The Gifts that Keep Giving | Gifts of the Spirit

You are listening to a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. Visit our website and learn more about harvest partners@harvest.org you are not all that is there that We all know the important role of a new beginning. Laurie Susie would be better if you want to see God work in your life you cannot arrogant person you see yourself as you really are another form you know that the job more than the skyscraper tape measure the spiritually speaking with some of our tools today on Greg Laurie points out the important work that series called upside down life.

Let's grab our Bible chapter 2 in Romans chapter 12. Acts chapter 2 and Romans chapter 12 the title of my messages.

The gifts that keep on giving question how many of view of ever received a gift for Christmas or any other time you did not like. Raise your hand not a room of raising their hands so some of you always like to get the receipt so you get that gift and let's start with the fruitcake.

What is the deal with the fruitcake.

Does anyone here like forgetting to eat you.

I think it's good, get up, no, no, don't. Maybe as a weapon, maybe as a doorstop or something to step up on but really to eat their full MI theory is there's one fruitcake on the face of the year and we just keep recirculating a decade after decade, what question have you ever seen two fruitcakes next to each other know you have the so fruitcake I don't get that is a gift at all unless you don't like the person within there's a person that gives you close can I give you a word of advice, don't get close to people unless they specifically said I want that dresser. I want that shirt because you probably have bad taste.

All right then you receive the gift and you open you up to live off 000 I think you and your immediately look in his servicing on this so I can return it when I give a gift to someone. I say look, I didn't know what to get you. I thought you might like this if you don't like it. Please take it back the receipts in the box, get what you want maybe let me know what you got on fine with that because I want people to be happy with the I gave him another a person first they give you the ugly shirt that's the first insult.

Then a week later when even aware that shirt.

I gave you in your mind you're thinking, oh, sometimes soon. You know you never get around aware that this is just something you think maybe I'll regift it.

How many of you have ever regift it regift the deed you take a gift given to you and you give it to someone else. How many be done that your security remember who gave it to you don't regift a gift to the person who gave it to you in the first place. Awkward moments so give we give them we receive them. Did you know God loves to give.

He loves to give gifts any specific gifts just for you.

We call them the gifts of the holy spirit in the book of acts were looking at the work of the Holy Spirit through the lives of very ordinary people. As I mentioned earlier. Sometimes this book is titled the acts of the apostles, by the way the Bible doesn't call it that. That was out of later. I think we could more accurately describe it as the acts of the Holy Spirit as we see the Holy Spirit at work in this book moving through the lives of people I want to take just a moment to think about what this means. We started out by pointing out these men and these women were filled with the Holy Spirit and every Christian needs to be filled refill and filled again after that, with the Holy Spirit all the time. When you get up in the morning you should start your day by saying, Lord, fill me with the Holy Spirit. If you're young you need to pray this prayer if you're all you need to pray this prayer if you're a man or a woman, you need to pray this prayer. Dads need to pray this for mother's need to pray this prayer. Everybody needs to pray this prayer Lord, fill me with the Holy Spirit and then having done that thought is certain gifts he wants to put in your life and listen to this. The gifts of the spirit are here for us and God wants to distribute them among us. In fact, he tells us that this is something we should desire first Corinthians 14 wants is earnestly desire the spiritual gift.

So why is it that there is an apprehension in us about this topic well probably because we've seen some abuse. We've seen some excess we've seen some misuse of the gifts of the spirit and maybe watch some show on TV and the preacher who usually sounds like a biased dictation always like Leah Skinner and up any spray review Presley the Holy Spirit you play on the B we go outside all about. It's a whole lease that it people are falling down the rolling around on the ground there barking like dogs or say that that's a Holy Spirit I don't want anything to do with it.

That's not the Holy Spirit that's weird people doing weird things okay the Holy Spirit's power in our life is a practical power. Fax 18 says you shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit is come upon you to become Arabian lunatic. No, I don't think I've read that verse it says you shall receive power, acts 18 after the Holy Spirit is come upon you to be witnesses unto me, it's power that enables us to do what God is called us to do with the power comes supernatural gifts or abilities. We did not previously have the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not toys to play with their tools to build with and their weapons to fight with and we want to find that what those gifts are the God is given to us so we can start using them and I think if we tried to stay away from it. We end up throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

By the way where that expression come from someone actually throw a baby. I would bathwater once I think back in the old days of the West, you know, they didn't have hot and cold running water so that heat up the old tub you know and and every family member would go on the same bathwater and by the time the ninth member of the family was, then you probably get dirty or being in the bathtub and staying out of it and I guess the last one to go was the baby and where's the baby LOC or he was so not with about four or whatever we want to miss out on this great blessing of the gifts of the spirit first of the 414 says. Don't neglect the gift that is in you present another translation puts it, keep your give Dustin often use like a translated keep your gift dusted off and in use up all talking about our place in the church and how we can use our gifts. There's one word I would use to some of the early church together, they did things together.

Remember my last message was better together. So these folks engage together they learn together. They love together they worship together.

They took care of one another that one believer was in need other believers would help to meet that need. And this was a powerful testimony to lost people in the same way a unified church is a powerful witness to a divided world. Let me say that again unified church is a powerful witness to a divided world because our culture is so divided right now, isn't it over divided over politics were divided over pro or against vaccine were divided over everything and sometimes it even finds its way into the church and these are secondary issues so together. That was the early church. A story is told about visitor who came to visit the city of Sparta, the king of Sparta was boasting about the walls of his famous city visitor (so I don't see any walls and then the kingdom Sparta said CM Sparta. Every man is a brick and then he pointed to his army and the king said, these are the walls of Sparta. The same is true in the church. Every man is a brick is a great theologians Pink Floyd once told us. All in all, you're just another brick in the wall. Every person matters. Every brick matters. You are the walls of the kingdom of God as we stand together we can get a lot more done than were pulled apart. Mr. Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message in just a moment.

So many listeners have commented on the help they received from the resources we make available at a new beginning like this. Listener Pastor Greg was sitting at my grandmother's funeral this weekend, talking to my cousin's father during the conversation, I found out my uncle was given, can you believer's Bible on the last day of his life just before he died from a brain tumor, understand simple faith to continue where he was going after this life. I think God for the hope of the gospel and its power.

Thank you for being bold. So many happenings to get out the gospel. If you like information about Pastor Greg's new believers Bible just contact us@harvest.org that's harvest.org will is a part of his series called the upside down life pastor Greg is presenting a message today called the gifts that keep giving.

Let's continue.

So let's think know little bit about the gifts of the spirit left over to Romans 12 see what Paul says, Romans 12 three Paul says I give each of you this morning.

Don't think you're better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith that God is given us.

Point number one you are not all that in a bag of chips yes that's an actual sermon point. You are not all that and a bag of chips you for that expression right and some people think they are. They just think they're the cats meow whatever that means but you know that there's they may be gifted but but the are arrogant and if you want to see God work in your life. You cannot be an arrogant person. God gives grace to the humble using and goes out of his way to use unexpected people and I've had the opportunity to meet famous people and powerful people and so many of them I think of are very down to earth, humble people I think of Adele strawberry. The guy said I, you know, I interviewed all strawberry at Angel Stadium. Girls walking around is pretty noticeable guy when you walk with Darrell. You feel very small because Darrell is very tall and everyone recognizes and that still strawberry people running up to him seeking this and any such a chill person always takes time for people he prays for people. He uses that theme if you will.

Well, I find it interesting.

Here's a really gifted, talented person is genuinely humble. Then I need someone who isn't really that talented are gifted in their arrogant my attitude is, do you not even talented enough to be arrogant.

You should be the most humble person of all, you know why because you're not all bad on a baggage and if you want to be used by God.

You need to see yourself as you really are no this cemeteries are full of indispensable people using guns dependent on you.

I know God is not dependent on me.

He could replace me in a nano second so it's a privilege and God works through me or when God works through you, so here's what Paul is saying don't think you're better than you are.

Don't think you're worse than you are. Think realistically if you are given a gift by God use that gift point number two whatever gift you have is just that gift. Whatever gift you have been given to you by God.

It's a gift.

Romans 12 verse five we been many, are one body in Christ, having gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us.

So let us use them. Listen to this God is giving you a gift or gifts, and more likely it's a few gifts. Most people I know have multiple gifts of the spirit and I'm only going to touch on the topic.

This message but in future messages will go a little more depth in some of these other gifts but if you've been given these gifts, it's irresponsible to not use them.

Let me take it a step further. It could even be sinful to not use the gifts that God is given to you because were told over and the book of James chapter 4 verse 17. To him that knows to do good and does not to.

It to him it is sin. She got a music camp that God is giving you. Number three.

We all have a part to play in the church with their spiritual gifts. We all have a part to play.

Romans 12 for just as our bodies of many parts and each part is a special function so it is with Christ body we are many parts of one body and we all belong to each other.

Think of the human body that when you meet someone you might notice her eyes only notice their hair. You might notice whatever and you don't notice internal organs. But the reality is what's more important, how beautiful my hair is or how well my heart is functioning I can tell you, you can function without here you miss it you wish you hadn't any barbers. This is all I like bebop their lien right. We wish we had here, but we don't. So we just accepted it. Other people don't accepted and they were like a little bird's nest, also known as a toupee or herpes, but you know you can function without here to be detected go you can function without side.

You can function without the ability to hear but you cannot function without your heart beating properly. You cannot function without certain organs functioning as they should.

So the point of it is I don't know what part you are in the body of Christ. We all live apart to play were not all the same summer more outgoing summer more reserved summer more big picture summer more detail oriented, but everyone has a role soliciting a partial list of the gifts of the spirit. By the way, if you have a pen we are taking notes in your phone or tablet or whatever. If you want to read more in the gifts of the spirit.

Go to first Corinthians 12 in Ephesians 4 first Corinthians 12 Ephesians 4.

So let's read a few more verses Romans 12 verse six is grace. God is given us different gifts for doing certain things well if God is giving you the ability to prophesy. Speak out with as much faith as God has given you prophecy is that gift still for today. I believe this when we think of a prophet. We think of someone that predicts the future and the gift of prophecy can include this, however if you claim to be a prophet, and I don't know if we really have what we would call prophets today, but if we do, and you claim to be one of these prophets, you better be accurate in your predictions. Otherwise, yes Europe prophet with one word in front of it false so I see these people making new predictions. This will happen and it doesn't happen all prophet I can listen to you anymore with the word prophecy means to speak for another. So the gift of prophecy is a supernatural insight into something that didn't come from your mind, something the Lord shows you the gift of prophecy. So if you have this gift speak out with as much faith as God is giving you if you gift for serving others serve them well. If you're a teacher teach well if your gift is encouraging others that the gift of exhortation encouraging. Every gift is giving the give generously, God is giving you leadership ability take that responsibility seriously and if you have a gift for showing kindness to others do it gladly. There certain terms bubble up here do it well generously gladly take this responsibility seriously so the gift of service is mentioned right next to the gift of prophecy that we might think of the person who prophesies or speaks for God is having the more important gap in the one working behind the scenes has the list important gift. The Bible does it make that distinction. There right next to each other to serve behind the scenes is just as important as being upfront and who is this person, this is a person that finds a need and meet that that's what it means to have the gift of serving you. Find a need and you meet. I think some people honestly think you have the gift of criticism though if I would final like this. I disagree with this other thing that I would do it. This well right what would you do I would do anything remember hearing the story of some woman that criticize the great evangelist DL Moody. She said Mr. Moody. I don't like the way you do evangelism is upon them.

I'm always open to suggestions. How do you do evangelism. She said well I don't, he said well I like my way of doing it better than your way of not doing it for church is imperfect forget to do everything perfectly every time. So you see a need, helping to meet that need. Fell step in there what is your knee. One of the best ways to find what your spiritual gifts are is literally volunteer for everything you'll know quickly if you're good at something, or if you will, you know, you might want help on children's ministry so you going help and teach a class and they find you at the end of the class tied up to a chair.

This is and to give. Try to help people out of the parking lot cars are running into each other don't seem to be that person. You think you're gifted in music and a lot of people think they're good musically warrant. I have to tell you they think they have a great voice and they don't. So maybe that's not your gift. But maybe you have a gift in another area you never thought of before. So the main thing is you volunteer for everything. It's like process of elimination mark that off mark that off mark that off part of old well I'm gifted. This why would I be gifted in this. This is like not what I would normally do the supernatural gifts are different than your natural talents you might have natural talents in certain areas within a gifting from God in an area you never thought you would have a gifting and sometimes other people will tell you what your gift is before you even know my so you know I love it when you do this will you overrule ability in this one area 14. Maybe that is your very tactical insight today. New beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie is leading our study of acts two and Romans 12 in his message called the gifts that keep giving and then this month we are making available. Pastor Greg popular book, Steve McQueen, the salvation of an American icon of pressuring Steve McQueen's life story, including the troubles she faced as a kid sounds a lot like your own story.

Is that why he resonates with you so much. Yeah, you know, Dave.

The way this whole book started my written a number of biographies as people may know, I wrote a book called Johnny Cash, the redemption of an American icon. My newest book is called London Dylan Allison Jesus sort of the exploration of the spiritual life of a lot of iconic rock stars also wrote a biography on Billy Graham called Billy Graham the men I knew what it all started with Steve McQueen the salvation of an American icon, and that book started with a Google search I heard that Steve would become a Christian, but I never really knew if it was a true story, so I simply put in the search engine, Steve McQueen, Christian men, I started seeing some names pop up one of them was Leonard DeWitt so I wanted to find out if Leonard was still alive and indeed he was. Leonard DeWitt was the pastor of Steve McQueen. I track them down.

We had a long conversation that I went out to interview him and as I begin to meet other people that were a part of the story.

It became so amazing to me. I interviewed Steve's widow Barbara McQueen who was there when Steve came to Christ, so in my exploration of Steve's life. I was really amazed to find that our childhood was almost exactly the same.

I've never met anybody with a childhood quite like mine starting with this fact. Both Steve and I were born, not knowing your biological father was number two. Both of us went out looking to meet our biological father.

Number three. Both of us had beautiful alcoholic mothers who really had no time for us number for both of us were sent to live with her grandparents and number five. Both of us were send to reform type institutions. He went to a boys home and I went to a military school so I could really understand him a little bit as I was beginning to tell his story. But then he became the number one movie star in the world and I did not have much but you know it when it we really get down to the bottom line. Everybody needs Jesus and Steve discovered that after he had kinda been there done that you know about the T-shirt and bended T-shirt. He we he was a cultural icon of fashion icon a movie I got. He was everything he was called the king of cool and for good reason.

In his face still pops up in ads for products today because he's is one of those guys that's transcended time.

But Steve McQueen, who in his day was the number one movie star in all of the world came into a life changing relationship with Jesus Christ and so that's what I wrote about in my book, Steve McQueen, the salvation of an American icon you to be amazed at the twist and turns his life took and how God intervened and gets wealth pops up in the Steve McQueen story, none other than Billy Graham himself. I will tell you what happened, but Billy played a key role in Steve's life. Toward the end. And so if you would like a copy of this book, Steve McQueen, the salvation of an American icon, we will send it to you for your gift of any size not what that means is if you give a little will send you a copy if you give more. Of course, will send you a copy.

The point is we want everyone to have a copy of this amazing book so they can hear this amazing story. And when you're done my best it on to a friend who is a believer yet, but whatever you send large or small, will take those gifts and will use them to continue to fulfill our mission during harvest ministries and what is admission. Here's a mission statement.

To know God and the make him no.

So every day we seek to make God known get the gospel out. We like to fish and as many ponds as we possibly can. But then there's the other part knowing God, that's a teaching part that's what you hear every day on a new beginning. What were teaching you the word of God, and we offer so many resources to help you grow spiritually like our daily devotional and are online teachings through books of the Bible.

So if you want a copy of this book Steve would queen the salvation of an American icon, get it now and send is that gift and will put it to good use. It's right and thank you so much for your generosity.

It's a gift that changes lives, so we hope you let us hear from you today with your donation. Be sure to ask for Pastor Greg's book, Steve McQueen, the salvation of an American icon. You can call us at 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime. Again, that's 1-800-821-3300 or write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 four just go online to harvest God for what next time more insights on how we can use the spiritual gifts really makes available to believers. Join us here on a new beginning. Pastor and Bible teacher for everybody. Thanks for listening to this podcast to learn more about harvest ministries follow the show and consider supporting it. Just go to harvest.org and find out how to know God personally go to harvest.org and click on know God