THANKS FOR JOINING US
FOR TODAY’S PROGRAM. THE PLAIN-SPOKEN BIBLICAL WISDOM
AND TIMELESS TEACHING OF ADRIAN ROGERS HAS GONE
AROUND THE WORLD, AND HAS BEEN DESCRIBED BY THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE HE HAS TOUCHED AS “PROFOUND TRUTH, SIMPLY
STATED.” AND TODAY, HE’LL BE BRINGING HIS UNIQUE BRAND OF
WISDOM AND TEACHING TO THIS STUDY OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. AS
ADRIAN ROGERS SAYS, “THEY’RE NOT TOYS; THEY’RE
TOOLS. THEY’RE NOT FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT; THEY’RE FOR YOUR
EMPLOYMENT.” DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU’RE GIFTED? THAT GOD GAVE
YOU A GIFT, BUT TO USE IT, YOU HAVE TO OPEN IT. WHEN YOU
GET SAVED, YOU HAVE NATURAL TALENTS, BUT YOU HAVE
SUPERNATURAL GIFTS, AND SO, YOU ARE NATURALLY
SUPERNATURAL. AND AS A CHRISTIAN, YOU OUGHT TO
BE SUPERNATURAL AND NOT SUPERFICIAL BECAUSE GOD HAS
GIFTED YOU. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE GIFTS IS THAT THEY ARE
SPIRITUAL GIFTS. THEY ARE CHARISMATA. THEY ARE GRACE
GIFTS. THEY ARE NOT EARNED, THEY ARE NOT LEARNED. THEY ARE
GIVEN, AND GOD HAS GIVEN TO YOU A GIFT. HAVE YOUR BIBLES
OPEN AND JOIN US FOR THE SERIES, “UNWRAPPING YOUR
SPIRITUAL GIFT,” AND DON’T FORGET, YOU CAN LISTEN TO
THIS MESSAGE AGAIN, SHARE THIS MESSAGE WITH A FRIEND,
AND DOWNLOAD PASTOR ROGERS’ OUTLINE, NOTES, OR A
TRANSCRIPTS OF THIS MESSAGE, ALL AT LWF,ORG. NOW,
LET’S JOIN ADRIAN ROGERS. IN THE CHRISTIAN WORLD WE’VE
KIND OF DIVIDED PEOPLE UP INTO THE CLERGY, THAT’S THOSE WHO
ARE IN FULL-TIME MINISTRY, AND THE LAITY, THESE ARE THE ONES
IN THE PEW. A LITTLE GIRL WAS ASKED TO DEFINE, DESCRIBE, THE
CLERGY AND THE LAITY, AND SHE SAID, “WELL, HUH, THE CLERGY
ARE PAID FOR BEING GOOD; THE LAITY ARE GOOD FOR NOTHING.”
HA, HA, HA. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] HUH, WHAT I WANT TO
DO IS TO HELP YOU NOT TO BE GOOD FOR NOTHING, BUT TO BE
GOOD FOR SOMETHING. AND YOU MAY NOT REALIZE IT, BUT IF
YOU’RE SAVED, YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED INTO THE MINISTRY. GOD
HAS A MINISTRY FOR EACH OF US. TAKE YOUR BIBLES AND FIND
FIRST CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 12. IT’S A WONDERFUL CHAPTER,
AND I WANT YOU TO STAY IN THAT CHAPTER WITH US AS WE
HELP YOU, AH, TO UNWRAP YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT, FOR YOU ARE A
GIFTED CHILD. THERE’RE MANY PEOPLE WHO SAY, “WELL, I’M
FRUSTRATED. I DON’T SEEM TO BE MAKING ANY PROGRESS IN MY
CHRISTIAN LIFE. I DON’T SEE ANY VICTORY, AND I DON’T HAVE
ANY JOY.” AND I SAY, “WELL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR JESUS?”
“WELL, I’M COMING TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY MORNING. I’M SITTING
THERE. I’M LISTENING TO MUSIC. I’M SINGING SONGS AND
LISTENING TO MY PASTOR PREACH.” YOUR PROBLEM IS, VERY
FRANKLY, THAT YOU NEED TO FIND A MINISTRY. YOU NEED TO
DISCOVER YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT AND PUT IT TO WORK FOR OUR
LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. THERE’RE THREE KINDS OF PEOPLE
IN EVERY CHURCH. THERE ARE THOSE WHO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN,
THOSE WHO WATCH THINGS HAPPEN, AND THOSE WHO DON’T EVEN KNOW
ANYTHING IS HAPPENING. NOW, HA, HA, I THINK PROBABLY MOST
OF THOSE IN THIS AUDITORIUM THIS MORNING ARE IN THE MIDDLE
GROUP. YOU ARE THE WATCHERS. YOU ARE THE OBSERVERS, BUT,
AH, YOU HAVE NEVER REALLY GONE TO WORK. NOW LET ME TELL YOU
WHY YOU NEED TO DO IT. NUMBER ONE, THE NEED IS DESPERATE.
THE GATES OF HELL, THE SLUICE-GATES OF HELL HAVE BEEN
OPENED AND, AND THERE IS A FLOODTIDE OF FILTH AND
DEBAUCHERY AND DEMONISM. AND, AND MILITANT ATHEISM IS ON
THE MARCH. AND HUMANISM IS PERVADING OUR SCHOOLS AND IS
THE ORDER OF THE DAY, AND WE NEED A REVIVAL, DON’T WE?
A REVIVAL THAT CANNOT BE EXPLAINED BY PROPAGANDA
AND PERSONALITY AND, AND AH, PHILOSOPHY. MORAL STANDARDS
HAVE FALLEN. IN ALL OF MY MINISTRY ALL OF MY LIFE, I’VE
NEVER SEEN THE MORAL STANDARDS AS LOW AS THEY ARE, NOT ONLY
IN AMERICA, BUT AROUND THE WORLD. IN AMERICA WE
HAVE LIQUORIZED SOCIETY AND GLAMORIZED ADULTERY, IN OUR
SO-CALLED GOD-BLESSED AMERICA. AND THE SAD THING IS THERE’S
SO MUCH UNCONCERN ON THE PART OF MANY WHO NAME THE NAME OF
CHRIST. AND WE, WE SIT IN OUR SERVICES AND WE LISTEN TO
MESSAGES AND WE GO OUT AND WE NEVER, EVER REALLY GET
INVOLVED. A WISE MAN SOME YEARS AGO SAID THAT, “THE
AVERAGE CHURCH IS LIKE THOSE PEOPLE AT A FOOTBALL GAME.
DOWN THERE ON THE FIELD, HUH, HUH, ARE 22 MEN DESPERATELY IN
NEED OF REST, AND UP THERE IN THE STANDS ARE FIFTY THOUSAND
PEOPLE DESPERATELY IN NEED OF EXERCISE.” AND THAT’S THE WAY
WE HAVE IN OUR CHURCH. WE HAVE OUR CHURCH STAFFS, A FEW
PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING SO MUCH, AND THEN THE REST WHO ARE JUST
SITTING AROUND. I’M TELLING YOU, FRIEND, THAT THE NEED IS
GREAT AND THE HOUR IS LATE. OH, IF WE COULD ONLY
UNDERSTAND THAT! AH, THE SANDS OF TIME ARE RUNNING OUT FOR
THIS GENERATION. WE ONLY HAVE SO MANY YEARS, SO MANY MONTHS,
SO MANY DAYS, SO MANY HOURS, PERHAPS ONLY, ONLY SO MANY MM,
MINUTES BEFORE THE END OF ALL THINGS IS AT HAND. AND, UH,
THE HOUR, I WANT TO TELL YOU, IS RIPE. LISTEN, IN SPITE OF
THE SIN AND THE DEBAUCHERY, THERE IS A GREATER HUNGER FOR
SPIRITUAL THINGS TODAY THAN IN ANY TIME SINCE I HAVE BEEN IN
THE MINISTRY, ACCORDING TO MY HUMBLE BUT ACCURATE OPINION.
HUH, HUH. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] I SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE SO HUNGRY
FOR THE THINGS OF GOD. THERE IS A MOVE TOWARD SPIRITUALITY.
THE SAD THING IS THAT PEOPLE ARE TURNING TO HUMANISM AND
NEW AGE-ISM AND FALSE CULTS BECAUSE WE HAVE FAILED TO
DECLARE THE TRUTH. BUT IT’S LIKE A GAME. THE PEOPLE ARE
LOOKING ONE MORE TIME AND THEY’RE ASKING THIS QUESTION,
“IS JESUS REALLY THE ANSWER?” “IS THE BIBLE TRUE?” “IS WHAT
THESE PEOPLE ARE SAYING, IS IT REALLY TRUE?” NOW, WITH ALL OF
THAT IN MIND LET’S THINK SOME ABOUT HELPING YOU TO PUT SOME
IMPETUS IN YOUR LIFE. I WANT MY LIFE TO COUNT FOR JESUS.
I’M TIRED OF JUST SITTING AROUND, DRAWING MY BREATH,
DRAWING MY SALARY, FIGHTING TO LIVE WHILE I LIVE TO FIGHT. I,
I, I WANT, I WANT MY LIFE TO COUNT FOR JESUS. DO YOU WANT
YOUR LIFE TO COUNT? ARE YOU JUST CONTENT TO SIT AROUND,
ENDURE UNTIL YOU DIE? ONE OF THESE DAYS, AND SOON, WE’RE
GOING TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT. NOW GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO SERVE
HIM, AND GOD HAS EQUIPPED YOU TO SERVE HIM, AND THE WAY THAT
GOD HAS EQUIPPED YOU TO SERVE HIM IS THIS; GOD HAS GIVEN TO
YOU A SPIRITUAL GIFT, AND AT LEAST ONE. AND YOU’RE TO
TAKE THAT GIFT, DISCOVER IT, DEVELOP IT, AND DEPLOY IT FOR
JESUS. NOW LOOK IF YOU WILL, FIRST CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 12
VERSE ONE, “NOW CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTS, BRETHREN, I
WOULD NOT HAVE YOU IGNORANT.” FIRST POINT: THE DESCRIPTION
OF THE GIFTS, THE DESCRIPTION OF THE GIFTS. THESE GIFTS ARE
SPIRITUAL GIFTS. IN VERSE FOUR THEY’RE CALLED CHARISMATA.
THAT’S THE WORD THAT’S TRANSLATED GIFTS IN VERSE
FOUR. AND, HUH, WHAT, WHAT THAT MEANS IS THEY ARE
CHARISMATIC GIFTS. CHARIS IS THE WORD FOR GRACE. THEY ARE
GRACE GIFTS. NOW PAUL SAYS THAT YOU HAVE A GRACE GIFT,
AND HE SAYS, “I DON’T WANT YOU TO BE IGNORANT.” AH, EDUCATION
MAY COST, BUT IGNORANCE WILL COST YOU FAR MORE. AND AS I
SAID EARLIER, AH, THE AVERAGE CHRISTIAN IN THE AVERAGE
CHURCH IS SATURATED WITH IGNORANCE WHEN IT COMES TO
SPIRITUAL GIFTS. NOW, WHEN I’M TALKING ABOUT THE GIFTS, THE
DESCRIPTION OF GIFTS, REMEMBER I’M NOT TALKING TO YOU ABOUT
MATERIAL GIFTS. IF I WERE TO TELL YOU WHO WANTS, OR
ASK YOU, WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE, HUH, YOU’D ALL
PERK UP. YOU’D SAY, “YEAH, I, I WANT TO BE A MILLIONAIRE.”
WELL, I’M TALKING TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING FAR MORE VALUABLE,
BUT THE DEVIL HAS CLOUDED YOUR MIND. I’M NOT TALKING
ABOUT MATERIAL GIFTS. I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT NATURAL TALENTS.
NATURAL TALENTS COME FROM GOD. YOU HAVE NATURAL TALENTS. BUT
WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT NOW IS SUPERNATURAL ABILITY THAT
COMES FROM GOD. WHEN YOU GET SAVED, YOU HAVE NATURAL
TALENTS, BUT YOU HAVE SUPERNATURAL GIFTS, AND SO YOU
ARE NATURALLY SUPERNATURAL. AND AS A CHRISTIAN YOU OUGHT
TO BE SUPERNATURAL AND NOT SUPERFICIAL BECAUSE GOD HAS
GIFTED YOU. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE GIFTS IS THAT THEY ARE
SPIRITUAL GIFTS. THEY ARE CHARISMATA. THEY ARE GRACE
GIFTS. THEY ARE NOT EARNED. THEY ARE NOT LEARNED. THEY ARE
GIVEN! AND GOD HAS GIVEN TO YOU A GIFT. THAT’S THE FIRST
POINT. NOW HERE’S THE SECOND POINT: THE DISTORTION OF THE
GIFTS. NOTICE AGAIN NOW IN VERSE, AH, AH, TWO, AH, “I
WOULD NOT HAVE YOU TO BE IGNORANT,” HE SAYS IN VERSE
ONE, “YE KNOW THAT YE WERE GENTILES, CARRIED AWAY UNTO
THESE DUMB IDOLS, EVEN AS YE WERE LED. WHEREFORE, I GIVE
YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT NO MAN SPEAKING BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD
CALLETH JESUS ACCURSED; AND THAT NO MAN CAN SAY THAT JESUS
IS THE LORD, BUT BY THE HOLY GHOST.” NOW EVIDENTLY THERE
WAS A LOT OF, OF CRAZINESS GOING ON IN CORINTH. CORINTH
WAS A VERY CARNAL CHURCH. AND SO PAUL SAYS, “LOOK, LET’S
GET RID OF THIS IGNORANCE. THERE’RE ALL KINDS OF
STRANGE THINGS HAPPENING HERE. SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE BEING
DISTORTED.” AND, YOU KNOW WHAT THE DEVIL WANTS TO DO? THE
DEVIL WANTS TO GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT A BAD NAME. [AUDIENCE:
THAT’S RIGHT] THE DEVIL WANTS TO TAKE SOMETHING THAT IS GOOD
AND DISTORT IT AND PERVERT IT. AND BY THE WAY, THE DEVIL IS A
PERVERT. THE DEVIL HAS NO RAW MATERIAL; GOD MADE EVERYTHING.
SO ANYTHING THAT IS BAD IS A PERVERSION OF THAT WHICH WAS
ONCE GOOD BECAUSE GOD MADE EVERYTHING. AND SO THE DEVIL
WANTS TO TAKE SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND DISTORT SPIRITUAL,
AH, GIFTS. AND WE SEE THIS HAPPENING TODAY IN, IN
AMERICA. PEOPLE SAYING, “OH, PASTOR, HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT
THE REVIVAL GOING ON IN THUS AND SUCH A PLACE, OR THUS AND
SUCH A PLACE?” ALL KINDS OF STRANGE THINGS ARE HAPPENING.
PEOPLE FALLING DOWN AND BEING, AS IT WERE, GLUED TO THE
FLOOR; SOME OF THEM INDECENTLY EXPOSED, SOME LAUGHING
MANIACALLY, OUT OF CONTROL. SOME ROARING LIKE LIONS
AND BARKING LIKE DOGS. AND SOMEBODY SAYS, “HALLELUJAH,
REVIVAL HAS COME!” THAT’S THE WAY THE PEOPLE IN CORINTH WERE
TO BEGIN WITH. HE SAID THEY WERE, “CARRIED AWAY.” THEY
WERE LED AWAY BY THESE DUMB IDOLS. SOME WOULD GET IN SUCH
A FRENZY THEY WOULD EVEN CURSE JESUS AND CALL HIM ACCURSED.
LISTEN FRIEND. LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING ABOUT REAL REVIVAL.
REAL REVIVAL IS NEVER SEEN BY THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT; REAL
REVIVAL IS SEEN BY THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT [AUDIENCE:
THAT’S RIGHT] WHICH IS LOVE AND MERCY, LONGSUFFERING. REAL
REVIVAL DOESN’T PUT YOU OUT OF CONTROL; REAL REVIVAL BRINGS
YOU UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. SOMETIMES PEOPLE
SAY, “WELL I WAS JUST CARRIED AWAY; I COULDN’T HELP IT.” THE
BIBLE SAYS, “AND THE SPIRITS OF THE PROPHETS ARE SUBJECT
UNTO THE PROPHETS.” I’VE BEEN IN SERVICES SOMETIME WHERE
SOMEBODY WOULD DISTURB THE SERVICE AND SAY, “WELL GOD
JUST CAME ON ME.” NO. “THE SPIRIT OF THE PROPHETS ARE
SUBJECT TO THE PROPHETS.” AND AGAIN PAUL SAYS IN FIRST
CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 14 AND VERSE 20, AH, VERSE 40, “LET
ALL THINGS BE DONE DECENTLY AND IN ORDER.” AND SO, AH,
ANYTIME YOU FIND WORSHIP THAT DRAWS AWAY FROM THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST, EVEN WORSHIP THAT, AH, MAGNIFIES THE HOLY SPIRIT
RATHER THAN THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS, THAT WORSHIP IS FALSE.
NO ONE CAN SAY THAT JESUS IS LORD, BUT BY THE HOLY GHOST.
WHAT IS THE OFFICE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT? JESUS, SPEAKING
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, SAYS, “HOWBEIT, WHEN HE, THE SPIRIT
OF TRUTH, IS COME, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH; FOR
HE WILL NOT SPEAK OF HIMSELF.” THAT IS, HE’S NOT GOING TO
MAGNIFY HIMSELF. HE’S NOT GOING TO SAY, “LOOK AT ME.”
“BUT WHATSOEVER HE SHALL HEAR, THAT SHALL HE SPEAK; FOR HE
SHALL SHOW YOU THINGS TO COME. HE SHALL GLORIFY ME.” THAT’S
WHAT JESUS SAID. “HE SHALL GLORIFY ME, FOR HE SHALL
RECEIVE OF MINE, AND SHOW IT UNTO YOU.” ANY MOVEMENT OR
ANY TEACHING THAT HAS THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR A FIGUREHEAD IS
DISTORTED. [AUDIENCE: THAT’S RIGHT] I LOVE THE HOLY SPIRIT.
HE LIVES IN ME. I REJOICE IN THE DEAR SPIRIT OF GOD, AND
I CAN SAY WITH ISAIAH, “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,
FOR THE LORD HATH ANOINTED ME TO PREACH.” BUT WHEN YOU SEE A
PARADE, YOU’LL NEVER SEE THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADING THAT
PARADE IF IT’S A SPIRITUAL PARADE. YOU’LL SEE JESUS
LEADING THE PARADE AND THE HOLY SPIRIT STANDING ON THE
SIDELINE SAYING, “LOOK AT HIM, LOOK AT HIM, LOOK AT HIM.” NO,
YOU DON’T GO BEYOND JESUS TO THE HOLY SPIRIT. SOME
PEOPLE THINK THAT. THAT’S FOOLISHNESS. FRIEND, YOU’LL
NEVER GO BEYOND JESUS. YOU MAY GO DEEPER INTO JESUS, BUT
YOU’LL NEVER GO BEYOND JESUS. AND DON’T LET ANYBODY COME
ALONG WITH SOME, AH, PHONY TEACHING THAT TAKES AWAY
FROM THE GLORY OF THE LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.
COLOSSIANS 1:18, “AND HE,” JESUS, “IS THE HEAD OF THE
BODY, THE CHURCH; WHO IS THE BEGINNING, THE FIRST-BORN FROM
THE DEAD, THAT IN ALL THINGS, ALL THINGS HE MAY HAVE THE
PREEMINENCE.” YOU WANT TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THIS CHURCH
IS SPIRIT-FILLED? WHETHER MY PREACHING IS SPIRIT-FILLED?
WHETHER YOUR MUSIC IS SPIRIT-FILLED? WHETHER YOUR
GIFT IS OPERATING? DOES IT GIVE PREEMINENCE TO JESUS
CHRIST? THAT’S IT. DON’T LET YOUR GIFT BE DISTORTED. NOW,
THE DESCRIPTION OF THE GIFTS: THEY’RE SPIRITUAL GIFTS,
CHARISMATA. THE DISTORTION OF THE GIFTS: THE DEVIL TRIES TO
DISTORT IT BECAUSE HE DOESN’T WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND IT.
NOW, NUMBER THREE. LET’S THINK ABOUT THE DIVERSITY OF THE
GIFTS. LOOK IF YOU WILL IN VERSES FOUR AND FOLLOWING,
“NOW THERE ARE DIVERSITIES OF GIFTS.” WHAT DOES THE
WORD DIVERSITIES MEAN? JUST DIFFERENT KINDS, THAT’S ALL
THAT MEANS. “BUT THE SAME SPIRIT. AND THERE
ARE DIFFERENCES OF ADMINISTRATIONS, BUT THE
SAME LORD. AND THERE ARE DIVERSITIES OF OPERATIONS,
BUT IT IS THE SAME GOD WHICH WORKETH ALL IN ALL.” NOW TAKE
YOUR BIBLE. LOOK AT IT. IN VERSE FOUR YOU FIND THE WORD
GIFTS, IN VERSE FIVE THE WORD ADMINISTRATIONS, AND IN
VERSE SIX YOU FIND THE WORD OPERATIONS. DO YOU SEE IT?
GIFTS, ADMINISTRATIONS, AND OPERATIONS. NOW THE GIFTS
SPEAK OF GOD’S PROVISION. GOD HAS GIVEN YOU A GIFT.
ADMINISTRATIONS SPEAK OF GOD’S PURPOSE. GOD GAVE YOU A GIFT
FOR A PURPOSE. AND OPERATIONS, IT’S THE WORD WE GET OUR WORD
ENERGY FROM, SPEAK OF GOD’S POWER. SO, AH, GOD MAKES A
PROVISION, GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR THAT PROVISION, AND GOD
GIVES YOU POWER SO THAT YOU MIGHT FULFILL THE PURPOSE OF
THAT PROVISION THAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU. AND, AND SO THERE
IS A DIVERSITY OF GIFTS, BUT IT IS THE SAME HOLY SPIRIT.
WHAT WE HAVE IN THIS DIVERSITY IS UNITY IN DIVERSITY. GOD
WANTS UNITY IN DIVERSITY. NOW, WHEN JOYCE AND I GOT MARRIED,
WE GOT ALL KINDS OF GIFTS, AND PEOPLE BRING GIFTS. AND THEY
BRING WAFFLE IRONS, AND THEY BE, BRING BLENDERS, AND
THEY BRING TOASTERS, AND THEY BRING, AH, ALL THESE, CAN
OPENERS, ALL OF THESE THINGS, AND COFFEE MAKERS. THESE ARE
ALL GIFTS. AND THESE GIFTS, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS.
AND THEY HAVE DIFFERENT CAPACITIES. BUT THEY ALL HAVE
TO BE PLUGGED IN, THE KIND I’M TALKING ABOUT. THEY DON’T
OPERATE WITHOUT THE POWER. NOW, THAT, THEY, IT’S THE SAME
POWER THAT OPERATES THEM ALL, BUT THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT
FUNCTIONS AND DIFFERENT CAPACITIES. AND THAT, THAT’S
WHAT PAUL IS SAYING ABOUT THE BODY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
WE HAVE DIFFERENT CAPACITIES, WE HAVE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS,
BUT IT IS THE SAME SPIRIT. WE’RE ALL PLUGGED IN TO HIM.
AND WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS TO PLUG IN YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT.
YOUR MINISTRY IS YOUR PLACE OF SERVICE. NOW, IT IS UNITY
IN DIVERSITY. DIVERSITY IN A CHURCH IS NOT BAD; IT IS GOOD.
DIVISION IS BAD. NOW UNITY IS GOOD. AND WHAT IS UNITY? UNITY
IS NOT UNISON. THIS CHOIR HAS SUNG THIS MORNING IN UNITY,
BUT NOT NECESSARILY IN UNISON. THEY’VE SUNG DIFFERENT PARTS.
AND THAT’S WHAT MAKES IT BEAUTIFUL. GOD DOESN’T WANT US
ALL TO BE ALIKE. WE’RE NOT A CONGREGATION OF CLONES. GOD
MAKES US DIFFERENT. AND SO, AH, AH, UNITY IS NOT,
AH, UNISON. UNITY IS NOT UNIFORMITY, NOT EVERYBODY
DOING THE SAME THING. THAT’S NOT UNITY. THAT KIND,
IF, IF YOU EVER SEE THE GOOSE-STEPPING PEOPLE
FOLLOWING HITLER, THAT’S UNIFORMITY. THAT COMES FROM
PRESSURE FROM WITHOUT. UNITY COMES FROM LIFE FROM WITHIN.
WE ALL SHARE THE SAME HOLY SPIRIT. IT IS, IT’S NOT EVEN
UNION. YOU SAY, “WELL, WE’RE ALL MEMBERS OF THE SAME
CHURCH.” THAT’S UNION, BUT NOT NECESSARILY UNITY. HUH. ALL
THE CORPSES IN ONE GRAVEYARD’S NOT GOING TO CAUSE A
RESURRECTION. NO. IT IS THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT. YOU
SEE, WE’VE TALKED ABOUT THE DESCRIPTION OF THESE GIFTS.
WE’VE TALKED AH, AH, ABOUT THE DISTORTION OF THESE GIFTS. WE
HAVE TALKED ABOUT, AH, DEAR FRIEND, THE DIVERSITY OF THESE
GIFTS. “THERE ARE DIVERSITIES OF GIFTS, BUT THE SAME
SPIRIT.” DO YOU SEE THAT IN VERSE FOUR? GOOD. NOW, LET’S
THINK ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE GIFTS. WHAT IS GOD’S DESIGN?
WHAT, WHAT PURPOSE DOES GOD HAVE FOR YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT?
WELL LOOK NOW IN VERSE SEVEN, “BUT THE MANIFESTATION OF
THE SPIRIT,” THAT IS, THE OUTWORKING OF THE SPIRIT, “THE
MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT IS GIVEN TO EVERY MAN,” THAT IS,
ALL OF US HAVE A GIFT. HE’S TALKING ABOUT MANKIND, “TO
PROFIT.” NOW IN THE KING JAMES, IT SAYS, “WITHAL.” NOW
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT MEANS TO PROFIT THE ENTIRE BODY.
YOUR GIFT IS NOT A SELFISH GIFT. SO MANY PEOPLE, UH,
THINK THAT THEIR SPIRITUAL GIFT IS SOMETHING FOR THEIR
ENJOYMENT. HUH, YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT IS NOT FOR YOUR
ENJOYMENT. HEH, YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT IS FOR YOUR EMPLOYMENT.
YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT IS A TOOL, NOT A TOY. AND GOD GIVES YOU A
SPIRITUAL GIFT THAT YOU MIGHT DO A JOB AND, AND, AND TO GET
THAT JOB DONE IN THE CHURCH OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. AND IF
I HAVE A GIFT, IT’S GOING TO BLESS YOU. IF YOU HAVE A GIFT,
IT’S GOING TO BLESS ME. AND WE’RE GOING TO BLESS ONE
ANOTHER. WHEN I WAS STUDYING FOR THIS SERMON I LOOKED THIS,
AH, TEXT UP, VERSE SEVEN, IN SOME OTHER TRANSLATIONS. LET
ME GIVE YOU ONE. PHILLIPS, FOR EXAMPLE, “EACH MAN IS GIVEN
HIS GIFT BY THE SPIRIT THAT HE MAY USE IT FOR THE COMMON
GOOD.” THAT’S WHAT IT MEANS, “TO PROFIT WITHAL.” “THAT
HE MAY USE IT FOR THE COMMON GOOD.” IT’S NOT SOME
INTROVERTED, SELF-CENTERED GIFT. AH, CONIBEAR, AH,
TRANSLATES IT THIS WAY, “BUT THE GIFT, WHEREBY THE SPIRIT
BECOMES MANIFESTED IS GIVEN TO EACH FOR THE PROFIT OF ALL.”
“GIVEN TO EACH FOR THE PROFIT OF ALL.” THAT IS THE DESIGN OF
THE GIFTS. AND, AND THERE’S SO MUCH SELFISHNESS IN THE CHURCH
TODAY, AND PEOPLE ARE JUST THINKING ABOUT THEMSELVES.
YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT IS GIVEN TO YOU TO PROFIT THE
ENTIRE BODY, TO, “RESCUE THE PERISHING AND CARE FOR THE
DYING. WEEP O’RE THE ERRING ONE AND LIFT UP THE FALLEN
ONE, TO TELL THEM OF JESUS, THE MIGHTY TO SAVE.” THAT’S
WHY YOU HAVE A SPIRITUAL GIFT. NOW, AH, THE, THE, THE GIFT
THEREFORE IS DESIGNED, AH, THAT YOU MIGHT BE A BLESSING
TO THIS ENTIRE CHURCH. AND GOD WANTS YOU TO BE A BLESSING TO
THIS CHURCH AND THEREFORE TO MAKE A CHURCH, THIS CHURCH, A
BLESSING TO THIS COMMUNITY, AND MAKE THIS COMMUNITY A
BLESSING TO THE WORLD. NOW, LET’S THINK NEXT ABOUT THE
DISTRIBUTION OF THE GIFTS. WE’VE TALKED ABOUT THE
DESIGN. LOOK ABOUT THE, THE DISTRIBUTION. HOW ARE THEY
DISTRIBUTED? WELL, THEY’RE DISTRIBUTED BY THE HOLY
SPIRIT. LOOK IN VERSE EIGHT, “FOR BY, FOR TO ONE IS GIVEN,
BY THE SPIRIT, THE WORD OF WISDOM; TO ANOTHER, THE
WORD OF KNOWLEDGE BY THE SAME SPIRIT; TO ANOTHER, FAITH BY
THE SAME SPIRIT; TO ANOTHER, THE GIFTS OF HEALING BY THE
SAME SPIRIT; TO ANOTHER, THE WORKING OF MIRACLES; TO
ANOTHER, PROPHECY; TO ANOTHER, DISCERNING OF SPIRITS; TO
ANOTHER, DIVERSE KINDS OF TONGUES; AND TO ANOTHER, THE
INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES. BUT ALL THESE WORKETH THAT ONE AND
THE SELF SAME SPIRIT, DIVIDING TO EVERY MAN SEVERALLY AS HE
WILL.” WHO DISTRIBUTES THE GIFTS? THE HOLY SPIRIT OF
GOD. YOU DON’T DECIDE THIS. HE SOVEREIGNLY DECIDES. HE
CHOOSES THE GIFT. AND, AND NO NEED FOR YOU TO GO AROUND
ASKING GOD FOR A SPIRITUAL GIFT. IF YOU’RE SAVED, HE’S
ALREADY GIVEN YOU THE GIFT. YOUR GIFT WAS A BIRTHDAY GIFT.
AH, IT, IT CAME ON THE DAY OF YOUR SPIRITUAL BIRTHDAY WHEN
YOU WERE BORN AGAIN. AH, MY BROWN EYES CAME WITH ME
WHEN I WAS BORN, AND THAT’S A NATURAL, AH, CHARACTERISTIC.
YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT IS A SUPERNATURAL CHARACTERISTIC,
AND IT CAME WHEN YOU WERE BAPTIZED INTO THE BODY OF
CHRIST. NOW, ALL YOU DO IS TO DISCOVER THE GIFT AND DEVELOP
THE GIFT THAT GOD HAS ALREADY GIVEN YOU. HAVE YOU EVER
WATCHED A LITTLE BABY DISCOVER HIS HANDS? IT’S AN AMAZING
THING. HE COMES WITH THOSE HANDS. YOU NEVER GO TO THE
HOSPITAL AND SAY, “NOW, PUT THE HANDS ON.” I MEAN, HE
COMES WITH THAT. BUT THERE, THERE COMES A TIME WHEN A
LITTLE CHILD JUST DISCOVERS THOSE LITTLE HANDS, AND SO
FORTH. YOUR HAND CAME WHEN YOU WERE BORN. THEY’RE BIRTHDAY
PRESENTS. WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME INTO YOU AND PUT YOU INTO
THE BODY OF CHRIST, HE DIDN’T COME IN EMPTY-HANDED; HE CAME
IN WITH A GIFT. PUT THIS, AH, SCRIPTURE DOWN. FIRST PETER
CHAPTER FOUR AND VERSE 10, “AS EVERY MAN HATH RECEIVED THE
GIFT, EVEN SO MINISTER THE SAME ONE TO ANOTHER, AS EVERY
MAN HATH RECEIVED THE GIFT, AS GOOD STEWARDS OF THE MANIFOLD
GRACE OF GOD,” CHARISMA OF GOD. SO, EVERY MAN HAS
RECEIVED THAT GIFT. NOW, LET’S LOOK AT SOME OF THE GIFTS
THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS DISTRIBUTED. FOR EXAMPLE,
IN VERSE EIGHT HE SPEAKS OF WISDOM. DO YOU SEE IT THERE?
WHAT IS WISDOM? NOW IT’S NOT JUST BEING SMART, AH, AND IT’S
NOT EVEN, AH, WHAT SOME PERSON WOULD CALL, A, WORLDLY WISDOM.
IT IS, IT IS NOT NATURAL SENSE. IT IS NOT COMMON SENSE.
IT IS UNCOMMON SENSE. THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE WHO JUST
SPIRITUALLY HAVE THE GIFT OF WISDOM. AND THESE ARE THE KIND
OF PEOPLE, AND I KNOW SOME PEOPLE, THAT IF I HAVE A NEED
OR PROBLEM, AND I CAN THINK OF SOME IN THIS CONGREGATION. I
WILL NOT EMBARRASS THEM BY CALLING THEIR NAME, BUT I
BELIEVE THEY HAVE THE GIFT OF WISDOM. AND I, I SPEAK WITH
THOSE PEOPLE. WHEN I WANT GUIDANCE OR INSIGHT, I’LL TALK
TO THOSE PEOPLE. AH, IF, IF A PERSON HAS THE GIFT OF WISDOM,
THEY MAKE WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL COUNSELORS. THAT MAY BE ONE OF
THE GIFTS THAT YOU HAVE. AND THEN HE MENTIONS IN VERSE
EIGHT THE GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE. AND ACTUALLY, IN THE GREEK
LANGUAGE, IT IS A WORD OF KNOWLEDGE. THAT DOESN’T MEAN
A PERSON WHO HAS THE GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE KNOWS EVERYTHING.
NOBODY KNOWS EVERYTHING. NOBODY KNOWS ONE-TENTH OF ONE
PERCENT OF ANYTHING, BUT WE HAVE A GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE.
IT’S, IT, IT’S LITERALLY A WORD OF KNOWLEDGE, JUST LIKE
IN LAW YOU MIGHT HAVE A WORD OF LAW, OR A POINT OF LAW.
THIS IS THE ABILITY TO KNOW THINGS THAT YOU COULD NOT
KNOW, OTHER THAN BY DIVINE INTUITION. AH, IT IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT’S LEARNED FROM SCHOOL. IT’S NOT SOMETHING
THAT YOU GET FROM MEMORY. IT IS GOD GIVING INSIGHT. THE
DEVIL COUNTERFEITS THIS GIFT, AND BY THE WAY, THE DEVIL
COUNTERFEITS ALL OF THESE GIFTS. UH, THE, THE
COUNTERFEIT OF THIS GIFT IS WHAT WE CALL CLAIRVOYANCY. BUT
THERE IS A GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU CAN KNOW THINGS, UH,
BY DIVINE REVELATION THAT YOU COULD NOT KNOW ANY OTHER WAY.
FOR EXAMPLE, HOW DID SIMON PETER KNOW THAT ANANIAS AND
SAPPHIRA WERE LYING IN ACTS CHAPTER FIVE? HE SAID, “YOU’VE
NOT, YOU’VE NOT LIED UNTO MEN, BUT TO THE HOLY GHOST.” HOW
DID PETER KNOW THAT? HE HAD, AH, THE, THE WORD OF
KNOWLEDGE, A WORD OF KNOWLEDGE. GOD JUST TOLD
HIM, AH, THAT. I THINK GOD HAS GIVEN ME SOMETIMES A
LITTLE BLIP INTO THIS. I WAS PREACHING ONE TIME IN A TOWN
AND, AH, IN A REVIVAL MEETING. AND, AH, IN THE, IN THE
SERVICE SOMEBODY CAME DOWN THE AISLE AND TOOK A MAN ABOUT THE
THIRD ROW THERE AND TAPPED HIM ON THE SHOULDER AND LED HIM
OUT. AND, UH, THE MAN HAPPENED TO BE THE SHERIFF. I SAID,
“THERE GOES SHERIFF SO AND SO. MOST LIKELY THERE’S BEEN AN
AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT AND LIQUOR HAS BEEN INVOLVED, AND
SOMEBODY’S BEEN KILLED.” WELL WHY WOULD I SAY THAT? I HAD
NO IDEA ABOUT THAT. THAT NIGHT THERE’S A KNOCK ON MY [KNOCK,
KNOCK, KNOCK] MOTEL DOOR. THAT MAN CAME, SAID, “I NEED TO GET
SAVED.” AND, UH, HE SAID, AH, “YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID?”
HE SAID, “I WENT OUT THERE AND AN AUTOMOBILE HAD HIT A
LOGGING TRUCK. SOMEBODY’D BEEN KILLED. I LOOKED IN THE
AUTOMOBILE. THERE WAS A BROKEN WHISKEY BOTTLE, AND THE MAN
THAT WAS KILLED WAS THE MAN THAT RAN AGAINST ME FOR
SHERIFF OF THIS COUNTY.” HE SAID, “I NEED TO GET SAVED.”
HUH, HUH, HE DID GET SAVED. I DON’T THINK THAT IS MY GIFT. I
THINK THAT WAS JUST A BLIP ON THE HORIZON. I DON’T HAVE
THAT GIFT, BUT, AH, I THINK I UNDERSTAND SOMETHING ABOUT HOW
THAT GIFT WORKS. THEN THERE’S THE GIFT OF FAITH IN VERSE
NINE. NOW, AH, WHEN, WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT FAITH THERE,
HE’S NOT TALKING ABOUT NATURAL FAITH, AH, OR EVEN
SUPERNATURAL FAITH THAT ALL OF US HAVE. AH, AH, YOU KNOW THE
BIBLE SAYS, “GOD HATH DEALT TO EVERY MAN A MEASURE OF
FAITH.” BUT THERE IS THIS SUPER-ABUNDANT FAITH, THE GIFT
OF FAITH. YOU READ ABOUT IT IN THE NEXT CHAPTER, “THOUGH I
HAVE FAITH SO THAT I COULD MOVE MOUNTAINS.” IF GOD WANTS
YOU TO MOVE MOUNTAINS, HE’LL GIVE YOU MOUNTAIN-MOVING
FAITH. NOT ALL OF US HAVE MOUNTAIN-MOVING FAITH. I LIKE
TO BE AROUND PEOPLE THAT HAVE MOUNTAIN-MOVING FAITH, DON’T
YOU? I REALLY DO. I BELIEVE WE NEED A MOUNTAIN-MOVING,
DEVIL-DEFYING, EARTH-SHAKING FAITH IN GOD. AND THANK GOD
FOR SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE THAT KIND OF FAITH. I KNOW SOME
PEOPLE I THINK THAT ARE GIFTED WITH THAT FAITH. IF YOU WANT A
BLESSING, READ ABOUT MUELLER OF, AH, BRISTOL. HE WAS A MAN,
AH, LIVED IN BRISTOL, ENGLAND. HE HAD INCREDIBLE FAITH. HE
RAISED LITERALLY MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, WHEN A
MILLION DOLLARS WAS SOMETHING, TO FEED ORPHANS, WITHOUT EVER
ASKING ANYBODY, JUST PRAYING, TELLING GOD ABOUT HIS NEEDS.
THE STORIES OF HIS, THE STORY OF HIS LIFE IS INCREDIBLE.
ONE EPISODE THAT I REMEMBER READING ABOUT: MUELLER WAS
ON A SHIP, A SAILING SHIP; BE GOING TO NEWFOUNDLAND. HE’S
SUPPOSED TO SPEAK, AND THE SHIP STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE OCEAN. AND, AND, AND MUELLER SAID TO THE CAPTAIN,
“WHY IS THIS SHIP STOPPED?” HE SAID, “WE CAN’T MOVE BECAUSE
OF THE FOG.” MUELLER SAID, “BUT I’VE GOT TO BE
THERE. I’VE GOT A SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT. I’VE NOT MISSED
A SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT. IT’S GOD’S WILL FOR ME TO BE
THERE.” AND, AH, THE CAPTAIN SAID, “I’M NOT GOING TO MOVE
THIS SHIP TILL THE FOG LIFTS.” HE SAID, “VERY WELL, LET’S GO
TO THE CHARTROOM AND PRAY THAT GOD WILL TAKE AWAY THE FOG.”
THE CAPTAIN SAID HE WENT WITH HIM JUST TO HUMOR HIM. HE GOT
DOWN ON HIS KNEES AND MUELLER SAID, “GOD, THE CAPTAIN SAYS
HE’LL NOT MOVE THIS SHIP UNTIL THE FOG IS GONE. AND I’VE GOT
AN APPOINTMENT AND WE NEED TO MOVE THIS SHIP. SO, FATHER,
IN JESUS’ NAME, TAKE AWAY THE FOG. THANK YOU, LORD.” THE
CAPTAIN SAID, “I STARTED TO PRAY.” HE SAID, “NO, DON’T
YOU PRAY.” HE SAID, “WHY NOT?” SAID, “TWO REASONS: NUMBER
ONE, YOU DON’T BELIEVE HE’S GOING TO DO IT; NUMBER
TWO, HE’S ALREADY DONE IT.” [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] AND, AH,
THE CAPTAIN GAVE THE STORY, NOT MUELLER, BUT THE CAPTAIN
SAID, “I GOT UP AND LOOKED AND THE FOG WAS GONE.” THE FOG
WAS GONE. NOW, THAT’S, THAT’S, THAT’S A GIFT THAT SOME PEOPLE
HAVE. NOT EVERYBODY HAS THAT KIND OF FAITH, BUT THANK GOD
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE THAT KIND OF FAITH. THE DEVIL WILL, UH,
COUNTERFEIT THAT KIND OF FAITH ALSO. AND THEN HE MENTIONS
HEALING IN VERSE NINE. ACTUALLY, IT’S IN THE PLURAL,
HEALINGS. “NOW, AH, ADRIAN, DO YOU BELIEVE GOD HEALS?”
ABSOLUTELY! GOD HEALS BY MIRACLE, AND GOD HEALS
BY MEDICINE. GOD HEALS INSTANTANEOUSLY, AND GOD HEALS
IN TIME. AND GOD HEALS BY DOCTORS, AND THANK GOD FOR
DOCTORS, FOR JESUS SAID, “THEY THAT ARE WHOLE NEED NOT A
PHYSICIAN, BUT THEY THAT ARE SICK.” AND, YES, THERE IS A
GIFT OF HEALINGS. AH, THE APOSTLES HAD, AH, THE GIFT OF
HEALING. I DON’T KNOW ANYBODY TODAY WHO HAS THE GIFT OF
HEALING. I’D LIKE TO MEET HIM. IF I, IF I, I WOULDN’T PUT HIM
ON A, ON STAGE SOMEWHERE AND LET PEOPLE COME BY. I’D TAKE
HIM TO THE HOSPITAL, TO THE LITTLE CHILDRENS’ WARD IS
WHERE I’D TAKE HIM, AH, AND, AND JUST SEE WHETHER OR NOT
HE HAS, AH, THIS, THIS GIFT OF HEALING THAT HE, HE PRATES
ABOUT. IN MY ESTIMATION, I BELIEVE THE HOTTEST PART OF
HELL IS RESERVED FOR PEOPLE WHO MERCHANDIZE PEOPLES’
MALATIES, MALADIES AND SICKNESSES AND PAINS WITH SOME
CHARLATAN ACT OF HEALING. I BELIEVE IN HEALING. I BELIEVE
IN HEALING. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] BUT OH, MAY GOD HAVE MERCY OF
THOSE WHO MAKE MERCHANDISE OF OTHER PEOPLE IN THIS
PARTICULAR AREA. AND LET ME SAY THIS, THAT WHEN JESUS
DIED, NOT ONLY DID HE TAKE YOUR SINS, HE TOOK YOUR
SICKNESS. AND THE BIBLE SAYS, “WITH HIS STRIPES WE ARE
HEALED,” BUT WE’RE WAITING FOR THE REDEMPTION OF THE BODY.
READ ROMANS CHAPTER EIGHT. THAT HAS NOT YET COME, BUT IT
WILL COME, HALLELUJAH. AND, AH, THERE ARE, NONETHELESS,
THE GIFTS OF HEALING, AND I THANK GOD FOR THAT. AND GOD
DOES HEAL TODAY IN ANSWER TO PRAYER AND IN MANY WAYS. NOW,
AH, HE ALSO MENTIONS ALSO, AH, THE GIFT OF MIRACLES IN
VERSE 10. AH, THESE MIRACLES NORMALLY CAME IN CLUSTERS
IN THE BIBLE. THERE WERE MIRACLES, OBVIOUSLY, AROUND
THE CREATION, MIRACLES AROUND THE MINISTRY OF MOSES,
MIRACLES AROUND THE MINISTRY OF ELIJAH AND ELISHA,
MIRACLES, AH, WITH JESUS AND THE APOSTLES, AH, AND THERE
MAY BE END-TIME MIRACLES. AND I CERTAINLY, AH, AM NOT
OPPOSED TO MIRACLES. I DON’T KNOW ANYBODY TODAY THAT HAS
THE GIFT OF MIRACLES, BUT I WOULD NOT DENY, AH, THE, GOD’S
ABILITY IN THAT AREA. AH, I, I DON’T THINK IT’S A VERY GOOD
MIRACLE SO FAR AS BRINGING THE LOST TO JESUS. AS A MATTER OF
FACT, JESUS HAD TO REBUKE THE MIRACLE MONGERS OF HIS DAY WHO
FOLLOWED HIM NOT BECAUSE OF WHO HE WAS BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT
HE DID. BUT I’LL TELL YOU A VERSE THAT IS, IS A WONDERFUL
VERSE TO ME, IS JOHN CHAPTER 10 VERSES 41 AND 42 WHICH
SPEAKS OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. WAS JOHN THE BAPTIST FILLED
WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT? YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT. THE BIBLE
SAYS HE’S FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT FROM HIS MOTHER’S WOMB.
WHAT DOES THAT DO TO YOUR THEOLOGY? BUT NOW LISTEN TO
THIS. IT SAYS CONCERNING JESUS IN JOHN CHAPTER 10 VERSE 41,
“AND MANY RESORTED UNTO HIM AND SAID, ‘JOHN DID NO
MIRACLE,’” TALKING ABOUT JOHN THE BAPTIST, “‘JOHN DID NO
MIRACLE, BUT ALL THINGS THAT JOHN SPAKE OF THIS MAN WERE
TRUE.’ AND MANY BELIEVED ON HIM THERE.” HA, HA. IT WASN’T
THE MIRACLE THAT JOHN DID. IT WAS JESUS THAT JOHN PREACHED
THAT WAS THE WONDERFUL THING. I HAD RATHER HAVE IT SAID
ABOUT ME THAT MANY BELIEVED ON JESUS THROUGH MY WORD THAN
THAT I HAD THE POWER TO DO MIRACLES. I MEAN THAT WITH ALL
OF MY HEART BECAUSE THAT IS THE LASTING MIRACLE, THAT NEW
BIRTH, THE GREATEST MIRACLE OF ALL. THEN HE MENTIONS
PROPHECY. WHAT, IN, IN VERSE 10, WHAT IS PROPHECY? PROPHECY
IS THE ABILITY TO SPEAK FOR GOD. IT, IT’S NOT MERELY
FORETELLING, THOUGH SOME OF THAT IS INCLUDED. IT IS
FORTH-TELLING. IT IS SPEAKING THE WORD OF GOD. NOW, SOME
HAVE THE GIFT OF PROPHECY. AND AS A MATTER OF FACT IN CHAPTER
14, PAUL SAYS THIS IS A, A GIFT GREATLY TO BE DESIRED
AMONG THE CHURCH. AND, AH, THERE’S A LOT OF IDEA,
MISINFORMATION ABOUT PROPHECY. AH, THERE’RE SOME PEOPLE
WHO’VE, WHO TODAY CLAIM TO HAVE THE OFFICE OF A PROPHET.
NO. THE OFFICE OF A PROPHET IS NO LONGER. AH, THE CHURCH IS
BUILT UPON THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES AND THE PROPHETS.
AH, YOU DON’T KEEP LAYING THE FOUNDATION EVERY STORY. BUT
THERE IS A GIFT OF PROPHECY. WHAT IS THE GIFT OF PROPHECY?
I, I HEAR SOME PEOPLE SAY, “WELL, MY GIFT IS PROPHECY,”
AND THEY THINK THEY ARE ANOINTED BY GOD TO TELL
OTHER PEOPLE OFF. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] HA. “I HAVE THE GIFT
OF PROPHECY.” NO, NO, THAT’S NOT WHAT THE GIFT OF PROPHECY
IS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, QUITE TO THE CONTRARY. IF
YOU’LL READ THERE IN FIRST CORINTHIANS, AH, CHAPTER 14
VERSE THREE, “HE THAT, HE THAT PROPHESIETH SPEAKETH UNTO MEN
TO EDIFICATION, EXHORTATION AND COMFORT.” THAT’S NOT
TELLING FOLKS OFF. TO EDIFY IS TO BUILD UP. TO EXHORT IS TO
FIRE UP. TO COMFORT [CLAP] IS TO SHORE UP AND TO HOLD UP.
THAT’S WHAT A PROPHET DOES, AND THAT’S WHAT IS NEEDED
SO MUCH IN THE CHURCH TODAY. THERE’S THE GIFT OF PROPHECY.
AND THEN HE MENTIONS THE GIFT OF THE DISCERNING OF
SPIRITS. WE NEED TO LEARN THAT EVERYTHING, AS I’VE SAID
BEFORE, EVERYTHING THAT IS SPIRITUAL IS NOT OF GOD.
THERE’S SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS AND DEMONS ARE MASTERS OF
DECEPTION. THIS IS ALSO A GREATLY NEEDED GIFT IN THE
CHURCH OF OUR LORD TODAY BECAUSE THE DEVIL HAS COME
WITH SO MUCH COUNTERFEIT FLIM-FLAM IN THE CHURCH TODAY.
WE NEED SOMEBODY, AND SOME BODIES, WITH THE GIFT OF
DISCERNING. NOW IT’S NOT THE ABILITY TO GO AROUND AND JUDGE
PEOPLE AND SAY WHO’S SAVED AND WHO’S LOST. THAT’S NOT YOUR,
THAT’S NOT YOUR PREROGATIVE TO DO THAT AND MATTHEW 7:1 WARNS
AGAINST THAT. THEN HE MENTIONS THE GIFT OF TONGUES IN
VERSE 10. WHAT IS THE GIFT OF TONGUES? A GIFT OF TONGUES
IS NOT PRIMARILY A PRAYER LANGUAGE WHERE YOU SPEAK IN
ECSTATIC SPEECH AND DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’VE SAID, AND YOU’LL
NEVER KNOW WHETHER OR NOT GOD HAS ANSWERED YOUR PRAYER.
THAT’S NOT WHAT THE GIFT OF TONGUES IS IN THE BIBLE.
SPEAKING IN TONGUES, AH, OTHER LANGUAGES, IS NOT A SIGN
THAT YOU’RE SPIRIT-FILLED. [AUDIENCE: THAT’S RIGHT] AS
A MATTER OF FACT, THE, UH, CORINTHIAN CHURCH WAS
PAUL’S MOST CARNAL CHURCH, AND TONGUES WAS THEIR LONG SUIT OF
CLOTHES. AH, TONGUES IS NOT A SIGN THAT YOU’RE SAVED.
IT’S NOT A SIGN THAT YOU’RE SPIRIT-FILLED. AS A MATTER OF
FACT, TONGUES IS NOT A SIGN TO GOD’S PEOPLE ABOUT ANYTHING.
TONGUES ARE A SIGN TO THE UNSAVED. FIRST CORINTHIANS
14:22, “WHEREFORE, TONGUES ARE FOR A SIGN, NOT TO THEM
THAT BELIEVE, BUT TO THEM THAT BELIEVE NOT.” WHAT IS THE,
ABILI, THE GIFT OF TONGUES? IT IS THE ABILITY TO SPEAK IN
A LANGUAGE YOU HAVE NEVER LEARNED. NOT, NOT AN
UNKNOWN LANGUAGE, BUT A KNOWN LANGUAGE. THE WORD UNKNOWN
THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR KING JAMES VERSION IS IN ITALICIZED
PRINT, WHICH MEANS IT’S NOT IN THE ORIGINAL. THE TRANSLATORS
ONLY SUPPLIED THAT TO MAKE IT READ MORE SMOOTHLY, BUT HERE
THEY COVERED THE MEANING. IT IS A KNOWN LANGUAGE. AND LOOK,
TURN TO ACTS CHAPTER TWO, “HOW HEAR WE EVERY MAN IN OUR
OWN LANGUAGE, WHEREIN WE WERE BORN?” IT IS THE ABILITY TO
PRAISE GOD IN A LANGUAGE THAT YOU’VE NEVER, EVER LEARNED, AS
A SIGN TO UNBELIEVERS. THAT’S WHAT THE GIFT OF TONGUES IS.
WHAT IS THE SIGN THAT YOU’RE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?
HUH, HUH, NOT THAT YOU HAVE THE GIFT TO SPEAK IN LANGUAGES
YOU DON’T KNOW, BUT YOU CONTROL THE ONE TONGUE YOU
DO HAVE. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] I’M SERIOUS. THAT’S, THAT’S WHAT
HE’S SAYING IN, IN, IN THE NEXT CHAPTER. “THOUGH I SPEAK
WITH THE TONGUES OF MEN AND OF ANGELS, AND HAVE NOT LOVE, IT
PROFITS ME NOTHING.” THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE. AND,
AND IF YOU WANT TO KNOW IF A MAN IS FILLED WITH THE HOLY
SPIRIT, SEE IF HIS HEART IS FILLED WITH LOVE. BUT
THERE WAS IN THAT DAY, IN NEW TESTAMENT TIMES, AH, THE
ABILITY TO SPEAK IN UNKNOWN LANGUAGES. NOT UNKNOWN TO, AH,
OTHERS, BUT UNKNOWN TO YOU, AND, AH, THAT IS A, A
CHARISMATIC GIFT OF THE SPIRIT. AND THEN HE MENTIONS
IN VERSE 10 THE INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES. WHY IS THAT? WELL,
REMEMBER WHAT A SPIRITUAL GIFT IS FOR? THAT EVERYBODY BE
PROFITED, RIGHT? NOW IF YOU STAND UP HERE, IF MARK STANDS
UP HERE AND BEGINS TO SPEAK IN RUSSIAN, WHAT GOOD IS THAT
GOING TO DO ME? I DON’T KNOW RUSSIAN. I KNOW A FEW RUSSIAN
WORDS, BUT I DON’T KNOW RUSSIAN. BUT SUPPOSE A BUS
PULLS UP THERE THIS MORNING FILLED WITH RUSSIAN JEWS,
AND THEY’RE NOW, AH, VISITING AMERICA. AND, AND SOMEBODY
SAYS, “YOU WANT TO GO TO A PROTESTANT CHURCH, AN
EVANGELICAL CHURCH?” “YES, WE DO, SEE HOW THEY WORSHIP IN
AMERICA.” AND THEY COME IN HERE AND THEY’VE NEVER HEARD,
AH, AND THEY DON’T, THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND ENGLISH. I
DON’T UNDERSTAND RUSSIAN. BUT SUPPOSE I HAD THE GIFT OF
TONGUES, AND I BEGAN TO PRAISE GOD IN FLUENT RUSSIAN! FINE,
WONDERFUL, GLORIOUS! THEY SAY, “LOOK AT THAT!” THEY’RE
AMAZED. BUT YOU DON’T KNOW RUSSIAN. SO IF I HAVE THAT
GIFT, THEN GOD’S GOT TO GIVE HIM OR YOU OR YOU OR
SOMEBODY ELSE THE GIFT OF INTERPRETATION TO SAY, “HERE’S
WHAT THE PASTOR’S SAYING.” WHY? SO THAT EVERYBODY IS
EDIFIED. EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS BE, BECAUSE EVERY GIFT IS
WHAT? GIVEN TO PROFIT THE ENTIRE BODY; NOBODY IS SITTING
AROUND IN THE DARK BY, WHILE SOMEBODY’S DOING SOMETHING
THAT SOMEBODY ELSE CAN’T UNDERSTAND. [AUDIENCE: THAT’S
RIGHT] IT’S A SIGN GIFT TO UNBELIEVERS. IT IS A
SUPERNATURAL GIFT. SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT TONGUES HAVE CEASED.
WELL, PERHAPS, BUT I THINK THERE’RE TWO, UH, HERESIES
CONCERNING TONGUES. ONE IS TO SAY YOU MUST, AND THE OTHER’S
TO SAY YOU MUSTN’T. GOD IS GOD. GOD CAN DO WHATEVER HE
WANTS TO DO, WHENEVER HE WANTS TO DO IT. NOW, TIME IS
GONE, WOULD YOU BELIEVE? YOU LISTENED VERY SLOWLY THIS
MORNING. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE SAYING,
“PASTOR, YOU NEVER GOT TO MY GIFT.” AND I, AND I HAVE A, A
PASSAGE WE WERE GOING TO GO TO, ROMANS CHAPTER 12, AND I
WAS GOING TO GIVE SOME OTHER GIFTS; AH, MINISTRY, TEACHING,
EXHORTATION, GIVING, RULING, AND MERCY. DESCRIBE THOSE
GIFTS. BUT, AH, YOU DO HAVE A SPIRITUAL GIFT. MAYBE YOUR
GIFT IS THE GIFT OF RULING, AND YOU SS, SERVE ON A CHURCH
STAFF, COMMITTEES, OR COACH A TEAM. THE GIFT OF MERCIES, TO
VISIT IN THE HOSPITAL. MAYBE IT’S THE GIFT OF GIVING. MAYBE
IT’S THE GIFT OF EXHORTATION. PERHAPS, AH, YOU HAVE THE GIFT
OF TEACHING. YOU TEACH THIS MORNING IN SUNDAY SCHOOL. AH,
PERHAPS YOU AS A MOTHER ARE TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN. YOU
HAVE THE GIFT OF MINISTRY, ACTS OF SERVICE, CHURCH WORK,
ACTIVITIES PROGRAM, TYPING, USHERING, WORKING IN THE
NURSERY. THESE ALSO ARE CHARISMATIC SPIRITUAL GIFTS.
NOW, THINK OF THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE GIFTS. AND LOOK IF YOU
WILL NOW IN VERSE 12, “FOR THE BODY IS ONE, AND HATH MANY
MEMBERS, AND ALL MEMBERS OF THAT ONE BODY, BEING MANY, ARE
ONE BODY, SO ALSO IS CHRIST.” YOU SEE, GOD BRINGS US
TOGETHER AS A BODY. SOME ARE EYES, SOME ARE EARS, SOME ARE
FEET, SOME ARE THIS, SOME ARE THAT. WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT
GIFTS, AND YET THOSE GIFTS ARE TO BE PUT TO WORK IN THE BODY
OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. NOW YOU WANT TO KNOW
WHAT YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT IS? YOU WILL DISCOVER YOUR
SPIRITUAL GIFT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE BODY OF CHRIST. I HAD
NO IDEA THAT GOD WOULD WANT ME, BY THE WAY I THINK MY GIFT
IS PROPHECY. THAT’S WHAT I THINK MY GIFT IS. HOW DID
I KNOW THAT? I WAS A DUMB FOOTBALL PLAYER. GOD, GOD
CALLED, NOT ALL FOOTBALL PLAYERS ARE DUMB, JUST THIS
ONE. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] HUH, AND, UH, AND GOD CALLED ME
INTO THE MINISTRY. UP, UPON A TIME AS A YOUNG PERSON IN MY
CHURCH THEY SAID, “ADRIAN, WE WANT YOU TO BE THE YOUTH
WEEK PASTOR.” I WAS SCARED, PETRIFIED. BUT I GOT UP AND
MUMBLED OUT A FEW WORDS, AND PEOPLE SAID, “HEY, WE WERE
BLESSED BY THAT, WE WERE BLESSED BY THAT. THANK YOU.
DO IT AGAIN, AGAIN.” YOU KNOW. IT’S SAD TO SEE SOMEBODY WHO
THINKS HE HAS THE GIFT OF, OF PREACHING AND NOBODY ELSE
HAS THE GIFT OF LISTENING. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] YOU’RE
GOING TO FIND OUT THAT, THAT YOU’RE GOING TO FIND YOUR GIFT
OPERATING IN THE BODY. BILL GOTHARD HAS A CLASSIC
ILLUSTRATION. WITH THIS I MUST CLOSE. HE IMAGINES, AH, A, A
PARTY, AND THEY’RE GETTING READY TO SERVE THE DESSERT.
AND THE PERSON BRINGING THE BEAUTIFUL DESSERT TO THE TABLE
MAKES A MISCUE AND THE DESSERT FALLS ON THE FLOOR. THERE IS
THE EPISODE. [CLAP] NOW HERE’S HOW THE DIFFERENT GIFTS MAY
COME INTO PRACTICE. A PERSON WHO HAS THE GIFT OF PROPHECY
SAID, “THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU’RE NOT CAREFUL.” HMM,
HMM. A PERSON WHO HAS THE GIFT OF MERCY SAID, “HEY, DON’T
FEEL BAD. ANYBODY COULD DO THAT.” A PERSON WHO HAS THE
GIFT OF SERVICE SAYS, “HEY, LET’S, LET ME HELP YOU TO
CLEAN IT UP.” A PERSON WHO HAS THE GIFT OF TEACHING SAYS,
“THE REASON IT FELL, IT WAS TOO HEAVY ON ONE SIDE. NEXT
TIME PUT IT IN THE MIDDLE.” UH, THE, THE PERSON WHO HAS
THE GIFT OF EXHORTATION SAYS, “FROM NOW ON, LET’S JUST SERVE
THE DESSERT FIRST, AND PUT IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TABLE SO
IT, IT WON’T FALL.” THE PERSON WHO HAS THE GIFT OF GIVING
SAYS, “WAIT A MINUTE. I’LL BUY A NEW DESSERT.” AND THE
PERSON WHO HAS THE GIFT OF ADMINISTRATION SAYS, “JIM, GET
THE MOP. SUE, PLEASE HELP PICK IT UP. MARY, YOU GO FIX SOME
MORE DESSERT.” NOW, HEY FOLKS, THAT’S A GREAT ILLUSTRATION.
YOU SEE HOW ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT GIFTS ARE NECESSARY
AND HOW THEY ALL WORK TOGETHER? WELL, I WISH I
HAD MORE TIME, BUT LET ME SAY THIS. YOU ARE A GIFTED CHILD.
GOD DOESN’T WANT YOU JUST TO SIT IN BELLEVUE. AND, AND,
AND YOUR LIFE IS GOING TO BE MEANINGLESS, TO A DEGREE,
UNTIL YOU DISCOVER YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT. IT IS SAID
THAT NAPOLEON ONE TIME LOOKED AT CHINA ON A MAP. AND THIS
ANGEL OF WAR, NAPOLEON, TOOK HIS POINTER AND POINTED TOWARD
CHINA, THAT VAST AREA WITH ITS HORDES OF PEOPLE. AND NAPOLEON
SAID, “GENTLEMEN, THERE LIES A SLEEPING GIANT. LET HIM SLEEP;
FOR IF HE AWAKENS, HE WILL DISTURB THE WORLD. LET HIM
SLEEP.” I BELIEVE THAT THE DEVIL LOOKS AT BELLEVUE
BAPTIST CHURCH, AND HE SAYS TO HIS DEMONS, “THERE’S A
SLEEPING GIANT. LET IT SLEEP” [AUDIENCE: AMEN] GOD HAS GIVEN
YOU A SPIRITUAL GIFT, AND THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU CAN DISCOVER
YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT IS TO HAVE IT, AND THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN
HAVE IT IS TO BE SAVED, AND THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN BE SAVED
IS TO PUT YOUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. WOULD YOU BOW YOUR
HEADS IN PRAYER? HEADS ARE BOWED AND EYES ARE CLOSED. AND
WHILE HEADS ARE BOWED AND EYES ARE CLOSED, I WANT TO LEAD
YOU IN A PRAYER. AND TODAY, IF YOU’VE NEVER DONE IT, YOU CAN
RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOR.
AND I PROMISE YOU, ON THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD OF GOD,
IF YOU WILL TRUST HIM WITH SINCERE FAITH, HE WILL FORGIVE
YOUR SINS. HE WILL COME INTO YOUR HEART AND GIVE YOU A NEW
NATURE, PROTECT YOU AND GUIDE YOU THROUGH THIS LIFE, AND
WHEN YOU DIE, HE’LL TAKE YOU TO HEAVEN. WOULD YOU PRAY,
“DEAR GOD, I NEED YOU AND I WANT YOU. JESUS, YOU DIED TO
SAVE ME AND YOU PROMISED TO SAVE ME IF I WOULD TRUST YOU.
I DO TRUST YOU, RIGHT NOW. I BELIEVE YOU’RE THE SON OF GOD.
I BELIEVE YOU PAID FOR MY SIN WITH YOUR BLOOD ON THE CROSS.
I BELIEVE THAT GOD RAISED YOU FROM THE DEAD. AND BY FAITH
I RECEIVE YOU AS MY LORD AND SAVIOR. FORGIVE MY SINS,
CLEANSE ME, SAVE ME, JESUS.” PRAY IT FROM YOUR HEART. DID
YOU? THANK HIM BY FAITH NOW. “THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME. I
RECEIVE IT BY FAITH AND THAT SETTLES IT. YOU’RE MY LORD
AND MY SAVIOR. AND BECAUSE YOU DIED FOR ME, I WILL LIVE FOR
YOU. AND BECAUSE YOU’VE SAVED ME BY YOUR GRACE, I WILL SERVE
YOU WITH MY LOVE, AND I WILL NEVER BE ASHAMED OF YOU. IN
YOUR NAME I PRAY, AMEN.” YOU KNOW THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
DID NOT COME TO THIS EARTH TO GET US OUT OF TROUBLE; HE
CAME TO THIS EARTH TO GET INTO TROUBLE WITH US. WE ALL HAVE
TROUBLES, WHETHER WE BE SAVED OR LOST, WE HAVE TROUBLES. HOW
WONDERFUL TO HAVE A SAVIOR, A DEAR FRIEND, WHO NEVER,
EVER LEAVES US ON THE DARKEST NIGHT, THE MOST LONELY ROAD.
DO YOU KNOW JESUS AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR AND LORD? CAN
YOU HONESTLY, SINCERELY SAY, “IF I DIED TODAY, I WOULD GO
STRAIGHT TO HEAVEN BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN.” MAY
I HELP YOU TO PRAY AND ASK CHRIST INTO YOUR HEART?
FRIEND, YOU CAN BE SAVED NOW, TODAY, THIS MOMENT. PRAY A
PRAYER LIKE THIS, “DEAR GOD,” THAT’S RIGHT, JUST SPEAK TO
HIM, “DEAR GOD, I KNOW THAT YOU LOVE ME, I KNOW YOU WANT
TO SAVE ME. JESUS, YOU DIED TO SAVE ME, YOU TR, YOU PROMISED
TO SAVE ME IF I WOULD ONLY TRUST YOU. I DO TRUST YOU.
COME INTO MY LIFE, FORGIVE MY SIN, CLEANSE ME, SAVE ME LORD
JESUS.” PRAY IT, PRAY IT FROM YOUR HEART AND MEAN IT. AND IF
YOU DO, WRITE TO US AND LET US KNOW. WE’LL REJOICE AND WE’LL
SEND YOU SOME LITERATURE AND SOME HELP TO GET YOU STARTED
ON YOUR CHRISTIAN WALK. [MUSIC] WE HOPE THAT TODAY’S
MESSAGE HAS HELPED YOU UNWRAP YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT. IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SPIRITUAL GIFT THAT YOU
HAVE BEEN GIVEN, CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, LWF.ORG. AT LWF.ORG,
YOU CAN LISTEN TO THIS MESSAGE AGAIN, LISTEN TO OTHER
MESSAGES IN THIS SERIES, AND CHECK OUT ARTICLES AND
BOOKLETS ON SPIRITUAL GIFTS BY ADRIAN ROGERS. GO TO
LWF.ORG AND CHECK OUT ALL THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO YOU
FROM LOVE WORTH FINDING. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING TODAY AND
WE’LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME. [MUSIC] LOVE WORTH FINDING IS
A VIEWER SUPPORTED MINISTRY AND WE NEED THE HELP OF
FAITHFUL VIEWERS LIKE YOU AS WE SHARE THE LOVE OF CHRIST
EACH WEEK. AS A THANK YOU FOR YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT THIS
MONTH, WE’D LOVE TO SEND YOU THESE FIVE “HOW TO” BOOKLETS
ON STRENGTH AND FAITH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT
AND MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU.
