To catch up or to take the FREE Spiritual Gifts Assessment:

www.missionpointchurch.com

The so-called “controversial” sign gifts:

A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the

same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to

another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another

the ability to prophesy.

The so-called “controversial” sign gifts:

He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or

from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown

languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.

1 Corinthians 12:7-10

(NLT)

A spiritual gift is…a God-given special ability,

given to every believerat conversion

by the Holy Spirit, to share his love

and strengthen the body of Christ.

Question: Are these gifts still available?Three schools of thought

1) The Charismatic Church – all the gifts are available for our use 2) The Non-Charismatic Church – certain gifts were only for a season 3) The Skeptical, but Open Church – where we are currently

The gifts are not forbidden, but should be proper:

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in

tongues. But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.

1 Corinthians 14:39-40 (NLT)

Biblical prophecy proclaims the use of these gifts:

“In the last days,” God says, “I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will

prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women

alike— and they will prophesy. And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth

below…”

Acts 2:17-19 (NLT)

An example:The gift of tongues

Tongues is (primarily) a sign gift that involves supernaturally speaking

a previously unknown language for the purpose of communicating God’s truths to people who wouldn’t be able to understand

the gospel otherwise.

A gift given to proclaim the gospel:

… everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages,

as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. At that time there were devout Jews from every

nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and

they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers. They

were completely amazed.

A gift given to proclaim the gospel:

“How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our

own native languages!”…“And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the

wonderful things God has done!” They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other. But others in the crowd ridiculed

them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!” Acts 2:5-8, 11-13 (NLT)

Another manifestation of the gift of tongues:

For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will

all be mysterious.

1 Corinthians 14:2 (NLT)

The gift is meant to edify, encourage, & inform the church:

Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language, how would that

help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful. Even lifeless instruments like the

flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody. And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers

know they are being called to battle

The gift is meant to edify, encourage, & inform the church:It’s the same for you. If you speak to people in

words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking

into empty space. There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning. But if I don’t understand a language, I

will be a foreigner to someone who speaks it, and the one who speaks it will be a foreigner to me.

The gift is meant to edify, encourage, & inform the church:

And the same is true for you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the

whole church.

1 Corinthians 14:6-12 (NLT)

Understanding is key:

So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been

said. For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am

saying. Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I

understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand.

Understanding is key:

For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don’t understand you praise God

along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don’t understand what you are saying? You will be giving thanks very well, but it won’t strengthen the people who hear

you.

I Corinthians 14:13-18a

Summary instructions on the use of tongues:

Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing,

another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak

in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must

strengthen all of you. No more than two or three should speak in tongues.

Summary instructions on the use of tongues:

They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. But if no one is

present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately…For God is not a God of disorder

but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.

1 Corinthians 14:26-28, 33 (NLT)

A good reminder:Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.

1 John 4:1 (NLT)

Why we don’t practice tongues in our services:

1) Outsiders don’t understand it.

So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy,

however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers. Even so, if unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into

your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think

you are crazy.1 Corinthians 14:22-23 (NLT)

Why we don’t practice tongues in our services:

2) We believe there is greater value in clear, understandable speaking/worshiping/praying.

I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. But in a church meeting I would rather speak five

understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.

1 Corinthians 14:18b-19 (NLT)

Why we don’t practice tongues in our services:

3) They are not filtered through the Scriptures and the Elders.

But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation

that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 

Why we don’t practice tongues in our services:

3) They are not filtered through the Scriptures and the Elders.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong

in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare

and equip his people to do every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:14-17 (NLT)

Why we don’t practice tongues in our services:

4) It’s possible that the sign gifts have diminished or ceased.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be

stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

1 Corinthians 13:8 (NIV)

If you have more questions…

Write me: james@missionpointchurch.com

Do some further research: www.gotquestions.com

Getting into S.H.A.P.EDiscovering your heart /passion

“Heart is where you are centered, where you desire to serve, the altar upon which you wish to place your talents. Giftedness is what you are. Heart is where

you will most likely apply what you are. Heart refers to empathy, attraction, or ‘draw’ towards a group of

people, a field of expertise, or a particular type of service. Evaluating your heart helps you determine where you might best use gifts, where you wish to

serve, or whom you wish to serve.”

-Tom Paterson “Living the Life You Were Meant to Live”

Warnings:1) Don’t compare your gifts.

2) Don’t project your gifts.

3) Don’t reject your gifts.

Three questions:

Which one of these efforts is most important?

Three questions:

Which one of these efforts is most important? NONE OF THEM

Three questions:

Which one of these efforts is most important? NONE OF THEM

Which one is the most Christ-honoring?

Three questions:

Which one of these efforts is most important? NONE OF THEM

Which one is the most Christ-honoring?ALL OF THEM

Three questions:

Which one of these efforts is most important? NONE OF THEM

Which one is the most Christ-honoring?ALL OF THEM

Which one should the people of our church have the most passion for?

Three questions:

Which one of these efforts is most important? NONE OF THEM

Which one is the most Christ-honoring?ALL OF THEM

Which one should the people of our church have the most passion for?

WHICHEVER ONE THE SPIRIT GIFTS YOU FOR & FILLS YOU WITH PASSION REGARDING

You are uniquely S.H.A.P.E.D “God has given each of us a unique ‘heartbeat’

that races when we think about the subjects, activities or circumstances that interest us. We

instinctively care about some things and not about others. These reveal the nature of your heart [and] are clues to where you should be

serving.”

Rick Warren, The PDL

Ask yourself:1) What excites and motivates me?

Ask yourself:1) What excites and motivates me?

2) Who do I care about?

Ask yourself:1) What excites and motivates me?

2) Who do I care about?

3) What needs will I meet?

Your primary ministry comes from your biggest challenges:

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubles, we will be able to give them the

same comfort God has given us.

2 Corinthians 1:4 (NLT)

Possible causes you may be passionate about:

A great question: “If you had permission to do what you really want to do, what would

you do?”

John Eldridge

The WRONG question: “How?!”

The WRONG question: “How?!”

The RIGHT question: “WHAT?!”

Do your “what” with passion:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your HEART, as working for the Lord, not for

men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.

It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 3:23-24