Last week we talked about Body Image - Spiritual Body Image!
Psychology Today says of Body Image:
- Body image is the mental representation one creates, but it may or may not bear close relation to how others actually see you. Body image is subject to all kinds of distortion from internal elements like our emotions, moods, early experiences, attitudes of our parents, and much more. Nevertheless, it strongly influences behavior. Preoccupation with and distortions of body image are widespread.
- A Negative Body image can be very harmful and lead to many disorders
- This happens in the
- Some judge others for their gifts
- Others
- Some do not think that are
- This happens in the
We learned from 1 Corinthians 12:12-22 That the human body has a many parts just like the the body of Christ and that we need each other!
- Each part does not:
We are all different and unique and need to appreciate that
We also learned about 1 Corinthians Chapters 12-13-14 when paul talked about the gifts and the fruit of the Spirit and how we need not one or the other but need to walk in both the gift and the fruit
Today we are going to explore the importance of the Gifts in our lives and have a proper Body Image.
We need each other!!
So many people focus on the fruit of the spirit only
- We become
The Fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23 - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23) gentleness, and self-control
You know what Galatians 5 is really talking about here?
- Vs.16 - So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
- When you walk
- Be alive in Christ by walking according to the Spirit of God
- Walking in the Fruit and in the Gifts
When was the last time you turned a gift away?!?!?
- But in the “church” we see it done all the time!!
Why are the gifts important?
- It is the
- It shows that God is
1 Corinthians 12:7 - Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good
1 Corinthians 12:12 - One body - to help each other out
1 Corinthians 2:4-5 - And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5) I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.
Mark 16:15-18 -15) And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. 16) Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. 17) These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. 18) They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”
He wants to
Galatians 5:13b - …Use your freedom to serve one another in love
The gifts are not about us!
They are all about Him endpoint people to Him so they might put their faith in Him and become followers of Jesus
There is a belief that some of the gift are no longer in action -
The proof is whether or not you see it continuing on to this day
Let us walk in
God is bringing some amazing Gifts and talents to FUEL CHURCH
We
SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE NOT:
We all have natural abilities that we’ve lear d from those around us regardless of Christian faith. Many times our natural abilities and strengths are redeemed by the Lord to become spiritual gifts.
We are all called to have character and our gifts should produce the nature of Jesus Christ in each person. A person should not say he has the “gift of peace” when we are all encouraged to develop that characteristic. Spiritual gifts offer opportunities for us to exemplify Christ.
Spiritual gifts often lead to titles or positions but a person may have the gift without the role or the role without the gift. Regardless, we should serve whenever we are given the opportunity. Working in the area of your gifting will allow you to “be” the person that God has called you to be rather than just “doing” good things.
Spiritual gifts are endowments given by God to His people for accomplishing His purpose on the earth. Spiritual gifts are given for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 14:1 “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts… try to excel in gifts that build up the church.”
2 Peter 1:3-4 - By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4) And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
The Gifts of the Spirit are: (1 Corinthians 12:8-10 - Ephesians 4:7-13 - Romans 12:3-8)
- Wisdom - the ability to make decisions and give guidance that is according to God’s will.
- Knowledge - the ability to have an in-depth understanding of a spiritual issue or situation.
- Faith - being able to trust God and encourage others to trust God, no matter the circumstances.
- Healing - the miraculous ability to use God’s healing power to restore a person who is sick, injured, or suffering.
- Miracles - being able to perform signs and wonders that give authenticity to God’s Word and the Gospel message.
- Prophecy - being able to proclaim a message from God.
- Discerning Spirits - the ability to determine whether or not a message, person, or event is truly from God.
- Tongues - the ability to speak in a foreign language that you do not have knowledge of, or the language of the spirit
- Interpreting Tongues - the ability to translate the tongues speaking and communicate it back to others in your own language.
- Administration - being able to keep things organized and in accordance with God’s principles.
- Helps - having the desire and ability to help others, to do whatever it takes to get a task accomplished.
*Hebrews 12:1-2 * “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”
Your gift may tie in directly with your temperament and personality. The same God who gives spiritual gifts also made up our total being.
DISC Test
“D”
“I” __11%
“S”
“C”
Lion - Otter - Beaver - Golden Retriever
B. Know your potential strengths and weaknesses.
Psalm 139:14 - “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Elements that Help to Develop Your Personality
Life
2 Corinthians 5:17 - “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
Exploring the Different Areas of Your Personality
Today we’re trying to discover your
- Look for needs.
- Based upon your gifting find out where you can be useful. C. Do it.
- Study the Bible
- Research other material on spiritual gifts
- Get to know people who are using their spiritual gift
- Share openly with others the gifts that you have, think you have, or would like to have.
- Your spiritual gift should work.
- Gifted people get results - If you have the gift of healing, sick people will get well.
- If you think you have a spiritual gift and you try to exercise it, but no one else in your church thinks you have it, you probably do not.
- It needs to be confirmed. Feelings are important, but they are far from infallible
- When members of the Body confirm one another’s gifts, more can be accomplished because everyone begins to see where they fit and how their gifts work together.
- Be a part
- Children
- Youth
- Worship
- Start a Simple Church
- In your every day Going!
- Work
- School
- Home
- Coffee Shop
- In your every day Going!
- Do something about it - take an action step
*HOW DO I RECEIVE SPIRITUAL GIFTS? *
Matthew 8:13 “Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.”
John 14:12 (NAS) “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do;; because I go to the Father.”
Let us walk in the Gifts God has given to us, Today!
Not only walk in the Gifts but in the Fruit too!
Extra Credit:
PASSION ASSESSMENT
NARROW YOUR PASSIONS DOWN BY ASKING YOURSELF SEVEN QUESTIONS:
1. The People Question: Who am I most interested in?
2. The Action Question: What do I like to do the most?
3. The Strengths Question: In what area am I naturally strongest?
4. The Serving Question: How can I help someone solely for their benefit?
5. The Interest Question: What God-honoring things interest me the most?
6. The Opportunity Question: What opportunities do I have before me?
7. The Nostalgia Question: When in my life did I feel the most fulfilled?
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
What is my personality type and leadership style?
(D, I, S, C) (People or Task Oriented)
What are two primary spiritual gifts or natural abilities I have?
What two areas am I experienced in and/or most passionate about?
Based upon the answers above, what is one step I can take to start finding fulfillment in these three areas?
A. My Family
B. My Faith/Church
C. My Field of Opportunity/Job