Opening illustration: There was once a wise woman who lived by herself near a small village. Rumor had it that she could always accurately predict when the rains would come, or help heal a sick child with herbs, or calm angry neighbors and help them to resolve their fights and arguments. People came from all over the land to meet with her and seek her advice on matters both small and great. Her reputation was such that was said she was never wrong — not ever.
Some of the children of the village didn't believe that it was possible to always be right. Surely she could not know everything! They decided to test her knowledge. First they asked her to answer questions about the planets, the animals, and the world. No matter how hard the questions, she always answered correctly.
The children were amazed at her knowledge and learning and most were ready to stop testing the wise woman. However, one boy was determined to prove that the old woman couldn't know everything. Hatching a devious scheme, he told all of his friends to meet him at the woman's home the following afternoon so he could prove she was a faker.
All through the next day he hunted for a bird. Finally he caught a small songbird in a net. Holding it behind his back so no one could see what was in his hands, he walked triumphantly to the wise woman's home. "Old woman!" he called. "Come and show us how wise you are!" The woman walked calmly to the door. "May I help you?" she simply asked. "You say you know everything — prove it — what am I holding behind my back?" the young boy demanded.
The old woman thought for a moment. She could make out the faint sounds of a birds wings rustling. "I do not say I know everything — for that would be impossible," she replied. "However, I do believe you are holding a bird in your hands."
The boy was furious. How could the woman have possibly known he had a bird? Thinking quickly he came up with a new scheme. He would ask the woman whether the bird was alive or dead. If the woman replied, "alive," he would crush it with his hands and prove her wrong. If she answered, "dead," on the other hand, he would pull the living bird from behind his back and allow it to fly away. Either way he would prove his point and the wise woman would be discredited.
"Very good," he called. "It is a bird. But tell me; is the bird I am holding alive or dead?" The wise woman paused for a long moment while the boy waited with anticipation for his opportunity to prove her wrong. Again the woman spoke calmly, "The answer, my young friend, is in your hands. The answer is in your hands."
The boy realized that the wise woman had once again spoken correctly and truthfully. The answer was indeed in his own hands. Feeling the bird feebly moving in his hands as it tried to escape his grasp, he felt suddenly very ashamed.
The answer was in his hands — slowly and gently he brought his hands to the front of his body. Looking into the eyes of the delicate bird he apologized, "I am sorry little one," and he opened his hands to let her go free. (Adapted from an Indian folk tale)
Introduction: “What is in your hand” means whatever is in your care or control. “This question, 'What is in your hand?' is one of the most important question for growing Christians in their life. What you withhold and retain in your hand reveals what is in your heart. Child of God, release what you hold. Your Father is waiting to use what He has placed in your hands. Offer unto God what He has placed in your hand.
“Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:30)
Sampson had a donkey jawbone to slay a thousand men. David had his sling and stones to defeat the mighty Philistine champion. The unnamed boy had his five loaves and two fishes. The woman had an alabaster jar filled with oil to anoint Jesus. We all have something in our hands. As we release what is in our hands, He releases what is in His! He is ready and willing to anoint what is in your hands. Are you willing to let him?
What has God already put in our hands?
1. Gospel of Jesus Christ (Mark 16:15-16)
Paul writes to the Romans in chapter 10:15 “And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"
The gospel is not behavior modification, becoming a better person or learning to become more moral. It is not taking the life of Jesus as a model way to live or transforming/redeeming the secular realm. It is not living highly communal lives with others and sharing generously in communities who practice the way of Jesus in local culture. These may all be good things but they are not to be confused with the gospel. They should accompany the gospel, and should not be separated from the gospel and while God may use them to authenticate the gospel and make our proclamation of the gospel more fertile in hardened hearts yet they are not to be viewed as replacements for the gospel. Think what the gospel has done for and with those of us who are saved. Yes, and because the gospel has done so much for us and with us, we are to do something with it. God has placed the gospel in our hands so what are we to doing with it?
(a) We are to SHARE the gospel: In verse 5 we read of “partnership in the gospel”, or as the KJV has it, “fellowship in the gospel”. This word “fellowship” means, literally, “a joint participation in a common interest and activity” –- in other words, it speaks of those things which we share in the gospel. Of course, we are to share the gospel with the lost (1 Corinthians 9:16), but the thought here is of “fellowship in the gospel”, as, for example, in 2:22 and 4:3, where we get two beautiful illustrations of fellowship in service.
(b) We are to SAFEGUARD the gospel: See what Paul says in verse 7 “…defending and confirming the gospel…” and in verse 16: “…the defense of the gospel…”; and in verse 27: “…contending as one man for the faith of the gospel…” When Paul wrote this epistle the gospel had many enemies, and the gospel has many enemies today, and therefore we must obey the warning in 2 Timothy 4:3 (and 3:1-8), and the exhortation in Jude 3. Let us ever remember that we are living in days of apostasy. Many are preaching “a different gospel” (Galatians 1:6), but we are put in trust with the true gospel (1 Thessalonians 2:4), and we must at all costs be faithful to our trust –- look up 1 Timothy 1:11 and 6:20. The inspiration and the authority of the Bible are questioned, and the destructive forces of liberal theology and of a thousand heresies have invaded our beloved land. When we are threatened with attack, defense becomes an urgent necessity. Let us rise up and defend the Faith, and let us do it fearlessly.
(c) We are to SPREAD the gospel: Verse 12 tells us this, and the surest way of counteracting error is to spread the Truth! How? By preaching it –- as we are commanded in Matthew 28:19, and as we see it illustrated in Acts 8:4. But look at Philippians 1:12: the gospel is spread by our favorable reaction to the things which “happen” to us, especially the testing things. The best illustration of this is in Acts 16:22-25. Paul and Silas prayed, worshipped, sang –- “and the other prisoners were listening to them.” Suppose they had groaned, grumbled and growled? The prisoners would still have heard them –- but what a poor testimony it would have been! What has “happened” to you lately? Has your reaction advanced or retarded the gospel? We have all the sufficiency of His grace to enable us to “spread” the gospel in every situation and circumstance (2 Corinthians 12:9).
(d) We are to SHOW the gospel: Verse 27 makes this clear. We are to conduct ourselves that is behave ourselves, in a manner which is worthy of the gospel –- compare Philippians 2:15. Does our behavior correspond with the gospel? Is our faith working (James 2:17)? Refer to Titus 2:10.
The secret of being able to Share, Safeguard, Spread and Show the gospel is in Philippians 2:13
2. The Holy Spirit and His Gifts (John 14:16-17; 1 Corinthians 12:7)
As any loving father would do, God gives special gifts to each of his children to enable them to participate in his family and to faithfully serve in his kingdom. Paul in his first letter to the Christians in Corinth introduces this matter of spiritual gifts to them. And one of the initial functions of these spiritual gifts is to enable individuals to speak correctly about Jesus, the Son of God, whom God sent into the world to redeem sinners from their rebellion against him so that he could receive them into his family and use them in his kingdom. Paul writes to the Ephesians 5:18 and tells them, “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.” Paul does not give any choice to the believers in Ephesus but commands them to be filled with the Holy Spirit. It seems that it was mandatory for any believer during the 1st century to be filled with the Spirit of God. What is happening in the body of Christ today? There is also a growing confusion in the church as they equate talents with gifts and use them as synonyms.
1 Corinthians 12:31 say, “But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.”
God’s Word tells us that God’s gifts to us are not revocable, but what are we really doing with them if we have been able to identify them in our lives. 1 Timothy 4:14-16 says, “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”
(a) The first step is to pray. Pray for God's guidance and ask Him to use you for His will.
(b) Discover your gifts. Don't be afraid of what He will do with you. Step out in faith!
(c) Be faithful, bold and humble. Faithfully serve in the small things and allow God to work.
(d) Be a good steward of your gifts.
(e) Most of all, love. Use your gifts in love for the glory of God and the building up of His church.
1 Corinthians 12:29-31 tells us that all the gifts are not for everybody in the church. The Spirit of God distributes the gifts according to the faith of the believers. The Spiritual gifts are not about your character but are supernatural – given to us by the Holy Spirit in order to fulfill a God given task/work.
Some caution for all of us: Don’t try to claim spiritual gifts that God apparently doesn’t intend to give to you. And don’t neglect to use the specific gifts that God has personally given to you. Don’t compare your gifts with those of other Christians in the Church, but commit yourself to use them in a humble spirit of cooperative love and coordinated service for the up building of the body of Christ in the world. Use your gifts to encourage other Christians in the use of their gifts, as parents and children encourage each other in their lives together as different individuals in a common family. And continue to seek to grow in your abilities to effectively use your gifts for God’s glory, never being satisfied with a “childish” effort to “play with” a personal “gift” from God, your “Father”.
Purpose of the Spiritual Gifts: Ephesians 4:12–13, 15
• To Manifest God’s Presence in the Body of Christ on Earth
• Remind Us of Our Dependence Upon One Another
• To Build Unity in the Church
• To Edify the Church—Individually and Corporately
• To Reveal the Living God to Unbelievers
• To Bring Glory to God
If we are manifesting the gifts of the Holy Spirit, are we really using them for these purposes?
3. Authority over Demonic Forces (Mark 16:17-18)
Are Demons Real, Do Evil Spirits Exist? Demons and evil spirits are as real as you or the seat you are sitting on. God speaks of them repeatedly in His Word as actual spiritual beings, not imaginary, allegorical, or metaphorical, but real.
For example Jesus spoke to the demons in the maniac with a Legion: “Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.” Mark 5:8. God's word says the demons replied: “And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.” Time and again we see Christ address demons, because they are individual spiritual personalities. They exist today just as it is articulated in God’s Word. Their reality and activity is plain to all except those blinded by Satan.
Here are 8 very powerful passages from God’s Word, all showing us that we are not to be afraid of demons, and that we are to directly engage with them if and when necessary, operating under God’s authority and anointing to be able to do so. God has given us authority over demonic spirits, what are we doing with that authority? Are we really using it to deliver/free people who are possessed with it or just letting it slip by … waiting for someone else to come and take the bull by the horns?
• And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe. In my name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues, they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover.” (Mark 16:15-18)
• “Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee … the Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor, He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:14-18)
• “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19)
• “Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” (Luke 9:1)
• “And He called the twelve to Him, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits … And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.” (Mark 6:7,13)
• “And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.” (Matthew 10:1)
• “But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:6-8)
• “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8)
If you will notice, every time Jesus gave His apostles the power and command to go out and walk with His anointing, He always told them to cast out demons as one of His specific commands – no exceptions! So if Jesus was constantly casting out demons, always telling the apostles to cast out demons, and the apostles too were always casting out demons, then it should only be logical that the Church should continue to still cast out demons as and when needed.
What is now left is that all Christians have to realize that the victory is already ours. Christ has already given the authority to every disciple of His to cast out demons. We thus have to learn how to engage and defeat the devil and his demons when they do try to move in on a person or a situation – and sometimes this means a real live deliverance – because demons can attach themselves to people when they do move in for an attack. And once they do, the only way to be able to drive them out is by the power of God! The apostles practiced prayer and fasting in order to cast out demonic possessions. God has given this authority in your hands, what are you doing with it?
