Equipped by the Holy Spirit

Fully Equipped

Recently, I was talking with my daughter who was telling me about the car that she wanted. It was Ford Mustang convertible.

We talked about pricing for the car. She had done some research and had a ballpark.

So I went online to the design center to see about the options she wanted.

We updated the trim, the rims, the seats they would be cooled and heated, custom interior lighting, by the time we had the perfect car I calculated the cost to give her what she wanted… this 30k car was not a 64k car.

The realization set in that this was way out of our budget… my daughter very matter of fact looked at me and said well dad, guess you’d better start saving or get another job.

She said this jokingly, as she turned and said dad whenever I can finally drive I will drive whatever we can afford.

I reflected on this for a moment, and thought of how I would love to give my children then best. I began to think about how God has prepared the best for us.

I was struck with the unfortunate realization that many of us have settled for less than being fully equipped. We have allowed ourselves to be the cheap model of the fully equipped version we have been made to be.

I know that much of this is a result of what we do not know.

Last week we talked about the work of the Holy Spirit… It is because of the Holy Spirit that we can accomplish what Christ has promised.

We are equipped by the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s will.

Acts 2:1–2 ESV

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

Acts 2:16–21 ESV

But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Having waited for the Holy Spirit they are Baptized

The signs and wonders that are to occur because of the Holy Spirit

The early rain is exhibited in the 1st church the latter rain is now pouring out on His church

This empowerment of His church will bring Him Honor and Glory

We are equipped by the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s will

Gifts of the Spirit

There is a difference between the gifts of the Spirit and the Fruits of the Spirit

1 Corinthians 12:7–11 ESV

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For 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 ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Wisdom

not just knowledge but the know how with the knowledge

Knowledge

The spirit searches the heart of God and reveals

Faith

Remember it is the HS that brings us to the points in which our faith is made stronger

Healing

Miracles

Prophecy

Discernment

Tongues

Interpretation of Tongues

Variety of Gifts

both in amount and measure

Varying service

difference for infilling and indwelling

Varying activities

These are given in a amount and measure according to the HS

We may have some of these or all of these to some measure

No jealousy because someone has one I do not or more than I do… they do not benefit me in the least if it does not serve God

What About Tongues?

In Acts several times we see a person baptized by the Holy Spirit and immediately they speak in tongues

Some have taken this to signify this to be evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit

Speaking in tongues is one of the 9 gifts…

1 Corinthians 14:1–3 ESV

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.

we are to desire the spiritual gifts

They are gifts not something we should squabble over

Paul is not banning speaking in tongues he would rather if someone speaks in tongues there would be an interpreter

people just speaking in tongues to show off versus edification.

The priority for these gifts is to edify the church and build the kingdom

1 Corinthians 14:5 ESV

Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

There is a precious gift speaking tongues

Unless we have an interpreter what profit does it do for the church… lets pray for the interpreter

Sword of the Spirit

One additional gift

Ephesians 6:17–18 (ESV)

and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication...

Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God

This is our offensive tool

1 Corinthians 2:12–14 ESV

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

This sword allows us to

understand the things of God

we speak revelation

We teach

We interpret

A church that is empowered strives to see all who are part of the body fully equipped

Our prayer is to see each member operating in the gifts the Holy Spirit has deposited in each member that together we would build up the Kingdom.