The Gift of Sight

[SPEAKER_00]: Usher's are coming forward to take the offering and this is yet another way for us to worship the Lord.

[SPEAKER_00]: We're giving back, a portion of what God has given to us just to remind ourselves that He is king and that we seek His kingdom and His righteousness first.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I'm excited about what God is doing.

[SPEAKER_00]: Listen, if you really want to get encouraged,

[SPEAKER_00]: be there next Sunday at our baptism service.

[SPEAKER_00]: There's going to be people who just tell you all the ways that God has changed their life and save them.

[SPEAKER_00]: And that is such an encouragement.

[SPEAKER_00]: And it also encourages our resolve to share the faith, declare Jesus, because when you hear the ways that God use certain people to lead that person to Christ, it's really invigorating and strengthening for us all.

[SPEAKER_00]: so we can stay on mission until Jesus comes back.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, today we are in 1 Corinthians 12.

[SPEAKER_00]: I know it said Romans, but it's 1 Corinthians 12 because we're going through the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

[SPEAKER_00]: And there is a longer list in 1 Corinthians 12, which is why I need to go there.

[SPEAKER_00]: This Sunday, this message will finish up the spiritual gifts.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm gonna take three today.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm gonna call it the gift of sight.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's the gift of knowledge, wisdom and discernment.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's what we're going to be looking at today.

[SPEAKER_00]: So start making your way to 1 Corinthians 12 and I'll give kind of an introduction to it.

[SPEAKER_00]: In the book of Mark 8, has an episode, a story of a blind man that was led to Jesus by friends who wanted to see him healed and when he came to Jesus, Jesus took him by the hand, led him outside the city gates.

[SPEAKER_00]: where he then spit on the man's eyes.

[SPEAKER_00]: Use his hands to rub it in his eye to heal him.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now that's very odd, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: But he asked the blind man, do you see anything?

[SPEAKER_00]: And he replies, I see people, but they look like trees walking.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so Jesus touches the eyes again, and this time the eyes completely become clear and restored so they saw.

[SPEAKER_00]: And it's the only miracle that is in two steps to accomplish, which leads a lot of Bible scholars to say, well, there's something deeper that Jesus is trying to convey, because he could do it just like that.

[SPEAKER_00]: But he did it in two steps.

[SPEAKER_00]: Why?

[SPEAKER_00]: And as you penetrate deeper into that section, you realize, just before the healing of the blind man is this episode where Jesus is rebuking the disciples for not having eyes to see that their perception was clouded concerning His instruction.

[SPEAKER_00]: And what follows the miracle also is this question, Jesus poses to them, who do you say that I am?

[SPEAKER_00]: Again, it's a question of perception.

[SPEAKER_00]: Who do you say that I am?

[SPEAKER_00]: And Peter got it right.

[SPEAKER_00]: He said, you're the Christ, you're the Son of the Living God.

[SPEAKER_00]: And Jesus pressed us in further to say, well, I'm going to be crucified.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to die.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to suffer and die to which Peter, you know, reviews the Son of the Living God.

[SPEAKER_00]: This is a little crazy.

[SPEAKER_00]: Peter perceives some things accurately, but not everything.

[SPEAKER_00]: The disciples had received the first touch of sight, but so many things were still blurry to them.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I use this as an illustration of the progressive nature of the Christian experience.

[SPEAKER_00]: Because at Salvation, we are given sight.

[SPEAKER_00]: We know that the Son of God has come.

[SPEAKER_00]: We know that He lived among us, He died, He was buried, He was resurrected, we have believed that now.

[SPEAKER_00]: And we love God's way, we love the Scriptures, but there are some things that are still blurry.

[SPEAKER_00]: Greater clarity comes to us progressively over time as we study the Word of God, and as men and women gifted in knowledge, wisdom, and discernment.

[SPEAKER_00]: play their part, use their gifts in the body.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's how it becomes clearer and clearer.

[SPEAKER_00]: Those with these three gifts are called, I'm calling the gift of sight, the gift of sight.

[SPEAKER_00]: The Holy Spirit is given these gifts to the church and when they are utilized, the whole body benefits.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now again, this is going to conclude our study on the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

[SPEAKER_00]: But I must say, I'm fascinated by the spiritual gifts.

[SPEAKER_00]: I just the fact that the Lord would give each one, not just a specialized group, but every believer, a spiritual gift to use and employ here to empower the mission that we're all on is amazing to me.

[SPEAKER_00]: But the question then becomes, why the vast differences between churches?

[SPEAKER_00]: Like why are some churches stumbling along while others seem to thrive?

[SPEAKER_00]: Because if I was God, I would want to guarantee the utilization of the gifts so that my integrity is intact, you know, like they represent me accurately to the world.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's just crazy that God suffers his name to be entrusted to imperfect people.

[SPEAKER_00]: that uses imperfect people to perfect the saints.

[SPEAKER_00]: Try that one on.

[SPEAKER_00]: He uses imperfect people to accomplish his will.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's like a package arrives for the church.

[SPEAKER_00]: There are spiritual gifts.

[SPEAKER_00]: We're supposed to unpack it and put it together.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like something from my kid, you know?

[SPEAKER_00]: Like we're gonna work it together and get it.

[SPEAKER_00]: So it works.

[SPEAKER_00]: But sometimes instructions get lost or the pieces get misplaced or the package never gets opened.

[SPEAKER_00]: But if the gifts are assembled,

[SPEAKER_00]: and put into action, if the church is mobilized for mission, it becomes an extraordinary witness in this world.

[SPEAKER_00]: Instead of being invisible to the world, because most churches are invisible to the world.

[SPEAKER_00]: They pass by, they could care less.

[SPEAKER_00]: But instead of being an invisible to the world, it becomes noticeable beacon of hope, a city set on a hill, which I believe is the Lord's design.

[SPEAKER_00]: Because the church is built upon truth and revelation,

[SPEAKER_00]: The gift of sight is crucial, knowledge wisdom and discernment.

[SPEAKER_00]: These shape the direction and the contour of a faithful community of Christians.

[SPEAKER_00]: So let's take a look at it and read again, first Corinthians 12, starting with verse 7.

[SPEAKER_00]: Everyone there?

[SPEAKER_00]: Babylon, open?

[SPEAKER_00]: Good?

[SPEAKER_00]: To each has given the manifestation of the Spirit.

[SPEAKER_00]: I just love that.

[SPEAKER_00]: The manifestation of the Spirit is we get to see the Spirit at work as we utilize the gifts.

[SPEAKER_00]: The manifestation of the Spirit for the common good, for to one is given through the Spirit, the utterance of wisdom.

[SPEAKER_00]: to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same spirit, to another faith by the same spirit, to another gifts of heavings by the one spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits,

[SPEAKER_00]: to another various kinds of tongues, to another of the interpretation of tongues, all of these are empowered by one in the same spirit who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

[SPEAKER_00]: So let's take a look at each one.

[SPEAKER_00]: Let's look at knowledge first, in verse 8, knowledge.

[SPEAKER_00]: The gift, the utterance of knowledge.

[SPEAKER_00]: This is the only place where the gift of knowledge and wisdom are together.

[SPEAKER_00]: There's no other place.

[SPEAKER_00]: So we don't have a lot of information to go on as far as how it was utilized in the church or how it was employed or how it functioned.

[SPEAKER_00]: But a good definition, proposed by Sam Storms, goes like this, the gift of knowledge.

[SPEAKER_00]: is a spirit empowered ability, which is true of all the gifts.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's a spirit empowered ability, to communicate insight into the unfathomable depths of God's gracious work in Christ.

[SPEAKER_00]: Let me give it again.

[SPEAKER_00]: The gift of knowledge is the spirit empowered ability to communicate insight into the unfathomable depths of God's gracious work in Christ.

[SPEAKER_00]: Basically,

[SPEAKER_00]: The gift of knowledge is extraordinary insight in Scripture, in Scripture, you see things.

[SPEAKER_00]: Those with this gift have a greater capacity to understand the book of truth, how it integrates into the whole story of the Bible.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now, you would hope that every preacher would have this gift, but I don't think that's necessarily true.

[SPEAKER_00]: I also think that some who will never be a preacher in their life will have to give to knowledge.

[SPEAKER_00]: So some of you have to give to knowledge.

[SPEAKER_00]: But nevertheless, in order for the church to benefit from this gift,

[SPEAKER_00]: It has to be dispensed in the body somehow.

[SPEAKER_00]: You have to be connected to the body somehow, which is true of all the gifts by the way.

[SPEAKER_00]: And this is why I wanted you to pray, God, how should I be employed in the church?

[SPEAKER_00]: Again, you're not here 24, seven.

[SPEAKER_00]: There are others set aside for that work, but I am to stir you up so that you play your part.

[SPEAKER_00]: What is that?

[SPEAKER_00]: And I wanted you to pray about that because you say, well, I don't know what my gifts are.

[SPEAKER_00]: If you're close to the body somehow, you're getting to know people, you're caring for people, you're praying for people, you're moving as the Holy Spirit moves you to care for people, you are using your spiritual gift.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then you'll start to recognize what you're good at.

[SPEAKER_00]: Others will recognize that I think you're gifted in that.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's how it works.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then the body gets stronger.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I'm just asking, there has to be, if this is your church, there has to be a way that you are connected somehow that people feel your presence and the gift of the Holy Spirit in you.

[SPEAKER_00]: Is there any significant way that you're connected to the body?

[SPEAKER_00]: That's what I'm praying for because as you get connected, this church becomes even more and more vibrant, more and more radioactive, if you will.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's what it is when we're together and we're connected.

[SPEAKER_00]: It has to be dispensed somehow in the body.

[SPEAKER_00]: And through knowledge, it's like one-on-one discipleship, it can happen.

[SPEAKER_00]: life-group leading, teaching in some way, it could be informally, you're just sharing with somebody what you know to build them up, but knowledge is to be imparted in practical ways into people's lives.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now, the gift, the people with the gift of knowledge usually sell in scholarship, they just love learning, they love learning.

[SPEAKER_00]: which I think Brendan Daniel Garrett, Gabe, these guys have the gift of knowledge.

[SPEAKER_00]: And perhaps you do too.

[SPEAKER_00]: You don't have to know what they know in order to have the gift of knowledge.

[SPEAKER_00]: God has gifted some of you with the gift of knowledge.

[SPEAKER_00]: But now, if you excel and love learning,

[SPEAKER_00]: If you seem to have a knack at deep, large concepts and can explain them to others so that they can be helped by it, you may have the gift of knowledge.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now, a caution with the gift of knowledge, because you love learning, you can easily just learn and learn and isolate yourself.

[SPEAKER_00]: You go from one Bible study to the next Bible study to the next Bible study, gifts are to be employed, not just indulged.

[SPEAKER_00]: You have this hunger for learning, but it needs to be employed in the body so that we are strengthened by that gift.

[SPEAKER_00]: You can't just bear yourself and I love learning, I love learning, I love learning, but not connect it to anybody.

[SPEAKER_00]: Does that make sense?

[SPEAKER_00]: We need you.

[SPEAKER_00]: The gift of knowledge is the penetrating insight in the Scripture, but I also believe it can operate in a revelatory way, okay?

[SPEAKER_00]: Meaning that God gives you knowledge to share that you would not get by studying or reading.

[SPEAKER_00]: And maybe these verses that I'm going to show you are demonstrating that gift of knowledge.

[SPEAKER_00]: Acts chapter 5 verse 3.

Acts 5:3

[SPEAKER_00]: Here is Peter talking to Ananias, Ananias and Sapphira, okay?

[SPEAKER_00]: But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?

[SPEAKER_00]: These people gave what they said, all of the money that they sold, all of the money, they sold a piece of land.

[SPEAKER_00]: But they lied in order to be recognized.

[SPEAKER_00]: How did Peter know this?

[SPEAKER_00]: perhaps it is a gift of knowledge that the Holy Spirit gave him in that moment to say something and to say something very penetrating to Ananias, or Acts chapter 13 verse 2.

Acts 13:2

[SPEAKER_00]: While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, said a part for me,

[SPEAKER_00]: Now, how did the Holy Spirit say to that?

[SPEAKER_00]: Say to them, was it a spoken word?

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know, but it is knowledge that they would not have gotten by reading or by studying.

[SPEAKER_00]: It had to be set aside, Barnabas and Saul, okay?

[SPEAKER_00]: To me, I think that's a gift of knowledge.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I think that would be very useful today.

[SPEAKER_00]: Don't you?

[SPEAKER_00]: It would be for me in order to direct the church, a gift of knowledge, not every day.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think this is extraordinary things, because God's word is our guide, but often at times, or I should say, at times, we could use a real insight for direction.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I think it would be, again, I think it would be useful.

[SPEAKER_00]: on a Sunday morning, Charles Spurgeon, a 19th century Baptist preacher, broke off midstream in his sermon to address someone in the crowd.

[SPEAKER_00]: He says, young man, those gloves you are wearing have not been paid for, you have stolen them from your employer.

[SPEAKER_00]: After the service, the young man approached Spurgeon, Sir, this is the first time I've stolen from my master, and I will never do it again.

[SPEAKER_00]: Please do not report me for my mother knew that I had turned into a thief, she would kill me.

[SPEAKER_00]: He was afraid of his mom.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now Spurgeon could not have known that by studying the word and by reading.

[SPEAKER_00]: that could only come from the Holy Spirit directly for the edification and may I say, the purity of the church.

[SPEAKER_00]: The gift of knowledge is concerned about what God has said, but there's another gift of sight, the gift of wisdom.

[SPEAKER_00]: And the gift of wisdom is concerned about what we should do about what we know God to be given us.

[SPEAKER_00]: How should we employ this?

[SPEAKER_00]: How should we apply this to my life?

[SPEAKER_00]: That's the gift of wisdom.

[SPEAKER_00]: So let's look at the gift of wisdom.

[SPEAKER_00]: And it's called an utterance or a word of wisdom in verse 8.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I think Stephen, Acts chapter 6, that Stephen had this gift, because listen to verse 9 and 10 of chapter 6 of Acts.

Acts 6 · chapter mention

[SPEAKER_00]: When some of those who belong to the synagogue of the Freeman, as it was called,

[SPEAKER_00]: and of the sirenians, and of the out Xandrians, and from those from Celicia and Asia, they rose up and disputed with Stephen, but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he was speaking.

[SPEAKER_00]: So here you have people from all over the world coming, and I'm sure that they were bright, but Stephen's wisdom was no match, I mean,

[SPEAKER_00]: Their wisdom was no match for Stephen.

[SPEAKER_00]: He was gifted with wisdom.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I believe God gave the gift of wisdom to certain people in the Old Testament.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now, specific, not widespread, but I think of Joseph.

[SPEAKER_00]: Joseph, everything he touched just seemed to flourish.

[SPEAKER_00]: He had the gift of wisdom.

[SPEAKER_00]: He was second in command to Pharaoh or how about Solomon when he asked God

[SPEAKER_00]: when God asks him, what can I give?

[SPEAKER_00]: He asks for wisdom, instead of riches, he asks for wisdom and God gave it to him.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I say that to you because James 15 tells us that we can do the same.

[SPEAKER_00]: We can ask God for wisdom.

[SPEAKER_00]: As I've said, God sovereignly distributes the gifts.

[SPEAKER_00]: You have been given a gift.

[SPEAKER_00]: But that does not mean that you can't.

[SPEAKER_00]: ask for another gift.

[SPEAKER_00]: And in that moment of need, God give that to you.

[SPEAKER_00]: I believe that.

[SPEAKER_00]: So wisdom refers to the ability to understand the will of God and apply it skillfully to everyday life or to the difficult situations.

[SPEAKER_00]: You can see how obviously the gift of wisdom would help in the church.

[SPEAKER_00]: If you have it, please employ it.

[SPEAKER_00]: When I think of the gift of wisdom, I think of Ken and Julie Hawke, as our counselors, Richard and Anne Kerrick, they are part of the counseling ministry.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think a Perry, Perry Gagliano, who is, I think it has the gift of wisdom.

[SPEAKER_00]: And you say, well, how do I know if I have it?

[SPEAKER_00]: Like, what if I have street smarts?

[SPEAKER_00]: Is that the same?

[SPEAKER_00]: It could be because as you're kind of thinking about it, you do have this real practical ways to solve problems, and you may have the gift of wisdom.

[SPEAKER_00]: However, Paul makes a distinction between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom from God in 1 Corinthians 2.

[SPEAKER_00]: Paul says there's a wisdom that parades itself around, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: Is self-indulgent, that's a wisdom of the world, but the wisdom of God is self-emptying, and it's content to be weak, so long as God is glorified and displayed among them.

[SPEAKER_00]: Just actually, this is a good one.

[SPEAKER_00]: James chapter three, turn to James chapter three, and let me read the wisdom from above,

[SPEAKER_00]: as opposed to the wisdom from below, and you'll see the difference.

[SPEAKER_00]: We're the wisdom, God the wisdom.

[SPEAKER_00]: Chapter three, starting with verse 13.

[SPEAKER_00]: He says, who is wise and understanding among you?

[SPEAKER_00]: By his good conduct, let him show his works in the meekness,

[SPEAKER_00]: But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth, this is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unsperitual demonic.

[SPEAKER_00]: He would even call it demonic.

[SPEAKER_00]: How is it demonic?

[SPEAKER_00]: For where there is jealousy and selfish ambition where they exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

[SPEAKER_00]: But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable.

[SPEAKER_00]: It brings peace.

[SPEAKER_00]: Gentle, open to reason, not stubborn.

[SPEAKER_00]: Full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

[SPEAKER_00]: And a harvest of righteousness is so in peace by those who make peace.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now, I believe God gave the gift of wisdom.

[SPEAKER_00]: And sometimes the gift of wisdom is not coupled by the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

[SPEAKER_00]: So the gift of the Holy Spirit has to be coupled by the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

[SPEAKER_00]: Sometimes you're getting in the way of the gift.

[SPEAKER_00]: And you don't want to do that, because somehow you've ended up using the gift to promote your greatness, instead of gods, you're competing with others, you're angry at them stealing your thunder frustrated by the lack of recognition, you have forgotten that the gifts are to serve others to build their faith, not to be a showcase of your greatness and your value.

[SPEAKER_00]: We're to put on the apron, we're to serve with those gifts because it is to build their faith.

[SPEAKER_00]: And if you're trying to show off, you're not going to build their faith.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now, sometimes when we're not received, the way we want to be received, or recognize, or we just keep working and no one's recognizing it, and we're getting tired, we can get upset, and we can get in the way of what the Lord's doing.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I would just say, come back.

[SPEAKER_00]: hold back, recognize what's going on, repent of trying to get the spotlight back on you because the joy of the Lord comes when it's all about Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: When it's all about Jesus,

[SPEAKER_00]: you are doing what you're made to do.

[SPEAKER_00]: And there is nothing more joyful than to be used of God in that way.

[SPEAKER_00]: Nothing.

[SPEAKER_00]: You just feel like on top of the world when you're able to move with the gifts that God has given and to help other people, there's not a better place to be.

[SPEAKER_00]: But some who get their feelings hurt, they'll fight with others, they'll cause division.

[SPEAKER_00]: But the other selfish response,

[SPEAKER_00]: is to pull back and soak.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like you're trying to help and you're not being received or recognized, it's easy to pull back and soak.

[SPEAKER_00]: That was more of my style than get angry and fight with other people.

[SPEAKER_00]: It was more pull back and soak.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like we'll find.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not going to do this anymore.

[SPEAKER_00]: But when you soak, you quit the team, you refuse to get involved again.

[SPEAKER_00]: You don't want to be hurt anymore, so you pack yourself up in styrofoam and bubble wrap, you know.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then you're no use to the body.

[SPEAKER_00]: Don't do that.

[SPEAKER_00]: Don't do that.

[SPEAKER_00]: We need you on the team.

[SPEAKER_00]: I heard a great quote from another pastor, I don't even know what it was, but I heard it.

[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm gonna say it because it's so good.

[SPEAKER_00]: He was saying it to people that you have to stay in ministry.

[SPEAKER_00]: God has got a ministry for you, your entire life long.

[SPEAKER_00]: There is no retirement serving the Lord.

[SPEAKER_00]: And here's the statement, I love it.

[SPEAKER_00]: It says, if you're not dead, you're not done.

[SPEAKER_00]: God still wants to use you.

[SPEAKER_00]: If you're not dead, you're not done.

[SPEAKER_00]: Discipleship, I think of the gift of wisdom can be used in discipleship when I'm one.

[SPEAKER_00]: Counciling with their informal, meaning you're not on the our counseling team, but you're just sharing what you know.

[SPEAKER_00]: Please do, or you're formally, you're getting a part of our counseling team and want to help parents, you know, some of you are gifted with wisdom, life group discussions, if you're in a life group, you can share that gift at different times when we're talking, discussing life.

[SPEAKER_00]: The other gift of sight besides knowledge and wisdom is the gift of discernment.

[SPEAKER_00]: discernment.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's in verse 10.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's hiding.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's kind of described differently than we would.

[SPEAKER_00]: To another, the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another, here it is, the ability to discern between spirits.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's discernment.

[SPEAKER_00]: discernment.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like the ability to

[SPEAKER_00]: what comes directly before it, prophecy.

[SPEAKER_00]: Because if someone is saying, I've got a word from the Lord, we need discernment to say, is this really from the Lord?

[SPEAKER_00]: That's the gift of discernment.

[SPEAKER_00]: Because the gift of knowledge is concerned about what God has said, the gift of wisdom is concerned about applying what God has said and the gift of discernment distinguishes between truth and error.

[SPEAKER_00]: Between the work of the Holy Spirit

[SPEAKER_00]: Again, the gift of knowledge teaches, the gift of wisdom chooses and steers life.

[SPEAKER_00]: And the gift of discernment judges.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now, in the best sense of that word, judges is distinguishing.

[SPEAKER_00]: Because we are told, Paul tells us to judge this way that when a prophecy is given,

[SPEAKER_00]: First, Thessalonians 521 says, we are to test it.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's discernment.

[SPEAKER_00]: Test it.

[SPEAKER_00]: First Corinthians 1429, Paul commands to weigh what's being prophesied.

[SPEAKER_00]: What do you mean?

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, that's the gift of discernment.

[SPEAKER_00]: It carefully listens to the spoken word and evaluates it.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's truthfulness according to the revealed word of God.

[SPEAKER_00]: It also discerns the power motivating the messenger.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like first John 4-1, listen to this, beloved do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see that they are from God for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

[SPEAKER_00]: We need discernment.

[SPEAKER_00]: Paul, when he left the one church that he spent the most time with, the church of Ephesus,

[SPEAKER_00]: And he says in Acts 2029, I know that after my departure, fears, wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock, and this is this, and from among your own selves, will rise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them, therefore be alert.

[SPEAKER_00]: You think about even in a body like this, okay?

[SPEAKER_00]: And I feel like, well, we're vigilant.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I feel like you get taught the word of God, but yet even among us, there can be people that arise that twist things and pull people away.

[SPEAKER_00]: So we have to be vigilant.

[SPEAKER_00]: We need the gift of discernment, because they are the sentinels on the wall, keeping watch, sounded the alarm to expose the enemy.

[SPEAKER_00]: because not every miracle is from God, not every preacher speaks for Christ, and not every feeling is the spirit.

[SPEAKER_00]: The sermon will not allow love to embrace what God hates.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay?

[SPEAKER_00]: It will not tolerate fuzzy teaching on current things that we need clarity on.

[SPEAKER_00]: The church today needs men and women who can discern what's going on.

[SPEAKER_00]: So don't be upset when they sound the alarm.

[SPEAKER_00]: Give room for the gift of discernment among us a word of caution, though, with those who have the gift.

[SPEAKER_00]: The gift of discernment can also scorch the earth.

[SPEAKER_00]: Because you are judging.

[SPEAKER_00]: You have to be very careful, okay?

[SPEAKER_00]: Because beware that your ministry doesn't just become a continual critique of others.

[SPEAKER_00]: The ministry is building up the saints, not simply tearing down.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's defending yes, but it's also building.

[SPEAKER_00]: illustrated by these two implements, a sword for fighting and defending, and a travel, just like Nehemiah building the wall, like you're defending and building.

[SPEAKER_00]: So don't be just about fighting and sounding the alarm, you know, all of us will stop hearing from you.

[SPEAKER_00]: Just be careful that you're building because discernment ministry can easily descend into skepticism, cynicism,

[SPEAKER_00]: I've been talking about the gift of sight, knowledge, wisdom, and discernment, yet when I think about the greatest tragedy.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's not being incapable of deserting false teaching, but failing to recognize Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

[SPEAKER_00]: That is the greatest tragedy that you would miss, you would be part of a church like this, and yet you would miss the significance of Jesus, and what he is for you.

[SPEAKER_00]: He is the Savior of the world.

[SPEAKER_00]: Because the Pharisees who were Bible experts of the day,

[SPEAKER_00]: heard Christ speak, saw the demonstration of power, even raising people from the dead, and yet they set their hearts against Him.

[SPEAKER_00]: The one who came to save them from their sins, they refused and they crucified Him as a criminal.

[SPEAKER_00]: How can that happen?

[SPEAKER_00]: How does that happen?

[SPEAKER_00]: Will they felt threatened?

[SPEAKER_00]: They felt like we don't need you.

[SPEAKER_00]: We've got this under control, and you're taking our spotlight.

[SPEAKER_00]: that couldn't happen to us.

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, yeah, it could because we often get hurt.

[SPEAKER_00]: We can often get, you know, we can often turn away.

[SPEAKER_00]: Things that happen in our life, we can harden our hearts so we don't hear that Jesus can rescue you.

[SPEAKER_00]: And that your sins can be forgiven, and then you don't even say that you have a decent, because that was the point with the Pharisees.

[SPEAKER_00]: They just didn't say, they just didn't acknowledge that they had any sin.

[SPEAKER_00]: They were the good people, not the bad people, they were the good people.

[SPEAKER_00]: And why is in Jesus' recognizes us as the good people?

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, they were blind, they were spiritual blind.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, we've been talking about the gift of sight, but there is such a thing as spiritual blindness.

[SPEAKER_00]: And second Corinthians 4, 4, says that the devil is darkening the skies of those who are unbelieving.

[SPEAKER_00]: They cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Jesus Christ.

[SPEAKER_00]: There is a veil over their eyes.

[SPEAKER_00]: They need to be rescued.

[SPEAKER_00]: And perhaps you this morning, you need to be rescued.

[SPEAKER_00]: You need the Holy Spirit to turn on the lights.

[SPEAKER_00]: And you have been yearning in your heart for truth, for understanding, for clarity, maybe for belonging,

[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe for peace, which is the Lord drawing you.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's drawing you to believe, but you have to reach out by faith and take hold of them.

[SPEAKER_00]: I know that that's kind of fuzzy language.

[SPEAKER_00]: It is trusting not in yourself and in your path, your ways, your understanding.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's why oftentimes I say, to believe it's like surrender, because you have to let go of your way, your understanding, and holding onto it.

[SPEAKER_00]: There has to be a release, a surrender.

[SPEAKER_00]: for you to put your trust in Him.

[SPEAKER_00]: You repent of your way, because your way is bringing only more and more condemnation.

[SPEAKER_00]: And you look up and say, God, your way not mine.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's what I mean.

[SPEAKER_00]: Because the devil's darkness blinds us from understanding ourselves.

[SPEAKER_00]: We get all twisted up, understanding the meaning of life, understanding who God is, that's why we need this book.

[SPEAKER_00]: to guide, to be a light and to our path.

[SPEAKER_00]: And what we need to do is reach out and faith, cry out to God for help.

[SPEAKER_00]: And there are people that you know that are spiritual guides for you.

[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe people that inspire you.

[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe you're sitting by that person.

[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe they invited you to church.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so maybe they're the ones that you would go to to pray.

[SPEAKER_00]: But you need to pray with other people.

[SPEAKER_00]: You need people to help you pray.

[SPEAKER_00]: In fact, I will be here with my wife.

[SPEAKER_00]: We would love to pray with you.

[SPEAKER_00]: There'll be others that would love to pray with you.

[SPEAKER_00]: Because you feel like, oh, man, I don't know what I need to do.

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, we'd love to help in any way.

[SPEAKER_00]: But you need to reach out.

[SPEAKER_00]: to be saved.

[SPEAKER_00]: Christian, the veil over your eyes has been removed by the miracle of Jesus in your soul.

[SPEAKER_00]: Your sins have written for given, you can now see clear earth.

[SPEAKER_00]: But not everything is cleared up in the moment that Jesus saves.

[SPEAKER_00]: And he continues to touch our eyes so that our vision gets clearer and clearer.

[SPEAKER_00]: And he uses the church.

[SPEAKER_00]: as we utilize the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

[SPEAKER_00]: So as I'm concluding the gifts of the Holy Spirit, I just want to say again, the more that the gifts can be utilized.

[SPEAKER_00]: This place becomes a redemptive environment.

[SPEAKER_00]: It just becomes a incredible environment to be a part of why because we're coming and we're giving collectively to the church, our part.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then Jesus Christ, which we make up the body, His image becomes clearer and clearer to the world.

[SPEAKER_00]: So we become a city set on a hill.

[SPEAKER_00]: And it really becomes redemptive.

[SPEAKER_00]: So the question is,

[SPEAKER_00]: Why is it that some churches seem to be healthier than others?

[SPEAKER_00]: And I would say, part of that reason is spiritual gifts because more people giving the spiritual gifts, more people involved, is going to help strengthen the body.

[SPEAKER_00]: Are the spiritual gifts neglected, or are they being utilized?

[SPEAKER_00]: Have the gifts ever even been opened yet in some of you?

[SPEAKER_00]: Are they working together to empower the mission?

[SPEAKER_00]: Are some bubble wrapped out of fear of getting hurt?

[SPEAKER_00]: We need to open those up and employ them in the church.

[SPEAKER_00]: Because here's the question, what if the most significant work God has for you is still future?

[SPEAKER_00]: It was for Moses at 80 years old.

[SPEAKER_00]: So no one in this room has an excuse, okay?

[SPEAKER_00]: 80 years old and he did the most significant work that God had assigned him.

[SPEAKER_00]: Can you believe for more?

[SPEAKER_00]: Can you believe that?

[SPEAKER_00]: Don't you want a front row seat to what God is doing and what He's going to do?

[SPEAKER_00]: That's the best place to be because we honor and worship Christ by faith, which means we have to take, we have to be faithful with the gift God gave.

[SPEAKER_00]: I know that there's fear.

[SPEAKER_00]: I know that there's hesitation.

[SPEAKER_00]: I know some of you have been hurt.

[SPEAKER_00]: I know some of you have been worn out.

[SPEAKER_00]: I give give give give give give.

[SPEAKER_00]: But I will say, and you know this to be true, the way you're going to grow and flourish is not by,

[SPEAKER_00]: By tucking yourself in, and bubble wrap, no, it's being utilized.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's being utilized in the life of other people.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's pouring out, because if you're not dead, you're not done.

[SPEAKER_00]: If you're not dead, you're not done.

[SPEAKER_00]: We got work to do.

[SPEAKER_00]: And it's a glorious work.

[SPEAKER_00]: God has awesome things in store for your life and in the life of the church, and I want to keep opening that thing up.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's going to be a great year for us.

[SPEAKER_00]: Just keep praying as we're going to be moving into a new auditorium this fall.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's going to go from three services down to two services.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's going to be great because we're going to see more people on a Sunday experience and I pray