LESSON 10 - THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

INTRODUCTION: THANK KEVIN FOR TEACHING FOR ME LAST WEEK. HE DID A TERRIFIC JOB. LETS REVIEW FOR A MINUTE. TWO WEEKS AGO WE LEARNED THAT JESUS SENDS US OUT AS HIS REPRESENTATIVES TO THE WORLD. BY THE HS, HE GIVES US EVERYTHING WE NEED FOR OUR MISSION. BUT THE EXTENT TO WHICH WE HAVE THE HS DEPENDS UPON OUR READINESS AND HIS TIMING. LAST WEEK, WE SAW IN PENTECOST AN EXCITING EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN WE ARE READY AND IT IS THE RIGHT TIME. THIS WEEK WE FOLLOW UP WITH A "CLOSER LOOK" AT WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE THE GIFTS OF THE HS.

I. THE TYPE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS.

A. IF I TOLD YOU THAT NEXT WEEK THE HS WOULD BE POURED OUT ON THE MEMBERS OF THIS CHURCH, WHAT WOULD YOU EXPECT TO SEE? (LIST)

B. WOULD YOU EXPECT SOMETHING LIKE PENTECOST?

C. HOW DO WE IN THIS CHURCH COMPARE WITH WHAT HAPPENED AT PENTECOST?

1. DO WE BAPTIZE 3000 PEOPLE IN A DAY?

2. DO OUR WORDS CUT THROUGH LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND CAUSE THOSE WHO LISTEN TO SAY, "WHAT SHALL WE DO?" (ACTS 2:37)

D. DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT?

1. WHY NOT?

E. LETS OPEN OUR BIBLES TO GALATIANS 5:18-23. READ.

1. DOES THIS SUGGEST THAT WE HAVE TO EXPERIENCE PENTECOST IN OUR LIFE TO HAVE THE HS? (NO)

2. LETS LOOK AT THESE TWO LISTS IN v. 19-23.

a. LOOKING AT THESE LISTS, DOES HAVING THE HS IN OUR LIFE HAVE MORE TO DO WITH PREACHING OR LIVING?

b. LOOKING AT LIST OF THE ACTS OF THE SINFUL NATURE, WHICH DO YOU THINK ARE MOST COMMON AND MOST TOLERATED IN OUR CHURCH?

c. LOOKING AT THE LIST OF THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH DO YOU THINK ARE MOST COMMON IN OUR CHURCH?

d. DO YOU FIND MORE OF THE FRUITS OF THE HS IN OUR CHURCH OR OUTSIDE OUR CHURCH?

e. IF YOU WERE HONEST ABOUT IT, WOULD MORE OF THE SINFUL TRAITS OR MORE OF THE FRUITS OF THE HS BE FOUND IN YOUR LIFE?

F. I WORRY THAT WE MAY BE LIVING IN THE FUTURE AND IGNORING THE PRESENT: WE ARE STANDING AROUND WAITING FOR THE LATTER RAIN, THE HS TO COME IN POWER, WHILE WE COMPLETELY IGNORE WHAT THE HS CAN DO TO CHANGE OUR LIVES AND THOSE AROUND US NOW.

G. LETS TURN TO MATT 25:14-18. READ. IF THE HS CAME ON OUR CHURCH WITH POWER, WOULD EVERYONE HAVE THE SAME SPIRITUAL GIFTS? (NO. 1 COR 12:13-18)

1. WOULD THEY HAVE THE SAME NUMBER OF GIFTS? (NO. MATT 25:14-18)

H. DOES THAT MEAN THAT WHEN THE HS COMES IN POWER, YOU MIGHT HAVE JUST ONE TALENT, ONE GIFT?

I. IN JESUS' STORY OF THE TALENTS, IT WAS THE ONE TALENT GUY WHO BURIED HIS TALENT. DO YOU THINK THAT IN REAL LIFE IT IS THE ONE TALENT GUY WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO BURY HIS TALENT? (HE SAYS, "I'VE NOT GOT MUCH TALENT. LET SOMEONE WITH MORE TALENT DO IT." EGW IN COL SAYS, "BECAUSE THEY CAN SERVE ONLY IN LITTLE THINGS, THEY THINK THEMSELVES JUSTIFIED IN DOING NOTHING. IN THIS THEY ERR. THE LORD IN HIS DISTRIBUTION OF GIFTS IS TESTING CHARACTER.")

1. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ONE TALENT GUY WHO BURIES HIS TALENT? (MATT 25:28. HIS ONE IS TAKEN AWAY AND GIVEN TO THE TEN TALENT GUY.)

2. WHAT IS THE LESSON IN THIS? (USE IT OR LOSE IT)

J. IF SO, SHOULD WE BE WAITING FOR THE HS TO COME IN POWER?

II. TALENTS

A. IF WE AGREE THAT WE CAN HAVE THE GIFTS OF THE HS HERE AND NOW, LETS EXAMINE IN MORE DETAIL THE KINDS OF TALENTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

B. TURN WITH ME TO ROMANS 12:6-8. WHAT GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT DO YOU FIND HERE? (LIST UNDER ROM 12)

1. PROPHESY (ANNOUNCING CHRISTIAN MESSAGE WITH AUTHORITY)

2. SERVING

3. TEACHING (EXPLANING THE MESSAGE)

4. ENCOURAGING

5. CONTRIBUTING

6. LEADERSHIP

7. MERCY

C. TURN NEXT TO I COR 12:7-11. WHAT GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT DO YOU FIND HERE? (LIST UNDER 1 COR 12)

1. WISDOM

2. KNOWLEDGE

3. FAITH

4. HEALING

5. MIRACULOUS POWERS

6. PROPHECY

7. DISTINQUISHING SPIRITS

8. SPEAKING IN TONGUES

9. INTERLPRETING TONGUES.

D. TURN NEXT TO EPHESIANS 4:10-12. WHAT GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT DO YOU SEE HERE? (LIST UNDER EPH 4)

1. APOSTLES -- AN AMBASSADOR FOR CHRIST

2. PROPHETS

3. EVANGELISTS

4. PASTORS

5. TEACHERS

E. ASK WHAT THE CLASS THINKS THESE MEAN?

1. ASK THEM TO MENTALLY NOTE THE GIFTS THEY HAVE.

2. WHAT WOULD THEY DO WITH THESE GIFTS IF THEY HAD THEM?

III. NEXT WEEK: THE LATTER RAIN!