Spiritual Gifts (2)

Spiritual Gifts

[main areas I plan on covering are how each person is gifted by the Holy Spirit and that we fit together in creating the body of Christ]

Each of desires to know who we are and what we should do.

Each of desires to know who we are and what we should do.

What did you find out

We all have this desire to understand who we are and what purpose we serve. We feel awkward at times and try to make it up as we go. We can be overconfident, under confident or just way off the mark.

We sometimes miss the mark because we are trying to do something big but miss out on the simpler ways in which we may be gifts.

Have you seen the movie Hitch with Will Smith and Kevin James? Watch this clip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bH0OXsmsbQ

[Play from the beginning until 1:23]

Kevin James was trying to go all out and Will Smith brought him back to where he was doing the simple thing. Let’s practice that… everyone up… try it with me… stay in this zone. I think we can all do this and not feel like we are doing a bad job or awkward or the many other things we go through as we try to figure out who we are and what we are supposed to do.

The fact of the matter is that the Holy Spirit gifts us with what we need, when we need it, where it is needed. Why you may ask? To build up the spiritual house called the church. Let’s read together and talk about this.

1 Peter 2:5 NRSV

like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Did you know as a Christian, you are part of a holy priesthood that joins together to form the one spiritual house called the church. It does not matter if you are part of this church or that church because from God’s point of view, you are part of the Master’s plan!

But what does this spiritual sacrifices stuff mean? Think of it this way. Did you pray today? Did you help someone out today? Did you do something that you did not benefit from? God wants us to be the holy priesthood we have been called to be. God wants us to act and do for others benefit rather than our own gain. This is the spiritual sacrifices that are pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.

We miss the idea sometimes because we think it has to be big act or make a dramatic impact to all humanity. Put simply the small things are some of the most important work. Each of us using these gifts together, in simply ways is the life we are called to. We are called to go and make disciples and this is done with using the gifts in simply ways that may not have a huge impact on its own but as you are joined with others in being faithful to using the gifts as intended.. then God (not you ) changes the world.

This is the way in which we get paralyzed or go all out and fail miserably… when we try to take on the task of being God and doing the big things on our own. We are meant to be like these living stones mentioned in where they all fit together nicely in the right place they were designed to. On their own the individual stone can’t do much accomplish much but when used properly alongside others, being built together into the church where God does miraculous work, life changing work, community changing work.

Again, the question is how do we simply together into church without some kind of plan to follow? Let’s ready together.

1 Peter 4:10–11 NRSV

Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

You see Peter summed it up beautifully here… we are stewards or caretakers of the grace of God. His point is that we are to serve one another with whatever gift we have received. If this involves speaking, then speak the words of God, if it is serving the serve with the strength of God. In these things God is glorified through Jesus Christ where the glory and power reside forever.

Now here comes the hard part. We don’t choose the gift, that is the Holy Spirit’s decision. Secondly, as Peter pointed out, simply serve each other with what you have… don’t think little of yourself if it does not look at spectacular as another’s gift.. don’t look down upon it as unimportant because the Holy Spirit chose you and knew you needed this gift to carry out the purpose you are here for. Whether it is small or grand or feels trivial or critical, carry it out by the means which the Holy Spirit has gifted you to do so.

Lastly, these gifts are meant to bring glory to God and not each other. The gift is not for your benefit nor for your glory. Believe me when I say it, the moment you become selfish and want a gift or use a gift for your personal gain, it can be removed. Do not fall into that trap of thinking you can fool God or yourself. Keep your intentions on being a steward of the grace of God and a steward of the gift.

It would be remiss of me to talk all night about spiritual gifts and fail to list some of the known gifts that are named in scriptures.

1 Corinthians 12:1–11 NRSV

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Let Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

Paul has a good warning at the beginning of this passage. Don’t be led astray. You see there are certain temptations out there that people might fall for where it might be said it is for God but in truth it is not. I have known a few folks who has done everything for God’s glory and I have also seen and experienced things done for personal glory.

It can be a fine line between the two but remember this… if you are following what God is leading you to do make sure you are using the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given you in service to others (not for personal gain). Secondly, it is what the Spirit chooses for you and not the other way around. Humbly accept the gift and use it!

Remember you are created and gifted uniquely. Accept the place you were made for and watch how God uses you. Paul speaks to the familiar scripture of being one body with many members in but I want to jump to the end of this chapter and cover Paul’s thought on the desiring of gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:27-31

1 Corinthians 12:27–31 NRSV

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

We are all gifted uniquely because as mentioned earlier, we are a unique piece that serves a particular role in the church. W e might be tempted and think it would be more beneficial if we had one of these gifts that might be seen as superior or more important than another. Truth is, all fit together perfectly to build up the church and bring glory and honor to God through Jesus Christ.

There is another passage that is commonly referred to when trying to understand the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Let’s read together

Romans 12:6–8 NRSV

We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

This is not a complete list either and even when you combine these two passages together, it is not the full listing. Paul’s point here is that in whatever gift you receive, use it.

If you already know Jesus Christ and are ready to accept this Go challenge then I want to challenge you this week to take a long look at is what gifts did you discover or know you had? How are you planning on using them? How does the gift fit into the current church you are part of?

If you do not know Jesus Christ or don’t know the love of God that manifest if gifts of grace then I want you tonight to ask yourself, do you want to learn more about this? Do you want to get to know who Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit is? Do you want to know what kind of relationship this is that calls you to do things for others? Tonight is a great night to ask!

We have three main areas for prayer tonight.

On the left is a foot washing station. This station is for as you guessed, washing another’s feet as an act of service and humility. When the disciples argued who was the greatest among them, Jesus answered the question by washing their feet and telling them to do the same for each other.

On the right hand side is an anointing prayer station. If you want someone to anoint and pray with you for healing, for discernment and guidance, for receiving a gift of the Holy Spirit, or for any other reason then come.

The middle is reserved for prayer as well. In the middle this is where you can pray by yourself or with others.

If you want to talk with someone about getting to know more about Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit or have questions about tonight message, come to the back and find an adult leader or friend you feel you can talk with.

We wanted to create an atmosphere that you are free to pray and worship freely. God wants to talk with you tonight, whether that is up front at one of the prayer stations or sitting in your own seat, the invitation has been given. It is up to you to decide what you want to do tonight.