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TV Sermon

The Holy Spirit: The Giver of Gifts

The Holy Spirit has uniquely gifted every believer for significant ministry and service.

Originally preached on March 18, 1990
August 23, 2025

Have you ever felt too ordinary or unprepared to make a meaningful difference for God? Feelings of inadequacy and spiritual inferiority rob countless believers of the joy and effectiveness God intends for their lives. Dr. Stanley uses biblical truth to show how the Holy Spirit has uniquely gifted every believer for significant ministry and service.

Sermon Outline

It’s nice to receive a present—and even better to give one (Acts 20:35). In God’s kingdom, supernatural gifting has the purpose of helping others. This week, Dr. Stanley explores the topic of spiritual gifts and the Holy Spirit’s role in distributing and developing them.

Key Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Supporting Passages: Acts 2:4; Acts 2:38; Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 1 Corinthians 12:14-21; 1 Corinthians 12:28-30; 1 Corinthians 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 Peter 4:10

When God calls you to do something, do you feel inadequate or refuse to act because you consider yourself ill-equipped?

Refusing God’s call because we feel inadequate means we miss …

  • Blessings here on earth.

  • Rewards in heaven.

  • Joy that comes with serving God.

The Holy Spirit …

  • Equips us to do whatever God has called us to do (Acts 2:4).

  • Is given to every believer as a gift (v. 38) and a means of being sealed (Eph. 4:30).

► “You’re not going to put God in any kind of box. He is the maker of the boxes.”

The gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:1-11) …

  • Are given to believers to accomplish the work of God (vv. 8-10).

  • Include roles appointed by God (v. 28).

  • Do not always come through the activity of a person (v. 28).

  • Belong to the Spirit, to be distributed as He sees fit (vv. 29-30).

  • Are to be applied to some form of ministry (v. 7; Rom.12:4-8; Eph. 4:11-12).

► “Everybody profits when we exercise our spiritual gift.”

Every Christian has at least one spiritual gift (1 Pet. 4:10), but all gifts are designed to ...

  1. Serve the common good (1 Cor. 12:7; Eph. 2:8-9).

  2. Help believers aid one another (4:12-13).

  3. Equip us to encourage others (1 Cor. 12:14-21).

God calls us, gifts us, and assumes responsibility for accomplishing tasks through us. However, we must …

  • Be willing to employ our gifts in God’s work.

  • Understand that we will one day appear individually before Christ for judgment and reward (2 Cor. 5:10).

  • Build on the Lord Jesus Christ as our foundation (1 Cor. 3:10-11).

  • Build well, not using poor materials that are unable to survive the fire of God’s judgment (vv. 12-15).

  • Get involved in the work of the Lord (14:12) and develop our skills by finding a ministry suited to them.

After Watching

  • The best way to recognize our spiritual gifts is by participating in the work of the church. Ask the Holy Spirit for discernment and then simply begin! Give of yourself, and you’ll begin to perceive which talents the Lord has blessed you with.

  • Read Ephesians 2:10 whenever you struggle with feelings of inadequacy. Post the verse somewhere you look often as a reminder that you are God’s “workmanship” and well-equipped for the “good works … [He] prepared beforehand.”

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