Grounded in the Spirit: Seeking the Giver, Not Gifts

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Heart is to Pour Out His Spirit on All People

God’s desire is to pour out His Spirit on all people, regardless of age, gender, or background. This promise is not just a historical event but remains true for us today—He longs to work through His people, bringing dreams, visions, and prophetic words to life. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is an invitation to deeper intimacy and partnership with God, and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. As we open our hearts, we can expect God to move in powerful and personal ways, bringing light that dispels darkness in our lives and communities. [03:07]

Joel 2:28-32 (ESV)
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Reflection: Where in your life do you need to invite the Holy Spirit to move in a fresh way, trusting that God’s heart is to pour out His Spirit on you today?

Day 2: The Expression of the Spiritual Must Be Grounded in the Word of God

Not all spiritual experiences are rooted in the Holy Spirit; the foundation of our spiritual life must be the Word of God. The spiritual realm is real, and while people may seek encounters and experiences, discernment is essential—God has given us His Word as a filter to distinguish what is truly from Him. When our understanding of the Holy Spirit is grounded in Scripture, we are protected from deception and able to walk in truth, knowing that all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. [21:59]

2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”

Reflection: When you encounter spiritual experiences or teachings, do you take time to test them against God’s Word? How can you make this a regular habit?

Day 3: True Spiritual Expression Leads to Christ, Not to Ourselves

The direction of our spiritual expression matters—are we leading people to Christ or to ourselves? When the focus is on personal ego, control, or platform, spiritual power becomes distorted and can even lead to captivity rather than freedom. The Holy Spirit’s work always points to Jesus, bringing freedom and unity, not division or self-promotion. We are called to introduce others to the person of the Holy Spirit, not to keep Him for ourselves or use Him for our own gain. [25:30]

Acts 8:18-23 (ESV)
“Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.’”

Reflection: In your service, relationships, or ministry, are you pointing others to Jesus or seeking recognition for yourself? What would it look like to intentionally shift the focus to Christ this week?

Day 4: God Cares Most About the Condition of Our Hearts

God is far more concerned with the state of our hearts than with our outward acts or spiritual gifts. It is possible to perform miracles, prophesy, or serve in His name, yet miss true relationship with Him if our hearts are not aligned with His love and will. The warning is clear: seeking the gifts over the Giver leads to emptiness, but God invites us to examine our hearts, repent where needed, and pursue genuine intimacy with Him above all else. [34:17]

Matthew 7:21-23 (ESV)
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

Reflection: Is there any area where you have been seeking God’s gifts or approval more than His presence and relationship? How can you realign your heart with Him today?

Day 5: Love is the Foundation of All Spiritual Gifts and Ministry

No matter how impressive our spiritual gifts or acts may be, without love they are empty and meaningless. Love is the defining mark of a Spirit-filled life, and it is through love that God’s power is made manifest in us and through us. The Holy Spirit empowers us not just for signs and wonders, but to love deeply and sacrificially, reflecting the heart of Christ in all we do. As we seek the gifts of the Spirit, let us pursue love above all, allowing it to shape our motives, actions, and relationships. [36:50]

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: Who is one person you can intentionally show Christlike love to today, especially where it may be difficult or inconvenient?

Sermon Summary

Over the past weeks, we’ve been exploring the reality of the Holy Spirit—how God’s presence is not just a concept or a culture, but something tangible and experiential. The Holy Spirit is the power by which light dispossesses darkness, and as we stretch out in faith, God’s Kingdom advances, even in places like Nazna. This is not a topic to be ticked off; it’s an ongoing journey of walking with the Spirit, learning to live in both the Word and the Spirit, not one without the other. The Word gives us discernment, and the Spirit brings life and power.

We looked at the story of Simon the Sorcerer in Acts 8, a man who had real spiritual power but was not grounded in God. Simon’s story is a warning and a mirror for us. He was amazed by the power of the Holy Spirit and wanted to buy it, revealing a heart that sought the gift over the Giver. The apostles, in contrast, led people to Christ, not to themselves. Their ministry was rooted in humility, freedom, and the desire to see others encounter God personally, not to build their own platforms.

This brings us to three crucial questions for our own lives: What is the expression of the spiritual grounded in? Where is it leading? And where are our hearts? The spiritual is real, and many are seeking spiritual experiences, but not all are from God. The Word of God is our filter, helping us discern what is truly of the Holy Spirit. We must also ask: does our spiritual life lead people to Christ, or to ourselves? Is it about control, ego, or freedom and love?

Finally, God is deeply concerned with our hearts. It’s possible to do many spiritual acts and yet miss intimacy with Him. Jesus warns that not everyone who does miracles in His name truly knows Him. Our public acts must flow from a private life with God, rooted in love. The Holy Spirit wants to make His home in each of us, not just work through a select few. God’s heart is to pour out His Spirit on all people, to restore, heal, and bring us into deeper intimacy with Him. The invitation is to examine our hearts, seek the Giver above the gifts, and prepare ourselves for what God wants to do in and through us.

Key Takeaways

1. The foundation of our spiritual life must be the Word of God, not just spiritual experiences. The spiritual realm is real, but not every spirit is the Holy Spirit. Discernment comes from grounding ourselves in Scripture, which is God-breathed and equips us to distinguish truth from deception. Without this grounding, we risk being led astray by experiences that feel powerful but are not rooted in Christ. [18:28]
2. The direction of our spiritual expression matters: does it lead people to Christ or to ourselves? When spiritual gifts or experiences become about building our own platform or ego, we distort God’s power from a force that brings freedom to one that brings captivity. True ministry points away from self and toward Jesus, inviting others into freedom and relationship with Him, not into dependence on us. [21:59]
3. God is more concerned with the state of our hearts than with our outward acts or spiritual gifts. It is possible to perform miracles, prophesy, or have great faith, yet miss the heart of God if we do not know Him personally. The warning is clear: intimacy with God is the goal, not just impressive acts. Our hearts must be examined regularly to ensure we seek the Giver, not just the gifts. [34:17]
4. Healing and restoration are found in honest community and vulnerability. Past hurts, especially those related to spiritual abuse or disappointment in church, can block us from stepping into what God has for us. God’s desire is to bring comfort, healing, and restoration, but this often happens as we open up to others, allow them to speak into our lives, and let Jesus minister to our wounds. [07:21]
5. The private life with God is essential for a healthy public ministry. We often desire the public fruit of Jesus’ life—miracles, influence, power—without cultivating the private intimacy He had with the Father. The Holy Spirit wants to meet us personally, not just corporately, and our effectiveness in public is directly tied to our willingness to seek God in the secret place. [37:36]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:07] - Spirit and Word: Not Either/Or
[05:26] - The Impact of Church Hurt
[07:21] - Personal Story: Leadership and Wounds
[11:22] - Acts 8: Setting the Scene
[15:01] - Simon the Sorcerer: Spiritual Power vs. God’s Power
[18:28] - What Is Your Spiritual Life Grounded In?
[21:59] - Where Does Your Spiritual Expression Lead?
[25:00] - The Danger of Ego and Control
[28:30] - The Gift vs. The Giver
[31:45] - The Heart Behind the Acts
[34:17] - Public vs. Private Life with God
[37:36] - Prayer and Invitation
[39:00] - Closing and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was Simon the Sorcerer known for in Samaria, and how did people respond to him before Philip arrived?
When Peter and John arrived in Samaria, what did they do for the new believers, and what was Simon’s reaction?
According to Peter’s rebuke, what was wrong with Simon’s request to buy the power to give the Holy Spirit?
In Matthew 7:21-23, what does Jesus say about people who do miracles and prophesy in His name but lack something essential?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon highlights that Simon had real spiritual power, but it was not from God. What does this suggest about the reality of spiritual experiences and the need for discernment?
The apostles’ ministry led people to Christ, while Simon’s actions drew attention to himself. Why is it important for spiritual gifts and experiences to point people to Jesus rather than to individuals?
Peter tells Simon that his heart is not right before God. What does this reveal about God’s priorities when it comes to our spiritual lives and public acts?
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 says that even the greatest spiritual gifts are worthless without love. How does this connect to the warning Jesus gives in Matthew 7:21-23?

Application Questions

The sermon asks: “What is the expression of the spiritual grounded in?” How do you personally discern whether a spiritual experience or teaching is truly from the Holy Spirit and grounded in God’s Word? Are there practices or habits you use to filter what you hear or experience?
Have you ever found yourself (or seen others) seeking spiritual gifts, experiences, or recognition more than seeking God Himself? What are some signs that your spiritual life might be more about the gift than the Giver?
The sermon warns about spiritual expressions that lead people to depend on a person or leader rather than on Jesus. In your own life or church experience, have you seen this happen? How can we as a group help each other keep the focus on Christ and not on personalities?
The story of Simon shows that it’s possible to do spiritual acts with the wrong heart. How can you regularly examine your own heart and motives in serving, leading, or using your gifts? What helps you stay rooted in love and humility?
The sermon shared a personal story about church hurt and how past wounds can block us from stepping into what God has for us. Are there any past disappointments, hurts, or spiritual abuses that you feel are still affecting your willingness to serve or trust God? What would it look like to begin opening up about these in community?
The private life with God is described as essential for a healthy public ministry. What does your private time with God look like right now? Is there a specific way you want to grow in intimacy with Him this week?
God’s heart is to pour out His Spirit on all people, not just a select few. Is there an area in your life where you feel unqualified or hesitant to step out in faith? How can the group pray for you or encourage you to take a next step?

Sermon Clips

It's still God's heart that he wants to pour out his spirit. He wants to work through his people. And we're not like just people of the book. We're spirit and the word. We discussed it a few weeks ago as well. Back in the day, it's like, are you a spirit church or are you a word church? But how can we read the word without the spirit? And how can we know the spirit without the word? So it's all one or the other. [00:03:14] (31 seconds)

It's the same Holy Spirit that's coming on them. And then, unfortunately, our friend Simon, he sees this and he's like, yo, awesome, how much does this cost? I'll pay for this. And then he gets rebuked. And he's like, yo, they tell him, your heart's not right before God for you to think that you can buy the Spirit. [00:17:53] (20 seconds)

But it's, we should be encouraged by the grace that was shown to him, and then he was called to repentance. And it's our story as well, what are we going to do? You know, our stories aren't done. Our stories are still open. How are we going to respond? [00:18:38] (15 seconds)

It's like, I don't care about your act, if your heart isn't there, I care about your heart, do I know you, personally, tell me all these things, that you've done, if I don't know you personally, we just see in Simon's heart, you know, it's a warning again to us, not just bashing on Simon, we shouldn't think, like, we always, we read the stories of the Pharisees, or the disciples, like, yeah, how could they not just realize how, this is Jesus, and repent. But I mean, we read this and think we're so much better. We read this and think that we're so much better than Simon, but we should recognize and question our hearts as well. [00:33:25] (43 seconds)

Are our hearts there for the giver, for God, or is it just focused on the gift? Is it just there for the higher or are we there for the person? And then, we see this public and private life. Is our heart just in the public? And all that our heart is full of is the things that we can see and do in the public or are we finding God in our private lives as well? [00:34:46] (28 seconds)

Sometimes you want the public life of Jesus, but you don't have the private life of Jesus. And that, yeah, just hit me. And it's the same, you know, we, in shame, and I think there's compassion on Simon, who's called to repentance. There's still time for him to come to know Jesus, to come and walk in that. But it's a question to us. Are we just in the public, and we just care about the public lifestyle? Or who are we personally? [00:36:39] (26 seconds)

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