Godly Wisdom for Godly Living: Session 26 – You’ve Been Gifted!

Unleashing the Power Within: Understanding Your Spiritual Gifts Have you ever felt like you're trying to mow your lawn with scissors? Or hammer a nail with your shoe? When it comes to our spiritual lives, many of us are doing just that - attempting to accomplish God's work without tapping into the incredible power He's given us through the Holy Spirit. As we dive into 1 Corinthians 12, we'll discover how God has uniquely gifted each believer to make a difference in His kingdom. Let's explore five key truths about spiritual gifts that can revolutionize your walk with Christ. 1. The Holy Spirit's Gifting Can Be Discerned How do we know if something is truly from the Holy Spirit? The answer is simple yet profound: "The Holy Spirit will always lead you to the lordship of Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:3). If what we're experiencing or practicing doesn't align with God's Word or glorify Jesus, it's not from the Spirit. 2. The Holy Spirit's Gifting is Diverse God's creativity is on full display when it comes to spiritual gifts. As Paul writes, "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all" (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). Think about it - we're not all meant to be teachers or leaders or healers. Some of us, like Dave Curtis in our church, have the gift of helps. Dave serves in countless ways - driving kids to VBS, mowing the lawn, praying for the offering, and leading a discipleship group. His diverse service is a beautiful example of how the Spirit works through different gifts to build up the body of Christ. 3. The Holy Spirit's Gifting Has a Source While the gifts are diverse, they all come from the same source - our triune God. Paul emphasizes this unity in diversity: "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all" (1 Corinthians 12:7). Whether it's the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit at work, it's all for the common good of the church. 4. The Holy Spirit's Gifting Has a Purpose God doesn't give us spiritual gifts for our own benefit or to show off. The purpose is clear: "for the profit of all" (1 Corinthians 12:7). Our gifts are meant to serve others and build up the body of Christ. As I often say, "You've been gifted so that you can minister. You weren't gifted to be a show horse. You're gifted to be a workhorse." 5. The Holy Spirit's Gifting is for Every Believer Here's the exciting part - if you're a believer in Jesus Christ, you have been gifted by the Holy Spirit. Paul states it plainly: "But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills" (1 Corinthians 12:11). You're not left out. God has a specific plan for how He wants to use you in His kingdom work. Putting It Into Practice So how do we unleash this spiritual power in our lives? Here are some practical steps: 1. Submit to the Spirit daily. Ask God to fill you and control you, as Paul commands in Ephesians 5:18: "Be filled with the Spirit." 2. Serve others. The best way to discover your gifts is to get involved in ministry. As you serve, your gifts will become apparent. 3. Seek affirmation from other believers. Sometimes others can see our gifts more clearly than we can. 4. Study God's Word. As Colossians 3:16 says, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." The more we know God's Word, the more we'll understand how to use our gifts. 5. Stay focused on Jesus. Remember, the ultimate purpose of our gifts is to glorify Christ and make Him known. Imagine what could happen if every believer in our church was fully submitted to the Spirit, growing in their giftedness, and using their gifts to serve others. The impact on our community would be tremendous. As we've seen in the baptistry recently, lives are being changed - and it's not just the staff doing the work. Let's stop trying to mow the lawn with scissors. Instead, let's tap into the power of the Holy Spirit and use the gifts He's given us to make a real difference for God's kingdom. Are you ready to unleash the power within?