WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.399 Welcome to Gateway Churches Podcast. 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:06.959 Wherever you're tuning in from, we hope you're encouraged by today's message. 00:00:10.240 --> 00:00:13.039 What a great day to be in the house of the Lord. 00:00:13.359 --> 00:00:15.679 So many exciting things that are happening. 00:00:16.160 --> 00:00:18.559 Baptisms at every campus this weekend. 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:23.440 And so if you've never been water baptized, that's your next step if you've placed your faith in Jesus. 00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:26.399 And a final week of Made for More. 00:00:26.559 --> 00:00:28.640 And I hope you've been enjoying this series. 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:36.640 And then I want to let you know, starting next Sunday, we're beginning a brand new series called How Not to Ruin Your Life. 00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:41.280 And we're going to walk through the book of Proverbs. 00:00:41.520 --> 00:00:43.840 How many of you could use a little wisdom in your life, right? 00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:45.520 We all could use a little wisdom. 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:47.840 And we're going to have a Bible reading plan. 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:49.039 We hope you'll jump in on that. 00:00:49.119 --> 00:00:51.200 It's very simple a chapter a day. 00:00:51.520 --> 00:00:54.159 A chapter a day will keep the dumb away. 00:00:56.159 --> 00:01:00.079 So once you'd engage in that, we'll tell you more about that next Sunday. 00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:09.920 But that will begin and go through the month, well, all through November, and then at the end of November, right after Thanksgiving, we're going to begin a beautiful Christmas series. 00:01:10.480 --> 00:01:14.879 And then it'll be candlelight, everybody, and then it'll be 2026. 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:16.799 It's here already. 00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:18.480 That's how it happens, right? 00:01:18.959 --> 00:01:21.439 So all kinds of good things happening in the life of the church. 00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:22.959 You don't want to miss any of it. 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:32.480 And uh the verse that we've been working from in this series is John 10, 10, where Jesus said, I've come that you might have life and you might have it to the full. 00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:34.480 So God doesn't want you just to get by. 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:37.120 He intended you to live a full life. 00:01:37.280 --> 00:01:42.640 And I don't know exactly all the details of that for every one of you, but I do know some things the Bible's clear about. 00:01:42.799 --> 00:01:44.879 That's what we've been talking about throughout this series. 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:52.959 Week one, we started about you're made for relationships, that the Christian life is impossible to live on your own, that you're meant to live it in community. 00:01:53.040 --> 00:01:57.680 Um, week two, Pastor Yok and brought a gate message about that you're made for mission. 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:06.239 Um, that you're supposed to be planting seeds of the gospel everywhere you go by how you live your life and what you say, and investing in those around you that are far from God but close to you. 00:02:06.560 --> 00:02:09.360 Week three, last week we talked about you're made for worship. 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:13.280 And uh last Sunday night had a powerful night of worship and prayer. 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:15.759 If any anybody was a part of that, yeah. 00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:17.840 It's a good amazing time together. 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:24.319 We prayed, we prayed for our church, we prayed for churches all across the DFW and in our country. 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:26.000 Um, and it was a beautiful time together. 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:31.360 Today I want to talk to you around this idea, and it's this you were made for serving. 00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:33.759 You were made for serving. 00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:35.520 It's hardwired in who you are. 00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:39.360 God's created you for this, and we're gonna dive into this today. 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:45.120 I do want to say a big hello to all of our locations, everybody joining us online, all of our prison campuses. 00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:50.719 We love you, and we thank God for you and everything that God's doing through our prison ministry. 00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:57.759 And uh, if you're new to Gateway and how we do church, I'd just like to say it this way: we're one house with many rooms. 00:02:57.919 --> 00:02:58.800 We're one church. 00:02:58.960 --> 00:03:01.840 We just you got a lot of family all over the place, everybody. 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:04.719 Some of you won't meet till heaven, but God's doing amazing things. 00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:05.520 Can I say this? 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:08.639 It is a great season to be a part of Gateway Church, is it not? 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:12.240 God is on the move, and we're grateful to be a part of it. 00:03:12.319 --> 00:03:13.520 Our greatest days are ahead. 00:03:13.759 --> 00:03:16.560 Hey, let's go to the Lord in prayer, and then we're gonna jump into the word of God. 00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:18.960 Father, we love you and we honor you. 00:03:19.120 --> 00:03:20.240 We're here for you. 00:03:20.479 --> 00:03:22.960 And now, Holy Spirit, we say speak to us. 00:03:23.199 --> 00:03:24.719 Our hearts and minds are open. 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:25.680 We want to hear from you. 00:03:25.840 --> 00:03:31.039 We believe your word has the power to change us, and that we'll never be the same because of it. 00:03:31.199 --> 00:03:32.400 In Jesus' name. 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:34.240 Everybody said a big amen. 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:35.280 Amen. 00:03:35.439 --> 00:03:37.680 So uh here's a little friendly reminder to you. 00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:40.319 We're nine weeks from Christmas, everyone. 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:44.400 I just gave some of you anxiety. 00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:48.000 So you're like, I haven't shopped at all, I haven't looked for anything. 00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:50.000 You got hives coming up your neck. 00:03:50.159 --> 00:03:50.960 I apologize. 00:03:51.120 --> 00:03:53.439 Um, how many of you love you love Christmas? 00:03:54.240 --> 00:04:00.000 Um yeah, I've I've been told that I could be in shorts and t-shirt on Christmas Day. 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:01.680 I don't even know what that is like. 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:07.039 I'm used to snowblowers on Christmas, but I've been delivered in the name of Jesus. 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:10.960 I hope to never operate one again with a foot of snow. 00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:18.560 But um, yes, so Christmas is coming, and I was thinking about this because you've got, you know, two types of people in Christmas. 00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:28.000 You've got those who are massively intentional gift givers, and then you got those who are like, that looked good on Amazon, might as well get it in, right? 00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:30.319 My wife is an incredibly intentional gift giver. 00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:36.879 How many of you have ever gone to um the gatherings where you do, I think it's called White Elephant or Gift Exchange? 00:04:37.360 --> 00:04:38.879 Okay, a lot of different names I heard for it. 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:39.519 So we did that. 00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:41.519 We were in a small group, everybody needs a small group. 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:48.079 So we had some of our small group friends over and their kids, and so we decided the kids would be the ones that did the gift exchanging. 00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:53.759 So you set a, if you haven't done this, you set a price limit, everybody greams a gift, and then you exchange the gifts. 00:04:54.079 --> 00:05:00.240 Well, whatever the limit was, I don't remember, but everybody had kid-friendly gifts, and so they were exchanging them. 00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:10.079 And there's, I know, big debate, and it's caused a lot of problems around Christmas between if you have the first number, do you get to then steal when everybody's done? 00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:13.439 Does the lot-I mean it's split churches, it's it's a thing. 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:14.720 I'm kidding. 00:05:15.439 --> 00:05:17.839 So nobody knows really the answer, it's just the rules. 00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:23.680 You got to set those up front, though, because if not, it gets really nasty at the end, and Christmas turns into a really bad holiday. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:34.800 Well, one of my friends, it's a little mischievous to say it nicely, had a brown gift bag with white tissue paper, and what was in it was a plastic bag of water with a goldfish. 00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:38.480 I just gave some of you a great idea. 00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:44.560 So some child was going home with a goldfish, and he was just sitting back waiting for the moment. 00:05:44.720 --> 00:05:45.600 Are you following me? 00:05:45.839 --> 00:05:47.680 How many of you are those people? 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:52.720 You bring the really nice gift for the exchange and you leave with the dirty sock. 00:05:53.519 --> 00:05:55.120 Come on, you know what I'm talking about? 00:05:55.199 --> 00:05:59.839 Like you put thought into it and you end up with the number, and you're like, I left with the plunger. 00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:00.639 Thanks very much. 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:02.160 This is awesome, right? 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:09.600 Here's what I want you to know today, though, is this is that you serve a God that's an amazing gift giver. 00:06:10.079 --> 00:06:14.480 And matter of fact, you serve a God that outgives anything you could ever give back to Him. 00:06:14.639 --> 00:06:25.360 And I want to talk to you about that today, one in particular, but first I want you to know three gifts that God gives us, and we're gonna focus in on one of those gifts, and they're available for everybody. 00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:27.279 Everybody on the planet, they're available for. 00:06:27.360 --> 00:06:32.240 And so I want to kind of give you some theology at the top, and then I'm gonna give you practical application at the end. 00:06:32.319 --> 00:06:33.439 If you're with me, say amen. 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:39.519 All right, gift number one that is available to all of us is the gift of eternal life. 00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:44.560 It's available to everyone on the planet, and God wants everyone to receive this gift. 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:51.759 Here's the thing about a gift, though, is you don't ever receive a gift unless you unwrap it and you enjoy the gift. 00:06:52.319 --> 00:06:52.800 Right? 00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:58.000 You could have all these wonderful gifts available to you, and you could be here and you could hear the gospel week after week. 00:06:58.160 --> 00:07:01.279 You could have an opportunity to respond and you could know it here. 00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:08.480 But I think most people, especially in in church, some people are about 12 inches from salvation. 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:12.160 They have it here, but it's never become real in their heart. 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:15.920 God wants to make it real in your heart, he offers you this gift of eternal life. 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:26.319 Romans 626 6.23 says this for the wages of sin is death, but the everybody say it together, but the it's a gift, it's a free gift. 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:32.399 The gift of God is eternal life, and it is in Christ Jesus, it's in only Jesus. 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:33.839 And I want to say this to you today. 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:38.240 Some of you have taken this step, but you've never taken the next step of water baptism. 00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:41.839 And I just want to ask this question what are you waiting for? 00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:44.079 What are you waiting for? 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:47.360 The right time to obey God is always right now. 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:49.040 And let me tell you this too. 00:07:49.199 --> 00:07:51.680 You never have to pray about obeying God. 00:07:52.319 --> 00:07:55.279 It's like when the the big kids, Owen and Faith, were younger. 00:07:55.439 --> 00:08:03.519 If when I told them to take the trash on Sunday night, if they say, I need to pray about that, how well do you think that would go over in the Floyd house, right? 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:06.240 You don't have to pray about obeying God, you just obey God. 00:08:06.319 --> 00:08:10.560 And some of you, you didn't even sign up, but today you need to take the step of water baptism. 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:11.600 We have everything you need. 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:14.639 We have all the clothes, all the clothes that go under the clothes. 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:15.920 You follow me? 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:17.120 All the hair product. 00:08:17.279 --> 00:08:19.920 You can leave here looking like you never even got wet. 00:08:20.480 --> 00:08:22.000 You need to take that step today. 00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:24.319 Number two, we get the gift of the Holy Spirit. 00:08:24.399 --> 00:08:27.120 How many of you are thankful for the gift of the Holy Spirit? 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:47.200 Acts chapter four, or Acts chapter one, verse four and five says, Don't leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my father promised, which you've heard me speak about, for John baptized with water, but in a few days, and that's what many of you need to do today, but in a few days you'll be baptized, you'll be immersed. 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:50.720 Um the Greek word there, you know, is baptizo means full immersion. 00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:52.159 That's why we don't sprinkle. 00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:56.559 Um, it's because the word literally means to immerse with the Holy Spirit. 00:08:56.799 --> 00:09:01.039 Then the third gift that God gives us are spiritual gifts. 00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:04.799 And this is where I want us to spend most of our time, and we're gonna unpack this today. 00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:15.360 Romans chapter 12, verse 6 says this we have different gifts according to the grace given to each of us. 00:09:15.840 --> 00:09:21.279 So the moment you place your faith in Jesus, you receive the Holy Spirit. 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:24.559 It is the seal of your salvation, according to the Apostle Paul. 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:28.480 There does come a moment where you need to be baptized or be immersed in the Holy Spirit. 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:35.519 Difference between a bottle being filled with water and that bottle with water in it being immersed in a pool. 00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:36.480 Are you following me? 00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:43.039 And so there does come a moment you need in your life where you are immersed, where you're clothed, is another way that the New Testament states it. 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:46.480 And so you're given these gifts, though, at the moment of salvation. 00:09:46.559 --> 00:09:51.360 And God gives them according to how he wants to portion them out to people. 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:52.639 If you're with me, say amen. 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:58.960 And so this word gift here in Acts chapter 12 is the Greek word charisma. 00:09:59.039 --> 00:10:03.279 Now, charisma is not like you have a great personality and you can light up a room. 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:07.279 The word charisma is the word for these spiritual gifts. 00:10:07.440 --> 00:10:11.200 Its root word is charis, meaning grace. 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:17.759 So you've got this root idea of grace, and you've got this charisma idea of gifts. 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:26.240 If you put it together, they are these grace gifts that God gives to you, and they're given according to the grace God wants to put in your life. 00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:28.000 That word grace means favor. 00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:30.000 Are y'all tracking with me so far? 00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:32.399 So God wants to put this favor on your life. 00:10:32.559 --> 00:10:40.240 In other words, where you just have an unusual ability in some area, and and and people have said this, man, this seems to come so easy to you. 00:10:40.559 --> 00:10:41.519 Let me give you an example. 00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:45.919 For some of you, if you had to do what I'm doing right now, you would be breaking out in hives. 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:52.399 You would run for the parking lot because the grace isn't on you to do that. 00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:56.960 But there's a grace on you to do other things that amaze me. 00:10:57.200 --> 00:10:58.559 Are you tracking with me? 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:06.159 This is the grace gift God has put on your life, and he's put on on there according to the grace he's apportioned. 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:11.519 So, in other words, you didn't get to go, God, I'll take gift number one and six and twelve. 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:19.519 God decided what gift he would put on your life, and he's given you a favor to be able to operate in that gift. 00:11:19.679 --> 00:11:32.159 And matter of fact, when all of the body together we are operating in the gifts God has given us, the body is built up, the gospel is advanced, and we make a difference in the world around us. 00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:37.840 When we set on our gift and refuse to use it, then there's a whole lot of people that miss out. 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:41.200 So God wants you to use this grace gift he's given you. 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:45.440 My pastor, Pastor Chris Hodges, I like the way he defines spiritual gifts. 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:49.919 He says a spiritual gift is a supernatural ability. 00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:56.080 So it's not your own talent, it's beyond your own skill that you're just good at that. 00:11:56.159 --> 00:12:05.600 It's beyond that, it's supernatural that God gives to each of his children so that together we can advance his purposes in the world. 00:12:05.919 --> 00:12:10.480 I like the way that John Stott, the theologian from England, he summed it up this way. 00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:15.360 He said, a spiritual gift is a God-given capacity for service. 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:25.679 It's a God-given capacity so that we can serve others because you were designed to make a difference in the lives of other people. 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:27.679 You were designed for service. 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:32.000 This is how God created you and designed you and what he wants for you. 00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:38.960 And we all have different gifts, and we all have different abilities, and we all bring these to the table. 00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:40.000 And guess what? 00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:44.080 We form a body, is the metaphor that the New Testament uses. 00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:48.480 And so I want to show you quickly some of these gifts. 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:51.279 Let me give you some real practical application, okay? 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:53.679 Okay? 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:54.879 All right, good. 00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:59.200 So if you're the note-taking type, write this down and look at it later. 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:01.840 I'm gonna show you a few of them, but they're really easy to remember. 00:13:01.919 --> 00:13:08.720 There's four lists of spiritual gifts in the New Testament, and it's 1 Corinthians 12, it's Romans 12. 00:13:08.879 --> 00:13:09.840 I'm gonna show you those. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:15.360 The ones I won't show you today for the sake of time is 1 Peter 4 and Ephesians 4. 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:20.480 Now, 1 Peter 4 just gives two gifts, um serving and speaking. 00:13:20.559 --> 00:13:24.000 And then Ephesians 4 talks about the five-fold ministry gifts. 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:25.600 Okay, are you tracking with me? 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:27.600 Um, but real easy to remember. 00:13:27.840 --> 00:13:29.759 12, 12, 4, and 4. 00:13:29.919 --> 00:13:33.440 Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, 1 Peter 4, Ephesians 4. 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:36.960 So if you just remember those, you'll have the list that's listed in the Bible. 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:40.559 And most theologians believe those aren't exhaustive lists. 00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:42.720 This is a lot of S's, y'all. 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:46.799 Okay, Romans 12, I'm gonna show you these gifts. 00:13:47.120 --> 00:13:52.000 Romans chapter 12, it says we have different gifts according to the grace given to each of us. 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:53.279 That's what we read a minute ago. 00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:54.799 And then he lists some of those. 00:13:54.960 --> 00:13:56.720 If it's prophesying, then prophesy. 00:13:56.799 --> 00:13:59.679 So some of us have the gift of that, but not all of us have the gift of that. 00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:01.919 If it's serving, then serve. 00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:04.240 If it's teaching, then teach. 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:08.320 If it's encouragement, some of you have the ability to encourage people. 00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:11.360 You walk in a room and you just light it up, then give encouragement. 00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:14.080 If it's giving, some of you have the gift of giving. 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:17.600 This isn't just the tithe, that's obedience. 00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:19.600 This is the ability. 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:24.639 You have the ability to generate wealth for the purpose of being generous to advance the kingdom of God. 00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:28.159 If it's to lead, some of you have the gift of leadership, then do it diligently. 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:32.000 You have the gift of mercy, then show it cheerfully. 00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:35.200 It goes on in 1 Corinthians 12. 00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:37.120 There's a little bit of overlap, you'll see. 00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:40.799 To one, there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom. 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:44.320 So some of you have the gift of wisdom, some of you have the gift of knowledge. 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:46.159 There's also the gift of faith. 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:52.399 This isn't just faith to like believe for the faith to be saved or the faith to pray. 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:58.240 This is, you just have a supernatural, when everybody else is doubting, you're like, no, God can do it. 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:01.519 You're like, God can move the mountain, God can part the sea. 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:10.559 And it's not just hype talk, like there's something inside of you that just believes that God is going to move on behalf of you in any and any given situation. 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:11.679 That's the gift of faith. 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:13.840 And you want some people like that in your life. 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:18.080 You want some people in that when you are in the valley that goes, This will not last. 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:19.279 God is for you. 00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:20.559 Are y'all tracking with me? 00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:21.519 You need these people. 00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:23.440 So you have the gift of healing. 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:27.679 You pray, and God supernaturally, divinely heals people. 00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:34.000 He goes on to tell us in 1 Corinthians uh chapter 12, 10, he said they're the gift of miracles, of prophecy. 00:15:34.080 --> 00:15:36.879 We see that again, of distinguishing between spirits. 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:38.159 This is a discerning gift. 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:39.759 You you just discern things. 00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:42.320 This is uh, I believe Tammy has this gift. 00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:45.679 So when she tells me, I don't feel good about that, I don't do it. 00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:47.200 I listen. 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:49.840 I'm also a wise husband. 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:56.000 The gift of tongues, the ability to interpret tongues. 00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:58.879 So these are different gifts that are listed. 00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:02.159 Um he goes down in chapter 12, verse 27. 00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:05.600 All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it. 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:09.919 Here are some of the parts God has apportioned to the church. 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:17.679 First are apostles, second, prophets, teachers, then miracles, we see that again, healing, we see that again, the ministry of help. 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:18.559 That's some of you. 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:20.000 You just so want to be in the background. 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:23.279 You're like, I don't want anybody to see me, I don't want anybody to know me, I just want to be a help. 00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:24.399 I just want to be a blessing. 00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:32.720 That's because you have the gift of help, the gift of leadership, those who speak with unknown languages, these are gifts. 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:34.159 Are all apostles? 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:36.080 Obviously, the answer is going to be no. 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:36.960 Are all prophets? 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:37.759 Are all teachers? 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:39.519 Do we all have the power to do miracles? 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:40.799 Do we all have the gift of healing? 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:42.639 Do we all have the ability to speak in tongues? 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:44.480 Do we all have the ability to interpret? 00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:46.320 He goes, Of course not. 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:47.759 Of course not. 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:48.639 We don't. 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:49.440 So what? 00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:53.600 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:56.960 And we'll show you at the very end of the message what is the most helpful gift. 00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:58.240 And he shows us. 00:16:58.399 --> 00:17:00.799 And so these are all the kind of gifts. 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:07.440 And there's probably more gifts because most scholars believe this in an exhaustive list. 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:14.880 But here's what I want you to understand about this is that for so long in the church, we almost created two different class systems. 00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:21.839 There was the professional minister that was gifted to do ministry, and then there was everybody else. 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:31.839 And the idea is that I'll come and watch the professional do ministry, and I'll set through a service, and then I'll go back home and I'll come back and do it again this week. 00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:36.160 And can I tell you, that's not how God ever intended for it to work? 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:53.359 That we are all a part of the body, and when we are all serving, then the kingdom of God is pushed forward, the kingdom of darkness is pushed backwards, and the gospel is advanced among us when we all are using the gift that God gave us. 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:56.319 And no gift is more important than the other gift. 00:17:57.039 --> 00:18:02.000 What is someone that greeted you in the parking lot is no more important than what I'm doing right now. 00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:12.960 It's different gifts, different responsibilities, different accountability, but there is an equality to the gifts, and it is God who decides to get the gifts. 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:16.000 The gift I have, I didn't even decide that I got it. 00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:17.279 Are you following with me? 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.720 God made the decision. 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:20.480 So Daniel doesn't get the glory. 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:23.920 God gets the glory, and I can't say that this gift is better than that. 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:26.160 I can't look at the foot and say, I don't need you. 00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:28.799 And it can't look at the hand and say that I don't need you. 00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:33.920 We need the gift of helps, and we need the gift of prophecy, but one isn't better than the other. 00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:35.519 Are you tracking with me? 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:40.480 We need the gift of leadership and we need the gift of giving, but it doesn't mean that one is better than the other. 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:55.039 And we need the gift of exhortation, and we need the gift of healing, and we need the gift of help, and we need the gift of speaking, and we need the gift of serving, but they're all the same inequality, and God apportioned to the body what we needed. 00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:59.119 Okay, if you don't believe me, let me show you. 00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:09.680 Acts chapter 2, verse 17, quoting the Old Testament, it says, In the last days, God said, I will pour out my spirit upon all the pastors. 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:14.400 Not what it says. 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:16.720 It says on all people. 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:20.640 And your sons and your daughters will prophesy. 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:26.400 Which means there's not an age category where God gifts. 00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:34.079 It means that if you've accepted Christ at four, he gave you some spiritual gifts and we need them operating in the body. 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:41.119 It means if you're 13 and you've accepted Jesus, God's put some spiritual gifts in you, and we need them in the body. 00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:44.319 And by the way, we need to make room for them in the church. 00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:48.559 And so on your sons and daughters, yeah, you should clap for that. 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:55.920 It says your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams. 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:56.720 You know what this means? 00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:58.000 We need everybody. 00:19:58.640 --> 00:20:01.440 You don't retire from serving the Lord. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:06.799 There's no retirement in serving Jesus. 00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:09.519 You signed up to be a lifer. 00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:12.160 I don't want to burn out. 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:15.599 I'm afraid more people are gonna rust out than they are gonna burn out. 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:18.559 Don't let that be your story. 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:19.440 We need you. 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:20.799 We need the wisdom. 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:23.200 We need the years of experience. 00:20:23.839 --> 00:20:28.400 We need the own men mentoring the younger men, we need the older ladies mentoring the younger ladies. 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:29.519 We need the whole body. 00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:38.160 When the whole body is functioning, then the kingdom of darkness loses, the kingdom of God advances, and the gospel goes forward, everybody. 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:40.079 And that's what we need. 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:45.519 So let me give you four four thoughts of application. 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:47.839 If you're the note-taking type, write this down. 00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:50.000 If not, go ahead and write it down anyway. 00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:51.839 Sorry, some of you are catching on. 00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:56.400 Number one is this first, you've got to discover your gift. 00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:59.599 And you should want to know your gift, and this isn't bad. 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:00.880 You should want to know. 00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:04.559 There's nothing wrong with, there's nothing prideful about wanting to know your gift. 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:11.599 Matter of fact, the scripture says this follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit. 00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:16.720 Should eagerly desire what is it that God has gifted me to do? 00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:20.480 What is it that I'm I'm uniquely purposed in the earth? 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:25.359 Because here's the deal: once you know your design, then you can know your destiny. 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:33.519 You can't know your destiny, what God has destined, what God has envisioned, whatever word you want to put there, until you know your design. 00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:37.119 And you can't truly know your design until you know your gifting. 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:39.279 How has God created you? 00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:44.960 So let me give you three simple questions to help you begin on the journey of maybe uncovering that a little bit. 00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:48.160 Number one is this it's simply what do you love? 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:52.079 What is it that makes something come alive on the inside of you? 00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:57.440 That's probably a little tr uh bread crumb onto what you're gifted to do. 00:21:57.759 --> 00:22:03.920 What what do you walk in a room and and When you see it and get to do it, just something comes alive inside of you. 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:07.039 Some of you, when you walk in a room, you zero in. 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:12.640 You could walk in a room and everybody's happy, but you see the person that is kind of sad. 00:22:13.119 --> 00:22:15.039 There may be a mercy gift on you. 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:20.559 And when you get to go pray with them or lighten their day, something comes alive inside of you. 00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:23.680 I walk in a room and I see the trash on the floor. 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:28.240 I see the curtain that's out of place. 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:29.759 Are you following me? 00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:31.200 I get in your car. 00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:33.039 I'm trying not to judge you. 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:34.640 But I just see it all. 00:22:35.839 --> 00:22:37.440 I see that you didn't vacuum. 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:40.000 I see that you didn't wipe the door frame. 00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:42.880 I'm not kidding, actually. 00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:45.200 I do see all of that, and I can't unsee it. 00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:48.079 I can't unsee it. 00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:57.599 But it's it's part of the gifting of how God has used me to serve the body of Christ. 00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:58.400 Are you following me? 00:22:58.559 --> 00:23:00.480 Like I just see that. 00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:02.160 I see people too, don't worry. 00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:04.559 And I pray for them and okay, all that. 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:07.519 Number two, where are you effective? 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:11.440 Where when you do it, there's fruit. 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:21.039 Because you may love something, but if you're not effective at it, the purpose is we bear fruit, everybody, okay? 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:24.079 So is there fruit from it? 00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:26.559 Do you see God's touch on it? 00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:30.799 Do you see the the wind of the Holy Spirit blow on that? 00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:32.880 Is is there favor on it when you do it? 00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:39.200 And and let me say it this way when you're walking in your gifting, it won't be easy, but it'll come with ease. 00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:45.839 It doesn't mean it'll be easy, but there is an ease about it. 00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:48.880 What other people would look at and go, man, I would lose my mind. 00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:51.039 You go, Oh, I love it. 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:53.039 I'm walking in the grace. 00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:55.839 I'm walking in the Romans 12, 6. 00:23:56.000 --> 00:24:03.279 I have charisma, spiritual gift, according to the grace, the favor that God has apportioned unto me. 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:06.799 And when you're walking in that, there's just an ease about it. 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:08.400 And you feel it. 00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:09.680 Where are you effective? 00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:12.400 Number three, what do others affirm? 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:14.319 Where do others affirm in you? 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:17.759 Where do they look at you and go, I see this gift on your life? 00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:18.880 That's so important. 00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:26.480 To have other godly people in your life that will affirm the gift of God that is on your life and speak into that. 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:27.279 Where do you see that? 00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:28.160 That's a little help. 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:29.440 And how do I discover this? 00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:32.160 Number two is submit your gift. 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:35.200 Here's what I want you to understand. 00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:37.599 Your gift is not for you. 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:44.240 Most other gifts you receive in life are to come to you and stop with you. 00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:51.119 The gifts God gives you are to come to you and flow back through you to touch the lives of other people. 00:24:52.079 --> 00:25:04.880 It's what the scripture tells us in 1 Peter 4 says, each of you should use whatever gift you have not to make yourself great, not to benefit yourself, but to serve others. 00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:05.759 As what? 00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:08.720 Faithful stewards of God's grace. 00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:10.319 Remember Romans 12, 6? 00:25:10.640 --> 00:25:11.839 This is the charisma. 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:12.880 According to the grace. 00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:13.680 So what are we doing? 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:17.440 We're just stewarding the grace of God in its various forms. 00:25:18.400 --> 00:25:19.680 Think about this for a minute. 00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:25.839 Whenever you serve someone else, they are receiving the grace of God through you. 00:25:27.359 --> 00:25:28.960 That's what the scripture is telling us. 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:31.119 That we're stewarding the grace of God. 00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:42.480 And when you serve someone, when you hold a door and you greet people on the way in, you're stewarding the grace of God by expressing that gift of hospitality. 00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:48.880 Whenever you teach or lead a small group, you're stewarding the grace of God by using the gift of teaching. 00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:51.279 And your other people are experiencing it. 00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:53.839 And so your gifts are not for you. 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:57.279