SANCTIFIED GIFTS (5 OF 5)
by Steve Jones
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:7
This content is part of a series.
Sanctified Gifts (5 of 5)
Series: The Rest of the Gospel
Steve Jones
1 Corinthians 12:7
INTRODUCTION: The New York Times ran an article entitled ''Gift-giving Tips from Scientists'', offering three insights gleaned from recent research. I'm going to share just the first tip: DON'T BE A SOULLESS UTILITARIAN. Many economists fall into this category even advocating we simply give one another cash for the holidays. A variant on this is to give very practical gifts, such as household appliances at the high end, or tube socks on the low end. The fundamental error here is not economic efficiency per se, but excessive usefulness. The best gifts are, in fact, useless. By this I don't mean worthless, but rather, valuable for the intrinsic satisfaction they bring as opposed to being a means to some other end. Marketing experts have long found that people get the most satisfaction from ''useless'' experiences that have emotional impact, like going on a beautiful bike ride.
I'm here to tell you that the Holy Spirit never read that article. He is a gift giver and ALL of his gifts are utilitarian. They are useful. And what they are useful FOR is sanctification.
I. YOU HAVE A SANCTIFICATION GIFT FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT
I Cor.12:7 ''Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good'' (NASB)
I Cor.12:7 ''A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other'' (NLT)
I Pt.4:10 ''God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.''
These texts tell us, first, that each one of us has a gift; and second, that each of us is under obligation to use whatever gift we have; and, third, that we must use our gifts for the sake of others.
Clarification number 1: The Holy Spirit is not the ''gift'' we're talking about in these verses - He is the ''giver'' of gifts. We received the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit when we were baptized (Acts 2:38). But this is something ...
Series: The Rest of the Gospel
Steve Jones
1 Corinthians 12:7
INTRODUCTION: The New York Times ran an article entitled ''Gift-giving Tips from Scientists'', offering three insights gleaned from recent research. I'm going to share just the first tip: DON'T BE A SOULLESS UTILITARIAN. Many economists fall into this category even advocating we simply give one another cash for the holidays. A variant on this is to give very practical gifts, such as household appliances at the high end, or tube socks on the low end. The fundamental error here is not economic efficiency per se, but excessive usefulness. The best gifts are, in fact, useless. By this I don't mean worthless, but rather, valuable for the intrinsic satisfaction they bring as opposed to being a means to some other end. Marketing experts have long found that people get the most satisfaction from ''useless'' experiences that have emotional impact, like going on a beautiful bike ride.
I'm here to tell you that the Holy Spirit never read that article. He is a gift giver and ALL of his gifts are utilitarian. They are useful. And what they are useful FOR is sanctification.
I. YOU HAVE A SANCTIFICATION GIFT FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT
I Cor.12:7 ''Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good'' (NASB)
I Cor.12:7 ''A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other'' (NLT)
I Pt.4:10 ''God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.''
These texts tell us, first, that each one of us has a gift; and second, that each of us is under obligation to use whatever gift we have; and, third, that we must use our gifts for the sake of others.
Clarification number 1: The Holy Spirit is not the ''gift'' we're talking about in these verses - He is the ''giver'' of gifts. We received the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit when we were baptized (Acts 2:38). But this is something ...
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