First Baptist Church
Fairbanks, Alaska
805 Sixth Avenue
(907) 456-4923
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Fairbanks, Alaska 805 Sixth Avenue (907) 456-4923 |
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“What are you eager for?” Worldly Desires or Spiritual Gifts Mark Howdeshell (8 July 2007) 1 Corinthians 12:31-- But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way. Questions to Ponder 1. What do I want? 2. What do I need? 3. What should I want? 4. Do I want what I need or need what I want…and do I know the difference? 5. Is it bad to want something? Heart of the Matter Americans are obsessed with the wants of the world. When are we going to be concerned with the needs? As parents we are charged with training our children with being able to distinguish between the wants and needs. We even have to resort to the one of the least used terms in today’s culture, “NO.” “No, you can’t have candy for dinner….it’ll ruin your appetite.” “No, you can’t sleep in on Sunday because you want to.” When are we going to wise up when our “wanter” kicks in even though we know we don’t need it? Today’s “Wants” Today’s “wants” are vast in their nature and vary from individual to individual. We all have our “wants” and who we are often times determines how we deal with those desires. Take a look at a few of the popular wants today…..
Take a snapshot of ATVs…an “Alaskan” thing… Arctic Cat: 2006 Annual Sales = $732.8 million Polaris 2005 Sales = $1.9 billion Honda small to medium ATVs = 283,000 sold (after a 4.7% decline from the previous year)
What about the ever popular video consoles? Here are the November 2006 numbers, expressed as sales per day:[1]
Wii
(Nintendo, 2006)
PlayStation 2
(Sony, 2000)
Xbox 360
(Microsoft, 2005)
PS3
(Sony, 2006) Today’s “Needs” The needs for today are equally vast and varied. There are a number of needs that remain no matter who, what, when, where, or how often you look at them. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs[2]Abraham Maslow between 1943-1954 developed his 'Hierarchy of needs' motivation theory. It is probably the most popular and most read motivation theory. His theory suggests that within each person their is a hierarchy of needs and the individual must satisfy each level before they move onto the next. There are five hierarchical levels. These are: · Physiological needs: Food, shelter, sexual satisfaction i.e those needs needed for basic survival. · Safety needs: The need to feel safe within your environment. Also refers to emotional and physical safety. · Social Needs: The need for love, friendship and belongingness · Esteem needs: The need for self respect, status and recognition from others. · Self actualisation: The point of reaching ones full potential. Are you capable at excelling yourself? Diagram: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
So an individual will need to satisfy their most basic need before they can move onto the next. Only when that individual knows that they have met their physiological needs will they move onto their safety needs. Maslow suggests that if you wanted to motivate an individual you will need to know where within the hierarchy they are placed.
Approximately 3.5 to 7 million Americans are homeless at any given time. An estimated 1 billion people suffer from hunger and malnutrition. About 24,000 die each day…down from 35,000 ten years ago, and 41,000 twenty years ago. OK…….so this is another lesson on giving to the poor…..sharing our blessings from God…..and taking care of our brothers right? Although these are all valuable and crucial lessons, I want to take a different direction. Hang on…….. Spiritual “Wants” “Oh, I wish I had the faith that Mary has.” “Why can’t I teach as well as John does?” “Man, that Pastor can sure bring it from the pulpit. Wouldn’t I LOVE to be able to do that!!” Have you ever looked at a Brother or Sister in church and admired them for the Spiritual gifts that they have…and desired some of those gifts? Paul addresses this issue in his letters to the Romans and the Corinthians. The Word 1 Corinthians 12:31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts. 1 Corinthians 14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
Paul teaches that our “wanters” should be programmed to desire the Spiritual gifts from God. In fact, we are to EAGERLY DESIRE these gifts. Eagerly refers to an impatient or enthusiastic desire or interest in something. In the words of today’s teenager, “I just have to get it or I’ll die!!” When was the last time you eagerly desired something? And…if the Bible says that we should want these greater gifts, doesn’t that make it our NEED? OK fine, so I should eagerly desire Spiritual gifts. What exactly are those? 1 Corinthians 12:1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. Paul gives us specific examples of our gifts…. Romans 12: 3-8: 3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to 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. 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.
The Meat of the Message
The Bottom Line God has given each of us a measure of faith. That faith is shaped and molded by the Holy Spirit within us to do the will of the Father. We are told to eagerly desire the greater gifts of the Spirit that will allow us to grow closer to Him and to serve others. By growing and cultivating our love of God and man, our faith matures and grows by the hand of the Father. As the Spirit determines, He may grant us, through His grace, an increase in our Spiritual gifts. And the cycle continues………. The Take-Away What do you want? What do you need? Do you eagerly desire the gifts the Holy Spirit can give you? By drawing closer to Him in your daily walk, you’ll find that your “wanter” will change, your focus will narrow, and your desires will conform to His will. Isn’t that what we as believers want anyway? [1] Sandy McMurray. Which video game console is most popular?. TechStuffCanada. 2006. 8 December 2006. < http://www.techstuff.ca/sandy/2006/12/which_video_game_console_is_most_popular.php>. [2] Maslows Hierarchy of Needs. Learn Management2.com. 2007. 28 January 2007. < http://www.learnmanagement2.com/maslow.htm>. |
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