So often we find ourselves overwhelmed with stress and busyness. How is it possible that with the Holy Spirit's many gifts, we can still find ourselves unable to accomplish the good works faith has prompted us to do? In this message we remember how the Holy Spirit empowers us to complete every good work prompted by our faith. It’s not as difficult as we make it out to be. Learn how to use God’s gifts for one Another.
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1 Peter 4:1-11 So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols. Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead. That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit. The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
Can I pray?
Understanding God’s Gifts
There are 3 times where the gifts God gives are listed. None of these are exhaustive lists. God can give anything to anyone at anytime. He is God. But it’s interesting to me that each list credits a different person of the Godhead.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 tells us the gifts the Spirit gives.
Romans 12:6-8 lists gifts that God the Father gives.
Ephesians 4:11-16 tells us the gifts Christ gives the church.
Almost all of God’s gifts - whether they are from the Father or the Son or the Holy Spirit - are for us to serve one another, and build each other up. Tongues is the only gift for our own benefit, so that we can build ourselves up (1 Corinthians 14:4-5).
1 Peter 4:10-11 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
How do you know that when you speak you’re speaking God’s words?
How do you know when you help others, you’re doing it with the strength he provides?
Those are great questions I am so glad you asked.
We know when we’re not doing it, right?
We know when words we speak are agreeing with the enemy who comes to steal, kill and destroy.
We know when we serve we can grow tired and weary and disappointed and unappreciated.
Consider Our tongues
Our tongue can bring life or it can bring death. It can bless or it can curse. It can tear down or it can build up. The choice, in the day-to-day of everyday - in the moments where miracles happen - is ours. When we choose to train our thoughts, we choose to train our tongue. But it’s not us doing it, it’s Holy Spirit at work in us making us more and more like Jesus.
Think about Our actions
We can’t do what we do for the show. We can’t do what we do because no one else will do it. But we can’t sustain that long term. Yes, there are things that need to get done. And we’re told that whatever we do we are to work with it with all our heart (Colossians 3:23-24). So we decide to do it, we do it and we feel good because we’ve done it. I’ll get into that more in a minute.
Jesus is our example
Jesus only said what He heard the Father say (John 12:49). He only did what he saw the Father do. (John 5:19-20) It’s interesting to me that Peter used what we say and what we do to illustrate how we are to use all the gifts that God gives us for one another.
So how do we speak the very words of God?
How do serve with the strength God provides?
I have a couple tools to give to you today. These tool will help you in any speaking or serving gifts. The gifts can readily be divided into three categories. There are eight speaking gifts, six serving gifts, and four sign gifts listed in the three different lists in Scripture
These tool will help with the speaking and serving gifts. They won’t hurt for the sign gifts either.
But what if I don’t have one of the gifts of speaking. What if my gift isn’t to serve?
We are all told to let nothing come out of our mouth that isn’t for the encouragement of others, so why shouldn’t we do what we can to speak the very words of God?
We are all told to use our freedom to serve one another in love; so why not learn to serve with the strength God provides?
These tools will help all of do what we’re commanded to do and help anyone will speaking or serving gifts keep aligned with the canon of the Word.
Let’s get into them. The first tool is…
Do I speak very words of God ? Tool
SPEAK
S - Stay in the Word - Colossians 3:16
P - Prepare to give a reason for the hope you have - 1 Peter 3:15
E - Expect His Flow - Luke 12:11-12
A - Always keep in step with the Spirit - Galatians 5:25
K - Know and fellowship with people who speak the truth in love - Ephesians 4:15
S - Stay in the Word
Colossians 3:16 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. ESV
We can’t have an “I learned that in Sunday School” mentality. We can’t think, “Well, I read through the Bible 20 years ago”. We can’t think “If I don’t know Greek or Hebrew so I’ll never understand.” We can’t think “I’m not a good reader, or English isn’t my first language, so how can I understand it?”
The word of God is the book; but the the word of God is the word he speaks through the book today. What’s he saying for today? We have more translations and transliterations at our fingertips, than at any point in human history. Pick a Bible in the language you understand best, in the version that’s easiest to understand, and be in it daily. If you can’t read, you can listen or watch. There are apps and YouTube videos. Learn to make better use of your time if that’s your excuse. We have no excuse not to be in the word everyday.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly and when you speak you’ll find you’re speaking the very words of God.
Tip: If you want to speak the very words of God, you need to be in the word and let the Word read you.
Am I in the Word? Do I let it read me?
P - Prepare to give a reason for the hope you have
1 Peter 3:15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. NLT
Are you ready to give a reason for the hope you have? When you’re in the word daily, that reason will expand, but if someone was to ask you why you’re a Christian, what would you say?
My job is faith-based, but we can’t bring faith in unless the person we’re talking to asks us about it. We need to be salt and light. And we need to slowly and carefully bring in spiritual things. I had a gentleman take me aside and quietly ask if I was a Christian. I told him I was and we are a faith-based company. He responded “In my country, everybody knows who the Christian are” I responded “In Canada, we have to be more sneaky.” I find the more I’m prepared to talk about Jesus, the more I find myself talking about Jesus.
Are you prepared to talk about the reason for the hope you have?
Tip: If you want to speak the very words of God, practice explaining what Jesus means to you. Write down your story.
Am I ready to give a reason for my hope?
E - Expect His Flow
Luke 12:11-12 “And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.” NLT
When was the last time you felt Holy Spirit’s nudge? Did it surprise you or was it natural? Sometimes I feel a wind and it grabs my attention and I start the look for what God wants to do. It’s always amazing. As you obey the nudges, they are easier to obey; but there comes a time when you’ve obeyed and you know what to do, so he only needs to nudge you when you are seriously not doing what you know you ought to do.
Tip: If you want to speak the very words of God, pay attention to Holy Spirit’s nudging.
Do I expect Holy Spirit to speak through me?
A - Always keep in step with the Spirit
Galatians 5:25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
In context verse 16 - So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves
Keeping in step with Holy Spirit meaning saying “yes” to the fruit He grows in our lives and “no” to the acts that come to steal, kill and destroy. We need His help - that He freely gives - to say no to sin.
Tip: If you want to speak the very words of God, keep short accounts with God.
Am I keeping in step with Holy Spirit?
K - Know people who speak the truth in love
Ephesians 4:15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
Who are you hanging out with? Who’s opinion do you value? Do they speak life or death? Do they encourage you or drag you down?
Tip: If you want to speak the very words of God, be a person who speaks the truth in love.
Do I speak the truth in love?
You can’t do this in your own strength or ability. It’s Holy Spirit who does it in us. We do our part, He does His.
1 Peter 4:11 goes on to say
Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
The next tool I have for you helps with all the serving gifts…
Am I serving in the strength God provides? Tool
S - Surrender your agenda. Isaiah 64:8
E - Enjoy His light yoke - Matthew 11:28-30
R - Remember to work as unto the Lord Colossians 3:23-24
V - Verify you are seeking first His Kingdom Matthew 6:33
E - Encourage others and be encouraged Proverbs 11:25
S - Surrender your agenda.
Isaiah 64:8 And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.
We can easily become tired and worn out when we try to work out our own plans. We can’t do what we do to look good. The feeling of busyness doesn’t come from what we have to do, but what we leave undone.
If you’re ever feel anxious about things left undone. Ask yourself:
Am I wanting to look good in front of others or please myself? If the answer is yes, “Is this really something God wants me to do?”
Do I let him be the potter?
E - Enjoy His light yoke
Matthew 11:28-30 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
How do you live with a light yoke? To summarize a lot of information, remember there is HELP.
HELP
H – Hear - Have I taken a burden on that you haven’t given me? Psalm 139:23-24
E – Examine - Am I not keeping pace you? Galatians 5:16-26
L – Look - How does this burden make me more like you? 2 Corinthians 3:18
P – Pause - What of this burden can I share? Galatians 6:2
Am I carrying His light yoke?
R - Remember to work as unto the Lord
Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
When we work as unto to the Lord with our whole heart, it includes our decisions, our actions and our emotions.
Our decisions - When we work as unto the Lord with our whole heart we are honest in all our dealings (Prov. 11:1), we always speak words of grace (Eph. 4:29), we give thanks always (1 Thess. 5:18), and we work in love (1 Cor. 16:14).
Our actions - When we work as unto the Lord with our whole heart, we grow our skill set (Prov 22:29), focus on the work we’ve been given (Prov 28:19) work with excellence (Col. 2:23) and work enthusiastically (Rom 12:11).
Our emotions - When we work as unto the Lord with our whole heart, we will feel peace and share peace because we trust the Father who loves us, to take care of us. (Isaiah 26:3)
We are probably more patient and less entitled when we know we are carrying His burden and yoke and not one others or society or we ourselves have put on on us.
Am I working as unto the Lord with my whole heart?
V - Verify you are seeking first His Kingdom
Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Motives matter in the Kingdom. Why we do what we do matters.
Am I working for the show? Matthew 6:2;16
Am I working for the dough? Matthew 6:24
Am I working because I worry? Matthew 6:25-32
Am I working always in a hurry? Matthew 6:34
We can’t. Jesus warned us against it in the sermon on the mount. His solution is to seek first the kingdom. God reigns wherever His will is done- on earth as it is in heaven. So to seek His Kingdom first means to seek His will and His glory and grace in every situation.
Have you been seeking His Kingdom first? When you serve with the strength he provides you have to.
Confession and repentance are the tools God has given us. Agree with Him it’s sin and that because it’s sin it hurts you, and turn - with Holy Spirit’s help - from doing it and thinking it’s ok to do it.
Am I seeking His Kingdom in this?
E - Encourage others and be encouraged
Proverbs 11:25 The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
I want to encourage you now.
Isaiah 40:31 ESV But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Sometimes we can rise up. Sometimes we can run. Sometimes we can only walk. We do what we can with what God gives us. It’s not keeping up with the Jones or looking good in front of others. It’s realizing sometimes we soar, sometimes we run, sometimes the best we can do is walk.
God has grace for us. Do you have grace for yourself?
Do you have grace for others?
Whatever we do, whatever we say should be for the encouragement of others (Ephesians 4:29).
Am I looking to bless or simply to be blessed?
God’s gifts conclusion
How do you speak the very words of God?
S - Stay in the Word - Colossians 3:16 Am I in the Word?
P - Prepare to give a reason for the hope you have - 1 Peter 3:15 Am I ready to give a reason for my hope?
E - Expect His Flow - Luke 12:11-12 Do I expect Holy Spirit to speak through me?
A - Always keep in step with the Spirit - Am I keeping in step with Holy Spirit?
K - Know and fellowship with people who speak the truth in love - Ephesians 4:15 Do I speak the truth in love?
That’s how you SPEAK the very words of God.
How do you serve in the strength God provides?
S - Surrender your agenda. Isaiah 64:8
E - Enjoy His light yoke - Matthew 11:28-30
R - Remember to work as unto the Lord Colossians 3:23-24
V - Verify you are seeking first His Kingdom Matthew 6:33
E - Encourage others and be encouraged Proverbs 11:25
That’s how you SERVE with the strength God provides.
Good news about God’s Gifts
May God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. 2 Thessalonians 1:11
That’s my encouragement for you. We all make mistakes as we speak and when we serve. But as we become more and more like Jesus, we can - more and more - only say what we hear the father say and only do what we see the father do.
Can I pray?