'Words of Life' w/ Pastor Mark D. Ingram
'Words of Life' w/ Pastor Mark D. Ingram
The Divine Purpose of Our Gift(s)
The concept of spiritual gifts lies at the heart of Christian service and community building. In Pastor Mark's recent message, he draws a critical distinction between worldly charisma and spiritual charisma that every believer needs to understand. While today's definition of charisma typically describes someone who can draw attention to themselves, spiritual charisma (or spiritual gifts) serves an entirely different purpose in God's kingdom.
Spiritual gifts, as explained in 1 Corinthians, are divine endowments given to every believer by the Holy Spirit. These gifts aren't meant to elevate the individual but rather to strengthen and build up the church body. Pastor Mark emphasizes that these gifts are expressions of God's grace—undeserved, unmerited favor that empowers believers to share in God's reconciliation work. The spotlight should never be on the gift-bearer but on Jesus Christ, whom we are called to glorify through our service.
Drawing from 1 Corinthians 14, Pastor Mark illustrates how the early church struggled with this very issue. The Corinthian believers were using their spiritual gifts—particularly speaking in tongues—in ways that brought glory to themselves rather than edifying the church. Paul's instruction was clear: "Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church." This teaching remains profoundly relevant today when self-promotion often overshadows genuine service.
A critical understanding emerges from this teaching: our spiritual gifts are not personal possessions to be paraded for attention but rather tools for ministry entrusted to us for the benefit of others. Just as a natural gift is something given without expectation of return and primarily benefits the recipient, our spiritual gifts should operate in the same manner. God's ultimate gift—sending Jesus—didn't benefit God but humanity. Similarly, our gifts aren't meant to benefit ourselves but others in the body of Christ.
Pastor Mark offers three essential applications for believers. First, we must serve with our gifts. When we require an audience to give maximum effort, pride has elevated ourselves above Christ's example of humble service. Jesus himself said in Mark 10:45 that He "came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and give His life as a ransom for many." Second, we must cultivate our gifts through practice, development, and attention. Scripture instructs us not to neglect our spiritual gifts but to "stir them up" and "fan them into flame." Third, we must avoid maneuvering or positioning ourselves or others for personal gain through our gifts.
True spiritual maturity is demonstrated not by showcasing our gifts but by using them to strengthen others without seeking recognition.
As we reflect on how we're utilizing our spiritual gifts, Pastor Mark challenges us with four penetrating questions: Does my gift benefit me or others? Am I developing my gift routinely? Am I trying to maneuver myself into prominence rather than allowing God to promote me through humility? And fundamentally, do I even know what my spiritual gift or gifts are?
In a world obsessed with self-promotion and personal branding, this countercultural message reminds us that our gifts find their true purpose not in drawing attention to ourselves but in fulfilling our divine calling as believers gifted to reconcile others to God through Jesus Christ.
Tune in for this week's broadcast: 'The Divine Purpose of Our Gift(s)', with Pastor Mark D. Ingram.
In lieu of eternity, sermons and musical artists are featured to extol JESUS CHRIST as the sole hope for the eternal souls of humanity.
Thank God for you joining us again this week. This is Pastor Mark, and I'm so grateful that God has tuned you in to hear what he has to say to you through words of life or His Bible. Today, we're going to talk about spiritual gifts, and spiritual gifts are akin to the word charisma that we're familiar with in our vernacular today, but here's the difference Charisma today is utilized to describe someone able to draw people to them, but God has gifted every believer with at least one gift to utilize our spiritual gifts using charisma, but in a different way. We are not to draw people to us a different way. We are not to draw people to us. We are to draw people to us to point them to Jesus, the Christ, our Lord and our Savior. And so, with that being said, let's delve into this week's message so that we can see how God has not only gifted us, but why he has given you and I charisma.
Speaker 2:We thank you for joining our Words of Life, broadcast every Saturday night from 8 to 8.30 pm, where our mission is persuading the lost, perfecting each believer and equipping all for service with practical application from God's Word. We now join Pastor Mark for this week's Words of Life. We now join Pastor Mark for this week's Words of Life.
Speaker 1:In our opening text we are going to be reading from the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 14, and I am going to read one verse today, and that reading will come from the NIV version, and our reading is as follows so it is with you and I want us to be mindful of that phrase, because so it is with you and I want us to be mindful of that phrase because so it is with you, lets us know that there's something that occurred before this opening phrase. So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church. May the Lord add a blessing to the hearers, the readers, but, most importantly, those that intend to do with Christ's help, his holy word. I would like to present for a topic this week giving my gift away.
Speaker 1:Giving my gift away and, as we think about the title and we get started with our message this week, understand the purpose of a gift. I think all of us readily understand that the purpose of a gift, in the natural sense, is something given to benefit someone else. A gift is not wrapped pretty, it is not covered with bows to benefit us. A gift usually is something given for the benefit of another. A gift is given without expectation of favor from the giver. A gift also benefits the recipient primarily, not us.
Speaker 1:Let's look at that in the scriptural context John 3 and 16, one of the most, if not the most popular verse of scripture. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. That's a great example, because God did not benefit from giving us Jesus. We are the recipients of such a gift, mankind humanity. We benefit the most for what God gave, and so I want to use that word, gift, the natural sense of it. I want to link that to what we're going to talk about today, which is spiritual gift. We saw that phrase in our opening text being eager to have spiritual gifts.
Speaker 1:The writer is talking to the church in Corinth, and I want to make a connection between the gifts, spiritually, that we have, and even they had back then there's this one word that I think we're familiar with in our modern day vernacular that will connect the dots for us, and that word is called charisma. Charisma in the natural is a way that we can generally draw people to us. It's used in ways that describe either our personalities, our looks or whatever. A certain person is said to have charisma, they have the ability to draw others to them. But in a spiritual sense, charisma is simply a divine, free gift of grace. It's undeserved, it's unmerited favor God has bestowed upon us. It comes from him, and this charisma empowers believers to share God's work of reconciliation of humanity to him. Through Jesus Christ we can do that, sharing the gospel message with others. And so when we say spiritual gifts, understand that God has gifted Christians with the ability to share the gospel message with others In this spiritual sense. We have to understand this because God expects us to submit ourselves as well as the spiritual gifts he has graced us with. We are to submit ourselves and our gifts for his service primarily, and then the gifts should benefit others secondarily, especially the body of Christ, believers, the church. We have to understand that the cross, jesus Christ, he is the only star of the gospel message. We have simply been gifted to shine a spotlight on Jesus the Christ, not ourselves. That bears repeating. Christians have been gifted to shine a spotlight on Jesus the Christ, not ourselves.
Speaker 1:Let's get into our text review, because the verse verse 12 of 1 Corinthians, chapter 14, opens with this phrase. So it is with you. That simply indicates that something else was going on prior to verse 12, so it is with you. And so let's find out what was going on prior to that phrase. Because Paul writes to the Corinthian church about the proper use of gifts and how there would be much confusion if the church didn't use gifts properly. He zeroes in on the improper use of one of the gifts In the scripture right then, and there, chapter 14, paul is talking about the use of the gift in speaking in tongues and how, although it's a gift of the Spirit, paul instructs the church on how our gifts must be used for the benefit of the body and not a single spotlight lit to show how great or gifted that I am.
Speaker 1:Our gifts cannot be utilized as showy, look at me type gifts. Our gifts are not to be utilized to garner attention or a supposed level of maturity spiritually. Our churches are seemingly inundated with this kind of spirit lately and understand, even when we review the text, the church at Corinth. You had those using that gift of the spirit of speaking in tongues not to gratify, edify or to build up the church, but to gratify themselves with pride. Let's look at the verses in context. First, corinthians, chapter 14.
Speaker 1:I want to start a little bit before our opening text. Let's start with verse 5, for the writer, space speaks and he says I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy, for prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying, so that the whole church will be strengthened. Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language, how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation of some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful. He then he uses this comparison with musical instruments. That I think is great, great. He goes on to say even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly or no one will recognize the melody. And if the bugler or the trumpet doesn't sound a clear call, how would the soldiers know they are being called to battle? It's the same for you. He says If you speak to the people in words they don't understand, I, I will be a foreigner to someone who speaks it, and the one who speaks it will be a foreigner to me. And the same is true for you. And here we are with our opening phrase of our opening verse. So it is with you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities or the gifts the Spirit gives, blessed with grace, seek those gifts that will strengthen the whole church. Take note of that phrase strengthen the whole church. It won't glorify me, but will glorify God by ministering unto the whole church. It won't be used to show how anointed or gifted that I can be, but my gift will edify the whole church.
Speaker 1:As representatives of our Lord Jesus Christ, we must be aware of the fact that he has graced us with extraordinary gifts to equip us for service to the church. The gifts are not to be used for the monetary benefit of me, my or I, but our gifts are used for the service and benefit of the body of Christ, the church. Our gifts are not to be paraded around for attempts at gaining a spotlight designed only for Jesus Christ. Our gifts should be used to edify the body Jesus Christ, the church, not ourselves, people, hostage by maneuvering ourselves into relationships and positions that we mistakenly believe will move us closer to selfish goals instead of strengthening the body of Christ, the church. Our gifts should not be utilized in tolerated abundance or overflow. That's just another way of saying you're somewhere, you're being used, but you're really not needed at that specific place, simply because they have an abundance of that same gift at that place. Remember, a gift is given without expectation of favor from the giver, and a gift benefits and blesses, and a gift benefits and blesses, it strengthens, it edifies and it builds up the recipients of the body of Christ. And so, now that we have secured an understanding of spiritual gifts being utilized as charisma, which is a divine, free gift of grace from God empowering us believers to share God's work of reconciliation of humanity to him, through Jesus, with others, let us now investigate three pre-application points to ensure that the application of this particular message is relevant to our lives.
Speaker 1:Before we get to our song of the week. Here's the first pre-application point. We should think about what did God, jesus or the Holy Spirit do within the text? Well, the Holy Spirit uses Paul to minister about the proper usage of spiritual gifts within working in harmony and clarity, so that each note or melody functions in unity with other notes. Paul then clarifies that Holy Spirit decides who gets what gift, but that all gifts should be utilized in unity for the edification of the body or the church, in unity for the edification of the body or the church.
Speaker 1:Second thing we need to find out is what did the people in the same text do or not do? Well, the believers at the church in Corinth were being divisive and they were taking the gift of speaking in tongues out of context, out of order and for individual glory or attention. And, though eager for spiritual gifts, they missed why gifts are given to benefit others. Now, what must we know before we can transition from the text to relevant application to our lives? Well, every Christian has at least one gift and that gift must serve and benefit others, not ourselves.
Speaker 1:Next thing we should know we must cultivate, we have to tend to perfect and grow in the gifts Holy Spirit has bestowed upon each of us, and we should not seek to elevate ourselves or our gifts by manipulation or maneuvering of others. So, before we get to our applicable points of the message, we pause here for our Song of the Week feature, which allows us to present the gospel message through the melody of song. Here is Mr Cole Campbell singing Blessed Be the Name from the forthcoming project, the Church Mixtape, volume 1,. Right here on the Words of Life Show.
Speaker 3:Blessed be the name of the Lord, from this time forth and evermore, from the rising of the sun to the power of the same. Blessed be the name of the Lord. You say blessed be the name of the Lord. You say Blessed be the name of the Lord, from this time forth and evermore, from the rising of the sun to the power of the same. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Jesus is worthy of our praise. The name of the Lord shall be praised, everything that's in heaven and all of the earth. Blessed say. Jesus is worthy of our praise.
Speaker 3:The name of the Lord shall be praised, everything that's in heaven and all of the earth. Blessed be the name of the Lord. The Lord is good. The Lord is great, exalted, deserving of our praise. Great is he, almighty. Blessed be the name of the Lord who is likened to the Lord, our God, who dwells within our hearts, the Lord, our God. As His glory fills the heavens, I feel His presence here. Blessed be the name of the Lord. You sing, who is like unto the Lord, our God, you sing. The Lord is good. The Lord is great, exalted, deserving of our praise. Great is he, almighty. Blessed be the name of the Lord is good. The Lord is great, exalted, deserving of our praise. Great is he, almighty. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Speaker 1:We're back and we certainly hope that you were ministered to by Blessed Be the Name, mr Cole Campbell, featured on the forthcoming project, the Church Mixtape Volume 1. And that project will be available, I do believe, within the next month or so. But thank God that we have the opportunity to hear a song like that, because it reminds us that it is the Lord who is blessed in our gifts, even our musical. It doesn't matter what kind of gift you have. It is not about us. That gift must be used for the glory. The spotlight should be shining on Jesus, the Christ. And so, as we make the transition from the text to application to our lives, here's point number one. Point number one is we must serve with our gifts. When we're talking about giving our gift away, first thing we have to understand is we must serve with our gifts. Something is amiss when we require an audience to give maximum effort with our gifts and when we are like that. That is a heart that has allowed pride to elevate me, my and I, to the throne of our hearts, instead of us following Christ's example of service. Serving others was not an option for Jesus Christ. Mark 10 and 45 says For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but he came to minister and to give his life a ransom. For many, the word minister in the Greek simply means servant or to serve, and so, as we give our gifts away, we must understand application point number one to our lives we must serve with our gifts. Here's point number two we must cultivate our gifts. When we're talking about giving my gift away not maneuvering myself, not positioning myself for my gift, not manipulating people, but giving my gift away point number two is we must cultivate our gifts. To cultivate simply means to tend to, to develop, to plant or to plow, to farm or to give attention to. Psalm 33 and 3 lets us know in the King James Version that we are to sing to him a new song. Play skillfully and shout for joy. Skillfully in the Hebrew context, simply meant to be good, acceptable or pleasing, to be beneficial to.
Speaker 1:Here's how 1 Timothy 4 and 14 addresses the same subject of cultivating our gifts. Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands upon you. Understand that we never have to announce our arrival or even tell anyone what our gifts are. They will just be anointed and they will be recognized by others without us saying anything. John 2, 3 and 4,.
Speaker 1:When the wine was gone, jesus's mother said to him they have no more wine. Jesus replies to his mom dear woman, why do you involve me? My time has not yet come. His mother said to the servants do whatever he tells you. Now that's interesting because Jesus, although gifted and certainly a miracle worker, he humbled himself and he wanted no part of a show of his gift. Yet Mary, not Jesus the one with the gift. Yet Mary, not Jesus the one with the gift. But Mary announces Jesus's ability to the servants by instructing them to simply do as Jesus would require. Wow, a pastor's job would be much more enjoyable if sheep humbled themselves to simply serve with their gifts instead of the announcing and presenting to any and everyone what they have the right to do with the gifting. Again, we never have to announce our arrival or even tell anybody what our gifts are.
Speaker 1:Let's look at Mark 7, 32 through 36. Some people brought to him Jesus, a man who was deaf, he could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man After he took him aside, away from the crowd. I'll say that again. After he took him aside, away from the crowd, jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue. He looked up to heaven and, with a deep sigh, said to him be open. At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened, he began to speak plainly. Jesus then says tell no one. But the more he did so, the more Jesus deflected attention from himself, the more the people kept talking about what Jesus had just done.
Speaker 1:Second Timothy one and six lets us know that we are to be put in remembrance, that we stir up, we kindle afresh, we fan into flames the gift of God which we have by the Holy Spirit touching and anointing our lives. And so point number two of today's message is we have to remember that we must cultivate our gift. And our final point today, point number three when we're talking about giving away our gifts, point number three is we must not maneuver others to position ourselves or our gifts. Proverbs 27 and 4,. Whosoever therefore humbles himself as a little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. To humble is, in the Greek, to bring low or to abase.
Speaker 1:Humble, defined simply means to be modest or unassuming, but the antonym or the opposite of humility is arrogance, and we certainly live in a generation where people will actually come to church. They will seek relationships with others, join particular groups, based only on what that person or group can do for them. It's a rarity for anyone to now ask what can I do for you or the church. Instead, the prevailing attitude is what can your church do for me or offer me? How quick will this relationship move me towards my goal?
Speaker 1:And if we're not careful, we become an amalgamation of self-serving, prideful abusers of relationships. When we maneuver or position our gifts, we maneuver or position people simply to benefit me, my and I. God actually does see this type of behavior and he does address it in Luke 14 and 11. For everyone who exalts himself, they will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. And so, as we prepare to close, when we're talking about the sermon today, giving my gift away, understand that God doesn't want us to ever put ourselves in the spotlight. That's designed specifically for Jesus Christ. And so here are three questions that I always like to close a message with, so that, if you just tuned in, you can either go to our website and watch this message at wolchristiancenterorg or you can tune us in at Facebook or even YouTube, Words of Life Christian Center, Pastor Mark D Ingram.
Speaker 1:But I'm going to close with three, or should I say four, questions that will challenge us. If you're just tuning in, here are four questions you can ask yourself. That will basically sum up the message. Question number one does my gift benefit, bless, strengthen and edify me or others? Question number two Am I developing my gift on a routine basis? Question number three Am I maneuvering myself or my gift out of God's way of promotion, which is humility?
Speaker 4:And the final point, question number four do I even know what my spiritual gift or gifts are? For every believer has at least one.
Speaker 1:Thank you. We thank God for you joining us once more for this week's message, and my prayer is that you understand, as a believer, that God has given you at least one gift. That gift should be used for the benefit, not of ourselves, but for someone else, edifying them, encouraging them, building them up in Jesus Christ. God has even allowed our gifts to have the ability to pull in those that might not even know who Jesus Christ is. So let's go to the Lord together.
Speaker 1:Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, help us to understand that not only have you gifted us, but you are going to hold us accountable for how we utilized our gifts and whether or not we perfected the body of Christ, the church, or if we persuaded those who don't know who you are. It is in your holy name, father, that we pray. We thank you for Jesus. Thank you for moving on someone's heart today. Holy Spirit, it is in your name we pray. It is so, amen. Until next week. We look forward again to seeing you, same time, same place, right here, for God's word, his words of life. God bless you.
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