The ‘Spirit’ Experiment – Part 2
The ‘Spirit Experiment’
Week 2
You don’t have to read very far into the Book of Acts to find out that this is a story about a normal bunch of people who were energized by a supernatural power. People are speaking in languages they have not learned, Peter and John are telling crippled people to get up and walk, and we haven’t even got past chapter three. What’s going on here? And how does this apply to me?
The truth is that we at The Bridge, are a bunch of pretty normal people ….. that God wants to be energized by the supernatural power of His Holy Spirit. So, instead of achieving ‘normal’ results through natural means, God offers us the opportunity and the ability to make His Kingdom real to our world through the power of His Spirit.
So how does it work? Well first you need to be born again. When we choose to leave our old life behind, and trust Christ alone to save us, God plants His Holy Spirit into our lives and makes us into new beings. Now we have the choice to live our lives continually surrendering our will to God and allowing the Holy Spirit to control our motives.
The more control the Spirit has in our lives, the more we will be able to recognize and exercise spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to us to benefit our world.
Finding Your Spiritual Gifts
- Pray – Sincerely ask God to guide you and show you what gifts He has chosen to give you. Remember that spiritual gifts may or may not match your natural gift set and talents.
- Listen to Christian leaders you respect – If your pastor falls off the chair in hysterical uncontrollable laughter when you tell him/her that you think you have the spiritual gift of wisdom….. then maybe you don’t..
- Do a Spiritual Gifts Survey – These surveys range from helpful to downright cheesy. Here are a couple of free online ones you can try:
http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.1355371/k.9501/Spiritual_Gifts.htm
http://www.churchgrowth.org/cgi-cg/gifts.cgi?intro=1 (This one will ask you for your e-mail address so they can send you stuff. You can unregister later you have taken the test.
- Experiment – This is a little like shopping for shoes. You try on ten pairs of shoes that pinch your toes and squish your feet, but then you finally put your feet into the pair that make your feet feel like they are at a continual spa – you wear them home with your old shoes in the box.
So why not prayerfully, and in the context of your fellow believers, ‘try on’
some of the gifts that came up in your survey. Here are some ideas…
- Prophecy: Choose one person to pray for intensely and continually this week. As you pray, keep a journal of the thoughts and impressions that repeatedly come to you through the process.
- Ministering/Serving/Helps: Try to figure out how you could serve your neighbor this week, and then just do it.
- Teaching: Read up on a subject that interests you. Look for an opportunity to talk about what you have read with a group of your friends (over a meal, while driving in the car etc.) How do they react to you?
- Giving: Set aside an amount of money that would ‘hurt’ you to give this week. Put it in the offering, or look for a needy family that would benefit from your giving. Did the process make you wish you could do it again?
- Exhortation/Encouragement: Write a note to someone who seems ‘down’ this week. How did they react?
- Administration/Leadership: Look for an area at your school, office, or church that needs tidying up (storeroom, stationary shelves, break room, kitchen cupboards). Ask permission to tidy and organize that area. Make sure you communicate with the person who is responsible for the area to make your that your plan actually will help them.
- Mercy: Go somewhere where people in need are gathered (ER in a hospital, unemployment line, lobby of a courthouse) and sit for an hour. Make notes on what impression and emotions you are experiencing. If you see a need, fill it.
- Apostle: Do a quick survey of the ministries in your church, on your campus or in your town. Look at that list. Do you see anything missing? Make a list of the possibilities and opportunities that you see. Are there any things on the list you would like to initiate?
- Evangelist: Present the Gospel to a complete stranger this week. How did they react? Did you present the Gospel to more than one person?
- Pastor: Pray for someone who you know is struggling with their faith this week. Visit with them if you wish, and listen to them tell of their struggles. Pray with them before you leave.
- Teacher: Read through the Articles of the faith (see link below) Is there a particular issue about which that you believe that people are lacking in knowledge and experience. Choose one of the articles and ask your pastor if you can have an opportunity to teach on that subject under their guidance. How did that work out for you?
http://www.nazarene.org/ministries/administration/visitorcenter/articles/display.aspx
More experiments to follow next week…..
Be Blessed
Ken
