Empowered Witnesses: The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we delve into the profound subject of the baptism with the Holy Spirit, focusing particularly on the spiritual gifts associated with it. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is primarily intended to empower believers to be effective witnesses for Christ. This empowerment is not merely about possessing spiritual gifts but about using them to glorify God and advance His kingdom. The gifts of the Spirit, as discussed in 1 Corinthians 12-14, are not ends in themselves but are meant to serve a greater purpose.

The early disciples, despite their close proximity to Jesus and witnessing His miracles, were instructed to wait for the Holy Spirit's power before they could effectively witness. This underscores the necessity of the Spirit's empowerment for true Christian witness. Throughout history, many have been baptized with the Holy Spirit without manifesting certain gifts like speaking in tongues or performing miracles, highlighting that the presence of the Spirit is not solely evidenced by these gifts.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church to address the misuse and misunderstanding of spiritual gifts. The Corinthian church had become divided and confused, placing undue emphasis on certain gifts, particularly speaking in tongues. Paul emphasizes that these gifts should not be the focal point of Christian life or worship. Instead, the central focus should always be on Christ, with the gifts serving to edify the church and further the gospel.

Paul's teaching also warns against the dangers of over-specialization and forming movements centered around specific gifts or doctrines. Such practices can lead to division and a loss of balance in the Christian life. The gifts are to be sought earnestly but with the right motives, aiming for the edification of the church and the glorification of Christ.

Ultimately, the gifts of the Spirit are given to profit the church and to be used in love. The greatest way to seek these gifts is through love for Christ and a desire to glorify Him. This love-centered approach ensures that the gifts are used appropriately and effectively, avoiding the pitfalls of self-centeredness and division.

Key Takeaways:

- The baptism of the Holy Spirit is primarily for empowering believers to witness for Christ, not just for possessing spiritual gifts. The gifts are tools for glorifying God and advancing His kingdom, not ends in themselves. [01:57]

- Spiritual gifts should never be the central focus of Christian life or worship. The central focus should always be on Christ, with the gifts serving to edify the church and further the gospel. [09:10]

- Over-specialization and forming movements centered around specific gifts or doctrines can lead to division and a loss of balance in the Christian life. The gifts are to be sought earnestly but with the right motives. [11:54]

- The gifts of the Spirit are given to profit the church and to be used in love. The greatest way to seek these gifts is through love for Christ and a desire to glorify Him. [27:55]

- The gifts of the Spirit should be sought indirectly by seeking Christ, His love, and His glory. This love-centered approach ensures that the gifts are used appropriately and effectively, avoiding the pitfalls of self-centeredness and division. [46:39]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to the Baptism with the Holy Spirit
- [01:04] - Empowerment for Witness
- [02:14] - Spiritual Gifts and Their Purpose
- [03:47] - Sovereignty of the Spirit
- [04:19] - Testing the Spirits
- [05:20] - Context of 1 Corinthians 12-14
- [06:21] - Correcting the Abuse of Gifts
- [07:11] - Childlike Understanding vs. Maturity
- [08:12] - Purpose of Spiritual Gifts
- [09:41] - Christ at the Center
- [11:08] - Movements and Over-Specialization
- [13:05] - Dangers of Over-Emphasis
- [15:38] - Spirit of Competition
- [18:23] - Proper Order of Gifts
- [20:36] - Glorifying the Lord
- [23:02] - Evangelistic Purpose of Gifts
- [27:55] - Profiting and Edification
- [30:17] - Seeking the Gifts
- [33:58] - Dangers of Inducing Gifts
- [42:46] - The New Testament Way
- [46:39] - The Excellent Way of Love

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Baptism with the Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts

Bible Reading:
1. John 1:26, 33
2. 1 Corinthians 12-14

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Observation Questions:

1. According to John 1:33, who is identified as the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit, and what is the significance of this role? [00:30]

2. In the sermon, what specific instruction did Jesus give to His disciples regarding the Holy Spirit before they could effectively witness? [01:04]

3. How does the Apostle Paul address the misuse of spiritual gifts in the Corinthian church, and what was the primary issue he was correcting? [06:21]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between spiritual gifts and the sovereignty of the Holy Spirit? [03:47]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon explain the purpose of spiritual gifts in the life of a believer and the church, and why should they not be considered ends in themselves? [08:26]

2. What are the potential dangers of over-specialization and forming movements centered around specific spiritual gifts, according to the sermon? [11:54]

3. How does the sermon describe the role of love in seeking and using spiritual gifts, and why is this approach considered the "excellent way"? [46:39]

4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the gifts of the Spirit should be used to glorify Christ and advance His kingdom? [20:36]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own experience with spiritual gifts. Have you ever found yourself focusing more on the gifts themselves rather than on Christ? How can you shift your focus back to Him? [09:41]

2. The sermon warns against forming movements centered around specific gifts. Have you ever been part of a group or movement that emphasized certain gifts over others? How did it affect your spiritual life and the unity of the group? [11:54]

3. Consider the role of love in your pursuit of spiritual gifts. How can you ensure that your desire for these gifts is motivated by love for Christ and a desire to glorify Him? [46:39]

4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of using spiritual gifts for the edification of the church. What is one way you can use your gifts to serve and build up your church community this week? [27:55]

5. Reflect on a time when you may have sought spiritual gifts with the wrong motives. How can you realign your intentions to seek these gifts for the right reasons? [31:08]

6. The sermon highlights the importance of testing the spirits and being cautious about manifestations of gifts. How can you apply this caution in your spiritual journey to ensure authenticity in your experiences? [04:19]

7. How can you cultivate a love-centered approach in your daily walk with Christ, ensuring that your actions and desires align with His will and purpose? [46:39]

Devotional

Day 1: Empowerment for Witness, Not Possession
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is primarily intended to empower believers to be effective witnesses for Christ. This empowerment is not about merely possessing spiritual gifts but about using them to glorify God and advance His kingdom. The early disciples, despite their close proximity to Jesus and witnessing His miracles, were instructed to wait for the Holy Spirit's power before they could effectively witness. This underscores the necessity of the Spirit's empowerment for true Christian witness. Throughout history, many have been baptized with the Holy Spirit without manifesting certain gifts like speaking in tongues or performing miracles, highlighting that the presence of the Spirit is not solely evidenced by these gifts. [01:57]

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: In what ways can you seek the Holy Spirit's empowerment to be a more effective witness for Christ in your daily interactions?


Day 2: Christ-Centered Focus Over Gift-Centered Worship
Spiritual gifts should never be the central focus of Christian life or worship. The central focus should always be on Christ, with the gifts serving to edify the church and further the gospel. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church to address the misuse and misunderstanding of spiritual gifts. The Corinthian church had become divided and confused, placing undue emphasis on certain gifts, particularly speaking in tongues. Paul emphasizes that these gifts should not be the focal point of Christian life or worship. Instead, the central focus should always be on Christ, with the gifts serving to edify the church and further the gospel. [09:10]

Colossians 3:16-17 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Reflection: How can you ensure that your focus remains on Christ rather than the gifts He provides, especially during times of worship and service?


Day 3: Avoiding Division Through Balanced Pursuit
Over-specialization and forming movements centered around specific gifts or doctrines can lead to division and a loss of balance in the Christian life. The gifts are to be sought earnestly but with the right motives, aiming for the edification of the church and the glorification of Christ. Paul's teaching warns against the dangers of over-specialization and forming movements centered around specific gifts or doctrines. Such practices can lead to division and a loss of balance in the Christian life. The gifts are to be sought earnestly but with the right motives, aiming for the edification of the church and the glorification of Christ. [11:54]

1 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV): "I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment."

Reflection: Are there areas in your spiritual community where over-specialization has led to division? How can you contribute to unity and balance?


Day 4: Love as the Foundation for Spiritual Gifts
The gifts of the Spirit are given to profit the church and to be used in love. The greatest way to seek these gifts is through love for Christ and a desire to glorify Him. This love-centered approach ensures that the gifts are used appropriately and effectively, avoiding the pitfalls of self-centeredness and division. The gifts of the Spirit are given to profit the church and to be used in love. The greatest way to seek these gifts is through love for Christ and a desire to glorify Him. This love-centered approach ensures that the gifts are used appropriately and effectively, avoiding the pitfalls of self-centeredness and division. [27:55]

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (ESV): "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a love-centered approach in seeking and using spiritual gifts in your life and community?


Day 5: Seeking Christ First for Effective Use of Gifts
The gifts of the Spirit should be sought indirectly by seeking Christ, His love, and His glory. This love-centered approach ensures that the gifts are used appropriately and effectively, avoiding the pitfalls of self-centeredness and division. Ultimately, the gifts of the Spirit are given to profit the church and to be used in love. The greatest way to seek these gifts is through love for Christ and a desire to glorify Him. This love-centered approach ensures that the gifts are used appropriately and effectively, avoiding the pitfalls of self-centeredness and division. [46:39]

Matthew 6:33 (ESV): "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to prioritize seeking Christ and His kingdom above all else, especially in the context of spiritual gifts?

Quotes

The baptism of the holy spirit is essentially designed for Witness. Our Lord told the disciples to T in Jerusalem until they should be endued with power from on high and then he tells them that they would be Witnesses unto him as they were they were not yet fit to be Witnesses. [00:57:38]

The special purpose the specific purpose of the baptism with the Holy Ghost is to enable us to witness to Bear testimony well one of the ways in which that happens is through the giving of these spiritual gifts that is why we have to consider this subject in dealing with the general doctrine of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. [01:20:43]

The Corinthian Church had divide had become divided up into groups and sects and divisions it was a carnally minded Church divided up amongst themselves with regard even to their teachers and preachers I am of Paul I am of Apollos I am of zus divided as you remember about whether they should eat meat to idols and not they made these things matters of division and particularly they were in trouble over this question of the spiritual gifts. [05:56:20]

The point he makes is that they must never be regarded as ends in themselves never now that's the danger the danger is that people regard these gifts as ends in themselves and forget their whole object and purpose the moment we do that we've got them out of proportion they must be considered in their setting in their object in their whole purpose. [08:13:12]

The gifts of the Spirit are given to profit the church and to be used in love. The greatest way to seek these gifts is through love for Christ and a desire to glorify Him. This love-centered approach ensures that the gifts are used appropriately and effectively, avoiding the pitfalls of self-centeredness and division. [27:55:00]

The gifts of the Spirit should be sought indirectly by seeking Christ, His love, and His glory. This love-centered approach ensures that the gifts are used appropriately and effectively, avoiding the pitfalls of self-centeredness and division. [46:39:00]

The Apostle makes this quite plainly he says for instance with regard to this gift of tongues wherefore tongues are for a sign not to them that believe but to that believe not and it's quite clear in the book of Acts that this is so their object is an Evangelistic one so we must test anything that claims to be a movement of the spirit in terms of its Evangelistic power. [24:48:15]

The manifestation of the spirit is given to every man to profit with all now this again is the most important point there is to be a prophet in the men himself and there is to be a prophet in the whole church or let me put it to you as you have it at in one Corinthians 14 in verse 12 even so ye for as much as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts seek that you may excel to the edifying of the church. [27:55:00]

The best way to get the gifts is to seek the love of the Lord his love to you and you are love to him if you're filled with this love then you are likely to get the best gifts it's the way par Excellence of obtaining the best gifts and without any question this is the New Testament way as it has been the way of the Saints throughout the centuries don't seek the gifts directly seek them indirectly seek Him seek his love seek his glory seek the knowledge of him seek the power to witness and to testify unto him be filled with the love to him then you'll get your gifts. [46:39:00]

The Apostle Paul is the way that he outlines in 1 Corinthians 13 now look at that last verse in the 12th chapter of 1 Corinthians but cover earnestly the best gifts and yet show I unto you a more excellent way there is no passage of scripture that has been more frequently abused and misinterpreted than just that the common way in which the quenchers of the spirit use it of course is this yet shall I ENT you a more excellent way they say don't talk about gifts don't be interested in gifts gifts are all right but there's nothing go in for The Graces have you noticed it they use this statement to say that we shouldn't be interested in gifts at all it's the graes we need and that is of course because they based their teaching upon the authorized version translation of that statement and it isn't right yet sure unto you a more excellent way says the authorized version but they have no right to translate it like that there is no comparative at all in the original the way it should be translated is this moreover I show you an excellent way. [43:37:16]

The moment you begin to try to induce a gift you are acting psychologically indeed as I say you may be handing yourself over to evil spirits that's exactly what happens to those who become mediums in connection with such work they just hand themselves over and they are used and the evil spirits can use them there is nothing more dangerous than this but what amazes me is how anybody can believe this who is a Christian where is it I ask in the New Testament it's not here at all it is the gift of the spirit it is in the sovereignty of the spirit and we must leave it entirely to him and do nothing ourselves in order to try to help or to induce it or to produce it. [42:46:00]

The way of the New Testament is the exact opposite it is to go to him and to seek it of him he's The Giver don't do anything else the Holy Spirit doesn't need our help my friends he doesn't need our psychological AIDS he doesn't need our gadgets he doesn't need us to reduce the lights and to put up an illuminated cross over the pulpit he doesn't need us he doesn't need all our help with all our singing and all our preliminaries and working up I'm not only speaking now you see about the baptism of the spirit I'm thinking of popular evangelism also if the spirit is Lord and he is he doesn't need these helps and and anything that tries to help the spirit to produce a result is a contradiction to New Testament teaching not with enticing words of men's wisdom says the Apostle but in demonstration of the spirit and of power go to him speak to him ask him pray to him that's what they did in New Testament times that is what they've done in all the greatest and the best periods in the subsequent history of the Christian church. [42:46:00]

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Transcript
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