A podcast dedicated to helping modern-day believers live out the teachings of the first century church. This podcast is part of the teaching ministry of Dr. David K. Bernard, the general superintendent of the United Pentecostal Church International.
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In 1 Corinthians 14:1, the apostle Paul encouraged Christians to “pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts.” Dr. David K. Bernard reviews what the New Testament says about spiritual gifts and shares advice on how believers can pursue these gifts in a scriptural manner.
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SPEAKER_01
Do you want spiritual gifts to operate in your life? If you answered yes, then this episode is for you. Keep listening to hear Dr. David K. Bernard discuss the importance of spiritual gifts and how believers can pursue them in a biblical manner. Welcome to Apostolic Life in the 21st Century, a podcast dedicated to helping modern-day believers live out the teachings of the first century church. This podcast is part of the teaching ministry of Dr. David K. Bernard. Dr. Bernard has dedicated his life to studying the Bible and helping believers apply its message to their daily lives. In Apostolic Life in the 21st century, Dr. Bernard answers your questions about what the Bible teaches and how those teachings apply to everyday life. Thank you for joining us for this episode. If you enjoy this podcast, we encourage you to check out Dr. David K. Bernard's books. Dr. Bernard has written more than 30 books on biblical theology and Christian living and leadership. Visit Pentecostal Publishing.com and search David Bernard for a list of available titles. Enter promo code DKB10 at checkout to save 10% on your order. That's Pentecostalpublishing.com, promo code DKB10 to save 10% at checkout. In 1 Corinthians 14 1, Paul said that Christians should pursue love and desire spiritual gifts. Now, as one as Pentecostals, we we believe that the gifts of the Spirit are active in the church today. And Paul said Christians should want these gifts. Considering this, what advice do you have for that audience member out there who wants spiritual gifts to be active in their life, but they haven't seen that happen yet, or maybe they haven't seen it to the degree that they would like to see it at this point? What would you say to that person?
SPEAKER_00
To answer your question, let me uh refer you for further study. I wrote a book called Spiritual Gifts. So if you want an in-depth study of spiritual gifts in the scripture, especially the supernatural spiritual gifts of 1 Corinthians chapter 12, then I encourage you to get my book, Spiritual Gifts. When we talk about spiritual gifts, there are several different categories. In Ephesians 4, it talks about ministerial offices. Certain people who are called by God as preachers, teachers, leaders of the church, they're God's gifts to the church. Those are the ones who are called to these special offices or ministries. These are the people to whom the UPCI would give ministerial credentials. So that's not everyone. But then Romans 12 talks about what we can call the service gifts. It talks about different people have different abilities, and they correspond to natural abilities, but of course, God created us, and no ability is strictly secular. All of our abilities come from God. And I do believe in Romans 12 it gives examples that everybody in the church has some role in the body. In fact, Romans 12 uses the illustration or the analogy that the church is like a human body. There are different members that have different functions, but all these members work together for the good of the body. So if you look at the list in Romans 12, it talks about different people have a gift of speaking, a gift of leadership, a gift of generosity. They're blessed financially, a gift of showing mercy. And to some extent, all of us should support the church, should witness, should, you know, should be able to share our testimony, should be merciful, et cetera. But we recognize some people are greatly used, have special abilities, which may be inherent in their personality or in their upbringing, in their background, but they're enhanced by being filled with the spirit. And so we can regard, in some sense, even our natural abilities that come genetically are from God, and our abilities that are enhanced by being filled with the Spirit, they certainly come from God. So Romans 12 indicates every one of us should identify what gifts and talents do we have? What makes us different perhaps from someone else? What can we contribute in a way that someone else isn't as good at or doesn't do as effectively? And so every one of us should think I have some gifts that already exist based on my personality, my genetics, my upbringing, my education, and the work of God in my life, the experiences of my life. What are those? And then I need to use them and maximize them. So it's more of a discovering what's already in your life. But then in 1 Corinthians 12, we have a list of nine supernatural spiritual gifts. They go beyond natural abilities, and they are examples of something God miraculously imparts. And there are examples such as the word of wisdom, word of knowledge. So, you know, every one of us should can acquire wisdom and knowledge just on a human level. Even non-believers can acquire some level of wisdom and knowledge. And then in our spiritual life, every child of God should acquire spiritual wisdom and spiritual knowledge. But then there are certain times of need where God will intervene with a miracle and will give you wisdom to deal with a situation that otherwise you would have had no ability to deal with. It's not all the wisdom of the world or all the wisdom of God, but it's a word of wisdom for that specific need. Likewise, a word of knowledge is not all the knowledge in the world or all the knowledge in scripture or all of the knowledge in God's mind, but for you to accomplish a certain person purpose, God supernaturally reveals some knowledge to you. So that's a word of knowledge. Those are supernatural spiritual gifts. So if we want to seek them, I think we have to focus not first on those gifts, but focus first on a healthy spiritual life, spiritual disciplines, daily life of prayer, studying God's word, going to church faithfully, having fellowship with God's people, hearing the preaching and teaching of the word, supporting the church with tithes and offerings, sharing our testimony, all of these normal things bearing the fruit of the spirit. I think it's much more important to focus on pursuing holiness, which is commanded in Hebrews 12, 14, bearing the fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5, 22 through 23. And in fact, the text you talked about in 1 Corinthians 12 through 14, it talks about the supernatural spiritual gifts. But right in the middle, chapter 13, it shows the priority of love. The most important thing is love. If you don't have love, all the spiritual gifts are useless. So I think what we should work on is developing maturity in our spiritual life, being led by the Spirit, pursuing holiness, developing the fruit of the Spirit. And then in that context, then we can desire to be used of God. Now, I believe that anybody that's filled with the Spirit could potentially use any spiritual gift as the need arises and as God enables. Not everybody is going to have all the gifts, but you can be used repeatedly in certain gifts because you learn to yield and surrender to them and you have faith for them. And once God has used you, it's much easier to recognize God's work and have faith for it and yield and surrender to that. But I think the focus, once again, is not on our personal ownership, but it's on the Spirit has all the gifts. So if there's a need, God will use you. So in a practical way, if you'd like to be used in one or more of these supernatural spiritual gifts of 1 Corinthians 12 or other miraculous signs and wonders and miracles, uh, if you have that desire, I would say, first of all, develop your spiritual disciplines, develop spiritual fruit. You should not seek supernatural spiritual gifts in and of themselves. You should seek God, you should seek a relationship with God, you should seek the priorities of loving God and loving people, serving people, ministering to people. That should be the priority. Because if you seek the gifts directly for their own sake, there's a danger of pride. Second, so you first of all just develop your overall spiritual life and spiritual fruit. But then, second, you can make it a matter of prayer. If you haven't been used in miraculous ways, then pray. And again, God has to impart this. So you don't need techniques or special prayers or getting someone to uh you know impart something to you. That's not really what you should do. You should pray and say, God, give me the liberty. When the time comes, when the need arises, I want to be a vessel. I want to be used. Uh use me according to your will. And this leave it up to God. Let God do it. Then, third, I would say, find ways to minister to people, because the gifts will be used when the need arises. And if your focus is on yourself and developing gifts, it may never happen. But if your focus is on helping others, then when the time comes, let's say someone is sick and you're witnessing to them and they have an urgent need, you can certainly say, I'll pray uh for you in my personal prayer life. I'll send my prayer request to the church, or if you come to my church, my pastor will pray for you. All that's great. But when the need is urgent and personal and direct, what you could say is, would it be okay if I prayed for you right now? And at that moment, God could heal that person. You could be used the gifts of healing. So in that example, it's based on the need. It's not based on your ego or your wanting it, uh, but it's based on there's a real need of ministry. So God is going to impart this gift to you and use you so you can help someone. So the more you're involved in sharing your testimony, teaching Bible studies, trying to win souls, trying to disciple people, loving people, caring for people, the more likely it is that there will be a genuine, urgent need that a supernatural spiritual gift will address and God will use you since you're the person there, since you're the person with the burden, since you're the visible conduit and vessel, God will use you. So if you really want to be used in spiritual gifts, number one, focus on your personal spiritual life. Number two, seek God in prayer. And number three, get out there and minister and let the needs arise, and God will use you as He wishes.
SPEAKER_01
Thank you for listening to this episode of Apostolic Life in the Twenty First Century. If you enjoy this podcast, please take a moment to give us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. We also appreciate it when you share Apostolic Life in the 21st century with a friend or family member. And make plans to join us again next time as we look at how the Bible applies to everyday life.
