Spiritual Gifts
Part 2
The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts
Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 61:1-3
1 The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because the Lord chose me to tell the Good Story to the poor people
and comfort those people that have broken hearts.
HE sent me to announce freedom to slaves and those people in jail.
2 HE sent me to announce the year that God will accept people, yes, and HIS time to defeat their enemies.
3 To all those crying, HE will give a
beautiful crown instead of ASHES,
happiness instead of crying,
praise instead of depression;
because God blessed HIS people the same-as strong OAK trees, showing HIS glory.
Epistle Lesson: Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16
1 Now I myself am in jail because-of the Lord. And I tell you, walk in the right way, because HIS call wants that and God HIMSELF called you.
2 Remain patient with one-another in love, with all humbleness and kindness and with long patience.
3 Show eagerness to stay together with the Spirit in peace.
4 We have one group and one Spirit, same-as God called you to that one hope of your calling.
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism.
6 One God and Father of all. God is over all and through all and in all things.
7 God's gifts are given to each of us in different ways same-as Christ shares the gifts...
11 Christ gave HIS gifts to people. Some became followers; some became prophets; some became preachers; some became teachers and leaders.
12 These gifts gave help to Christians in their work for God and to help Jesus' Church become strong.
13 All of us have the same belief and knowledge about Jesus. We are full grown Christians copying the life of Jesus.
14 Then we will not do same-as children any more. Children are the same-as boats-back-and-forth in the waves, following the wind. People with a weak faith are the same-as children, listening to false teachers trying to make them believe lies.
15 But we must believe the true teachings with love in our hearts. We must grow-up and become the same-as Jesus. HE is the leader of the Church.
16 Christ put each part of HIS Church in the correct place. Each part helps other parts. This is needed to keep all the Church together. In this way the whole Church grows strong in love.
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 9:35-38
35 Jesus traveled-around, visiting all the cities. HE taught in the Jewish churches. HE preached about the kingdom of God. HE healed sick people.
36 Jesus saw the many people, and HE pitied them, because those people worried and were helpless, the same-as sheep without a shepherd.
37 Then Jesus said to HIS friends, "Those people are the same-as a large farm with many-many seeds growing finished, but only a few workers to collect the food.
38 You should pray to the Lord, because that food belongs-to HIM, and ask the Lord to send workers to gather HIS people."
Imagine a vision [mental picture]
happening in a place that we can't see -- not yet:
Heaven.
Imagine a war.
The soldiers in two groups are angels.
God's holy angels
and the devil, and his angels.
The Bible describes that war in Revelation, chapter 12.
That war in heaven is finished.
Who won? Yes, God and His angels.
But then the war continued in a different place...
[point to the cross] There... on the cross.
Now the soldier is Jesus Christ, against the devil himself.
They both have the same equipment, the same WEAPON
-- the cross.
That war also is finished.
Who won? Yes, Christ Jesus.
How?
When Jesus died, the devil lost all his control over us.
When Jesus rose again, He defeated death and hell.
Now we are His.
Now the war moves again -- where?
Here.
Now the soldiers are who?
Us.
Our equipment is what?
Spiritual gifts.
Remember, one-week-ago we learned:
Spiritual gifts are skills
for doing jobs
that God gives,
for us doing His work,
with His power and skill,
that He leads us,
for serving in Christ's Body, the Church
while Christ does His work on earth
through us.
And one-week-ago we learned that God gives every Christian spiritual gifts.
For what purpose?
?As an award?
?For giving us honor?
No! His Holy Spirit works in us, helping us together
honor Christ!
Last week we learned that God gives various gifts,
for various jobs, working together,
like various members in a body.
We must not compare -
"My gift from God is better than your gift."
"My job for Him is more important than your job."
Or...
"God gave me a small work. My duty is not important."
Wrong!
All gifts from the Holy Spirit are important.
All are needed.
Our Old Testament lesson today -- Isaiah chapter 61 --
one interesting thing about that.
When Jesus received His baptism,
the Holy Spirit led Jesus out to the dry country,
for challenging the devil, and beat him.
Then Jesus went back to His home city, Nazareth.
On Saturday, Jesus went to worship in the synagogue.
Jesus volunteered to read the lesson.
The worship leader gave Jesus the scroll by the prophet Isaiah.
Jesus open the scroll, found chapter 61, and read:
happening in a place that we can't see -- not yet:
Heaven.
Imagine a war.
The soldiers in two groups are angels.
God's holy angels
and the devil, and his angels.
The Bible describes that war in Revelation, chapter 12.
That war in heaven is finished.
Who won? Yes, God and His angels.
But then the war continued in a different place...
[point to the cross] There... on the cross.
Now the soldier is Jesus Christ, against the devil himself.
They both have the same equipment, the same WEAPON
-- the cross.
That war also is finished.
Who won? Yes, Christ Jesus.
How?
When Jesus died, the devil lost all his control over us.
When Jesus rose again, He defeated death and hell.
Now we are His.
Now the war moves again -- where?
Here.
Now the soldiers are who?
Us.
Our equipment is what?
Spiritual gifts.
Remember, one-week-ago we learned:
Spiritual gifts are skills
for doing jobs
that God gives,
for us doing His work,
with His power and skill,
that He leads us,
for serving in Christ's Body, the Church
while Christ does His work on earth
through us.
And one-week-ago we learned that God gives every Christian spiritual gifts.
For what purpose?
?As an award?
?For giving us honor?
No! His Holy Spirit works in us, helping us together
honor Christ!
Last week we learned that God gives various gifts,
for various jobs, working together,
like various members in a body.
We must not compare -
"My gift from God is better than your gift."
"My job for Him is more important than your job."
Or...
"God gave me a small work. My duty is not important."
Wrong!
All gifts from the Holy Spirit are important.
All are needed.
Our Old Testament lesson today -- Isaiah chapter 61 --
one interesting thing about that.
When Jesus received His baptism,
the Holy Spirit led Jesus out to the dry country,
for challenging the devil, and beat him.
Then Jesus went back to His home city, Nazareth.
On Saturday, Jesus went to worship in the synagogue.
Jesus volunteered to read the lesson.
The worship leader gave Jesus the scroll by the prophet Isaiah.
Jesus open the scroll, found chapter 61, and read:
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because the Lord chose me to tell the Good Story to the poor people and comfort those people that have broken hearts. HE sent me to announce freedom to slaves and those people in jail.
HE sent me to announce the year that God will accept people, yes, and HIS time to defeat their enemies.
Then Jesus told the people,
"While you listened, that prophecy happened."
Meaning:
That lesson is about Jesus!
Jesus announces Good News to us
that are spiritually poor,
having broken hearts,
slaves for sinful habits,
in prison, chained to our fears:
Now you are free!
God forgives you.
He accepts you.
He defeated the devil.
That happened when Jesus died and rose again for you.
But now, Jesus ascended to heaven.
And His Holy Spirit now touches you.
That job of announce His Good News
to people having broken hearts,
people that are slaves to sin,
in that prison called fear,
Now Jesus gives to you and me that job.
Announcing that God forgives sinners,
now that's our job.
Announcing that God defeated the devil,
now that's our job.
And for doing that job, Christ gives us His Holy Spirit.
During the first Lord's Supper, the night before His crucifixion,
Jesus explained His future plans for us.
"While you listened, that prophecy happened."
Meaning:
That lesson is about Jesus!
Jesus announces Good News to us
that are spiritually poor,
having broken hearts,
slaves for sinful habits,
in prison, chained to our fears:
Now you are free!
God forgives you.
He accepts you.
He defeated the devil.
That happened when Jesus died and rose again for you.
But now, Jesus ascended to heaven.
And His Holy Spirit now touches you.
That job of announce His Good News
to people having broken hearts,
people that are slaves to sin,
in that prison called fear,
Now Jesus gives to you and me that job.
Announcing that God forgives sinners,
now that's our job.
Announcing that God defeated the devil,
now that's our job.
And for doing that job, Christ gives us His Holy Spirit.
During the first Lord's Supper, the night before His crucifixion,
Jesus explained His future plans for us.
Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, if you believe in Me, you will do the same wonderful works I do, and you will do greater things, because I am going to the Father.
"I have much more to tell you, but that is too-much for you now. When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will teach you all the true things. Everything He tells you is not from Himself, but He speaks the things He hears and tells you the things of the future. He will praise Me, because He receives from Me and tells that to you.
"Everything the Father has is Mine. That is the reason I said, 'He receives from Me and tells that to you.' "
(John 14:12; 16:12-15)
We pray:
Lord Jesus,
Here You tell us that that work You did on earth,
now you give that to us.
Lord, we ourselves can't do as You did.
But You said that we will do things greater than You did.
How!?
You are God, and we are only weak human sinners.
But still, You give us your great work
for us to do.
Please, we need Your help.
We need wisdom.
We need courage.
We need faith.
We need Your power.
We need Your Holy Spirit filling us.
Show us those gifts that You already gave to us.
Show us how to use those gifts for honoring You.
Amen.
Lord Jesus,
Here You tell us that that work You did on earth,
now you give that to us.
Lord, we ourselves can't do as You did.
But You said that we will do things greater than You did.
How!?
You are God, and we are only weak human sinners.
But still, You give us your great work
for us to do.
Please, we need Your help.
We need wisdom.
We need courage.
We need faith.
We need Your power.
We need Your Holy Spirit filling us.
Show us those gifts that You already gave to us.
Show us how to use those gifts for honoring You.
Amen.