7-7-2019, COTR Texarkana Title: Gifts of the Holy Spirit Purpose: Provoke people to earnestly desire and use the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual truth: The gifts of the Holy Spirit are to be desired and used today. Text: :1-12 Topic: Spiritual Gifts, Holy Spirit, Motivational Gifts, Supernatural Series Title: Su-per-nat-u-ral Series Purpose: Provoke people to experience God’s power and presence in everyday life. Gifts of the Holy Spirit

I. Henry video ice cream II. Introduction: The history of the early church A. [Acts 13:1–12 (ESV) Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers …2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia…6…they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish named Bar-. 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But the magician…opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But…Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit…10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness … will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11…behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see…for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.] 1. Is this just a record of church history or is it possible supernatural acts like this can occur today? I believe it’s possible because (1) nothing in Scripture clearly teaches the gifts of the HS will cease, (2) this is the pattern Jesus established with the 12/ 70 and early church, (3) the gifts of the Holy Spirit and supernatural acts are recorded in church history. B. Review Series, "Su-per-nat-u-ral". It's about experiencing the power and presence of God in everyday life. Watch live stream of services or download sermon notes @ChurchOnTheRock.org, Facebook or the COTR iPhone or Android app. The last 2 weeks we talked about the HS; [:8 (NLT) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere…] Today we’ll talk about the spiritual gifts the HS gives believers to do God’s work. [1 Corinthians 14:1 (ESV)…earnestly desire the spiritual gifts…] C. Title: Gifts of the Holy Spirit D. Purpose: Provoke people to earnestly desire and use the gifts of the Holy Spirit. E. Spiritual truth: The gifts of the Holy Spirit are to be desired and used today.

!1 III.Motivational Gifts reflect personality and passion. If a gift excites you…start using it! A. [Romans 12:4–8 (NLT) Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with ’s body…6…God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.] [1 Cor. 14:3 (NCV) But those who prophesy are speaking to people to give them strength, encouragement, and comfort.] People who prophesy endeavor to hear from God words to help people. Next week’s message will be all about this gift. B. [Verse 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well.] Def. serve: figuratively, to wait on tables; doing things to help others and advance God’s Kingdom. All of us are called to follow the example of Jesus and serve people but some people are passionately motivated to serve others. [Mt. 20:28 (NCV)…the Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve others…] 1. [Ro. 16:1 (ESV) I commend to you our sister , a servant of the church at Cenchreae]. Most of the success of COTR isn’t because of me, it’s because of people who faithfully serve in the café, greet in the lobby, open doors…Pictures C. [Verse 7 If you’re a teacher, teach well.] [Eph. 4:11–12 (NIV) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up]. Teachers declare truth and keep us from error. This is one of the most needed gifts at COTR but hasn’t had much of a chance to be used because we lack space. That’s about to change in our new building. I’m issuing a call for teachers to rise up at COTR! D. [Verse 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging.] [:36 (ESV) Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement) …] “son of” is used to indicate the qualities which distinguish a person. Barnabas had the gift for encouraging his fellow Christians.2 1. Def. encourage: to give or increase confidence of success; to inspire with courage, hope or strength especially in preparation for a hard task1,2,3 Coaches and teachers encourage kids to succeed; adults need this gift desperately, e.g. waiter Rogers. If you’re burdened when people are down and like encouraging them, you may have this gift. Practice on me. E. [Verse 8 If it is giving, give generously.] Def. generous: openhanded not tightfisted; someone who derives great joy from giving to others. I have a friend who has this gift. He had it before he was a Christian. Now God has blessed him financially and he doesn’t just spend it all on himself. He derives great joy from giving to God’s work and God keeps giving him more to be a bigger blessing. F. [Verse 8 If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.] There are 3 types of people needed in a healthy church: servers, givers and leaders. Many of us are leaders in the workplace but just come to church to listen to a sermon. We need you. You’re good at what you do because God has gifted you! Use your gift. G. [Verse 8 And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly]. [:36–39 (NLT) There was a believer…named…. She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. 37…she became ill and died…39…The room !2 was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them.] Showing mercy, kindness and compassion is a conduit for God’s love to hurting, needy people. If you feel people’s pain and are compelled to help… IV. Gifts of the Holy Spirit: 3 revelation gifts, 3 power gifts and 3 speaking gifts A. [1 Corinthians 12 (ESV) Now concerning spiritual gifts…I do not want you to be uninformed….4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit…7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.] B. [Verse 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom…]This gift is a problem solver, e.g. question, how much OT law should Gentiles practice? [:13–28 (NLT) James stood and said, “Brothers, listen to me…19 “And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead, we should write and tell them…] C. [Verse 8 and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit…] This gift reveals what is unknown or hidden. [:28–29 (NCV) …spoke with the help of the Holy Spirit. He said, “(NLT) a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of .) 29 So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea…] Today, science tries to predict earthquakes, weather, tsunamis, etc. sometimes they’re right and sometimes wrong. God doesn’t guess; He knows the future; He knows details about people we don’t and will reveal secrets to us to help people. D. [Verse 9 to another faith by the same Spirit…] This gift believes God can move mountains and do the impossible if we believe! Paul used this gift, [Acts 13:11 (ESV) And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand.] E. [Verse 9 to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit]…Video testimony Vicki Stone F. [Verse 10 to another the working of miracles…] Def. miracle: supernatural intervention from God in human affairs that alters the course of natural laws. [:9–12 (NIV) ……was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!”…12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.] G. [Verse 10 to another prophecy], (Next week’s message) H. [Verse 10 (NCV) The Spirit gives…to another the ability to know the difference between good and evil spirits.] E.g. Paul called the sorcerer “son of the devil” How did he know the man wasn’t just a bad man? How did he know evil spirits were at work? He was using a spiritual gift. I. [Verse 10 to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.] I.e. an ability to speak in an unlearned language and the ability to interpret the language to help people. With this gift, we can also pray and sing in the Spirit. V. How do I receive a spiritual gift? !3 A. Regarding motivational gifts, we’re born or born again with certain gifts. We need to follow our passion and do what we’re good at to serve the Lord for the glory of God. B. [1 Corinthians 14:1 (ESV) Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts…] ask, and keep on asking, the HS to give you gifts to do His work. C. [1 Timothy 4:14 (ESV) Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.] VI. Conclusion: Let’s use our God-given gifts to serve the Lord. A. Stir your faith and step out, [2 Tim. 1:6 (NLT)…fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.] e.g. fire. Practice and you’ll get better. Nobody starts out proficient. Experience brings proficiency. We’ll help you if you go to the Connect class and take the spiritual gifts test. VII. Response A. Prayer B. Souls VIII.Bibliography/ Resources: Logos Software and Library, Platinum Edition, was used to prepare this message. 1. Webster, N. (2006). Noah Webster’s first edition of An American dictionary of the English language. Anaheim, CA: Foundation for American Christian Education. Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. (Eleventh ed.). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc. Merriam-Webster, I. (1996). Merriam-Webster’s collegiate thesaurus. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster. 2. Newman, B. M., & Nida, E. A. (1972). A handbook on the (p. 112). New York: United Bible Societies.

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