Empowered by the Holy Spirit: Gifts for the Church

Devotional

Day 1: Celebrating Community and Milestones

Celebrating milestones like birthdays within the church community fosters a sense of belonging and unity. It reminds us that we are not just individuals attending a service but a family of believers supporting each other in our spiritual journeys. When we take the time to acknowledge and celebrate these moments, we strengthen the bonds within our church family and create an environment where everyone feels valued and loved. This sense of community is essential for spiritual growth and mutual support.

In a world where individualism often takes precedence, the church stands as a counter-cultural community that emphasizes collective joy and shared experiences. By celebrating together, we reflect the love and unity that Christ desires for His body, the church. This practice not only uplifts those who are being celebrated but also encourages others to participate in the joy and blessings of their fellow believers. [05:52]

Romans 12:15 (ESV): "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."

Reflection: How can you contribute to fostering a sense of community and celebration within your church family this week?

Day 2: Healing as Our Inheritance

Healing is a part of our inheritance as children of God. Glenda's testimony of miraculous healing serves as a powerful reminder that God still performs miracles today. Healing is not just for the early church but is available to us now through faith and the power of the Holy Spirit. This truth encourages us to approach God with boldness and faith, believing that He is able and willing to heal us in our times of need.

The concept of healing as an inheritance means that it is something we are entitled to as children of God. Just as an earthly inheritance is passed down from parent to child, our heavenly Father has made healing available to us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This should inspire us to pray for healing, not just for ourselves but also for others, trusting that God’s power is at work in our lives today. [19:34]

James 5:14-15 (ESV): "Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up."

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you need healing? How can you step out in faith to ask God for that healing today?

Day 3: The Power of the Holy Spirit for Witnessing

The baptism in the Holy Spirit equips us with the power needed for effective witnessing. It is like fueling a car; without it, we cannot go where God wants us to go. This baptism is essential for living a victorious Christian life and for being effective witnesses of Christ. The Holy Spirit empowers us to share the gospel with boldness and to live lives that reflect the love and power of Jesus.

Being baptized in the Holy Spirit is not just a one-time event but an ongoing experience that continually fills us with God’s presence and power. This empowerment enables us to overcome challenges, resist temptation, and be effective in our ministry to others. It is a vital aspect of our spiritual journey and a key to fulfilling the Great Commission. [21:23]

Acts 1:8 (ESV): "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Reflection: Have you experienced the baptism in the Holy Spirit? If not, what steps can you take to seek this empowerment in your life?

Day 4: The Gifts of the Holy Spirit for Edification

The gifts of the Holy Spirit, including prophecy, tongues, and interpretation of tongues, are given for the edification of the church. These gifts are distributed by the Holy Spirit as He determines and are not for personal glory. They must be exercised in an orderly and respectful manner to build up the church. Understanding and using these gifts properly can greatly enhance the spiritual growth and unity of the church body.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are tools given to believers to serve one another and to advance God’s kingdom. When used correctly, they bring encouragement, comfort, and strength to the church. It is important to seek these gifts earnestly and to use them with humility and love, always aiming to glorify God and edify others. [25:01]

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."

Reflection: Which spiritual gift do you feel God is calling you to seek and use for the edification of your church? How can you begin to cultivate this gift?

Day 5: Natural Senses as Gateways to Spiritual Gifts

Our natural senses—seeing, hearing, and feeling—can be gateways to understanding and operating in the spiritual gifts. By being attentive to what we see, hear, and sense in the Spirit, we can more effectively move in the gifts of prophecy, tongues, and interpretation. This approach helps demystify the operation of these gifts and makes them more accessible to all believers.

God often uses our natural senses to communicate spiritual truths and to guide us in the use of spiritual gifts. By being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and paying attention to the impressions we receive, we can become more effective in ministering to others. This requires a willingness to be still, to listen, and to act on the promptings of the Holy Spirit. [49:08]

Hebrews 5:14 (ESV): "But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil."

Reflection: How can you become more attentive to the Holy Spirit’s promptings through your natural senses? What practical steps can you take to develop this sensitivity?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the significance of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, particularly focusing on the gifts of prophecy, tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. We began by celebrating the birthdays of several members and acknowledging the importance of community within the church. We then transitioned into a powerful testimony from Glenda, who experienced a miraculous healing, emphasizing that healing is a part of our inheritance as children of God. This testimony served as a prelude to our deeper dive into the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

We discussed the baptism in the Holy Spirit and how it equips believers to serve Jesus more effectively. The baptism provides the power needed for witnessing, akin to fueling a car to make it run. We examined the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit as outlined in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, emphasizing that these gifts are distributed by the Holy Spirit as He determines. The gifts are not for personal glory but for the edification of the church.

We delved into the voice gifts—prophecy, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. Prophecy is a spontaneous, Spirit-inspired message meant to edify the church. Tongues, when interpreted, serve a similar purpose. We clarified the difference between the prayer language of tongues, which edifies the individual, and tongues meant for interpretation, which edifies the church. We also touched on the importance of order and respect when exercising these gifts, as outlined in 1 Corinthians 14.

The sermon concluded with a call to action: to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, to earnestly desire the gifts, and to use them for the edification of the church. We were reminded that these gifts are not ours to control but are given by the Holy Spirit for the common good. Finally, we extended an invitation to those who have not yet accepted Jesus to do so, emphasizing the transformative power of being born again.

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Key Takeaways

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2. Healing as an Inheritance: Healing is a part of our inheritance as children of God. Glenda's testimony of miraculous healing serves as a powerful reminder that God still performs miracles today. Healing is not just for the early church but is available to us now through faith and the power of the Holy Spirit.

3. Baptism in the Holy Spirit: The baptism in the Holy Spirit equips us with the power needed for effective witnessing. It is like fueling a car; without it, we cannot go where God wants us to go. This baptism is essential for living a victorious Christian life and for being effective witnesses of Christ.

4. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: The gifts of the Holy Spirit, including prophecy, tongues, and interpretation of tongues, are given for the edification of the church. These gifts are distributed by the Holy Spirit as He determines and are not for personal glory. They must be exercised in an orderly and respectful manner to build up the church.

5. The Role of Natural Senses in Spiritual Gifts: Our natural senses—seeing, hearing, and feeling—can be gateways to understanding and operating in the spiritual gifts. By being attentive to what we see, hear, and sense in the Spirit, we can more effectively move in the gifts of prophecy, tongues, and interpretation. This approach helps demystify the operation of these gifts and makes them more accessible to all believers.

### [05:52]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[05:52] - Celebrating Birthdays and Community
[09:10] - Introduction to the Series "Powered Up"
[09:57] - Glenda's Testimony of Healing
[19:34] - The Significance of Healing
[20:31] - Baptism in the Holy Spirit
[21:23] - The Power for Witnessing
[22:17] - The Era of Grace and Power
[25:01] - The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
[27:02] - Understanding Prophecy and Tongues
[32:01] - 1 Corinthians 12, 13, and 14 Overview
[34:19] - The Continuation of Spiritual Gifts
[39:09] - Order and Respect in Exercising Gifts
[43:46] - The Gifts of the Holy Spirit as a Football Game
[46:14] - How to Operate in Spiritual Gifts
[49:08] - Natural Senses and Spiritual Gifts
[54:04] - Call to Be Baptized in the Holy Spirit
[55:51] - Invitation to Accept Jesus
[59:09] - Closing Prayer and Worship
[63:09] - Final Announcements and Dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What are the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit listed in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11?
According to 1 Corinthians 14:1, which spiritual gift are believers especially encouraged to desire?
In Acts 2:4, what happened to the believers when they were filled with the Holy Spirit?

Interpretation Questions

How does the distribution of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, as described in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, emphasize the role of the Holy Spirit in the church? [24:20]
Why do you think Paul emphasizes the gift of prophecy in 1 Corinthians 14:1? How does this align with the purpose of spiritual gifts discussed in the sermon? [27:02]
How does the experience of the believers in Acts 2:4 illustrate the transformative power of the Holy Spirit? How does this relate to the concept of being "powered up" for witnessing? [21:23]

Application Questions

Community and Celebration: How can you contribute to fostering a sense of community and celebration within our church? Are there specific milestones or events you think we should celebrate more? [05:52]
Healing as an Inheritance: Have you ever experienced or witnessed a miraculous healing? How did it impact your faith? How can we as a small group support each other in praying for healing? [19:34]
Baptism in the Holy Spirit: If you have not been baptized in the Holy Spirit, what steps can you take to seek this experience? If you have, how has it empowered you in your Christian walk? [21:23]
Using Spiritual Gifts: Reflect on the spiritual gifts you believe you have received. How can you use these gifts more effectively for the edification of the church? Are there any gifts you feel led to desire and develop? [25:01]
Order and Respect in Exercising Gifts: How can we ensure that the exercise of spiritual gifts in our small group and church services is done in an orderly and respectful manner? What guidelines can we put in place to maintain this order? [40:29]
Natural Senses in Spiritual Gifts: How can you be more attentive to your natural senses (seeing, hearing, feeling) to better understand and operate in the spiritual gifts? Can you share an example of how you have experienced this in your spiritual life? [49:08]
Invitation to Accept Jesus: If you have not yet accepted Jesus, what is holding you back? For those who have, how can you share the transformative power of being born again with others in your life? [55:51]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "When a person believes in and receives Jesus, when they become a Christian, something changes on the inside. The Bible says the Spirit of God comes to dwell in our spirit, the very being of who we are. And we are changed and made new." [55:51] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Romans 5.1 says this, Since we have been justified, that's made right with God. Once you believe in Jesus and receive Him, it says you have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have peace with God. For the Christian, that is the starting point. For you, if you don't know Jesus, you need peace with God. All you have to do is believe in Him and receive Him." [57:10] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The Bible says lay hands on the sick and they will recover. It says the gift of healing is available through the distribution by the Holy Spirit. Are you with me still? I get excited about this and passionate about this because it's the word of God. And we're meant to have power. To witness. To be equipped." [26:25] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Healing belongs to the children of God. Healing is the children's bread. It really is. It's our inheritance because of the cross. And so I just wanted to ask Glenda to come up and speak about that because it encourages us. It encourages us." [19:34] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The Bible has all the answers to your questions and all your questions have been answered in the Bible. The Holy Spirit says yes when you ask. And if you've never received Jesus in your life, why don't you accept Him? This morning, today, and maybe whenever it is that you're watching on the live stream." [59:42] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "We've been talking about that and how it equips us to serve Jesus with greater effectiveness in order to powerfully witness to people. Now, whilst you don't have to be baptised in the Holy Spirit to witness to people, the purpose of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is clearly the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The believer will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on them and they will be God's or Christ's witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria until the ends of the earth." [20:31] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The CRC believes in the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the normal initial evidence of speaking in unknown languages or tongues. And in the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit and that gift of healing that operated last week through Shalanda. Shalanda doesn't have the gift of healing. The Holy Spirit has the gift of healing. In fact, you don't have the gift of healing. Somebody goes around saying, I've got the gift of healing. Well, you know, they haven't read the Bible very well. They don't have it. The Holy Spirit has it, but he works it through his people." [23:01] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "So, you know, I thought we might go real quick through 1 Corinthians 12, 13, 14. You think, oh no, this is going to take a while. Well, we're not going to read every single verse and do it that way. 1 Corinthians 12, 7 or 11, that's our passage we've already read. In 1 Corinthians 12, 28 to 31, it lists tongues amongst a whole group of different gifts out of the ministry gifts, the motivational gifts and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit." [32:01] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "So if you're baptised in the Holy Spirit and you're eagerly desiring prophecy, which, by the way, it's scriptural to do. We've already learnt that. When the opportunity is given in a church service, don't just go straight over the top of the music while everybody's singing. You won't be heard anyway. Don't go over the top of the preacher. The Bible says about having things in order. But you can reach out by looking and listening and sensing what God might be saying." [50:43] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The gift of the Holy Spirit can be a little hard to understand sometimes. The Bible tells us the things of God are only understood by the Spirit of God. When we receive the Spirit of God, when do we receive the Spirit of God? When we are born again. The Bible tells us the disciples after Jesus rose from the dead, He breathed on them. They were born again in that moment. And the Scriptures were opened up to them. They began to understand them." [55:51] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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