Goal of God's gifts is to bring Jesus Gospel to the world

Seeds of generosity produce abundance.
Faith accesses grace. Grace has bo limits.

Sign, speaking, service gifts
Deut 18:20-22, false prophets

Prophets: desire truth communicated, strong need to express verbally, discernability. Strong openness to correction
- deep truths in God's word to help guide the future

Tongues: common languages, heavenly language. God's decision not ours (i.e. I was unable to speak French even with two years, i.e.  Gem Apple Ben Lorence)
- cessation: no longer,  false
- continuous: open but cautious? "I personally don't know"
- charismatic: God's gifts are given by God to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

1 Cor 13:8-10: "when the perfect comes"
Is the reason for sign gifts controversy
- not now because every tongue and tribe doesn't have God's revelation.

"Face to face", Christ in fullness- all gifts in play until Christ

Gifts are not in the "die for" category, discussion not even "defend" (interesting, how should a person be able to profess their faith without the Devine gift of faith)

Are we missing forgiveness and salvation and power to serve? Is Grace a Devine gift?

1 Cor 14
Tongues for self, a prophecy for the church
"You all" i.e., people with the gift. The goal of any language is always communication. See music, 1 Cor 14:6-12, excel at building up the church.

1 Cor 14:13-14, pray for the interpretation. Spirit and mind are connected, corporate i.e., bless others not just yourselves.
- praying for others is serving as a waiter in a restaurant. They carry the request to God.
- don't be immature 1 Cor 14:21, a sign of judgment see Isaiah 28 (wonderful)
- 1 Cor 14:22-23, mind-boggling. Manipulate, didn't work? Yet preaching now?

Gifts end is people to see God. Be saved and committed to Jesus Christ.

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Faithful with gifts, fruitfully abiding and filled with the Holy Spirit

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:16-19)

I recently got a plug-in electric car (2017 Volt). I also got a special "supercharger" and meter to get cheap electricity overnight. It takes hours to recharge with the cord that comes with the car 12 hours won't give a full charge. But the supercharger does it in about 6 hours. My brother in law's life verse is John 10:10, "I've come to give you life to the full". I gave him a tee-shirt last year with a gas gauge, showing low fuel and the caption, "running on empty?". Then last night I was at Alpha MNTC and we watch, "How can I resist evil?". All this is a backdrop to my quiet time this morning. 

The Power of the Holy Spirit by JOHN LEE

On the importance of being filled by the Spirit: Ephesians 5:18 commands us to be filled with the Spirit.

 -  notice that the verse is imperative. God is commanding us to be filled. To be faithful, we need to be filled.
 - the imperative is also in the passive voice. This means that the act of filling has to be done to us. We cannot fill ourselves. Here is where prayer comes into play. We need to pray, wait upon God, and take steps of faith.

If we believe that God has already inaugurated his reign and rule on earth, then the primary way to unlock the power of the Holy Spirit is through our believing actions. We have to take concrete steps of faith. We should expect the supernatural as we minister to people. We can pray for people who are sick, for those who are depressed, or down, or defeated. More than that, we can expect the wholeness we will see in the new heaven and new earth to be manifest in our world now. We have actually prayed this prayer a thousand times—“Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Drunkenness comes from an unnatural craving for excitement, stimulated by unwholesome conditions of life, physical and mental. He would satisfy the craving, so far as it is natural, by a divine enthusiasm, brighter and stronger than even duty to God and man, breaking out in thanksgiving, adoration, and love. - Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

Eph 5:15-21, Drunkenness is a sin that never goes alone, but carries men into other evils; it is a sin very provoking to God. The drunkard holds out to his family and to the world the sad spectacle of a sinner hardened beyond what is common, and hastening to perdition. When afflicted or weary, let us not seek to raise our spirits by strong drink, which is hateful and hurtful, and only ends in making sorrows more felt. But by fervent prayer let us seek to be filled with the Spirit, and to avoid whatever may grieve our gracious Comforter. All God's people have reason to sing for joy. - Matthew Henry Commentary

"the wages of sin is death" - some people "WORK REALLY HARD" earning these wages

Father God, give me over to prayer - teach my heart to pray and make music to you Lord. Let the song of my heart please you right now Lord. That I will be clear minded and self-controlled so that I can pray 1 Peter 4:7-11, let my gentleness be evident to all. Rejoice my soul, be glad - this is the day the Lord has made (Phil 4:4-7). Thank you for filling me with the Holy Spirit these past hours of prayer and reflection. Amen!

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Money and the gospel

Matthew 6:1-4, don't give for others to see. Give for God to see.
Acts 2, learn from the beginning

Matthew
Talents: Money is a tool for others.

But why do rich people kill themselves for more money?

Jim Carey, "I wish everyone could have all the money they ever wanted so they would know it doesn't satisfy. "

Money as a drug for self, (verses).

Bennett to giving
1. Unleashes God's blessings on a community. Acts 2, people have because hearts were changed.
- No needy people among them.
- everyone contributed... out of this world!
- favor with all
- favor with God, "being saved"
2. Protection from worry and anxiety. Matt 6:25-30,33
- Giving to and living for the kingdom of God is the way to living worry free.
- Luke 16:13, one master to serve

3. Money brings self reliance, God teaches reliance when we trust Him with our lives.
Acts 20, "blessed life that no one wants" giving.
- when we give we get more, Talents
2 cor 9:11, enriched brings generosity
- am I experiencing this rhythm in life?

4. Prepares us for Christ's return
Luke 12:47-48, much given much required
- case study in management
- a wise manager knows she's not the owner
- a foolish manger believes accounting is far away (long journey)
Application: I want to be ready to open the books and give an accounting for what I've done with the gifts given.

Giving is a matter of trusting God
- when you don't give your hurting yourself
- not a tax break

2 cor 9:7, giving decided in their heart, not reluctantly. Planning, not thoughtlessly.
- not raising money but maturing his people
- take giving seriously, maturity is generosity
- last thing baptized is the wallet

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Romans 12:6‭-‬13 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.12.6-13.ESV

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God's gifts and our commitment are bonded by love (Romans 12:1-21)

AIM: Discover spiritual gifts, motivated by love brings life change
Romans 12:1-8
A) God's mercy seen creates a devoted life in His will
1) See God's mercy, give self fully to God is worship
2) Not pattern world, transformed/renewing mind, able do God's will
Illustration: Cain (Look what I brought God) and Abel (look what you did God)
Cain couldn't see God's mercy and took LIFE into his own hands, killing his brother. God's mercy was then revealed in Cain, God protected Cain (Gen 4) - Lemech didn't get it (70 times 7 REVENGE). Jesus said 70 times 7 Forgive (Matthew 18:21-22).
Many in the church struggle with self-deception:

• Lying to yourself, that you aren't sinning (Romans 14:23; Proverbs 30:20; James 4:17; 2 Timothy 4:3;1 John 1:8-10;2:4)
• Thinking your "Christian" when you don't live a Christian lifestyle (Luke 6:46; James 1:26; 1 John 2:4;1:6; 3:9-10)
• Thinking "I'll get away with it" (Galatians 6:7; 1 Cor 6:9-10; Proverbs 28:13)

Application: Debug your heart, Let the Holy Spirit and God's word expose and judge the intentions of your heart.

 Ephesians 4:23-24 and Colossians 3:10 says, "...let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy." and "put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its creator."
Heb 4:12 says, "the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]...penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Ephesians 5:10,17 says, "Test and prove what pleases the Lord" and Don't be foolish but understand what the Lord's will is"

Application: Is my sacrifice pleasing to God, where am I focusing on worldly patterns rather than the Godly pattern in his Word?

B) God's gracious gifts used in humble, united service (3-8)
3) Grace given me, not better in self, by faith God distributed to us
4-5) body many parts, function in Christ, belongs to each other
6) different gifts (1 Cor 7:7), according grace given (empowerment): 
 - Same LORD and Spirit, God at work (1 Cor 12:4-6)
 - Gift to equip others, reach unity (Eph 4:11-13, John 14-17)
 - We are stewards of these gifts, purpose is God's glory in Christ (1 Peter 4:10-11)
7-8) Gifts according to grace: Prophesy/faith, serving, teaching, encourage, give/generously, lead/diligently, mercy/cheerfully
Illustration: Lot is an example of not using gift faithfully. (Lord) rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (2 Peter 2:7). Jesus sends us out, says Listen! Don't miss it! You'll be judge, wrong intentions in your heart need to be cast out in the name of Jesus! (Luke 10:12-17). Jesus was reminding the 72 about Lot (Luke 10:1-12) and what happens when people don't come out (Gen 19:14,15). So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived. (Gen 19:29) but
Lot used his freedom to be an unaware, incestuous drunk (Gen 19:32-35). Why didn't Lot go back to Abraham for humble help in this matter?
Principle: Two things make a Christian miserable, 1) unrepentant sin and 2) not using your gifts to serve the Church.
Application: Spiritual gifts inventory, what gift haven't you opened yet? Consider serving in an unfamiliar way (test and approve).
Also:lot
Romans 12:3; Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 4:1-6 ; Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 7:7b ;1 Corinthians 12:4-6 ;Ephesians 4:11-13 ;1 Peter 4:10-11

C) Love enthusiastically, sacrificially serving and trusting the Lord (9-21)
9-10) Love sincere, hate evil, cling good, devoted/honor one-another in love
11-13) spiritual fervor, serving the Lord: joyful/hope, patient/affliction, faithful/prayer, share/people/need, practice/hospitality
14-15) Bless (no curse)/persecutors, empathy: celebrate/rejoicing, comfort/mourning
16) Live/harmony/each other, not proud/conceited, associate with low positions
17-21) Not evil for evil, careful/right eyes of all, possible depends on you: live/peace not revenge, trust God's plan: overcome evil with good

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Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy (1 Cor 14:1 NIV)

Follow the way of Love
 - Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:7)
 - Jesus said "love one another as I have loved you" by this they will know you are my follower (John 13:34-35)
 - Jesus said, "love your enemies" by praying for them like you would your own family (Matt 5:44, 43-38)
 - Love keeps no records of wrong (1 Cor 13:5)
 - Do everything in love (1 Cor 16:14)
 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (John 14:21)


Eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy
1 Corinthians 14:39
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
1 Corinthians 12:31
Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.
1 Corinthians 12:1
Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.

Spiritual gifts inventory

Question: "What does it mean that love keeps no record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5)?"

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