Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24

Three Daring Prayers that will strengthen your faith and increase your influence:

1. Search me and know me.

You know me

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Psalm 139:1-6

You know me —> You are with me

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

Psalm 139:7-12

You know me —> You are with me ——> You made me

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.

Psalm 139:13-18

You know me —> You are with me ——> You made me ——> You search me _______________________________ 

If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! They speak of you with evil intent;your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, God, and know my heart…

Psalm 139:19-23

 Three Daring Prayers that will strengthen your faith and increase your influence:

2.     Test me

Test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Psalm 139:23

David’s life was full of tests:

·  The test of obscurity

·  The test of opposition

·  The test of success

·  The test of rejection

·  The test of waiting

·  The test of revenge

·  The test of failure

·  The test of consequences and family pain

·  The test of grief

Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:3-4

Some encouragement about the “testing” times of life:

1.     God does not trick us… but he does REFINE us through testing.

2.     Don’t waste the test … In the tests of life we should not try and manipulate circumstances, or cheapen the process, but rather double down on our trust in God and his timing.

3.     Trust God’s heart even when you don’t see his hand.

4.     Stay faithful in the ordinary

Three Daring Prayers that will strengthen your faith and increase your influence:

3.     Lead me

Lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake…

Psalm 23

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

John Wesley’s Personal Questions of Reflection

1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?

2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?

3. Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?

4. Can I be trusted?

5. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?

6. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?

7. Did the Bible live in me today?

8. Do I give it time to speak to me everyday?

9. Am I enjoying prayer?

10. When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?

11. Do I pray about the money I spend?

12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?

13. Do I disobey God in anything?

14. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?

15. Am I defeated in any part of my life?

16. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?

17. How do I spend my spare time?

18. Am I proud?

19. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?

20. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?

21. Do I grumble or complain constantly?

22. Is Christ real to me?

How is it with your soul?

But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:16-18

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Psalm 19:1

Creation —> Sinai —> Tabernacle —> Temple —> Jesus ___________________________________

Seeing the Glory of God does not mean we will reflect the Glory of God.

The Old Testament word for Glory is Kavod. It is the idea of weight, substance, significance and honor. The Glory of God is the weightiness of who God is.

It is God making Himself known – His presence, character, goodness, holiness, power, mercy, beauty and love becoming visible or experienced. ___________________________________

Now show me your glory.

Exodus 33:18

And the Lord said, I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you…

Exodus 33:19

And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.

Exodus 34:6-7

Creation —> Sinai —> Tabernacle —> Temple —> Jesus

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.

Hebrews 1:3

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

 2 Corinthians 4:6

Jesus said, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”

John 12:3

Creation —> Sinai —> Tabernacle —> Temple —> Jesus —> Cross

I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one.

John 17:22

We all…are being transformed into His image with ever increasing glory.

 2 Cor. 3:18

Creation —> Sinai —> Tabernacle —> Temple —> Jesus —> Cross —> God’s people (that’s us)

Every time we, the church, live out one another verses the world gets a glimpse of the Glory of God.

We can admire the character of God without acquiring the character of God.

Beholding. Transforming. Reflecting.

Becoming like Jesus doesn’t happen in isolation.

The Question is not: Have I seen the Glory of God?

The Question is: Can anyone see something of the Glory of God in me?

Worship Set List:

Learning to Bear and Share One Another’s Burdens

Brother and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions, Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.

Galatians 6:1-5

What does it look like to bear and share one another’s burdens?

1.        We RESTORE

2.        We CARRY

3.        We OWN

4.        We EXAMINE

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Galatians 5:22

The power of the Spirit is being manifested whenever Jesus is becoming visible through us.

We RESTORE: When someone falls, respond gently.

If someone is caught [trapped] in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.

Galatians 6:1

For all of have sinned and come short of the glory [doxa] of God.

Doxa: to give others a correct opinion or estimate of God’s character.

The order is to restore us to our original design: created in the Imago Dei [image of God]. We are designed to bring Him glory [doxa]. Bringing him glory [doxa] is to live so that we give others a correct opinion or estimate of God’s true character.

Romans 3:23

They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.

Matthew 23:4

It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.

Acts 15:6-8

Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.

John 8:11

But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

Galatians 6:1

We CARRY: We help with what is too heavy for others to carry alone.

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, YOU WILL FULFILL the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

Confess your sins [your brokenness, your generational weight] to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

James 5:16

Confession + Bearing and Sharing = Healing

Four steps to bearing and sharing one another’s burdens

1.        We NOTICE the weight

2.        We LISTEN

3.        We MOVE TOWARD the weight

4.        We PRAY and remain PRESENT

A burden is something that has become too heavy for me to carry alone.

But my load is what God has entrusted to me.

3. We OWN: We take responsibility for what belongs to us.

Each one should carry their own load.

Galatians 6:5

We EXAMINE: We keep the mirror turned toward ourselves.

Each one should test their own actions.

Galatians 6:4

What belongs to me in this situation?

Jesus tells His followers: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

John 13:34

Bearing and Sharing One Another’s is Evident When …

We RESTORE without condemning.

We CARRY without rescuing.

We OWN what God has entrusted to us.

And we EXAMINE ourselves instead of constantly evaluating everyone else.

___________________________________

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

Colossians 3:16

Corporate Worship: The body of Christ coming together to glorify God by singing to God and to One Another.

Worship Set:

All Hail King Jesus

King Jesus

Worship Begins with Desiring God

God Comes Where He is Wanted

What We Consume Shapes How We Participate

What Should Fill Us:

The Holy Spirit

Peace

Scripture

Gratitude

... be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:18-19

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Matthew 12:34

Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Proverbs 4:23

What has filled your heart?

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly…

Colossians 3:16

Worship Has Two Audiences

Corporate Worship is Both Vertical and Horizontal

...teaching and admonishing one another... and...singing to God.

Colossians 3:16

When we are sing songs that edify one another:

God is listening.

And He is glorified.

Teaching says: "Know this."

Admonishing says: "Now do this."

“The experience that glorifies God is knowing God truly and feeling him duly. Knowledge that is true to God. Feelings that are due to God. We cannot glorify God as we ought without knowledge that accords with God’s truth and feelings that accord with God’s greatness and beauty and worth. Authentic experience of God must be knowing God truly and feeling him duly.”

John Piper

Knowing God Truly and Feeling Him Duly

Knowledge without affection is cold

The Lord says: These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.

Isaiah 19:13

Affection without truth is shallow

Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

Romans 10:1-3

God wants:

A mind filled with truth.

A heart filled with love.

Worshiping Together Changes Us

Every time we gather to worship we believe God can radically change lives. That anything is possible.

Love asks: "What do they desire?"

Focus on Self asks: "What would I prefer?”

Not: "What do I prefer?"

But: "What has God asked for?”

God wants:

Your heart.

Your mind.

Your body.

When we gather to worship:

We exalt God.

We edify the church.

We evangelize the unbeliever.

Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He now showed the disciples the full extent of his love. It was time for supper, and the Devil had already enticed Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to carry out his plan to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he had around him. When he came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, why are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You don't understand now why I am doing it; someday you will.” “No,” Peter protested, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “But if I don't wash you, you won't belong to me.” Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!” Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you are clean, but that isn't true of everyone here.” For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.” After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because it is true. And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. How true it is that a servant is not greater than the master. Nor are messengers more important than the one who sends them. You know these things—now do them! That is the path of blessing.

John 13:1-17

How is the One Another, Love, showing up in your life?

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

John 13:35

Love is a gift.

Love learns you.

But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self – control. Here there is no conflict with the law.

Galatians 5:22-23

Love requires personal Shalom (peace).

Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

Mark 12:29-31

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Recovering your Shalom:

1. Turn towards God

2. Tell Him what you need

3. Thank Him for all He has done for you in your life

4. Trust Him with your need

Love was demonstrated for us to see.

So Jesus got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he had around him.

John 13:4-5

So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us…

John 1:14

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing (or emptied himself), by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Philippians 2:6

Worship Set List:

Experience by Mitch Wong

The Blood by Bethel Music

After Your Heart by The McClure's

Be Like Him by Bridgetown Worship

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.

Hebrews 3:12 - 14

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Romans 6:12

So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Romans 7:21 - 25

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Corinthians 5:17

“The Bible teaches two themes throughout; the first is that we are created in the image of God and that we have incredible value. The second is that we are sinful and broken. There is the ideal, and there is the real. Both are true and both need to be reconciled into a grace giving relationship with God and others.”

Dr. Henry Cloud, Changes that Heal

When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:10-11

For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6: 14

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.

Hebrews 3:1

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep."

John 21: 15 -17

“But what about you?” he asked Peter. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.  And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

Matthew 16: 15-18

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.  He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself.  For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,” bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.

Hebrews 3: 3-6

“Words people say not only have a shelf life but have the ability to shape life”.

 Bob Goff

“We can define reconciliation as the restoration of a right relationship with Father God and the restoration of right relationships with our fellow human beings who, through conversion to Christ, become our brothers and sisters in the faith.”

Joseph H. Hellerman [from When the Church was a Family]

 Benediction:

Jesus,

Form us into people who encourage one another daily so that we will not be hardened by sin. Give us eyes to see opportunities, the courage to obey Your promptings, and the grace to love as You have loved us. May our lives reflect Your kingdom for the good of others and the glory of God.

Amen.

Worship Setlist:

- Praise the Lord by Peter Mattis

- He's The One by Bethel Music

- You Never Let Go

- Elohim by Bethel Music

- If The Lord by Bethel Music

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:31-32

Reject the attitudes that grieve the Spirit

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Ephesians 4:30

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Ephesians 4:31

Reflect the Character of Christ

Be kind and compassionate to one another…

Ephesians 4:32

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

Romans 2:4

 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”

“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Luke 10:25-37

Compassion sees

Compassion stops

Compassion sacrifices

Release the Record of Wrongs…because God has released yours.

“Forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you….”

Ephesians 4:30

God has forgiven…

      Every sinful thought

 God has forgiven…

      Every sinful word

 God has forgiven…

      Every sinful action

 God has forgiven…

      Every sinful attitude

 God has forgiven…

      Every sin of omission

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

James 4:17

Gods Response?  FORGIVENESS

•  Removed them as far as east is from west (Psalm 103:12)

•  Cast them into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19)

•  Remembered them no more (Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrews 8:12)

•  Blotted them out (Isaiah 43:25)

•  Washed them white as snow (Isaiah 1:18)

•  Covered them (Psalm 32:1)

•  Nailed them to the cross (Colossians 2:14)

•  Canceled the record of debt (Colossians 2:14)

•  Cleansed your conscience (Hebrews 9:14)

•  Justified you completely (Romans 5:1)

•  Reconciled you to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:18–19)

•  Adopted you as His child (Romans 8:15–17)

 What does this mean?

1.             Forgiveness does not mean we sweep everything under the rug.

2.             Forgiveness is not resuming a relationship without accountability.

3.             Forgiveness does mean we release and trust God with justice.

Worship Setlist:

Yes He Lives by Hillsong

Praise Chorus by Bethel

How Great Thou Art by Stuart Wesley

Thank You Jesus For The Blood by Charity Gayle

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 4:7-11

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.

1 Peter 4:7

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8

 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.

Proverbs 10:12

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

1 Peter 4:9

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

1 Peter 4:10

Spiritual gifts are manifestations of God’s grace, distributed by the Holy Spirit to believers, through which Christ continues His work: edifying the body, bearing witness to the Kingdom, and expressing God’s love for others.

Spiritual gifts are the Spirit’s grace at work in and through us. Unique ways God empowers His people to love, serve, and build up one another, so that the life of Jesus becomes visible in His Church and in the world.

“The reality is, God routinely partners with us to get things done in the world. He reveals truth, but we have to preach it. He offers salvation, but we gather in. He shows mercy, but we serve the poor...God is the source of power, but we lay hands on people or speak commands that the power might flow to others.”

Jordan Wong [from Miracle Work]

 The Service Gifts [Romans 12:3-8]

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Romans 3:6-8

Gift: Prophecy

Gift: Serving

Gift: Teaching

Gift: Encouraging

Gift: Giving

Gift: Leading

Gift: Mercy

The Equipping Ministry Gifts [Ephesians 4:11-16]

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

Ephesians 4:11-12

Gift: Apostles

Gift: Prophets

Gift: Evangelists

Gift: Pastors

Gift: Teacher

The Manifestation Gifts [1 Corinthians 12]

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11

Gift: Word of Wisdom

Gift: Word of Knowledge

Gift: Faith

Gift: Healing

Reference: 1 Corinthians 12:9

Gift: Miracles

Reference: 1 Corinthians 12:10

Gift: Prophecy

Reference: 1 Corinthians 12:10

Gift: Discerning of Spirits

Reference: 1 Corinthians 12:10

Gift: Tongues

Gift: Interpretation of Tongues

Gift: Helps

Gift: Guidance

The Framework: Love & Order [1 Corinthians 13 & 1 Corinthians 14]

Love is the foundation. Order is the structure. The gifts are the work performed inside both to build the church, witness of the Kingdom, and so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides…

1 Peter 4:11a

The Service Gifts [Romans 12:3-8]

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Romans 3:6-8

...so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 4:11b

Faithful stewards are intentional to develop 5 things:

1. Theology of the gifts

2. Model for the gifts

3. Practice with the gifts

4. Intimacy with the giver of the gifts

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:5

5. Maturity into Christlikeness

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control...

Galatians 5:22-23a

“Here’s how this danger can begin. Your prayer life may be nonexistent, or you may have an unforgiving spirit toward someone, or sexual desires may be out of control. But you get involved in some ministry activity, which draws out your spiritual gifts. You begin to serve and help others, and soon you are affirmed by others and told what great things you are doing. You see the effects of your ministry and conclude that God is with you. But actually God was helping someone through your gifts even though your heart was far from him. Eventually, if you don’t do something about your lack of spiritual fruit and instead build your identity on your spiritual gifts and ministry activity, there will be some kind of collapse. You will blow up at someone or lapse into some sin that destroys your credibility. And everyone, including you, will be surprised. But you should not be. Spiritual gifts without spiritual fruit is like a tire slowly losing air."

Tim Keller

Identify your gift

The intersection of desire, effectiveness, community, and the Spirit.

Where do I sense the joy of Christ? 

Where have others seen effectiveness? 

What do you uniquely carry and a burden / passion for? 

What has been spoken over you?

What do you believe the Holy Spirit has spoken to you about personally in this regard? 

From Pastor John Finochio

Awaken your gift

Surrender your gift

Worship Set List:

- What The Lord Has Done by Hope Darst

- Hope On The Horizon by Bridgetown Worship

- One Thing Remains by Brian Johnson

- House of Prayer by Mitch Wong

- Great Are You Lord by All Sons and Daughters