How To Unwrap Your Spiritual Gifts Part 1

"How To Unwrap Your Spiritual Gift"

1 of 3

1 Corinthians 7:7 September 14, 2003

Chester’s First Baptist Church, Chester, Illinois Mike Fogerson, Speaker

Introduction:

Sundial works only when they are brought into the light.

Spiritual gifts work only when they are brought into the light.

Probably never heard of Hetty Green. She died in 1916 and left an estate with an estimated value of $100 Million Dollars(not pesos and not 1960 but 1916).

Hetty regularly ate cold oatmeal because it cost too much to heat it.

Her son had his leg amputated because she took so long to get him adequate care because she was looking for a free clinic.

Hetty died in the midst of an argument over milk, she argued that skim was best because it was the cheapest.

She was wealthy but she lived like a PAUPER. She never enjoyed nor benefited from the riches that were hers.

A second person I heard about lived on the West Coast of America living in poverty until one day he found out that he was the only living heir to a British Nobleman. What do you think this guy did when he found out? Went to the clothing store and bought the best suit he could find, bought a 1st class ticket to London and returned to England in style!

HE BELIEVED WHAT HE HAD BEEN TOLD WAS TRUE AND HE BEGAN TO ACT UPON IT!!!

Which illustration best describes your spiritual life?

B We will begin a three week series entitled "How To Unwrap Your Spiritual Gift."

[7] I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. 1 Cor. 7:7

a God gave every single believer in the early church just the right gift. (ETS)

b God has the perfect gift for every believer. (ESS)

C I hope you will decided to use your discovered spiritual gift at the church you are being fed at. (Objective)

a What are you doing with your spiritual gifts? (Probing Question)

T.S.: Let’s look at two truths about spiritual gifts that can help you unwrap yours.

I The first truth about spiritual gifts is. . .EVERY CHRISTIAN HAS SPIRITUAL GIFTS.

1 But each man has his own gift from God;...1 Cor. 7:7

[10] Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

A There are 3 separate lists in the New Testament that compile the list of Spiritual Gifts.

I Cor. 12:4-11, 28-30

*1CO 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

Romans 12:3-8

RO 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: . . .

RO 12:6 We have different gifts. . .

Eph. 4:7-12

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

a Each lists supports the truth that "each" and "every" believer has been given a spiritual gift.

b Some people falsely believe that God skipped them when he was passing out spiritual gifts, but the bible clearly teaches that each and every believer has spiritual gifts.

B (IL.) When I was in high school I got a unique gift from a friend after she had came back from Chicago with her family. Chrome seal! (Actually a bottle opener!) Thanks, what is it? Thank you very much God for the spiritual gift. What is it? What it isn’t:

Not a natural talent. (If you could sing before you got saved, not a spiritual gift.)

Not a fruit of the spirit. (Gal. 5:22-23) 2 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. (We grow into the fruits of the spirit. Process. Spiritual gifts are instantaneous and immediate)

Not a title. You can be a Sunday School teacher and not have the gift of teaching. You can take up offering and not have the gift of giving.

Not to be mistaken with a "Counterfeit" gift. (i.e.; ESP, Channeling, Reading Tea Leafs, Interpreting omens, etc.)

C Spiritual Gift defined: "The moment you are born again God instantaneously and graciously gives you a perfect present, or spiritual gift, that gives you the power to do or say anything beyond your own natural ability so you can fulfill a specific purpose of God at a specific time."

a Oojie’s (Discussion with 3 other pastor’s in town on the gay issue. Their’s was liberal. Mine was conservative. I talked with authority and power that was not mine. (Spiritual gift for that very day, very discussion, God’s purpose!) Everybody has a gift!

b If everyone has a spiritual gift, what so unique about them?