Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts A Way of Life

Prince of Peace Sermon - Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts: A Way of LifeDiscovering

Your Spiritual Gifts:

A Way of Life

John 20:19-31

2nd Sunday of Easter - 4/6/97

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Palatine, IL

Rev. Michael W. Newman

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"Again Jesus said, 'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am

sending you.' And with that he breathed on them and said, 'Receive the

Holy Spirit.'"(John 20:21-22)

EASTER LIFE! SO, WHAT NOW?

What news story has been making the headlines lately? 39 cult members take

their own lives so they could join a space ship that they believe is

following the Hale-Bopp Comet. The only way to something better, they

believed, was by hurting themselves and escaping from themselves.

What a ontrast to the Easter message! Jesus said in John 10, "The thief

comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have

life, and have it to the full"(vs.10). Jesus came to bring life,

restoration, and healing. Jesus healed the sick. He raised Lazarus from

the dead. He was for life! Even death cannot stop the gift of eternal life

that He gives. "These things are written that you may believe that Jesus

is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in

his name"(John 20:31). That's God's plan. That's the truth. And that's the

Easter message--far better than what people can dream up or figure out.

That Easter life is what we still celebrate this Sunday after Easter.

The question that comes next is: "So, what now?" What does Easter life

mean for you? Does it mean anything or do you simply walk out of church

today with a nice thought, and that's it?

The first point today is: THE LIFE JESUS GIVES IS MUCH MORE THAN A NICE

THOUGHT. If I tell my kids, "Let's go and see a movie," they get excited.

They talk about the popcorn. They can't wait to go! As they're waiting at

the door, what if I told them, "I just wanted you to have a nice thought."

There would not be peace in our house, friends. Jesus said, "I have come

to give you life." That means He gets some living going on!

It's so important for you and me not only to celebrate the gift of life

from Jesus, but to see how the LIVING GOES ON! Easter is a way of life for

you. Let's see how.

RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT

In John 20 you heard that Jesus appeared to His disciples after He rose

from the dead. He showed them His hands and side. It was really Him. Sin

and death had been defeated. The gift of life was won. And Jesus said,

"'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.' And

with that he breathed on [His disciples] and said, 'Receive the Holy

Spirit.'" (vss.21-22)

"Receive the Holy Spirit." Throughout the book of John you can read how

Jesus promised His disciples the Holy Spirit. Jesus called Him the

Comforter, the One who would remind them of Jesus' words, the One who

would bring the truth. In John 20 we hear that the Holy Spirit brings

forgiveness, faith and life. The second point today is: THE HOLY SPIRIT

BRINGS YOU AND ACTIVATES THE LIFE WON BY JESUS.

A few weeks ago we colored Easter eggs at home. We got the 101 Dalmatians

Easter Egg Coloring Kit. Inside the box was everything you needed to color

the eggs--including those little tablets for the different colors of dye.

My wife put each of those little tablets into cups, and, in order to get

the colored dye, she had to pour some vinegar and water into the cups. The

liquid ACTIVATED the tablets. Those things fizzed and melted into

beautiful-colored egg dye. The Holy Spirit brings you and ACTIVATES the

life that Jesus won. The Holy Spirit melts forgiveness and new life into

your life. Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to get the Easter life going.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS--EASTER LIFE IN ACTION

How does the Holy Spirit do that? How does He get Easter life going? He

brings gifts. God's Word and baptism and communion are ways that the Holy

Spirit pours out the forgiveness of sins and the presence of God into your

life. Those are called means of grace. They are gifts!

The Holy Spirit also gives a special variety gifts to all of God's people

so that the body of Christ will be built up, will flourish, and will show

that Easter life from Jesus Christ is not just a thought--it's real! It's

fulfilling! Those are called spiritual gifts.

When I was growing up, I didn't hear about spiritual gifts much. I wish I

did. God wants you to know about spiritual gifts. In 1 Corinthians 12:1

the apostle Paul says, "Now about spiritual gifts..I do not want you to be

ignorant." He says, "Don't miss out on this, folks, because if you do, you

will miss out on what is very good for God's people and for you!" 1

Corinthians 12:7 says, "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is

given for the common good."

Today's third point is: THE HOLY SPIRIT'S GIVING OF GIFTS IS SOMETHING

THAT WE CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT IGNORE. When I talk about gifts, I think

about Christmas. Lately on Christmas morning our kids are ready to head

into the living room at 3:00 AM! We've got to hold them back. Why do they

want to get up and go into the living room? An exceptionally beautiful

Christmas tree? To have a family talk? No! The GIFTS! I wouldn't know what

to think if they sauntered out of bed at 9:30 AM, glanced at the gift

laden area by the tree, gave a big yawn, then walked away to see what was

on TV. I'd say, "Hey! You've got some gifts in here! Don't ignore them!

Open them up! Enjoy them!" And the Bible says: "Spiritual gifts! You got

'em! Don't ignore them!"

A few weeks ago my oldest daughter participated in a Young Author's

program here in the Northwest suburbs. At the beginning of the program an

author gave a talk. He said that if you have the gift of writing you have

a responsibility to use that to help and contribute to the world. He said

that it was of utmost importance to use that gift. I thought to myself:

"If this is true of the world, how much more true of God's people who need

to know and use their gifts to bring LIFE to the world!"

DISCOVERING YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS

So, over the next few weeks I want to help you discover your Spiritual

gifts. All of us have at least one. Spiritual gifts are what the Holy

Spirit has revved you up to do for God's plan. You might know already what

gets your heart pumping, what fires you up, what people say you're so good

at. When you're doing that certain activity, you don't get burned out--you

get energized! That's probably where your Spiritual gift is. But if you

can get a lock on the special enablement the Spirit has given you, then

you know where you are going and how you can serve.

Next week we're going to start talking about Spiritual gifts mentioned in

the Bible. I'm also going to give you the first of three questionnaires

that will help you find your gift area. In the weeks ahead we'll talk

about what to do with your gifts, and the attitude that permeates your

using of Spiritual gifts. For this week, I've put the main Spiritual gift

Bible passages in your study sheet. Take a look at those through the week,

and be ready to discover! Be ready to discover the EASTER LIFE that

doesn't stand still! Let's pray...Amen.