The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Part 3)

Message by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

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Series: Christianity, Not As God Intended!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:7-10

For the past two weeks we have been considering important principles that Paul gives to help us understand the use of spiritual gifts. This week we actually begin studying the “gifts.” As we consider the gifts of the Holy Spirit, it is important to remember where it all began. Acts chapter two gives us the account of the Spirit of God being outpoured on the Day of Pentecost.

Fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy at Pentecost

And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. (Acts 2:17-18)

Marked the Spirit’s outpouring on all flesh

Announced the beginning of the “last days”

Established the norm for the Spirit’s gifting and activity in the church

Gifts of Revelation

• A Word of wisdom
• A Word of knowledge
• Discerning of spirits

Gifts of Power

• The gift of faith
• The working of miracles
• The gift of healing

Gifts of Inspiration

• Prophecy
• Different of tongues
• Interpretation of tongues

The Word of Wisdom

for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, (1 Corinthians 12:8)

Definition: The gift of the word of wisdom is God’s supernatural insight given to the believer about people and situations that is not obvious to the average person and it comes with the understanding of what to do and how to do it.

All Christians are called to search for and learn wisdom from God. (Ephesians 1:16-17, James 1:5)

Demonstrated in the life of Jesus (Luke 2:40-52)

Illustrated in Scripture: Joshua (Deuteronomy 34:9) Daniel (Daniel 2:17) Solomon (1 Kings 3:5)

Do you have the gift?

Do you find that when you counsel people,  God by His Spirit, gives you wisdom to share with them from Scripture, which they accept as God’s truth to them through you?

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Part 2)

Message by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

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Series: Christianity, Not As God Intended!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:1-26

In this section of Scripture we come to one of the most exciting portions of the New Testament. Paul addresses the subject of the Holy Spirit’s gifting in the church, empowering the believers to do the ministry Jesus had begun when He was on earth and now to be continued in the church. Jesus is our greatest example of what it means to be Spirit filled, Spirit led, Spirit empowered and Spirit gifted!

What do we need to understand about spiritual gifts?

• Spiritual gifts are different from natural talents
• There are several lists of spiritual gifts in the New Testament
• We are each given different gifts and different portions of gifts
• We must be open to serving outside our area of gifting
• God gives us passion and opportunities to assist our gifting
• Every gift must be cultivated to be effective in ministry

Spiritual gifts serve the Lordship of Jesus
Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:3)

Spiritual gifts are given and administered by the Trinity
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

Spiritual gifts each exist to benefit the whole church
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all. (1 Corinthians 12:7)

Four principles of corporate edification:

• Unity (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)
• Diversity (1 Corinthians 12:14-17)
• Interdependence(1 Corinthians 12:18-21)
• Value (1 Corinthians 12:22-26)

Spiritual gifts are appointed by God
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. (1 Corinthians 12:11)

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Message by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

Left click here to play in new window/right click to save

Series: Christianity, Not As God Intended!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all. (1 Corinthians 12:7)

In this section of Scripture we come to one of the most exciting portions of the New Testament. Paul addresses the subject of the Holy Spirit’s gifting in the church, empowering the believers to do the ministry Jesus had begun when He was on earth and now to be continued in the church. Jesus is our greatest example of what it means to be Spirit filled, Spirit led, Spirit empowered and Spirit gifted!

• Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35)
• Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:21-22)
• Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1)
• Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:14)
• All His ministry was Spirit empowered & directed (Luke 4:18)

Jesus sends the Holy Spirit upon the church so believers can continue the very same ministry He began.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” (John 14:12; Acts 1:8)

What we need to understand about spiritual gifts!
Spiritual gifts are different from natural talents
There are several lists of spiritual gifts in the New Testament
We are each given different gifts and different portions of gifts
We must be open to serving outside our area of gifting
God gives us passion and opportunities to assist our gifting
Every gift must be cultivated to be effective in ministry

Spiritual gifts serve the Lordship of Jesus (1 Corinthians 12:2-3)

Spiritual gifts are given and administered by the Trinity (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

Spiritual gifts each exist to benefit the whole church (1 Corinthians 12:7)

Spiritual gifts are appointed by God (1 Corinthians 12:11)

Yielding To The Work of the Spirit

Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

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Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22

In these verses we find a list of staccato commands that the Apostle Paul gives to help us understand how we are to yield to the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives.

16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not despise prophecies.
21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.

I believe there is a beautiful connection in this list of commands and the key statement that ties them all together is verse 19 “Quench not the Spirit.” Not only does it reference the verses that follow, but it references the verses that precede it. And it also indicates the wonderful balance of the Spirit’s work and ministry in our lives 1) to develop our character through the fruit of the Spirit and 2) empower us for service with the gifts of the Spirit. The first three commands refer to the Spirit’s work of character transformation, and the last three refer to the Spirit’s release of supernatural gifts.

One of the main values to our Christian faith here at GracePoint is to live under the influence of the Holy Spirit’s transforming power. (Ephesians 5:18-21).

Wherever the Spirit of God is received for who He is and the work that He has been sent to do, there is always a two-fold work and manifestation of God.

1) Life and character transformation into the image of Christ
2) A release of the supernatural gifts that come from Christ Himself.

Yielding To The Fruit Of The Spirit

“Rejoice Always”
Christian joy is…
A command with no exceptions
A supernatural response
A response of our will

Christian joy is the emotion springing from the deep-down confidence in our life that God is in perfect control of everything and will bring from it our good for His glory.