Game-Changing Gifts

God is real and He does real things.

You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.

- 1 Corinthians 12:2

For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

- 1 Corinthians 4:20

God wants to empower us with spiritual gifts.

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 

- 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Spiritual gifts give us access to purpose and power.

18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?

- 1 Corinthians 12:18-19

Desire spiritual gifts.

...earnestly desire the spiritual gifts.

- 1 Corinthians 14:1

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

- Luke 11:13

1. Ask in Faith

2. Be in the right atmosphere

3. Attempt in faith

Seek to love and build.

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts

- 1 Corinthians 14:1

So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

- 1 Corinthians 14:12

Avoid “the Ditch of the Dead” and “the Ditch of the Weird.”

39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all things should be done decently and in order.

- 1 Corinthians 14:39-40

All Hands on Deck

1 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed… 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

- 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 NIV

You are gifted.

18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

- 1 Corinthians 12:18

Your service reveals your gift.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

- 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Your gift creates community.

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 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

- Ephesians 4:11-16

The Immeasurable Value of a Mother

The value of a Mother

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”

- Proverbs 31:25-30 NLT

The making of a Mother

Then the man—Adam—named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all who live.

- Genesis 3:20 NLT

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

- John 15:13 NLT

The honor of a Mother

Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise. 

- Proverbs 31:28-31 NLT

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.  “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

- Ephesians 6:1-3 NLT

Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home. Jesus knew that his mission was now finished

- John 19:25-28a

Find a Way through the Gray

We’ll need to navigate morally gray issues throughout our lives.

Now concerning food offered to idols… 

- 1 Corinthians 8:1

Gray areas can become a battleground for believers.

“...we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.”

- 1 Corinthians 8:1

God gives us freedom on many issues.

4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. 

- 1 Corinthians 8:4-6

In our freedom, we love God.

3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. 

- 1 Corinthians 8:3  

In our freedom, we love others.

7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.

- 1 Corinthians 8:7-12

Our desire to love should be greater than our desire to exercise personal freedoms.

23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

- 1 Corinthians 10:23-24

The Day the Church Lost Power

God’s people did not have God’s power.

18 Some of you have become arrogant, thinking I will not visit you again. 19 But I will come—and soon—if the Lord lets me, and then I’ll find out whether these arrogant people just give pretentious speeches or whether they really have God’s power. 20 For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.

- 1 Corinthians 4:18-20 (NLT)

15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

- Titus 1:15-16 (ESV)

2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, 4 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people.

- 2 Timothy 3:2-5 (CSB)

Sin separates us and denies our access to God and His Power.

The Lord hates six things; in fact, seven are detestable to him: 17 arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet eager to run to evil, 19 a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers.

- Proverbs 6:16-19 (CSB)

The solution is repentance.

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires. 13 And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. 14 For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law but under grace.

- Romans 6:12-4 - ESV

Questions for Reflection:

1. Have you experienced the power of God in your life?

2. How can God’s power in your life affect others around you?
   
   

Partnership with God

5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

- 1 Corinthians 3:5-9

Grow Up: God wants to bring you to maturity.

Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.

- 1 Corinthians 3:1-2

Own Up: Associate with God and associate with his purpose.

For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

- Mark 8:38

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

- 2 Timothy 2:15

Show Up: Contribute to the mission.

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

- Matthew 28:18-20

Ask yourself these three questions…

1. Are you really in partnership with God?

2. How much have you invested?

3. How much risk are you willing to take?

How to Follow God in Sin City

Our culture is not conducive to following Christ.

“Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth…”

- 1 Corinthians 1:1-2

Being passive isn’t an option.

“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.”

- 1 Corinthians 5:1-2

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

- Matthew 4:19-20

Press on toward Christ.

“To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus…”

- 1 Corinthians 1:2

“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

- John 17:17

Press into Community.

“To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours…”

- 1 Corinthians 1:2

Raised to Life

Everyone gets desperate at some point.

22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.”

- Mark 5:22-23

Disappointment is a routine in our lives.

While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”

- Mark 5:35

For the wages of sin is death…

- Romans 6:23

Don’t give up on Jesus!

But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”

- Mark 5:36

Jesus Christ can raise our disappointments to life.

38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.

- Mark 5:38-42

Entrust our disappointments and destinies to Him.

“Do not fear, only believe.”

- Mark 5:36

2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.

- Mark 16:2-5

Joy for the Journey

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

- Philippians 4:4-7

Always be Joyful (It is Possible!)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

- Philippians 4:4

Be a peacemaker

5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;

- Philippians 4:5

Take anxiety captive

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

- Philippians 4:6

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

- James 1:8

Allow God make you whole

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

- Philippians 4:6

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

- Philippians 4:7

Surrender control to God

Adjusting for Joy

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God wants us to experience His joy.

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

- Philippians 3:1

The joy of Jesus exceeds expectations.

“...therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”

- Hebrews 1:9

The joy of Jesus endures.

“looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross...”

- Hebrews 12:2

Joy comes from more than just a religious routine.

Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

- Philippians 3:2

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

- Ephesians 2:8-9

Joy comes from practicing the presence of God.

For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God…

- Philippians 3:3

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

- John 14:15-17

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

- Hebrews 11:6

Joy comes from living with God’s value system.

...and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh…

- Philippians 3:3

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.

- Philippians 3:7-8