SPIRITUAL GIFTS: Opening Our Eyes (and Hearts) To Divine Encounters

Memorial Drive 10/27/19 SPIRITUAL GIFTS: Opening Our Eyes (and Hearts) To Divine Encounter Various Texts We need to not only see THE GIFTS THEMSELVES as important TOOLS in ministry, but we also to see OURSELVES as critically important in God’s PLAN TO USE the various gifts. … THE PROBLEM OF THE WESTERN MINDSET We believe in a real, material world! “In this house we groan!” (2 Cor. 5:1-2) We also believe in a spiritual “world” or “heavenly realm! “… the natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” (1 Cor. 2:4) As Christians raised in a “western” mentality we tend to minimize the extent to which these two “worlds” or “realms” intersect and interact! This is true when it comes to wicked spirits, and sadly, when it comes to the Holy Spirit as well! As we come to our study of the spiritual gifts, it will be important for us to recognize that we have tended, in our evangelical churches, to minimize and NOT expect that God CAN and DOES still work in quite overt and powerful ways! … TWO POWERFUL TRUTHS • God Is CONSTANTLY And ACTIVELY Building His Kingdom By Rescuing Captives From The Enemies Kingdom and “Transferring Them” Into His Kingdom! “THE WORD OF TRUTH, THE GOSPEL, which has come to you, just as IN ALL THE WORLD also IT IS CONSTANTLY BEARING FRUIT AND INCREASING, even AS IT HAS BEEN DOING IN YOU also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth …” (Col. 1:5b-6) “For he rescued us from the DOMAIN of darkness, and transferred us to the KINGDOM of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:13-14) • God Is CONSTANTLY And ACTIVELY Using His People To Do His Work! “For we are His workmanship, CREATED in Christ Jesus FOR GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED BEFOREHAND SO THAT WE WOULD WALK IN THEM.” (Eph. 2:10) … TEXTS TO POINDER AND PRAY OVER • A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JOEL (Joel 2:28-29) • God’s people will prophesy! (See I Cor. 14:1, 39, I Thess. 5:8) • God’s desire and intention is to pour His Spirit out on ALL His people! • AN EMPOWERMENT UPON CHRIST (Matthew 3:16-17) • The Spirit of God descended upon and anointed Christ to do the work of ministry! • A MISSION STATEMENT FROM CHRIST (Luke 4:17-19) • Christ gave His Mission Statement and the reason for the Spirit’s anointing! • A COMMAND FROM CHRIST (Luke 24:49) • I’m sending the Spirit upon you too! To equip YOU for ministry as well! • A FULFILLMENT AND EMPOWERMENT FOR THE CHURCH (Acts 2:16-18) • THIS is what Joel prophesied about the Spirit and God’s people! • It’s for ALL that God calls to Himelf! “… THE PROMISE is for you AND YOUR CHILDREN and for all who are far off, AS MANY AS THE LORD OUR GOD WILL CALL TO HIMSELF.” (Acts 2:39) A GLIMPSE INTO MINISTRY (Luke 10:1, 8-9, 17-20) • Christ expanded the call to ministry and gave authority to do so in both healing and setting captives free from demonic spirits! It wasn’t just for the apostles! • A CO-MISSION FOR THE CHURCH (Matt 28:18-20) • Authority was given to Christ and He passed it on to His followers to enable them to cross the world and make disciples (those who could do the work of their Master)! … WHY THIS MESSAGE We might come to believe that all the gifts are in use, but what good is this, IF we don’t think that God’s plan and desire and even liklihood is that He will use me! May God open our eyes and hearts to the truth that He is constantly and actively about His kingdom business and that He wants to involve us in that work and do so in powerful ways! … TWO CHALLENGES • Allow God to CHALLENGE YOUR THINKING ABOUT GIFTS AND YOUR PART In Ministry By Seeing What God Is Doing Through Others • PRAY For, WATCH For, and BOLDLY ENGAGE In Divine Encounters “’And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.’ And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:29-31) • Pray for God to show you WHERE He is at work today! And WHAT works He has pre-determined for you to walk in that coincide with what He is up to! (Divine encounters!) • Pray for BOLDNESS to take opportunities to participate in allowing THE NAME OF JESUS to INTERSECT with the lives of those around you! • ASK if it would be OK if you prayed for them! • Pray “IN JESUS NAME!” “Lord, _______ is hurting today/has a need today. Not even sure exactly how to pray. Would you bless _______ today in a way that shows the love of Jesus to them? I ask this in Jesus name! Amen!” Some final thoughts … • You may see an outcome but you may not. (“varieties of effects” I Cor. 12:6) • To pray simply that God would bless them is biblical! • People are generally open to be prayed for and often experience God’s love in the prayer alone! • REPORT the prayer, regardless of the outcome! You will encourage others and I believe that we’ll begin to see God work in new ways!