has entrusted to them.
When these giftings are energized by the Spirit,
God uses ordinary people
to accomplish extraordinary things...
When it comes to being Spirit-filled vessels of God,
we must remain open
to whatever He desires to do in and through us.
Being vessel of the Kingdom means
that we are willing to be filled
with whatever measure of gifting
He desires to pour into our lives.
Being a willing vessel means
allowing the Spirit to fill us
with whatever measure of grace that is needed
so we can pour our lives out as servants
for the Kingdom of God...
And sometimes,
the Holy Spirit will fill your cup
with exactly what Heaven knows is needed in that moment.
He will release boldness when fear is present.
Wisdom when confusion surrounds a situation.
Faith when the problem looks impossible to overcome.
Healing when there is brokenness.
Prophecy when direction is needed.
Compassion when hearts are wounded.
Because the Spirit of God does not distribute gifts randomly,
He releases them strategically,
powerfully,
and purposefully,
so the church can become everything
Christ has called her to be...
Paul makes this statement....
31a But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
31a So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.
I would propose that the higher gifts,
and the most helpful gifts,
are precisely the gifts that are needed most in that particular moment… 2x
How do you identify the higher and most helpful gift?
You identify that higher and most helpful gift,
when you walk in love
and are sensitive to the leading of the Spirit.
(Holy Spirit will show you what needs help...)
Story of Assistant Pastor... Em and I midweek...
There is often the temptation
to pursue only the gifts that are most visible,
instead of the gifts that are most valuable in that moment.
But the most helpful
and most important gift
may be a gift that is never seen by the crowd,
never applauded by people,
and never recognized publicly.
Yet in the hands of the Holy Spirit,
that unseen gift
can carry eternal weight
and produce Kingdom impact far beyond what anyone realizes.
You have to ask yourself:
Do you only want the gift that gets you noticed,
or are you willing to pursue the gifts
that may never bring attention to your name,
but will bring glory to Jesus’ name
and leave the greatest eternal impact?
Are you earnestly desiring the most helpful gift?
Example.…
(car breaks down... helps/service)
[Lost job and needs food… generosity]
Story of praying for kid at chick-fil-a
The Holy Spirit empowers the people of God
with power to accomplish the mission of God.
And His mission has always involved willing vessels
who simply say,
"Here I am, Lord. Use me."
When our hearts are surrendered in humility and love,
God can use us in ways we never imagined.
One moment,
the Spirit may empower you to evangelize.
The next,
He may move through you in prophecy.
One moment,
He may call you to serve quietly behind the scenes.
The next,
He may anoint you to boldly proclaim His Word.
The question is not,
"What gift do I want to operate in?"
The question is,
"Am I willing to be used however God desires?"
Because when love is our motivation,
we stop chasing positions,
titles,
and recognition.
We simply see a need
and make ourselves available to God.
And often,
it is in those ordinary moments of obedience
that the Holy Spirit does His most extraordinary work...
Close with this…
What do you see right now (what is the Holy Spirit showing you) [most helpful gift]
Celebrate the Lords table…
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
