Empowered Gifts
Sermon January 19, 2025
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Empowered Gifts
Pastor Fred Okello
We stand early in the year, like travelers embarking on a long and purposeful journey. Our journey has just begun at a place called January, and our destination is a continent called December. This is no ordinary journey—it’s a spiritual and life journey that unfolds across a timeline we cannot shortcut or bypass. Along the way, there are challenges: detours, tornadoes, wars, technologies, hackers, bad groups, sickness, and disease. Yet, despite these obstacles, we travel with confidence because the Lord has equipped us with everything we need for this journey.
Recently, my son shared with me how, during deployment, the journey home follows a scheduled timeline. Though it could be faster to come directly home, soldiers must take breaks and fulfill other duties until they finally reach their destination. Similarly, our journey will not always follow the straight path, but it is guided by divine timing, and the Lord ensures we are prepared for each step.
As travelers, preparation is key. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12 that we have been given spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit. These gifts are our traveling tools: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. Each gift is uniquely given, but all are necessary for the journey.
Our preparation also includes the experiences and challenges we have faced in the past. These have shaped us, taught us, and helped us plan better for the journey ahead. Think of how the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness prepared them for the Promised Land. They learned to trust God, to follow His leading, and to rely on His provision. Likewise, our experiences, both joyful and painful, have equipped us for the road ahead.
Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 12 highlight the variety and purpose of the gifts we’ve been given. These are not gifts for personal gain but for the common good, to build up the body of Christ and advance His kingdom. Just as a journey requires vehicles, food, and maps, our journey as a church requires these spiritual gifts:
Wisdom and Knowledge help us make sound decisions and understand God’s will.
Faith empowers us to move mountains and trust God in the face of uncertainty.
Healing and Miracles remind us of God’s power and presence in our lives.
Prophecy and Discernment guide us in speaking truth and recognizing what is from God.
Tongues and Interpretation unify us and help us communicate the gospel across barriers.
Each of us has been uniquely gifted. Whether it is through teaching, serving, praying, encouraging, or leading, these gifts are necessary for the journey. No one gift is greater than the other—all are essential for the mission God has set before us.
The journey will not be without obstacles. Detours may arise, and unexpected challenges may slow us down. But these are not signs to quit; they are opportunities to rely on God’s provision and grace. Consider the disciples on the stormy sea. Though the waves threatened them, Jesus was with them, and He calmed the storm. In the same way, He is with us through every trial.
Our challenges also serve to strengthen us and deepen our faith. James 1:2-4 reminds us to count it all joy when we face trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces perseverance. We are not alone; we travel with the Spirit’s power and the assurance of God’s presence.
As a church, we are traveling together. This is not an individual journey but a collective one. We must support, encourage, and hold one another accountable. The gifts we’ve been given are for the benefit of all, and we must use them wisely. Let us be intentional about:
Strengthening our relationships through fellowship and prayer.
Using our gifts to meet the needs of those around us.
Sharing the good news of Christ with those who do not yet know Him.
As we embark on this journey, let us commit to making good use of the God-given gifts we’ve received. Reflect on the gifts God has placed in your life. Are you using them for His glory? Are you contributing to the church’s mission? If not, now is the time to step forward.
Just as travelers rely on their tools and equipment, we must rely on the spiritual gifts God has provided. Let us be diligent, faithful, and united as we journey through this year. Together, we will reach our destination, fulfilling the purpose God has set before us.
In summary, this journey is long and challenging, but it is also filled with purpose and promise. We are equipped, empowered, and guided by the Holy Spirit. Let us go forth with confidence, using our gifts to serve one another and glorify God. Remember, this is not a new journey, but one we have always traveled with the Lord by our side. Let us embrace it with joy and faith, trusting that He who began a good work in us will carry it to completion.