Good morning and welcome! ‘It’s wonderful to be seating in God’s presence with you this morning. If you have gone on a long drive and have taken advantage of the long weekend (Queen’s birthday) here in Sydney, please take care and drive back safe.
Wherever you are, let’s focus our eyes on Jesus. This is not the time to multitask. This is the time to sit still in God’s Holy Presence because God has a word for you today! If there’s one thing that God trained us in our US trip, it was the definitely the art of believing in miracles! Miracles are supernatural gifts from God that must be received in awe and wonder! And I believe there is one or more waiting for you@
Last week, I mentioned how God brought “ravens” to provide for us during our trip to the US. But I completely forgot to mention the “raven” He sent from Australia when we were in Tulsa OK! And I felt the Holy Spirit’s nudge to mention it today. On 30 April, the night of my graduation, this “raven” messaged me at 11:44 pm Tulsa time. She said, “I would like to give you love offerings to help you with some expenses while in the US, please send me your BSB #, Acct # and full name! I’m so moved with what you have been doing for the Lord. Have fun in the States.” To some of you here and those online, this may not mean much, but to Allan and I, this was a miracle from God! This lady is from another church and has not step into this church for one bit! This was God giving insight to someone to step in faith and give sacrificially. Only God can move someone’s heart to do such a thing.
I also learn from this trip to let go and travel light! International flights gave us 32 kilos but domestic flights only allow max of 23 kilos. So, from 32 KILOS, we had to bring it down to 23 KILOS. Somehow, we managed to squeeze our stuff in our hand carry and backpacks, but it still appeared that we’re carrying too many in our hands plus my backpack felt like it was tearing my shoulders apart. To our surprise, at the boarding gate, the flight attendants who assisted us in check in and who told us to pay additional $200USD if we want to check in our 2 heavy hand carry suitcases told us to hand both suitcases to them for free. Allan and I were asking each other, “Did we hear it right?” And yes, we heard it right and so we did. We walked to the aircraft without our excess baggage, just our backpacks which perfectly fit underneath our seats. Allan and I saw these favour God’s miracle, a gift from God.
Some of us are over baggaged in this life. We have so many stuffs that we carry. God’s spiritual gifts can remove baggages He did not want us to carry because He already did! God does not want us to be ignorant of what He made available to us! Today and next Sunday, I want to talk to you about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Its in 1 Cor 12:1, 4-11.
(1)“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant. (4) There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. (5) There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. (6) And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. (7) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: (8) for one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, (9) to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, (10) to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. (11) But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”
As a church we believed in the miracles of Pentecost. Our declaration of Faith made it clear:
(Slide 4) - The Foursquare Declaration of Faith
“We believe that the Holy Spirit has the following gifts to bestow upon the believing church of the Lord Jesus Christ: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, interpretation; that according to the degree of grace and faith possessed by the recipient, these gifts are divided to every man severally, as He, the Holy Spirit will; that they are to be earnestly desired and coveted, in the order and proportion wherein they prove most edifying and beneficial to the church…”
When we talk of quality of life, we think of 5-bedroom ocean view house. We think of fast cars, nice, branded shoes, collections of expensive jewelleries and toys and gadgets. We think of debt-free living and affluent lifestyle. Nothing wrong with that! But we sometimes forget that quality of life also means inner peace, joy, patience, long-suffering, being kind, being considerate to others who do not deserve it. It means sound mental state, freedom from inner torture and harassments of the past. It means faith for a bright future in a bleak and dark days at hand. That’s what spiritual gifts bring! They bring life and wholeness, and healing, and freedom to a weary soul. They help us focus on faith instead of our pain. They equip the members of Christ’s church well, healthy, and strong so we can be useful in God’s rescue operations of lost souls. It’s a gift to be desired and it is for you to receive in faith this morning!
The Background for Spiritual Gifts
The Promise Given (Luke 24:47-49) – to carry out the divine mission by his disciples, Jesus instructed them to wait in Jerusalem until they are endued with power from on high.
The Promise Fulfilled (Acts 2:2-4) And on the day of Pentecost, the promised Holy Spirit was poured out upon the waiting Church with visible and audible signs. The believers were filled with the Spirit’s power that everywhere they went, their ministry is marked by the supernatural.
2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.
Paul talks about spiritual gifts in at least 3 places in his letters. He has it in Romans 12:6-8 and Ephesians 4:8-11 and today’s text in 1 Cor. 12:1-11.
Words Related to Spiritual Gifts – I picked up 3 words
“Charismata” – The Greek word for spiritual gift is “charisma.” It comes from the basic word “charis,” in English, “grace.” From there, we can say that spiritual gifts are tangible expression of God’s grace in a person’s life in the form of a capacity to act in a way that goes beyond human power and abilities. They are Spirit-enabled abilities that cannot be done by our inborn natural abilities. They are not merit awards and therefore cannot be earned. They are not given to benefit the receiver or possessor of the gifts. 1 Cor 12: 4 says, “there are different kinds of gifts” (gracious gifts)
“Diakoniai” – where we get the word “deacon” meaning service, ministry, contribution– From there, we can see that IN REGARD TO THEIR APPLICATION, spiritual gifts are ministries. - 1 Cor 12:5 “there are differences of ministries” HE WHO EXERCISES HIS SPIRITUAL GIFT IN THE CHURCH/BODY MINISTERS TO THE CHURCH/BODY.
“Energemata” – “operations or activities” – it comes from the Greek word ener’gema (in English – energy) which means effect.” 1 Cor 12:6 “there are diversities of activities” – The activities in this world leave you feeling tired, used-up and exhausted, but Spiritual gifts are activities of, and operations energized by the Spirit that brings and produces spiritual effects in the body. IT’S A WORD OF POWER! A WORD THAT CANCELS THE DEVIL’S SCHEME HENCE IT MUST BE SPOKEN. IT MUST BE MADE KNOWN. IT MUST BE RELEASED BECAUSE A gift that does not operate nor minister nor produce an effect has no value to the church!
Division of the 9 Gifts of the Spirit in 1 Cor 12:8-10 – in a traditional sense, the 9 gifts listed by Paul here is divided into:
The Gifts of Revelation – word of wisdom, word of knowledge, discernment of spirits – often there are overlap between these gifts
The Gifts of Power - faith, healings, and working of miracles
The Gifts of Utterance/Speech – prophecy, tongues, interpretation of tongues
For this morning, let’s focus on the The Gifts of Revelation – 1 Cor 12:8 and 10
1. Word of wisdom – natural wisdom vs divine wisdom –
It is important to note that Paul is not speaking here simply of wisdom, but of a “word” of wisdom. It is a wisdom that has nothing to do with IQ and is not gained by human experience or learning but is supernaturally given by God. The outcome brings good and not evil, healing and not pain, relief and not burden, restoration, freedom or payback! A word of wisdom refers to supernatural wisdom given in the moment that leads a person to make the right decision, or reply with the right answer, or break through a deadlock or a standstill, or know what to do in a particular situation.
WE can see this spiritual gift operating powerfully in Elisha’s ministry:
Example: 2 Kings 2:19-22 Healing of the Water
19 The people of the city (Jericho) said to Elisha, “Look, our lord, this town (Jericho) is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive.”
20 “Bring me a new bowl,” he said, “and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him.
21 Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, “This is what the LORD says: ‘I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.’” 22 And the water has remained pure to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken. YOU SEE A WORD OF WISDOM HERE MADE THE BAD BECOMES GOOD THE UNPRODUCTIVE BECOMES PRODUCTIVE! Because it is from God, it has power! Some of us are swimming in bad water, or in unproductive situation, God is healing that bad water and making your land productive again! Do you need to see it first before you believe? I say don’t because late believing is not believing at all. Believe NOW!
2 Kings 4:-7 – The Widow’s Olive Oil
4 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the LORD. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”
2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”
“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”
3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”
5 She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”
But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” HERE, THE WORD OF WISDOM MADE A WIDOW PAID OFF HER DEBT AND GOT OUT OF POVERTY! BOTTOMLESS PROVISION. A word of wisdom for someone this morning, God can work with the small jar of olive oil you have left. In the Bible, olive oil is a symbol of anointing! Go around and ask if there are empty jars where you can pour in the little amount of anointing you still have. And don’t ask for just a few (a few can mean small or restricted) because it will restrict your miracles too! And by the way, fill those empty jars to the brim (Jesus said to the servants at the wedding in Cana - John 2:1-12). Don’t worry if it does not make sense to you yet because it will in His time! Your job is to obey, God’s job is to produce the outcome!
John 2:7-10 – Jesus Changes Water Into Wine
7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” GOD IS SAVING YOUR BEST DAYS YET! It is in God’s spiritual oven! The heat is on, but, not for long!
2. Word of knowledge – natural knowledge vs divine knowledge
To others, the word of knowledge refers to the ability to understand Christian doctrine, apply the principles of the Bible to the problems of daily life, teach the Christian faith and interpret the Bible. This interpretation leans much more on natural ability than on supernatural ability. It depends on human learning and intelligence rather than on God’s grace giving people access to information they could not have known naturally. But the New Testament particularly the book of Acts and prophetical books in OT record many instances of Christians having access to such supernatural knowledge (see Acts 5:3; 9:8– 12; 14:9– 10; 1 Corinthians 14:24– 25), by which God reveals His will in a particular setting or a specific condition that He desires to heal. This knowledge then causes a greater measure of faith to be manifest, which in turn releases gifts of power— healings and the working of miracles, which leads and usher people to put their faith in God!
Example: John 4:1-18 – “He told her (Samaritan woman), Go, call your husband and come back.” I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
Acts 5:3 and 7 – “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?
Word of knowledge most of the time works hand in hand with prophetic insight and healing – the Holy Spirit impressing a situation in the body needing healing – physical, emotional, financial, relational, etc.
3. Discerning of spirit – This gift is not of judging people, but judging the spirit behind the manifestation, whether Holy, evil or human.
Gk: deakreisis – “to discern,” “to discriminate” “to distinguish”
1 Cor 14:29 - Let the prophets speak two or three and let the other judge.
APPLICATION: MY OWN STORY – like any marriages, our marriage is not bullet-proof. We’ve gone through heartbreaking season. The first blow happened between 2004 to 2007. The voice of the Devil was telling me that my marriage was done! But God sent a stranger in Hillsong Conference to tell me otherwise, He brought a word of knowledge. He came up to me and said, “xxxxx”, nothing happened visibly after that, our situation did not improve but inwardly, I felt a seemingly tons and tons of baggage lifted. I was fully energized and cared less of what was happening around me. And again in Hillsong conference in 2007, TD Jakes was speaking on that Friday final night rally, and he said this words, “I travelled thousands of miles to tell somebody that this is your last night on the boat and he was referring to the disciples in the middle of storm while Jesus was pretty sleeping in one corner of the boat.” I felt that those words hit me to the core, and I could not stop sobbing. I knew that God was speaking to me and comforting me and building my confidence and faith up. True enough, when I got home that night, my husband had returned home. Your story may not have the same ending as mine. Yours might be way better. Regardless, you will praise God, you will worship Him, you will see miracles beneath your fiery storm, you will repent and surrender, You will put your faith in Him. You will persevere, you will pursue Him and not the gifts. You will be a much better of yourself. You will be much more aware of the presence of God!
ACTIVATING THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
1. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. (Eph 5:18) Don’t get drunk with wine, because it makes you lose control. Instead, keep on being filled with the Spirit —
2. Stay close to Jesus – (Acts 4:13) Now when the men of the Sanhedrin (Jewish High Court) saw the confidence and boldness of Peter and John, and grasped the fact that they were uneducated and untrained [ordinary] men, they were astounded, and began to recognize that they had been with Jesus.
3. Get God’s heart for the lost and the broken.
4. Ask, seek, knock – (Matt 7:7-8) 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
5. Take a step in faith. Take risks! (Luke 17:5) 5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
6. Do whatever He tells you (John 2:1-12 - wedding in Cana)
7. Know your authority in Christ (Matthew 8:8-9) 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant,[a] ‘Do this,’ and he does it.
8. Learn from others.
9. Use testimonies to stir up faith.
10. Remove obstacles and misunderstandings.
11. Give the Holy Spirit room to work.
Brothers and sisters, what the world needs are not good ideologies and sound religion, not even good social or political platform. What the world needs are man and woman of faith who like that of flight attendants at the boarding gate would help people get rid of their excess baggage by being obedient to the Holy Spirit. He wants to fill you with word of wisdom, word of knowledge. He wants to give you ability to discern spirits so we can help people believe in the God of miracles. They need to see a drug addict released from drugs, or a struggling marriage recovered from verge of collapse, or a single mum find strength and recover from such a loss, or when a certified thief stopped stealing because of the convicting power of the preaching and teaching of the gospel and the working of Spirit’s gifting in and through the church. The list is unending! When they do see these manifestations, the world will flood the church.
The Holy Spirit makes these revelatory gifts available. Desire it! Use it for His Kingdom purpose in and through you. Today, let’s ask God for the gifts of the Spirit!
PRAY:
Father, in Jesus' Name we ask You to release the gifts of the Holy Spirit in a greater measure into the life of everyone here and those online. We ask for the gifts to be released through us in order to display Your glory. Let the mighty manifestations of God in miracles, signs, and wonders speak of Your power and might for Your Name's sake and Your unending love for Your people. We ask that You fill each of us with Your Holy Spirit, open our spiritual eyes to see and spiritual ears to hear the cries of those around us who need You and who need the revelation of Your Holy Spirit. Amen!
