Empowered: Uncovering and Using Your Spiritual Gifts

Devotional

Day 1: Marbles and Kingdom Time

Jesus watched parents dedicate children at the temple, blessing them with purpose. Centuries later, a pastor placed 936 marbles in a jar for new parents – one for each week until their child’s graduation. Each marble represented time to “make weeks count,” mirroring Christ’s call to steward seasons wisely. [17:31]

God entrusts us with numbered days to shape eternal legacies. Just as Simeon recognized baby Jesus’ destiny (Luke 2:25-32), parents and communities partner to raise children for God’s calling. The marble jar becomes a sacrament of intentionality.

Your calendar reveals what you value. This week, hold one obligation before God – does it align with His eternal purposes? When will you exchange one hour of distraction for intentional kingdom investment?

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
(Psalm 90:12, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God to reveal one time-wasting habit to replace with eternal-purpose living.
Challenge: Remove one item from your schedule this week; use that time to pray for a child in your life.

Day 2: Tabitha’s Resurrection Window

Peter stood over Tabitha’s corpse in Joppa. The widows wept, clutching tunics she’d sewn. With two Aramaic words – “Tabitha, koum!” – her eyes opened. Needles stilled. The resurrection rippled through port cities, proving God’s power through ordinary believers. [47:41]

Miracles aren’t divine parlor tricks. Jesus authorizes His church to continue His works (John 14:12). When Peter raised Tabitha, it validated her service and multiplied faith in her community. God’s power flows through practical compassion.

What “dead zone” in your circle needs resurrection – a stagnant marriage, hopeless neighbor, or cold faith? Speak Christ’s authority into it today. Whose hands have you stopped believing God can use?

“Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.”
(Acts 9:40, NIV)

Prayer: Boldly ask God to revive one seemingly hopeless situation through your obedience.
Challenge: Write the name of someone needing healing; pray over it daily at 3:00 PM this week.

Day 3: Prophetic Words in the Lobby

A childless couple stood red-eyed in the church foyer. As the pastor prayed, the Holy Spirit surged: “In ten months, a son.” Doubt fought faith until the ultrasound confirmed both pregnancy and gender. The lobby became a delivery room for divine promise. [52:52]

Prophecy isn’t about spotlighting the speaker but strengthening the body (1 Corinthians 14:3). Like Paul imparting spiritual gifts in Rome, this word equipped parents to hope. God still speaks through yielded believers in everyday spaces.

What whispered promise have you shelved as impossible? Where is God asking you to voice encouragement despite the risk? When did you last position yourself to hear His nudges in mundane moments?

“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.”
(1 Corinthians 14:1, NIV)

Prayer: Request fresh boldness to speak life to one discouraged person this week.
Challenge: Text a Scripture or encouraging word to a young parent within the next 24 hours.

Day 4: Discernment in the Parking Lot

A $100,000 check burned the pastor’s pocket as he approached the school office. Sudden unease halted his steps – a gut-check from the Spirit. Hours later, hidden sin in the planting team surfaced. Discernment protected the church’s mission and money. [01:18:10]

The Spirit gives razor-sharp insight to guard Christ’s bride. Like Peter discerning Ananias’ deception (Acts 5:3), leaders need holy radar. Discernment isn’t suspicion but surrendered clarity – separating truth from counterfeit.

What decision feels spiritually “off”? Which relationship needs prayerful scrutiny? How will you cultivate quietness to hear the Spirit’s warnings today?

“The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.”
(1 Corinthians 2:15, ESV)

Prayer: Plead for discernment regarding one looming decision or relationship.
Challenge: Journal three specific ways the Spirit has alerted you to danger or truth this year.

Day 5: Apple Pie and Holy Boldness

A dropped dessert became a discipleship object lesson. Reactions revealed gifts – servers cleaned, givers replaced pies, teachers explained crust physics. Paul’s metaphor came alive: the body needs all parts working (1 Corinthians 12:14-20). [01:10:20]

Your quirks aren’t accidents. The same Spirit who empowered Peter’s preaching and Tabitha’s needlework shaped your holy reflexes. When crisis hits, your instinctive response mirrors your gift – seize it.

What everyday messes make your spiritual reflexes kick in? How can you lean into – rather than apologize for – your unique wiring this week?

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”
(1 Peter 4:10, NLT)

Prayer: Thank God for how He’s uniquely wired you, even if others misunderstand your gifts.
Challenge: Take a spiritual gifts assessment online; share one discovery with a friend by Sunday.

Sermon Summary

The Holy Spirit arrives before anyone else does, already ready to reveal Jesus and to draw a church into ascribed glory, not adding to God’s intrinsic glory but recognizing it. Child dedication then stands as a straight-up confession that a baby is God’s gift, not a ticket to salvation. Luke 2 presents Jesus in the temple, and Mark 10 shows the Lord gathering children up and saying, “Don’t ever get between them and me.” Family and church both carry vows, because God ordains the home and the church to nurture, protect, and train the young. Counting marbles becomes a parable of time, urging parents to count the weeks so they can make the weeks count.

Paul sets the frame for spiritual gifts. Romans 1:11 names gifts as mutual encouragement. First Corinthians 14:1 commands an eager desire. Acts displays it in motion, where miracles, tongues, prophecy, evangelism, and faith all lift a people and win a world. The Holy Spirit gives gifts first for the edification of the body, then for the world. A spiritual gift is a supernatural ability to do God’s work on earth, not a natural talent, not a badge for the elite, not proof of maturity, and not the fruit of the Spirit. Gifts are not weird. People make gifts weird. When a jacket on a stage becomes the point, the Spirit is not the focus. God’s gifts work best when they are off the mic and on mission.

Romans 12 lays out gifts that look ordinary but run on heaven’s power. Prophecy should match faith. Serving should actually serve. Teaching should teach. Encouragement should encourage. Giving should give generously. Leadership should govern diligently. Mercy should show up cheerfully. The apple-pie-on-the-lap picture makes it plain. Different reflexes reveal different graces, and every one of them is needed. First Corinthians 12 then names manifestations that solve problems no committee can fix. Wisdom and knowledge give true guidance. Faith and healing often ride together. Miracles, prophecy, distinguishing of spirits, tongues, and interpretation all come from the one Spirit, who distributes as He determines.

Discernment proves priceless when a check stays in the envelope because something in the Spirit says, Not today. That pause protects people, money, and calling. Scripture says to study, ask, examine joy and ability, take wise tools, then do what the Spirit leads. First Peter 4 presses it home. Speak as if God Himself were speaking. Serve with the strength God supplies. Whatever the gift, do it like it is for God, because it is. Let every grace bring God glory, build the church, and make a difference in the world.

Key Takeaways

1. Spiritual gifts edify the body. Gifts come to build people, not build platforms. The first assignment is the common good of the church, then mission to the world. When the target is clear, the strange falls away and the useful rises. Edification is the plumb line that keeps power aligned with love. [48:07]
2. The Spirit is not a show. When attention drifts from Jesus to personalities, maturity is already leaking. True gifting works in ordinary rooms and unseen moments, where God gets the credit and people get help. If a microphone is required, the motive needs a check. Power without love is noise. [63:11]
3. Every believer receives useful gifts. The same Spirit gives different graces, and none are throwaway. A hidden gift is like a sharp knife left in a drawer, honored but unused. When gifts come into the open, the church stops limping and starts running. [60:12]
4. Discernment protects calling and people. The Spirit’s check in the gut can save a church from pain and a family from collapse. Discernment reads what smiles try to hide and slows the hand at the right time. In a world full of traps, holy caution is mercy in action. [78:10]
5. Study, ask, and step out. Scripture gives the map, prayer gives the compass, and obedience gives the mileage. Joy and effectiveness usually point to design. When a believer speaks as if God is speaking and serves with God’s strength, the ordinary turns sacramental. [84:14]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[10:24] - First-time guests and God’s Garage
[10:56] - Why dedicate children
[11:21] - Jesus presented and blessed
[16:00] - Blessing baby Rory
[17:31] - 936 marbles parenting charge
[44:32] - Empowered series begins
[45:23] - Gifts strengthen and encourage
[46:43] - Acts snapshots of gifts
[54:59] - What spiritual gifts are
[55:43] - Do not be ignorant
[66:05] - Romans 12 gift list
[69:31] - Apple pie gift test
[73:47] - 1 Corinthians 12 manifestations
[78:10] - Discernment on the sidewalk

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (ESV)
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Romans 12:6-8 (ESV)
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV)
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

Observation Questions

According to 1 Corinthians 12:7, what is the primary purpose of spiritual gifts?
In Romans 12:6-8, how does Paul emphasize using spiritual gifts in practical, everyday ways?
The sermon described a scenario where someone’s reaction to spilled pie revealed their spiritual gift (e.g., serving, teaching, mercy). What specific gift examples were tied to actions like cleaning up, offering advice, or sharing encouragement? [09:31]
What distinction did the sermon make between natural talents and spiritual gifts? [01:01:17]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul stress that spiritual gifts are given “for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7) rather than personal recognition? How does this contrast with cultural views of success?
The sermon warned that “power without love is noise” and criticized using gifts for attention. How might a spiritual gift like prophecy or leadership become misused if detached from humility? [01:03:11]
In the apple-pie analogy, why do different responses (e.g., cleaning up vs. teaching) reflect distinct gifts? How does this illustrate the diversity of roles in the body of Christ? [09:31]
The sermon mentioned discernment protecting people from harm, like withholding a check due to a warning. How does this align with biblical examples of the Holy Spirit guiding decisions? [01:18:10]

Application Questions

What is one spiritual gift you suspect God has given you, and how could you intentionally use it this week to serve someone in your family, workplace, or church?
The “marble jar” analogy urged parents to “count the weeks so they can make the weeks count.” What practical step could you take to invest time in nurturing faith or relationships this month? [17:31]
Have you ever hidden a gift (like the unused pocket knife) out of fear, insecurity, or distraction? What would it look like to “take it out of the drawer” and put it into action?
The sermon emphasized that gifts work best “off the mic and on mission.” How can you shift your focus from seeking recognition to meeting needs in ordinary, unseen moments? [48:07]
When have you sensed a “check in your gut” from the Holy Spirit, like pausing a decision or confronting a hidden issue? How can you grow in practicing discernment daily? [01:18:10]
First Peter 4:10 says to serve “by the strength God supplies.” What area of service feels overwhelming to you, and how could relying on God’s strength (not your own) change your approach?

Sermon Clips

25s

“And he turns to me and he throws his jacket at me. I grab his jacket and I throw it back at him. Alright? And I'm like, it didn't work. But, you know, why? Because that that that moment was bringing attention to him and not to God. Right? That's an immature use of the gifts of the spirit.”

33s

“Spiritual gifts are mentioned for the first time in our bibles in Romans chapter one verse 11 when Paul said, I long to see you that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong. That is that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. So already, we're seeing from the very first mention of spiritual gifts in the bible. It is about encouraging others. It's about the edification of the body of Christ.”

33s

“Just hold where you're at just for a moment there. There are two types of glory in the scripture. There's intrinsic glory, the glory of the Lord where God already has all the glory, all the power. But there is also in scripture when it comes to the body of Christ and ascribed glory. It's a it's not that we add to God's glory, it's that we recognize God's glory, and we ascribe glory to him. And that's what we're doing here.”

34s

“do what the Holy Spirit leads you to do. His people know his voice. And I believe if you and I could sit down and have a meal, eventually, I'd probably ask you this question. Right? If money were no problem and failure weren't was not a possibility, what would you do? And then as soon as I find that out about you, okay, I'm gonna spend the rest of my life, as long as I have breath and as long as you cooperate, I'm gonna do everything I can to help you do that.”

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Empowered: Uncovering and Using Your Spiritual Gifts

Devotional

Day 1: Marbles and Kingdom Time

Day 2: Tabitha’s Resurrection Window

Day 3: Prophetic Words in the Lobby

Day 4: Discernment in the Parking Lot

Day 5: Apple Pie and Holy Boldness

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Empowered: Uncovering and Using Your Spiritual Gifts

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