The Open Word (Audio)

In today’s message, Pastor David takes us through many of the spiritual gifts that are listed in the New Testament. While it is our role to use our abilities for God, we do not need to stress about narrowing our gifts to one specific area before we start serving others. Pastor David encourages you to faithfully seek after God and pray for gifts that you haven’t yet used in your life. You never know, God may have opportunities in store when you are surprised by His power at work in you!

Are you aware of which spiritual gifts you possess? All believers are created with unique abilities to contribute to God’s work in this world. Today Pastor Randy explains ways to view your God given gifts. Serving God is not meant to bring yourself glory; rather, God is glorified as believers seek to grow and use their lives in the way God has designed them. The incredible outcome of seeking to please God is that in return we often experience the very fulfillment we long to experience!

Many of us desire to be independent, and we attempt to use our own strength and ability. This is natural but God desires that we receive and utilize the wisdom of God. The enemy would rather you keep living life in your own strength. In today’s message, Pastor David teaches about the role of Holy Spirit in this world and in our lives. The Holy Spirit’s purpose is to draw you to God, and as you draw closer, you will comprehend your need of God’s strength and wisdom to replace your own.

In today’s message, Pastor David’s describes various spiritual gifts that Paul lists in the scriptures. In the church, some gifts may be held in higher regard. Sometimes we may feel that our spiritual gifts are less important or not useful to body of Christ. However, it is not scriptural to see some God-given abilities as lesser than others. You have a role within God’s work for which you were designed, and scripture encourages you to boldly use your gifts and pray that God will give you more!

All parts of the body of Christ are important. To not be a part of the church robs that group of your presence and gifts, and you miss out on a blessing others can convey to you. You cannot serve God alone, and God has called us to unity together building each other up. Inevitably there will differences of opinion and varying preferences for aspects of worship and ministry. However, Pastor David emphasize in today’s message that our common hope of the gospel brings us together!

God has uniquely created all people with various gifts that can support the work of God in this world. Believers are not all the same, and that is certainly not God’s intention in scripture or in our experience today. You may feel out of place but God has designed you to contribute to His creation. In today’s message, Pastor David states that the diversity of the body of Christ is necessary and unity amidst that diversity is vital. That unity can only exist by Spirit of God within us!

In today’s message, Pastor David emphasizes the need to submit to one another under God’s authority. Paul instructed the Corinthian church that submitting to God extends to our interaction with others. If we mistreat people and do not consider the needs of others as important as our own, then we are not taking God’s teaching seriously. God’s work for us is so significant that we must submit no matter what it takes, for God loves us and holds the keys to eternity.

In today’s message, Pastor David questions our attitude about authority. Paul emphasized that God had placed order and authority over us. Paul was not trying set rules on lengths of hair or head coverings. He was trying to get across that God is a God of authority, and we need to walk in submission to that authority. Without that authority, people could have taken the church various directions bringing confusion and disunity, which could hinder the faith and witness of the church.

In today’s message, Pastor David teaches about spiritual authority. Submitting to spiritual authority is necessary for an individual and a church because we surrender to God’s leading. Most people, though, struggle with authority, for we want to make our own decisions and go our own way. Paul insists we engage in acts that demonstrate submission to God’s divine authority, and we must order our lives based on God’s truth found in the Bible not our own understanding.

In today’s message, Pastor David explores the correlations of Paul’s message to the Corinthians with our current time. Those who Paul wrote to also faced temptation from their culture. Sin and temptation lure us in, and if we give in too far, we may make the very decision we should avoid. The scripture says that with every temptation there is a way of escape, and nothing we face is a temptation that someone has not overcome. Stay back from the edge of temptation and stick to the grace-filled path of God.