Gifts of the Spirit: Part 2 - 'Speaking for God'

This Sunday, Philippa Marsh brings us the talk in the latest of our EBC services. We encourage you to reflect on the bible text and join us in the prayer that follows below.
 
Here are some questions to consider:

Readings:

1 Corinthians chapter 12 verses 1 - 11

Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice[b]; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.


Mark chapter 16 verses 15 - 18

“Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptised will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. 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.”


Acts chapter 2 verses 42-43, 47(b)

“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.”
“And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”




Prayer and Reflection:

Heavenly Father,

We thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Help us to learn and grow in our spiritual gifts that you uniquely give each of us. We ask that You help us to use our spiritual gifts for Your glory. We pray that we may be bold in sharing the gospel, and that we would be faithful in serving You. We ask that You help us to grow in our knowledge of You, and that we would be obedient to Your will. We praise You for Your goodness and Your faithfulness, and we ask that You continue to work in our lives.

In Jesus name, Amen.



Questions to Consider

1. What gifts do you believe you have?
2. How are you using those gifts, or are they sitting on a shelf?
3. Do any of the gifts concern you? Why?
4. When was a time when you sensed that God particularly strengthened or gifted you to serve someone else or the church in general?
5. How would you describe some of the temptations or challenges we face regarding spiritual gifts within the church?
6. What would our church look like if we all used our gifts?