2012-07-29
Gifts of the Spirit: Weakness, Faith and Power
Steve Lane

A. Review- Acts 29 in Action
A person on a back street of Jordan puts their trust in Jesus…. Who did it?
1Cor 12:4–7 Variety of gifts 1Cor 12:7,11 Yes you do 1 Peter 4:10–11 Be engaged
A supernatural ability to do what God has called us to do
Do you se a need that others seem to miss?
General categories (wide variety – creation)
A waitress trips…
The Gifts: Rom 12:4 – 8, 1 Cor 12:8 – 11, 12:28 – 30, Eph 4:11 - 13
The blind lawyer and the armless lawyer – perfect fit in the body
Air powered (pneumatic) tools example - properly connected to an air compressor for it to work

B. A picture of the gifts in operation – the Thessalonians [1 Thess 1:1 – 8]
2 Thessalonians 1:11 – 12 God’s desire for us
These people were going through some difficult times (1 Thess 1:6, 2 Thess 1:3 – 4)
In a real trial you don’t feel strong… at least not at some point.

[2 Thess 2:10 – 11] My desire is that God would count us worthy of His calling… by faith.

How does He do this? Many times it is first through the development of our faith. [verses 3 - 4]
And then the manifestation of the Holy Spirit through the gifts

C. Growing in Faith
How does He develop your faith? Hearing the Word of God… suffering 1 Peter 1:6 - 8

Fulfilling every good purpose of ours by His power has to do with operating in the gifts Understanding and believing it is by His grace this is happening [2 Cor 12:7 – 10 ]

One avenue of trials… the pursuit of our own desires over God’s desires. 2 Cor 11:3
Its not surprise of course that we want to avoid the uncomfortableness of being used!
Leaf waving instead of the real wind of the Holy Spirit

D. Do we really want power?
First, Where is your full devotion? 2 Cor 11:2 – 3
Second, Is your faith growing and Are you trusting Him in your present situation
trusting Him to use you 2 Thess 1:11, 1 Thess 1:3 (your work produced by faith)
Third, Are you going?

“I am pursuing this other thing right now but I’ll get back to you” – 2 Cor 11:3
“God remains gloriously all-satisfying. The human heart remains a ceaseless factory of desires. Sin remains powerfully and suicidally appealing. The battle remains: Where will we drink? Where will we feast” Randy Alcorn
This is a daily battle – for our hearts and minds to belong to Christ

Comfort and fulfillment in the things of this world? James 1:2 - 4, 1 Peter 1:6 – 9 Rom 5:3 - 5

E. Conclusion
2 Cor 12:9 Read with these things in mind – 2 Thess 1:10 - 11
Full operation of the Gifts of the Spirit: Weakness, Faith (perseverance) and Power