WEBVTT 00:00:03.240 --> 00:00:05.660 We are glad you're here this morning. We really 00:00:05.660 --> 00:00:13.560 are. As we were getting ready to leave on the 00:00:13.560 --> 00:00:15.500 airplane flight a couple of weeks ago to go to 00:00:15.500 --> 00:00:19.480 California, I realized that I had checked in 00:00:19.480 --> 00:00:21.879 my luggage the book that I had intended to take 00:00:21.879 --> 00:00:25.480 with me to read on the plane. And so this little 00:00:25.480 --> 00:00:28.160 bit of regret came out of my mouth and my daughter 00:00:28.160 --> 00:00:30.300 who was taking us to the airport said, hey, I'll 00:00:30.300 --> 00:00:32.780 buy you a book. I didn't get you a Father's Day 00:00:32.780 --> 00:00:35.259 present. Well, I had forgotten that, but she 00:00:35.259 --> 00:00:37.259 said, let me buy you a book. Let's go over to 00:00:37.259 --> 00:00:39.560 the bookstore. So we went to the airport bookstore, 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:41.539 and I picked up one called Chicken Soup for the 00:00:41.539 --> 00:00:43.979 Christian Soul. Are you familiar with the Chicken 00:00:43.979 --> 00:00:48.520 Soup series? This is one that is a bestseller. 00:00:49.140 --> 00:00:51.079 I guess it's the authors of bestsellers. It's 00:00:51.079 --> 00:00:53.159 not a bestseller yet, if I read it more carefully. 00:00:53.939 --> 00:00:56.280 But it's got some interesting stories in it. 00:00:56.520 --> 00:00:58.920 And there's a section here on humor, and one 00:00:58.920 --> 00:01:00.960 that... that popped out at me and I thought I 00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:04.700 would read you this morning is collections from 00:01:04.700 --> 00:01:08.439 bulletins. These are called holy, holy bloopers. 00:01:09.659 --> 00:01:12.579 And here is an example and this is the one I 00:01:12.579 --> 00:01:14.760 want to read to you. It says, during the absence 00:01:14.760 --> 00:01:17.739 of our pastor, we enjoyed the rare privilege 00:01:17.739 --> 00:01:20.760 of hearing a good sermon when J .F. Stubbs supplied 00:01:20.760 --> 00:01:27.810 our pulpit. The reports I have had that you've 00:01:27.810 --> 00:01:30.049 had some rare privilege here the last three weeks, 00:01:30.390 --> 00:01:33.049 and I am glad for that. I'm glad for those who 00:01:33.049 --> 00:01:36.590 ministered God's word in my absence. One of the 00:01:36.590 --> 00:01:40.209 fun things about vacation is going shopping to 00:01:40.209 --> 00:01:43.450 find gifts. Notice I limited that. Not going 00:01:43.450 --> 00:01:46.549 shopping, but going shopping to find gifts. When 00:01:46.549 --> 00:01:49.510 you have a mission, when you go shopping. Not 00:01:49.510 --> 00:01:52.109 just to go shopping, but you've got to have a 00:01:52.109 --> 00:01:54.129 purpose for going, and that's one of the fun 00:01:54.129 --> 00:01:58.159 things about vacation. And we did that. We're 00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:00.359 at that stage in life. And about the only thing 00:02:00.359 --> 00:02:03.920 they get kids is t -shirts. You know, they don't 00:02:03.920 --> 00:02:06.319 want the toys and other things. Oh, I don't like 00:02:06.319 --> 00:02:09.759 that. So a t -shirt is always welcome. We went 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:12.979 out to find some t -shirts and brought back some 00:02:12.979 --> 00:02:15.919 gifts that way. It's a way of saying to the kids 00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:18.240 and to others that you might want to buy for, 00:02:18.699 --> 00:02:22.419 I was thinking about you. You're important to 00:02:22.419 --> 00:02:30.310 me. I want to care for you. This is an expression 00:02:30.310 --> 00:02:34.689 of my love. Our relationship means something 00:02:34.689 --> 00:02:40.449 to me. When Jesus returned to heaven, when he 00:02:40.449 --> 00:02:44.210 arrived back there, glorious and victorious as 00:02:44.210 --> 00:02:48.990 the conqueror of sin and death, he sent us gifts. 00:02:51.870 --> 00:02:54.409 Because he wants us to know that he loves us. 00:02:55.210 --> 00:02:58.629 that we're important to him and that we have 00:02:58.629 --> 00:03:02.009 a relationship that is precious to him as it 00:03:02.009 --> 00:03:06.050 is to us. In Ephesians chapter 4 it says, but 00:03:06.050 --> 00:03:10.569 to each one of us, each one of us, grace is given 00:03:10.569 --> 00:03:14.990 according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore 00:03:14.990 --> 00:03:20.490 it says, when he ascended on high, he led captive 00:03:20.490 --> 00:03:24.849 a host of captives and he gave gifts to men. 00:03:26.759 --> 00:03:30.039 Paul writes in Ephesians to say that when Jesus 00:03:30.039 --> 00:03:32.900 returned to heaven, when he ascended on high, 00:03:33.860 --> 00:03:38.219 he gave gifts to men. He talks about that in 00:03:38.219 --> 00:03:41.240 Ephesians 4, but he also talks about it here 00:03:41.240 --> 00:03:45.020 in our text today in 1 Corinthians chapter 12. 00:03:45.259 --> 00:03:49.060 I invite you to open your Bible there. The gifts 00:03:49.060 --> 00:03:51.460 which Christ gave were delivered by the Holy 00:03:51.460 --> 00:03:56.189 Spirit. Unlike UPS, the Holy Spirit never goes 00:03:56.189 --> 00:04:00.530 on strike. The Holy Spirit brought the gifts 00:04:00.530 --> 00:04:07.750 that Jesus gave on the day of Pentecost. Therefore, 00:04:07.909 --> 00:04:11.409 the gifts that Jesus sent are referred to as 00:04:11.409 --> 00:04:15.710 the gifts of the Spirit. I'm going to begin reading 00:04:15.710 --> 00:04:18.850 in verse 1 of 1 Corinthians 12. You follow along 00:04:18.850 --> 00:04:22.720 in your copy of the Bible, if you will. Now concerning 00:04:22.720 --> 00:04:26.639 spiritual gifts. Brethren, I do not want you 00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:31.220 to be unaware. You know that when you were pagans, 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:35.139 you were led astray to dumb idols, however you 00:04:35.139 --> 00:04:38.720 were led. Therefore I make known to you that 00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:42.420 no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, Jesus 00:04:42.420 --> 00:04:48.220 is accursed. And no one can say, Jesus is Lord, 00:04:48.980 --> 00:04:53.259 except by the Holy Spirit. Now, there are varieties 00:04:53.259 --> 00:04:58.000 of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are varieties 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:01.560 of ministries, and the same Lord. And there are 00:05:01.560 --> 00:05:04.759 varieties of effects, but the same God, who works 00:05:04.759 --> 00:05:11.279 all things in all persons. But to each one is 00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:13.899 given the manifestation of the Spirit for the 00:05:13.899 --> 00:05:17.899 common good. For to one is given the word of 00:05:17.899 --> 00:05:20.040 wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the 00:05:20.040 --> 00:05:22.600 word of knowledge. according to the same Spirit, 00:05:23.319 --> 00:05:26.980 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another 00:05:26.980 --> 00:05:31.339 gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another 00:05:31.339 --> 00:05:34.439 the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, 00:05:34.660 --> 00:05:37.779 and to another distinguishing of spirits, to 00:05:37.779 --> 00:05:40.160 another various kinds of tongues, and to another 00:05:40.160 --> 00:05:44.540 the interpretation of tongues. But one in the 00:05:44.540 --> 00:05:48.480 same Spirit works all these things, distributing 00:05:48.480 --> 00:05:55.459 to each one individually, just as he wills. Paul 00:05:55.459 --> 00:05:57.500 says to the Corinthians he wants to talk to them 00:05:57.500 --> 00:06:00.420 about the spiritual things. The word here is 00:06:00.420 --> 00:06:06.220 pneumatica. It's the word for spirit and it means 00:06:06.220 --> 00:06:09.920 the people of the spirit or the things of the 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:14.040 spirit. In this particular context it's pretty 00:06:14.040 --> 00:06:16.300 clear that it's the things of the spirit that 00:06:16.300 --> 00:06:19.980 he wants to talk about. He defines this more 00:06:19.980 --> 00:06:23.160 closely in verse 4 where he refers to these things 00:06:23.160 --> 00:06:29.639 of the Spirit as the charismatum, the gifts of 00:06:29.639 --> 00:06:32.959 the Spirit. We get our word charismatic from 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:39.240 this word. The charisma, the charismata of the 00:06:39.240 --> 00:06:44.120 Spirit. It is the grace gifts. That is the gifts 00:06:44.120 --> 00:06:50.800 that are given freely. by God, the charismatic 00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:53.879 gifts. Not in the narrow sense that the word 00:06:53.879 --> 00:06:56.800 is used today, because all of the spiritual gifts 00:06:56.800 --> 00:07:01.540 are charismatic gifts. These grace gifts are 00:07:01.540 --> 00:07:05.819 not natural abilities. We are born with those. 00:07:06.860 --> 00:07:09.279 And they come to us however they come, genetically 00:07:09.279 --> 00:07:13.639 or whatever. And some people are able to play 00:07:13.639 --> 00:07:15.639 the piano, and some people are able to write, 00:07:15.759 --> 00:07:18.319 and some people are able to be athletic. There 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:21.199 are all kinds of natural abilities that we have 00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:26.639 by our natural birth. But when we have our supernatural 00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:29.680 birth, when we are born again into God's family, 00:07:30.480 --> 00:07:34.879 we receive supernatural abilities, spiritual 00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:40.060 gifts. The Corinthians were richly blessed by 00:07:40.060 --> 00:07:42.540 God in spiritual gifts. Back in chapter 1, you 00:07:42.540 --> 00:07:45.240 may remember these words. Paul says to them, 00:07:45.779 --> 00:07:49.279 I thank my God always concerning you for the 00:07:49.279 --> 00:07:52.139 grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus 00:07:52.139 --> 00:07:55.620 that, and here's what he gives thanks for, that 00:07:55.620 --> 00:08:00.879 in everything you were enriched in him in all 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:05.100 speech and knowledge so that you are not lacking 00:08:05.100 --> 00:08:12.279 any Charisma top any gift any grace gift Paul 00:08:12.279 --> 00:08:15.779 says to the Corinthians God has lavished his 00:08:15.779 --> 00:08:20.759 grace gifts upon you as a church and God always 00:08:20.759 --> 00:08:24.980 does But the generosity of the giver does not 00:08:24.980 --> 00:08:28.959 guarantee the goodness of the recipients These 00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:32.559 gifts that God gives that are intended for good 00:08:32.559 --> 00:08:38.269 and to bless can be misused by God's people. 00:08:39.490 --> 00:08:44.710 And thus the gifts become problems. And that 00:08:44.710 --> 00:08:48.570 was the case with Corinth. And so Paul begins 00:08:48.570 --> 00:08:52.710 a new section of this epistle, actually, to address 00:08:52.710 --> 00:08:57.350 this troubling issue of the things of the Spirit. 00:08:58.269 --> 00:09:00.889 For the Corinthians were abusing what God had 00:09:00.889 --> 00:09:05.360 given to them to bless them. And what he says 00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:07.659 here in this text that we've read is that the 00:09:07.659 --> 00:09:12.740 Holy Spirit is God and he is a gift giver as 00:09:12.740 --> 00:09:16.820 are the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is 00:09:16.820 --> 00:09:22.639 God as the Father and the Son. And the Holy Spirit 00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:27.720 is a gift giver just as the Father and the Son. 00:09:30.139 --> 00:09:34.500 My appeal this morning to you. is that you join 00:09:34.500 --> 00:09:38.440 me in seeking to discover and to enjoy your personal 00:09:38.440 --> 00:09:40.539 significance in the gifts that God has given 00:09:40.539 --> 00:09:46.220 you. Did you hear what I said? Your personal 00:09:46.220 --> 00:09:50.879 significance is wrapped up in those gifts of 00:09:50.879 --> 00:09:55.580 the Spirit that He has given you. My goal today 00:09:55.580 --> 00:09:59.100 is that you grasp the crucial insights about 00:09:59.100 --> 00:10:03.070 the gifts that are needed and that then you commit 00:10:03.070 --> 00:10:07.129 yourself to discover those gifts and enjoy knowing 00:10:07.129 --> 00:10:11.970 the place and the purpose that God has for you 00:10:11.970 --> 00:10:18.309 in your life. God is a gracious benefactor, freely 00:10:18.309 --> 00:10:22.070 giving to us in Christ what we do not deserve, 00:10:22.710 --> 00:10:27.950 what we could not earn. While His gifts are free 00:10:27.950 --> 00:10:32.759 to us, All of His gifts are very costly to God. 00:10:34.960 --> 00:10:37.580 The gifts that we have received from the Holy 00:10:37.580 --> 00:10:43.080 Spirit are gifts that were purchased by the death 00:10:43.080 --> 00:10:51.059 of God's Son on the cross. That's how costly 00:10:51.059 --> 00:10:55.519 these gifts are. So let's treasure them. Let's 00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:58.940 seek to discover them. and to enjoy them as God 00:10:58.940 --> 00:11:01.980 intends for us to do. Now there are two gifts 00:11:01.980 --> 00:11:04.259 of the Spirit as I want to look at this text 00:11:04.259 --> 00:11:08.259 this morning. The first gift of the Spirit is 00:11:08.259 --> 00:11:11.019 the gift of salvation, which is suggested in 00:11:11.019 --> 00:11:18.159 verses 2 and 3. The gift of salvation. He brings 00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:22.220 this gift of salvation, that is the Spirit brings 00:11:22.220 --> 00:11:26.519 this gift of salvation, by revealing Christ. 00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:31.440 to our ignorant minds and our rebellious hearts. 00:11:32.779 --> 00:11:36.639 Notice that he describes us first before conversion, 00:11:37.000 --> 00:11:41.899 before conversion. Our state then was basically 00:11:41.899 --> 00:11:46.460 that we were ignorant slaves. He says that we 00:11:46.460 --> 00:11:51.759 were pagans. Some translations say Gentiles. 00:11:52.460 --> 00:11:57.320 The Greek word is ethne. It means we were the 00:11:57.320 --> 00:12:02.799 nations. The nations. That is a word to describe 00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:07.620 the people groups of the world. We sometimes 00:12:07.620 --> 00:12:10.720 use that term in missiology today to talk about 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:15.700 the unreached people groups. The unreached nations 00:12:15.700 --> 00:12:20.860 or ethne of the world. What Paul reminds us here 00:12:20.860 --> 00:12:26.149 is that we before our conversion were part of 00:12:26.149 --> 00:12:33.789 an unleashed ethne. We were pagans. The Hebrew 00:12:33.789 --> 00:12:36.309 idea here would be wrapped up in the Hebrew word 00:12:36.309 --> 00:12:40.909 goyim, which means those who are foreigners to 00:12:40.909 --> 00:12:43.950 Israel and its covenant relationship with God. 00:12:44.029 --> 00:12:46.809 Basically the word means that we are separated 00:12:46.809 --> 00:12:51.769 from God in our natural state. And so before 00:12:51.769 --> 00:12:54.629 we were converted, we were separated from God. 00:12:54.730 --> 00:12:58.289 We were pagans. We were the ethne. We were the 00:12:58.289 --> 00:13:01.649 nations and we had no relationship with God. 00:13:04.370 --> 00:13:06.529 In addition to that, he says, we were led. We 00:13:06.529 --> 00:13:12.990 were led along. Now this is not necessarily a 00:13:12.990 --> 00:13:17.250 bad thing. It says in 1 Thessalonians 4 .14, 00:13:17.269 --> 00:13:20.320 for example, If we believe that Jesus died and 00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:24.620 rose again, even so God will lead along those 00:13:24.620 --> 00:13:28.440 who have fallen in sleep. He will bring with 00:13:28.440 --> 00:13:31.460 Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. That's 00:13:31.460 --> 00:13:35.100 a wonderful thing. It is that God will bring 00:13:35.100 --> 00:13:37.799 back those who have departed this world and are 00:13:37.799 --> 00:13:42.100 with Christ. Jesus is going to lead them along 00:13:42.100 --> 00:13:46.240 back to the earth. For this wonderful event that 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:49.000 we call the rapture and their bodies will be 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:51.659 raised gloriously from the grave and they will 00:13:51.659 --> 00:13:58.500 be reunited soul and body forever But here the 00:13:58.500 --> 00:14:02.240 word lead along is in a bad sense He goes on 00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:05.080 to define it a little more by by saying that 00:14:05.080 --> 00:14:08.299 we were led It looks like the same word, but 00:14:08.299 --> 00:14:10.259 it's a little different here. It means we were 00:14:10.259 --> 00:14:15.240 led away. We were carried away It is a word that 00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:18.860 was used of Jesus when he was carried away to 00:14:18.860 --> 00:14:23.539 be crucified. What he is saying here is that 00:14:23.539 --> 00:14:26.419 we were once separated from God. We were being 00:14:26.419 --> 00:14:32.980 led along. We were being carried away from God. 00:14:34.820 --> 00:14:37.019 Now if you are an English student, which all 00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:40.500 of us ought to be since we live in America, you 00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:43.059 will notice that both of those verbs are passive. 00:14:43.850 --> 00:14:50.509 You were led. You were led. And the question 00:14:50.509 --> 00:14:54.669 is, by whom? And although Paul doesn't answer 00:14:54.669 --> 00:14:58.370 that directly in this text, the New Testament 00:14:58.370 --> 00:15:01.309 answers it clearly. We were being led along and 00:15:01.309 --> 00:15:08.149 carried away by Satan. Satan is the originator 00:15:08.149 --> 00:15:13.970 of all religions except biblical. revelation. 00:15:15.330 --> 00:15:18.389 Satan is the originator of all religions except 00:15:18.389 --> 00:15:22.049 biblical revelation, biblically revealed religion, 00:15:23.190 --> 00:15:27.330 biblical Christianity. He doesn't care what the 00:15:27.330 --> 00:15:33.429 religion entails necessarily as long as it leads 00:15:33.429 --> 00:15:37.870 people along and carries them away from God and 00:15:37.870 --> 00:15:43.259 they remain ignorant in their slavery. They remain 00:15:43.259 --> 00:15:49.960 ethne. They remain the nations and don't come 00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:54.539 to Jesus Christ for salvation. That's what it 00:15:54.539 --> 00:15:58.740 was like before. But the Holy Spirit brought 00:15:58.740 --> 00:16:03.720 a gift. He enlightened us. And now with conversion, 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:08.139 instead of being ignorant slaves, we have become 00:16:08.139 --> 00:16:12.850 enlightened servants. This is the gracious working 00:16:12.850 --> 00:16:16.909 of God's Spirit to enlighten our darkened minds 00:16:16.909 --> 00:16:22.590 that we might see who Jesus Christ is. It is 00:16:22.590 --> 00:16:26.570 the work of the Holy Spirit that leads us to 00:16:26.570 --> 00:16:30.009 repent so that our stubborn rebellious will is 00:16:30.009 --> 00:16:35.929 broken and we bow the knee. and yield ourselves 00:16:35.929 --> 00:16:39.029 to Jesus Christ and receive him as Lord and Savior 00:16:39.029 --> 00:16:41.090 into our lives. That's the work of the Spirit, 00:16:41.370 --> 00:16:45.830 the gift of the Spirit. And now that we have 00:16:45.830 --> 00:16:48.370 become enlightened servants, we call on Jesus 00:16:48.370 --> 00:16:53.769 as Lord. No one who is enlightened by the Spirit 00:16:53.769 --> 00:16:57.090 of God is going to say the words Jesus is accursed 00:16:57.090 --> 00:17:02.679 with any meaning. Likewise, no one is able to 00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:08.700 call Jesus his Lord except by the Holy Spirit. 00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:17.579 So today, if you call upon Jesus Christ as Lord 00:17:17.579 --> 00:17:23.299 with meaning in your heart, it is because of 00:17:23.299 --> 00:17:26.599 the gift of God, the work of the Holy Spirit, 00:17:26.619 --> 00:17:32.299 bringing you to that point. Have you come to 00:17:32.299 --> 00:17:34.900 that place in your own spiritual journey where 00:17:34.900 --> 00:17:41.940 you have received Jesus Christ? Have you allowed 00:17:41.940 --> 00:17:45.599 your stubborn will to be broken and yielded yourself 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:51.680 to Christ? Are you enjoying the gift of the Holy 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:56.079 Spirit which is salvation? So that you today 00:17:56.079 --> 00:18:05.599 can truly call Jesus My God. I hope you have. 00:18:05.859 --> 00:18:09.299 If not, you can do it today. You don't have to 00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:12.480 wait for some mystical moment. You don't have 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:15.180 to wait until you get into some particular position 00:18:15.180 --> 00:18:19.140 or place. You can do it seated right where you 00:18:19.140 --> 00:18:23.019 are simply by saying in your own heart, Lord 00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:26.519 Jesus, come in. I receive you. I know who you 00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:32.349 are. I yield my life to you. I know you died 00:18:32.349 --> 00:18:37.750 for me and rose again. Oh God, thank you for 00:18:37.750 --> 00:18:44.369 showing that to me. And the gift is yours. The 00:18:44.369 --> 00:18:48.190 Holy Spirit constantly works then to complete 00:18:48.190 --> 00:18:51.069 the lordship of Jesus Christ in the believer's 00:18:51.069 --> 00:18:58.490 life. He is faithful to keep bringing to the 00:18:58.490 --> 00:19:05.809 surface those issues. which we have not yet faced, 00:19:06.029 --> 00:19:08.890 in which Jesus is not yet Lord of our lives. 00:19:12.170 --> 00:19:15.369 You know, we come to points of deep commitment 00:19:15.369 --> 00:19:19.230 and surrender as some of you men have done at 00:19:19.230 --> 00:19:22.609 Promise Keepers just a week ago. And we give 00:19:22.609 --> 00:19:25.230 ourselves to God in a new way and we think, wow, 00:19:25.349 --> 00:19:29.029 I've just given everything to the Lord. And we 00:19:29.029 --> 00:19:31.430 have, as much as we can at that point, as much 00:19:31.430 --> 00:19:35.170 as we realize, and yet the Lord knows that there 00:19:35.170 --> 00:19:39.430 are whole rooms, whole wings of our hearts that 00:19:39.430 --> 00:19:42.190 have yet to be confronted with Christ's Lordship. 00:19:43.089 --> 00:19:46.490 And He's faithful just to keep bringing us into 00:19:46.490 --> 00:19:49.549 new rooms, new areas where we need to surrender. 00:19:52.210 --> 00:19:54.930 It's a wonderful work of the Spirit, bringing 00:19:54.930 --> 00:20:00.099 us under the Lordship. of Jesus Christ. The Holy 00:20:00.099 --> 00:20:03.480 Spirit never leads anyone to depreciate the person 00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:08.299 and the work of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, He, 00:20:08.380 --> 00:20:11.460 the Spirit, shall glorify me, for he shall take 00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:16.420 of mine and disclose it to you. In other words, 00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:20.900 Jesus said the work of the Spirit is to reveal 00:20:20.900 --> 00:20:25.559 me continually to you, my disciples. The Holy 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:30.759 Spirit never puts the spotlight on Himself. The 00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:33.640 Holy Spirit never seeks to put Himself into the 00:20:33.640 --> 00:20:37.740 center of things. The Holy Spirit always defers 00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:41.779 to the Lord Jesus, leading us to Him, bringing 00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:44.759 us to Him, that we might know Him in new and 00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:48.619 deeper ways and yield to His Lordship in fresh 00:20:48.619 --> 00:20:52.160 areas of our lives. That's the work of the Spirit. 00:20:52.579 --> 00:20:58.559 That's the gift. of salvation. But in verses 00:20:58.559 --> 00:21:01.480 4 through 11, there is another way in which we 00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:03.859 think of the gifts, and that is the gifts for 00:21:03.859 --> 00:21:08.039 service. We are called into the body of Jesus 00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:13.500 Christ to become givers, not merely takers. The 00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:17.079 opportunity that we have to serve God and man 00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:19.819 through Christ's community in the world, the 00:21:19.819 --> 00:21:24.490 Church, is a privilege. God calls all of us to 00:21:24.490 --> 00:21:28.730 be ministers or servants and so he gives gifts 00:21:28.730 --> 00:21:32.930 for service. Now there's a wonderful plan of 00:21:32.930 --> 00:21:35.289 the Trinity for your service. Paul talks about 00:21:35.289 --> 00:21:39.470 it in verses four through six. Each member of 00:21:39.470 --> 00:21:45.109 the triune Godhead has a part in giving you the 00:21:45.109 --> 00:21:49.460 privilege of service. He says in verse 4 that 00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:54.180 the Holy Spirit endows us with gifts. Now these 00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:58.519 are these enablements, these abilities that God 00:21:58.519 --> 00:22:02.759 gives us at our new birth. These are Spirit created 00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:06.019 abilities to function within the body according 00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:12.019 to Christ's will. Then he says that Christ provides 00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:16.059 the ministries, verse 5. That is Christ provides 00:22:16.059 --> 00:22:20.269 the opportunities. The Holy Spirit gives us the 00:22:20.269 --> 00:22:24.670 abilities to use. Christ then brings us the ministries, 00:22:24.829 --> 00:22:30.730 the ways in which we can use the gifts. And He 00:22:30.730 --> 00:22:34.529 says that God, meaning here in this context the 00:22:34.529 --> 00:22:41.269 Father, works out the effects. Verse 6. That 00:22:41.269 --> 00:22:44.009 is, the Father is the one who determines the 00:22:44.009 --> 00:22:49.450 results. the outworkings of what we do in the 00:22:49.450 --> 00:22:52.289 ministry by the gifts which the Holy Spirit has 00:22:52.289 --> 00:22:56.529 given us. Do you see how they connect? The Spirit 00:22:56.529 --> 00:23:01.569 gives us the gifts. The Lord Jesus gives us the 00:23:01.569 --> 00:23:05.650 opportunities to use the gifts. And the Father 00:23:05.650 --> 00:23:09.529 determines the effects, the results of what we 00:23:09.529 --> 00:23:16.779 do. The gifts for service. It takes all the pressure 00:23:16.779 --> 00:23:20.200 off when we realize that our service for the 00:23:20.200 --> 00:23:23.539 Lord really is only the use of gifts He's given 00:23:23.539 --> 00:23:26.960 us in places where He opens the doors and then 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:31.880 He determines the results. All we have to do 00:23:31.880 --> 00:23:35.079 is use the gifts in the power of the Spirit. 00:23:36.140 --> 00:23:42.380 And we leave the rest with God. I want you to 00:23:42.380 --> 00:23:45.240 notice too the varieties. that are mentioned 00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:48.539 here three times. Varieties, varieties, varieties. 00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:55.599 Notice here the creativity of God. The variety 00:23:55.599 --> 00:24:01.259 which God provides for within his body. God's 00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:06.500 plan is that we not be alike. And yet how often 00:24:06.500 --> 00:24:10.240 do you see Christians who are trying to get other 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:14.700 Christians to be just like them? I have a friend 00:24:14.700 --> 00:24:19.839 who has a gift of evangelism. The way that God 00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:24.480 uses him in evangelism is just, it blows my mind. 00:24:27.660 --> 00:24:29.880 But I have a little bit of a problem with him 00:24:29.880 --> 00:24:32.180 and the problem is that he thinks everybody ought 00:24:32.180 --> 00:24:34.519 to be able to do exactly what he does the way 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:38.859 he does it. He thinks everybody should be able 00:24:38.859 --> 00:24:42.140 to witness as freely as he does and with the 00:24:42.140 --> 00:24:45.980 same results. That is not what this text says. 00:24:47.079 --> 00:24:49.579 There is variety in the body of Christ. Now, 00:24:49.579 --> 00:24:51.640 all of us have the responsibility to witness, 00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:54.960 but some of us are gifted in this special way 00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:57.920 as He is, and the Lord determines the results. 00:25:00.220 --> 00:25:03.960 Allow for variety in the body, folks. We don't 00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:08.180 all have to look and smell alike. We don't all 00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:12.000 have to think alike. We don't all have to see 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:15.599 things the same way. To me, that's one of the 00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:18.380 exciting things about what we're doing on September 00:25:18.380 --> 00:25:23.200 14th in creating this new contemporary service. 00:25:24.539 --> 00:25:27.019 There are those of us who think differently about 00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:29.500 worship and who see it differently and who respond 00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:32.859 differently. We're providing for that variety 00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:37.539 in the body of Christ. There are varieties, he 00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:41.680 says. So let's rejoice in the varieties that 00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:45.200 God gives. And if you see someone who's different 00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:47.740 than you are, rejoice in that, that they are, 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:51.460 that they're not like you. You're you. And there's 00:25:51.460 --> 00:25:56.319 nobody like you, and nobody can be. So rejoice 00:25:56.319 --> 00:26:02.099 in the varieties of God. Now, in verses 7 through 00:26:02.099 --> 00:26:04.380 11, he gives us some insights about the gifts 00:26:04.380 --> 00:26:06.220 of the Spirit that we need to look at quickly. 00:26:09.170 --> 00:26:11.210 First of all, I want you to notice that these 00:26:11.210 --> 00:26:13.809 gifts of the Spirit are given to every believer. 00:26:14.650 --> 00:26:17.589 There's not an exception to that. Every single 00:26:17.589 --> 00:26:22.369 believer has the abilities that the Spirit gives 00:26:22.369 --> 00:26:25.930 him. Secondly, they are given for the common 00:26:25.930 --> 00:26:32.650 good. Verse 7 talks about that. The gifts of 00:26:32.650 --> 00:26:34.809 the Spirit are given for the good of the body. 00:26:35.600 --> 00:26:39.059 They are not primarily given for self -edification. 00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:42.880 But that is very important, especially as we 00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:45.519 get into chapter 14 and talk about the abuse 00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:50.119 of the gift of tongues. Tongues is not given 00:26:50.119 --> 00:26:55.220 for me to be edified in a prayer closet. That 00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:57.720 was not the purpose of tongues. Never has been. 00:26:58.099 --> 00:27:00.900 All of the gifts are given for the good of the 00:27:00.900 --> 00:27:05.839 body as a whole, the common good. And the third 00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:09.460 insight is this, that they are given as the Spirit 00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:15.019 chooses. Verse 11 talks about that. To each one 00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:19.460 individually, just as He wills. You can skip 00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:22.059 ahead into the sermon for next week in verse 00:27:22.059 --> 00:27:29.420 18. It says, just as He desired. And so it is 00:27:29.420 --> 00:27:32.460 the Lord Himself who determines what gifts you 00:27:32.460 --> 00:27:38.349 have. You don't choose them. Now that goes contrary 00:27:38.349 --> 00:27:40.410 to some teaching today that says that there are 00:27:40.410 --> 00:27:42.289 gifts that we ought to ask for, that we ought 00:27:42.289 --> 00:27:46.430 to strive for, and pray for. Friend, if you don't 00:27:46.430 --> 00:27:51.089 have a certain gift, be satisfied with that, 00:27:51.230 --> 00:27:53.549 because God has given you what He wants you to 00:27:53.549 --> 00:27:57.670 have. Now, let me say this. There may be gifts 00:27:57.670 --> 00:28:02.650 inside of you you've not discovered yet. And 00:28:02.650 --> 00:28:04.430 we're going to close talking about discovering 00:28:04.430 --> 00:28:08.329 gifts. So don't think that you're sitting here 00:28:08.329 --> 00:28:11.890 today at 16 years of age or 26 years of age and 00:28:11.890 --> 00:28:14.369 you know all your spiritual gifts. There are 00:28:14.369 --> 00:28:16.930 even older people that perhaps haven't yet discovered 00:28:16.930 --> 00:28:20.849 all of the gifts that God's given. But we're 00:28:20.849 --> 00:28:23.950 not to pray for gifts. Oh, but somebody says, 00:28:23.990 --> 00:28:26.089 doesn't it say somewhere in the Bible, covet 00:28:26.089 --> 00:28:30.170 earnestly the best gifts? Yep. In fact, it says 00:28:30.170 --> 00:28:32.789 that in Corinthians. at the end of this chapter. 00:28:33.970 --> 00:28:36.009 But what it's saying there is to the body, to 00:28:36.009 --> 00:28:39.089 the church, you as a church, instead of emphasizing 00:28:39.089 --> 00:28:42.690 these lesser gifts, He says, desire and seek 00:28:42.690 --> 00:28:47.509 after the greater gifts. He is not talking to 00:28:47.509 --> 00:28:50.849 individuals to pray for certain spiritual gifts. 00:28:51.329 --> 00:28:55.809 Okay? Because the Holy Spirit gives those just 00:28:55.809 --> 00:29:03.279 as He pleases. Okay. Well then how do I discover 00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:06.019 my gift package? By the way, notice my phrase 00:29:06.019 --> 00:29:10.079 there, the gift package. Let me back up and say 00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:12.099 that there are three encouragements about the 00:29:12.099 --> 00:29:13.779 gifts of the Spirit that I want to give you before 00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:18.279 I talk about that. First of all, the first encouragement 00:29:18.279 --> 00:29:21.180 is this. The fact that you have gifts is evidence 00:29:21.180 --> 00:29:25.440 that you are important to God. It's evidence 00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:30.210 that Jesus loves you while he's away. That's 00:29:30.210 --> 00:29:31.890 why He's given you the gifts. That's why you 00:29:31.890 --> 00:29:35.430 bring gifts. That's why you send gifts to people. 00:29:36.809 --> 00:29:39.130 Jesus loves you and you are important to Him 00:29:39.130 --> 00:29:41.809 and that's why He has given you your gifts. Secondly, 00:29:42.529 --> 00:29:44.670 your gifts are intended to make you a blessing 00:29:44.670 --> 00:29:51.329 to others. God wants to use you to bless others. 00:29:51.490 --> 00:29:56.440 That's wonderful, isn't it? And third, Your gifts 00:29:56.440 --> 00:30:00.019 are within, waiting to be discovered and developed. 00:30:03.180 --> 00:30:06.940 Your gifts are personalized in what I call a 00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:13.000 gift package. I think that we can rightly speak 00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:16.839 of our gift that God has given us. But within 00:30:16.839 --> 00:30:22.279 that gift are blendings of various gifts that 00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:26.180 God gives us. so that we each have a gift package. 00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:29.779 And when we open that package, we begin to discover 00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:34.000 how God has blended within us and shaped within 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:37.960 us the gifts that He wants us to use. All of 00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:40.980 these are molded to the unique person that God 00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:44.160 has made us to be. God knows your personality, 00:30:44.319 --> 00:30:47.220 He knows everything about you, and so He has 00:30:47.220 --> 00:30:51.000 given you spiritual gifts that align with who 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:55.740 you are. You say, how do I discover my spiritual 00:30:55.740 --> 00:30:59.900 package? You don't have to scratch your head 00:30:59.900 --> 00:31:02.940 or ponder about that very long because there 00:31:02.940 --> 00:31:05.940 are some easy suggestions to use to how to discover 00:31:05.940 --> 00:31:10.079 your gift package. First of all, receive the 00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:14.480 gift, capital G. Receive the gift. The gift of 00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:18.519 salvation. Because that gift, when you receive 00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:21.700 that gift, it brings this gift package to you. 00:31:22.750 --> 00:31:25.869 Until you receive that gift, you're without this 00:31:25.869 --> 00:31:28.930 gift package. But with the gift of salvation 00:31:28.930 --> 00:31:33.190 comes this gift package of spiritual enablements. 00:31:33.609 --> 00:31:37.650 So receive the gift. Secondly, follow your heart. 00:31:39.690 --> 00:31:42.430 Look at your interests. What are the inclinations 00:31:42.430 --> 00:31:46.190 that you have? That helps you determine how God 00:31:46.190 --> 00:31:49.930 has gifted you. Third, begin serving somewhere. 00:31:51.040 --> 00:31:53.740 Don't wait until you think you've discovered 00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:57.740 your gifts before you serve. The greatest way 00:31:57.740 --> 00:32:00.559 in the world to discover your gifts is to begin 00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:05.259 serving somewhere. It doesn't matter where. Wherever 00:32:05.259 --> 00:32:07.960 there's an opportunity. And if you look in your 00:32:07.960 --> 00:32:10.339 bulletin today, you see scads of opportunities. 00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:13.480 We have those not only in children's ministry, 00:32:13.559 --> 00:32:16.960 but in other ways, and especially as we add another 00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:20.779 service period on Sunday morning. There are lots 00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:23.420 of ways for you to begin serving. And if you 00:32:23.420 --> 00:32:26.819 want to discover your spiritual gifts, just plug 00:32:26.819 --> 00:32:29.079 in and begin serving. Now you may find within 00:32:29.079 --> 00:32:32.319 a few weeks, hey, this isn't for me. And you 00:32:32.319 --> 00:32:37.160 see, that's part of the process. We learn by 00:32:37.160 --> 00:32:41.400 doing. And so as you perform some function, you 00:32:41.400 --> 00:32:43.940 will see your gift either rising to the surface, 00:32:44.180 --> 00:32:47.099 or you're going to be turned away from it. Number 00:32:47.099 --> 00:32:51.700 four, look for fruit and fulfillment. As you 00:32:51.700 --> 00:32:54.500 are serving the Lord according to your giftedness, 00:32:54.599 --> 00:32:56.500 there are two things that should happen. Number 00:32:56.500 --> 00:33:00.779 one, you should see eventually some kind of fruit 00:33:00.779 --> 00:33:04.220 coming from that, some kind of results that the 00:33:04.220 --> 00:33:08.480 Father will work in your life, the effects that 00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:11.980 he brings. And secondly, you should find some 00:33:11.980 --> 00:33:14.319 satisfaction and fulfillment in your own heart. 00:33:15.220 --> 00:33:17.880 You should begin to say to yourself, you know, 00:33:17.920 --> 00:33:23.980 this is what I'm made for. This fits me. This 00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:28.839 is who I am. And it's a wonderful discovery. 00:33:29.900 --> 00:33:33.880 And number five, seek godly counsel. Those who 00:33:33.880 --> 00:33:36.720 know you and understand you, who are believers, 00:33:37.220 --> 00:33:39.200 seek their counsel and say, what do you think 00:33:39.200 --> 00:33:42.960 about this? Or do I have that ability? Or do 00:33:42.960 --> 00:33:45.990 you see me functioning in this way? and see what 00:33:45.990 --> 00:33:50.690 they say. But as I close, I want to bring to 00:33:50.690 --> 00:33:56.150 you a warning. You need to be very careful because 00:33:56.150 --> 00:34:00.970 God's gifts are meant to be used, not wasted. 00:34:02.470 --> 00:34:07.190 Do you hear what I said? God has given you gifts 00:34:07.190 --> 00:34:14.130 to be used, not wasted. They are yours to bless 00:34:14.130 --> 00:34:19.690 others and to gain for yourself heavenly reward. 00:34:23.309 --> 00:34:26.849 God has given you your gifts so that you can 00:34:26.849 --> 00:34:30.550 bless others and in doing that you will gain 00:34:30.550 --> 00:34:35.230 for yourself reward in heaven. God has given 00:34:35.230 --> 00:34:39.550 you your gifts to be used, not played with, and 00:34:39.550 --> 00:34:45.440 not wasted. Don't take the gift and then neglect 00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:50.159 the gifts of the Spirit. Don't take the gift 00:34:50.159 --> 00:34:55.860 of salvation and then ignore that gift package 00:34:55.860 --> 00:35:00.659 that God has sovereignly placed in you. But rather 00:35:00.659 --> 00:35:04.440 discover your spiritual gifts and enjoy learning 00:35:04.440 --> 00:35:09.920 about your life's significance. The story is 00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:13.019 told by Gary Enrig in his book, A Call to Excellence, 00:35:14.679 --> 00:35:17.119 that illustrates that it's not only enough to 00:35:17.119 --> 00:35:19.760 have ability, you have to have dedication as 00:35:19.760 --> 00:35:26.840 well. He tells about a man who was a great artist 00:35:26.840 --> 00:35:29.880 by the name of Bertoldo. Now you probably have 00:35:29.880 --> 00:35:33.800 never heard of him, but Bertoldo was one of the 00:35:33.800 --> 00:35:38.570 trainers of Michelangelo. Michelangelo, most 00:35:38.570 --> 00:35:40.969 of you have heard of, because of his great works. 00:35:41.909 --> 00:35:44.329 But when he was only 14 years old, Michelangelo 00:35:44.329 --> 00:35:47.469 came to this great artist, who immediately saw 00:35:47.469 --> 00:35:50.090 the enormous gifts of the young man, and he began 00:35:50.090 --> 00:35:52.730 to work with him, and to train him, and to help 00:35:52.730 --> 00:35:55.550 fashion and form his art, and to bring out what 00:35:55.550 --> 00:35:59.449 was inside of him. One day, Bertoldo came into 00:35:59.449 --> 00:36:02.110 his studio, and he saw Michelangelo working on 00:36:02.110 --> 00:36:04.630 a piece of art that was far below his abilities. 00:36:05.250 --> 00:36:09.190 far below what he could do. And so Bertoldo picked 00:36:09.190 --> 00:36:12.190 up a hammer, walked across the studio and smashed 00:36:12.190 --> 00:36:16.170 the piece that Michelangelo was working on, and 00:36:16.170 --> 00:36:19.769 he said to him, Michelangelo, talk is cheap. 00:36:21.550 --> 00:36:28.969 Dedication is costly. You know, that applies 00:36:28.969 --> 00:36:31.530 to the Christian experience, too, and our service 00:36:31.530 --> 00:36:37.500 for Christ. Talk is cheap. It is not enough to 00:36:37.500 --> 00:36:41.719 say that we have gifts. We have to dedicate ourselves 00:36:41.719 --> 00:36:45.280 to using them. And so my appeal this morning 00:36:45.280 --> 00:36:48.679 to all of us is to use the gifts that God has 00:36:48.679 --> 00:36:51.340 given us. And if we don't have a clue as to what 00:36:51.340 --> 00:36:53.480 they are, to begin discovering them in the ways 00:36:53.480 --> 00:36:58.780 that we've suggested. And to enjoy the significance 00:36:58.780 --> 00:37:01.219 and the purpose in life that God intends for 00:37:01.219 --> 00:37:07.800 us to experience. And if we do that, If we do 00:37:07.800 --> 00:37:12.239 that, then one day when we get to heaven, we'll 00:37:12.239 --> 00:37:15.880 hear his commendation. Well done. Let's pray. 00:37:24.199 --> 00:37:27.400 Have you received the gift of salvation, friend? 00:37:28.699 --> 00:37:37.079 Do you know Jesus Christ as Lord? Truly, as Lord, 00:37:40.659 --> 00:37:44.780 have you received Him into your heart, believing 00:37:44.780 --> 00:37:49.079 that His death and resurrection was sufficient 00:37:49.079 --> 00:37:53.619 to pay the price for your sins? If not, will 00:37:53.619 --> 00:37:59.800 you receive that gift this morning? Trust on 00:37:59.800 --> 00:38:02.900 Him and invite Him to come into your life right 00:38:02.900 --> 00:38:10.039 now by faith. And if you have received the gift, 00:38:10.079 --> 00:38:12.760 recognize that there is within you a gift package 00:38:12.760 --> 00:38:16.739 of spiritual gifts that God has given you to 00:38:16.739 --> 00:38:22.039 be used. Will you say in your heart this morning, 00:38:22.119 --> 00:38:30.920 God, I will serve you according to your spiritual 00:38:30.920 --> 00:38:39.079 gifts. I choose. to open the package and discover 00:38:39.079 --> 00:38:43.780 what you've given me to be used. And I dedicate 00:38:43.780 --> 00:38:50.059 myself to serving you in this way, in the body 00:38:50.059 --> 00:38:54.559 of Christ. Dear Christian friend, that's what 00:38:54.559 --> 00:38:58.480 God wants of you this morning. And if that's 00:38:58.480 --> 00:39:00.699 a fresh commitment in your life, if that's something 00:39:00.699 --> 00:39:02.800 that God has laid in your heart this morning, 00:39:03.179 --> 00:39:05.699 a new and a fresh, I just invite you to lift 00:39:05.699 --> 00:39:09.880 your hand and say so. Say, that's where I'm at 00:39:09.880 --> 00:39:12.119 and that's what I purpose to do by the grace 00:39:12.119 --> 00:39:18.219 of God. Yes, God bless you. God bless you, half 00:39:18.219 --> 00:39:21.039 a dozen of you. I know many of you are already 00:39:21.039 --> 00:39:23.079 right now living in that commitment. I thank 00:39:23.079 --> 00:39:26.340 God for that. Anyone else who would say, this 00:39:26.340 --> 00:39:31.059 is a fresh commitment for me in my life. Yes, 00:39:31.280 --> 00:39:36.460 thank you. Well, Lord, we do offer our thanks 00:39:36.460 --> 00:39:39.599 to you for the gifts of the Spirit. We bless 00:39:39.599 --> 00:39:42.280 you for them. Thank you for showing us how much 00:39:42.280 --> 00:39:46.659 you love us, how precious our relationship is 00:39:46.659 --> 00:39:51.360 to you by the giving of this gift. And this morning 00:39:51.360 --> 00:39:57.059 as we respond to you from our hearts, we give 00:39:57.059 --> 00:39:59.559 ourselves a fresh and dedication and commitment. 00:40:01.099 --> 00:40:05.460 And we ask you to take all that we are and fill 00:40:05.460 --> 00:40:10.400 us with your spirit and use us as you have purposed 00:40:10.400 --> 00:40:15.300 us to be used. In Jesus' name, amen.