This in the manuscript of the seventh sermon of the Christ Church Los Angeles series "Who is the Holy Spirit". Throughout this study, we have examined the person, presence, and divine work of the Spirit in our daily lives—how He indwells us, comforts us, and guides us into truth. Today, in this seventh message we shift our focus to the outward expression of the Spirit's power.
Scripture:
1 Corinthians 12:1-11 KJV Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Introduction
This is week seven of our series, "Who Is the Holy Spirit?" Throughout this study, we have examined the person, presence, and divine work of the Spirit in our daily lives—how He indwells us, comforts us, and guides us into truth.
Today, in this seventh message titled "Empowered for the Body and the World," we shift our focus to the outward expression of the Spirit's power.
Our text is;
Text:
1 Peter 4:10-11 NIV Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. -
The Holy Spirit doesn't just dwell within us for our personal spiritual comfort; He gives us divine strength to build up the church and to bear bold witness to Christ everywhere we go.
When we reflect on the work of the Holy Spirit, it is easy to focus primarily on our inner life—the Spirit comforting us in grief, guiding us through tough decisions, or producing personal character, through the fruit of the Holy Spirit;
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. - Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
While the Holy Spirit certainly dwells within us individually, Scripture reveals that the Spirit’s power is never given just for private consumption.
I. Empowered for the Body: Spiritual Gifts for Mutual Growth
The Scripture that we read this morning is part of a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth in south-central Greece, to address specific problems, divisions, and theological misunderstandings that had emerged within the church at Corinth. He’s writing to a church struggling with spiritual pride and division. Early in his letter, Paul notes that believers were dividing into competing camps, declaring allegiances to specific leaders.
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.
1 Corinthians 1:10-11 NIV
He went on to say;
What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? - 1 Corinthians 1:12-13 NIV
He explicitly accuses them of walking in a worldly manner marked by jealousy and strife.
You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? - 1 Corinthians 3:3-4 NIV
Corinth, society was highly competitive, status-conscious, and obsessed with rhetoric, honor, and public praise. When Corinthians converted to Christianity, many carried this cultural mindset into the church. They treated spiritual gifts like pagan tokens of honor or social status, measuring a person's worth by their public display rather than their love and service.
But in his letter Paul clarifies the source and purpose of every spiritual enablement.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 NIV There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
There is a list of spiritual gifts in the scripture I read this morning. They are in verses 8-10 of 1 Corinthians 12.
Word of wisdom
Word of knowledge
Faith
Gifts of Healing
Working of miracles
Prophecy
Discerning of spirits
Divers kinds of tongues or Speaking in Different Kinds of Tongues or languages
Interpretation of Tongues
There are also other lists in Romans 12:6–8, Ephesians 4:11, and 1 Peter 4:10–11, which is our text today.
I am going to do a series on Spiritual gifts later but there are three things I want to point out today.
Spiritual gifts are manifestations of the Spirit entrusted to every believer, not for personal distinction, but for the health, strength, and maturity of the church. If a gift does not build up others, it is being misused.
The Holy Spirit intentionally assigns a variety of gifts. No single gift serves as the hallmark of a Spirit-filled life, and not a single person in the body of Christ is without a gift and purpose. And
When we withhold our Spirit-given abilities, the body, the church, suffers. When we exercise them, God’s grace becomes visible and practical.
Each one of us is uniquely placed, intentionally gifted, and divinely empowered. As believers surrendered to the Spirit, we are called to move from consumers to active participants—built up together in love within the body,
II. Empowered for the World: A Witness to the Ends of the Earth
However the movement of the Spirit doesn’t stop at the doors of the church building.
Right before ascending to heaven, Jesus gave His disciples a crucial promise about the mission and power of the Holy Spirit.
At Acts 1:8 NIV Jesus is recorded as saying:
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
The Greek word for power here is dynamis—which means divine strength and capacity, and is the root of the word from which we get our English words dynamite and dynamic.
Jesus did not promise power so His followers could build personal platforms or comfortable lives, but so they could be bold witnesses of His resurrection.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. - Acts 1:8 NIV
For us today;
Jerusalem would represent our immediate community and immediate family.
Judea and Samaria would represent : Our neighboring communities, including those across social, cultural, or ethnic barriers.
Ends of the Earth would represent a Global mission and engage a world in need of the gospel.
Courage in Public Spaces
After Pentecost The disciples moved from hiding behind locked doors in fear to standing boldly in public spaces.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. - Acts 2:1-4 NIV
They were empowered by four key works of the Holy Spirit:
1. Fear was replaced with Divine Boldness
Paralyzed by fear before Pentecost, the Spirit empowered Peter and John to stand fearless before hostile leaders:
Acts 4:8-13 NIV Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
2. Intellectual Belief into was turned into Unwavering Conviction
The Spirit transformed uncertain followers into divine witnesses compelled to declare Christ regardless of the consequences:
Acts 4:18–20 NIV Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, 'Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.
3. The Spirit gave them Supernatural Wisdom and Clarity
To replace their past confusion with clarity, Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would unveil His truth and equip them with divine authority to speak:
All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. — John 14:25–26 NIV
4. And The Holy Spirit Provided them the Constant Presence of the Risen Lord
No longer feeling orphaned or vulnerable, the disciples drew courage from Christ dwelling within them:
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. — John 14:18–20 NIV
That same Spirit, the Holy Spirit that empowered them, equips us to live out our faith with wisdom, love, and courage wherever we go.
III. Maintaining the Alignment: Spirit-Led Living
How do we walk out this empowerment of service to the church and to the world in everyday life? I'm glad you asked.
Shift from Consumer to Participant: Stop asking, "What can the church do for me?" and start asking, "How has the Spirit equipped me to serve this body?"
We can serve in Love:
Gifts exercised without sacrificial love are empty noise. In that same letter to the Corinthians where Paul talks about the gifts of the Holy Spirit he also wrote, and it is at
1 Corinthians 13:1 NIV If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
He also wrote;
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV
Trying to fulfill God's mission for us in our own strength leads to exhaustion. The Holy Spirit provides the endurance, words, and compassion required to sustain us.
Relying on the Holy Spirit moves the believer from a posture of striving to a posture of abiding—ensuring that our service remains joyful, sustainable, and fruitful for the long haul.
Jesus said we must abide in Him if we want to be fruitful.
John 15:5-8 NIV I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples
Conclusion & Call to Action
The Holy Spirit has given you a role in God's unfolding story. You are uniquely placed, intentionally gifted, and divinely empowered.
Step up to serve your church family where your gifts can meet a real need.
Ask the Holy Spirit for an opportunity to demonstrate God’s love or share the message of Christ with someone in your daily sphere of influence.
Prayer
"We come before You with grateful hearts, praising You for the beauty of Your design for the church and the power of Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for revealing to us today that You have not called us to walk in our own strength, nor have You left us without the divine equipment needed to fulfill our mission to act as empowered, bold witnesses of Jesus Christ, sent out to proclaim the gospel and extend God's redemption across every corner of society.”
Lord, forgive us for the times we have allowed spiritual pride, envy, or comparison to creep into our hearts. Forgive us when we have treated Your precious gifts as personal trophies rather than instruments of humble service.
We ask today that Your Holy Spirit would awaken every gift within this body. Where there is apathy, stir up a holy passion to serve. Where there is hesitation or fear, grant divine boldness. Help each member of this congregation to recognize their God-given role, that we may stand united—edifying one another, bearing one another’s burdens, and growing together into the full maturity of Jesus Christ.
Send us out from this place empowered for the world. Fill us with courage as we step into our homes, our workplaces, our schools, and our communities. Make us faithful witnesses of the resurrection—overflowing with Your truth, Your grace, and Your sacrificial love.
May everything we speak and everything we do bring glory, honor, and praise to Your holy name.
In the mighty and precious name of Jesus, we pray.
Amen.
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