How Do I Strengthen My Gifts? (Finding Your Gifts pt. 3)
Sunday Morning
Pastor Jim Lowe III
Sunday Morning, 9:30am Stream
5/30/21
{All scriptures are NIV unless stated}
Have you taken your Spiritual Gifts test?
Here is the online link:
https://giftstest.com/test
We discussed 2 weeks ago the importance of knowing what your Spiritual Gifts are.
We’ve learned:
God has poured out many things on us.
Each of us has a purpose for being here.
That purpose is something that is created to give God glory.
But not only do we have a purpose, we have gifts that God has given us also!
Every person has gifts given to them from God himself.
Romans 12:6-8
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Last Time:
Administration
Discernment
Evangelism
Exhortation
If you have those gifts and haven’t heard the message, please listen to it.
Let’s talk about some more gifts:
Spiritual Gift:
Faith:
{one of my gifts}
(Easton’s Bible Dictionary)
- the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true. Its primary idea is trust.
A certain statement is true.
The primary idea is trust in that statement.
Trust in that idea.
This applies on a couple levels.
Each Of Us Has Faith
The foundation of what we are is based on faith.
Romans 10:9-11
9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
What must we do to be saved?
We are to confess with our mouth.
We are to believe in our heart.
Why?
Because anyone who trust in him will never be put to shame.
This is for everyone!
This applies to you!
Another example:
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
You are saved through grace…by faith!
We Are Saved Because Of Our Faith
Each of us has faith.
But there is more to faith…
Because SOME OF US are given faith as a Spiritual Gift.
1 Corinthians 12:7-9
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 the message of wisdom, to another the 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,
Faith is listed as a Spiritual Gift.
But again, everyone has faith right?
So what does it mean to be gifted with faith?
What does it mean to be gifted at math?
What does it meant to be gifted at a sport?
Your Gift Of Faith Means You Have A Very High Ability To Trust God
This means you can think of ways to trust God that others might not even think about.
Matthew 14:23-24
23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
Many of us know this story.
We know that what would have normally been a fairly easy trip was now difficult for the disciples.
“The boat was a considerable distance from land…”
It was far from where they started.
“buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.”
They were fighting against this wind.
Verse 25-26
25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. {I taught before they were out here straining somewhere between 8 and 12 hours…fighting this wind.} 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
They had been physically exhausting themselves all night.
This wind and waves were like torment for them!
They even see Jesus on the lake, and assume he’s a ghost!
Verse 27
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Okay great! It’s just Jesus. He’s just catching up!”
“We thought it was a real ghost out here! It’s just you walking on the water.”
Nobody:
Absolutely nobody:
Peter:
Verse 28-29
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
It’s not JUST that Peter asked…
He believed…
And did something impossible.
Now does this mean the other disciples didn’t have faith?
Does this mean Peter was better than them?
The others had other gifts!
Peter’s Gift Allowed Him To Trust God To Do The Impossible
Some of us know people with the gift of faith.
It may be your mother, grandmother, grandfather, father, friend.
They can believe God to do things many would consider impossible.
Those With The Gift Of Faith Can Take Things Up To Another Level
Matthew 8:5-7
5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.”
7 Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.”
This shows the differences very well.
There was a certain level of faith Jesus was used to.
I’m sick…
My friend is sick…
My daughter is sick…
My servant is sick…
Jesus please lay hands and heal them.
That alone REQUIRED faith!
Trusting Jesus in the first place required faith.
That’s what this man says.
“Jesus, I need help.”
Jesus says he’ll go heal him.
Matthew 8:8-9
8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
This man says to Jesus, I don’t deserve to have you in my home.
But if you just SAY the word, he will be healed.
He understands authority…
Just say it and SOMETHING will respond to your voice.
Matthew 8:10-13
10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.
This faith had Jesus astonished.
He was shook!
Who had faith to do this?
Sure people believed in his ability to heal.
Now someone with the faith to say…just SPEAK IT!
But he was absolutely right!
Verse 13 he was healed!
Your Gift Of Extraordinary Faith Can Get Results!
Why?
Because people with the gift of faith don’t care HOW God does something.
They just know he can!
Here’s the funny thing:
The Centurion wasn’t even asking for healing for himself.
Your Prayers For Others Can Be Answered Also!
{faith recap}
If you have the gift of faith…you are strong in your belief.
You have confidence in the promises and power of God!
Examples:
Peter on the Water
The Centurion
The Woman With the Issue Of Blood (Mark 5:25-34)
It’s almost like your faith causes God to have to respond!
But like all things, it has to grow also.
Peter had the faith to WALK ON WATER…but Jesus still said he had little faith because he doubted.
How Do You Strengthen Your Gift Of Faith?
Listening to teachings!
Hearing what your God can do!
Romans 10:14
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
Hearing The Word Strengthens Your Faith
How can you trust what God can do for you if you don’t hear it or remember it?
Before you can expect the impossible, know what’s possible!
We need you here at the church!
We need people with the gift of faith to pray for us!
We have prayer lists that go out every week.
We need people with the gift of faith believing FOR them!
The Centurion believed for SOMEONE else!
1 Things Those With The Gift Of Faith Need To Be Careful Of:
- Forgetting Work Comes With Faith
James 2:14-18
14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
Simply put:
Verse 17
17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
There is work required!
We have to do something!
God Gave You Great Faith To Share Great Things God Has Done!
We need you sharing testimonies of what God has done!
We need you praying for others!
We need you exercising your gift!
We need you believing when others get weary!
Spiritual Gift:
Giving:
(Preachers Outline And Sermon Bible)
- the giving of one’s earthly possessions such as money, clothing, and food.
Romans 12:6-8
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Verse 8: if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously…
We see that God will GIFT people with a higher ability to GIVE.
They give over and above to their church.
They give over and above to others.
They are examples of what the word says:
Luke 6:38
38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
I’ve heard many times before that when you give…God always finds a way to give it back.
Why? Because you are helping one another!
God Gives To You -> You Give To Others -> God Gives Back To You
God placed a concern on you for not JUST people, but helping them to meet needs.
Your gift is important!
You help others when no one else will!
You help the church when no one else will!
Acts 4:32
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
The New Testament Church had one heart and mind.
There was no one needy among them.
From time to time those who owned lands or houses would sell them.
Verse 34
34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales…
- some people had house(s) and lands(s)
- while others didn’t.
- But NONE were needy.
God Has Blessed You So You Can Help Bless Others!
Givers can be wired different when it comes to money and possessions.
Many of them can desire more, but also feel they have enough to share with others.
They can give more to their church, which helps others as well as spread the gospel.
ESPECIALLY when it comes to fulfill the purpose of God.
It’s a gift given by GOD!
It’s for his purpose!
How Do You Strengthen Your Gift Of Giving?
You strengthen your gift when you use it.
Luke 6:38 - When you give…God gives it back.
Give and it shall be given to you.
If You Have The Gift And Aren’t Giving…You Need To Start!
God gave us these gifts for one another.
We need to start trusting him and using them!
As you continue to pour out, God will continue to fill up.
1 Thing People With The Gift Of Giving Need To Be Careful Of:
- Always Make Sure It’s About God
Matthew 6:2-4
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Basically don’t make it about you.
Do what you do discretely.
You want to point people to God, not to you.
When you do for God…he does for you.
Spiritual Gift:
Helps/Serving/Ministering:
These are a grouping that typically fall under “Ministering.”
1 Corinthians 12:28
28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.
This is referring to the gift of being able to minister to others.
All of us are given the ability to minister.
Those with the gift have the special anointing to do so.
They LOVE to help others.
They LOVE to serve others.
They LOVE to minister to others.
They love to assist someone in a way that builds them up.
It’s a special ability to do what God commanded us.
John 13:14
14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
You are to help others be built up.
You Help Others Through Hard Times
Your gift is important!
God rewards you for helping others!
Matthew 10:41
42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
We Are To Help One Another!
1 Thing People With Helps/Serving/Ministry Gifts Need To Be Careful Of:
- Doing Too Much
Galatians 6:1
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
We have to be careful we don’t take too much on.
If you aren’t careful, the thing you are trying to help someone through can become a trap for you.
People with that gift can become a crutch for someone if they aren’t careful.
You Have Help!
There are others with this gift!
1 Corinthians 3:6
6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
It’s not about who planted…or watered…but God.
We All Work Together But GOD Makes The Change
Have you taken your Gifts Test?
Online Spiritual Gifts Test:
https://giftstest.com/test
This test will tell you the top 5 gifts you have.
The physical copy will rank 12 different gifts for you.
If you haven’t taken a test like this in over a year, you should retake it.
One gift might have gotten stronger than the other.
Because we are working towards purpose and achieving your divine potential here.
We want to know your results so we can help you find a place in ministry to help us.
Many times we want to serve but don’t know where to start.
Knowing your spiritual gifts is a GREAT start!
