First Presbyterian Church                                                                   Rev. Dr. Michael J. Imperiale

Salt Lake City, Utah                                                                                     October 8, 2006

“The Gifts of the Spirit: All of Us Working Together”

Romans 12: 1-8

Introduction

Years ago, Dottie and I were worshiping at a church in Florida when we were on vacation. I was a newly ordained pastor, fresh out of seminary, right on the cutting edge of ministry. During the sermon I was taking notes on the message but also ticking off every mistake I thought the preacher – he must have been eighty years old – was making. When this interminable sermon finally ended, I leaned over to Dottie to say something critical about the minister and the sermon. But I stopped myself when I saw a woman down the row in front of us with tears running down her face. Clearly, the preacher said exactly what she needed to hear.

That was an important lesson for me. I was judging and she was needing, and the Holy Spirit responded to need, not judgment. Although we always give ministry our best effort, we must never forget that God the Holy Spirit does the work even through the most faulty instrument, including me.

Prophesy, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, showing mercy. God provides all of these gifts, opportunities, growing points through the gift of the Holy Spirit. A much neglected or misunderstood subject throughout the history of Christianity, in the church and in the personal lives of God’s people, the Holy Spirit is an essential part of the good news, the gospel of Christ. Together with the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit is Almighty God active in the Creation, Redemption and Sustaining of life.

I. Who is the Holy Spirit?

In the Old Testament, the Spirit of Yahweh, the Spirit of the Lord is God’s very person and power in action. The Holy Spirit shaped creation and gave life to both animals and mankind. In the beginning, “the Lord God formed us from the dust of the ground and breathed into us the breath of life, and we became a living being” (that’s Genesis 2:7). The Holy Spirit revealed God’s messages to the prophets and taught the ways of being faithful and fruitful. Psalm 142 asks of the Lord, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”

It is in the New Testament that we meet the Holy Spirit as a person one with yet distinct from the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is given to the church as “another counselor,” a helper, an advocate, one who strengthens, supports, and advises. Jesus taught his disciples as he looked forward to returning to heaven in John 14: “Do not let your hearts be troubled Trust in God; trust also in me… I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth” (14:1,16).

The Holy Spirit acts as only a person can do. He hears and speaks, he convinces and testifies. He leads and guides, teaches and commands. The Holy Spirit can be insulted, lied to, resisted, and blasphemed.

Most importantly, the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus’ reality and the truth about him to people. He unites believers in Christ in regenerative, life-giving faith. The Spirit assures us that we are children of God and heirs of the kingdom of heaven. He grows fruit in us as believers and as a church, the fruit of love, joy, and peace; patience, kindness and goodness; gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. In our scripture this morning, it is the Holy Spirit who gives gifts of witnessing and serving for expressing Christ in the church and world.

Once in a while the copy machine here a church doesn’t work quite right. When we call for the repair guy, we don’t even know how to describe what’s wrong. One time the technician was working on the copier and called the shop describing what was needed. He used words for parts and processes that I didn’t understand. But the person at the shop did, and soon the copier was fixed.

Our need was met because someone came and communicated to headquarters in words we could not express. This is what the Holy Spirit does for us. When we don’t know what to pray, the Spirit intercedes for us. When we don’t know what to do, the Spirit acts on our behalf.        

II. The Gifts of the Spirit

Last week we talked about the fruit of love, joy and peace that the Holy Spirit grows in us as followers of Jesus. This morning we read about the gifts that God gives his people, gifts for ministry that the Holy Spirit offers each believer. Have you discovered your spiritual gifts? What are you doing to develop them and use them to worship the Lord, glorify God, and build up the church? Clearly, our Savior wants every believer to be fruitful and fulfilled in a meaningful place of ministry.

I find three components that shape each one of us when it comes to the gifts of the Spirit. First, what and who are you passionate for? Think of the people you feel strongly about. Infants, children, youth, college students; teen moms, single parents, young marrieds, parents of school age children, empty nesters (different people have different preferences); divorced, widowed, singles; refugees, homeless, disabled, unemployed; those in hospital or nursing home: these are all specific people who need your Holy Spirit gifts for the love, joy and peace of Christ.

Then think of issues or causes you care about: child care, elder care, family; violence, injustice, racism, hunger (again, different people have different causes); education, healthcare, economics, poverty, literacy; addictions, reaching the lost, evangelism, discipleship: these are among many areas that the Lord wants his people involved and helping in the name of Christ.

As you identify your passion for expressing your life and faith in Christ, then explore the spiritual gifts as they might relate to your passion. Romans 12, I Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4 have lists of the kinds of gifts the Holy Spirit gives to every believer.

There are seven gifts listed here in Romans 12: 6-8. Prophecy is the special ability given by God to certain members of the body of Christ to proclaim God’s truths in a way relevant to current situations and to envision how God wills things to change for good. Characteristics of this gift include being persuasive and to the point, able to spot the difference between cultural trends and biblical truths. A caution is to avoid becoming more dependent on an ability to speak than on the power of the Holy Spirit to convict. Sunday school teachers, youth leaders, social issues advocates, Bible study leaders could use this gift.

Service is a special ability given by God to some members to identify unmet needs involved in a task related to God’s work, and personally to help meet those needs. These are task oriented people, preferring to do the job themselves. Here the caution is self-pride in accomplishments or not being able to say no. These might be deacons, usher/greeters, nursery workers, librarian, chefs and cooks, computer communications people.

I’ll do one more of the many gifts. Encouragement is a special ability God gives to some of us to minister words of comfort, consolation, challenge and counsel that strengthen faith and life. If you have the gifts of encouragement, you see attributes or gifts in others that the other person is slow to recognize in themselves. You enjoy one-to-one relationships. You’re a good listener and faithful pray-er for others. You like to plant spiritual seeds and then watch them grow.

Match up your passion and your gifts. And then thirdly, understand your personal style. Do you like to be spontaneous or follow a set plan? Do you like variety or routine? Do you like doing things for people or just being with people? Are you more task oriented or process oriented?

With your passion, gifts, and style, you can and will be a great blessing to the health and vitality of the church. But remember, “God does not want volunteers; he wants servants.” Why? Because service is worship, worship glorifies God, and service builds up the church.

Conclusion

Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen was first to discover the magnetic meridian of the North Pole and first to discover the South Pole. On one of his trips, Amundsen took a homing pigeon with him and released it when he reached his destination at the top of the world.

Imagine the delight of his wife back in Norway when she looked up from the doorway of her home and saw the pigeon circling in the sky above. No doubt she told herself and others, “My husband is alive and doing well.”

When Jesus was gone after his death, resurrection and ascension, his disciples held to his promise to send them the Holy Spirit. What joy there was when the dovelike Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost. Like the disciples, we have with us the continual reminder that Jesus is alive and victorious at the right hand of the Father. The gifts of the Spirit are gifts of God as sign and seal of our life in Christ today and forever.

So, I encourage you. Become and be a Christian by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Be willing to work using the unique gifts God has given you in your passion, gifts and personality. And then pray. Let the Lord lead you in

what God wants you to do in the life of this church.                                                                  Let us pray together.