You Want the Gifts or the Giver?

In this sermon, the pastor expresses a heartfelt commitment to letting the Holy Spirit guide him and acknowledges a personal struggle with spiritual complacency, especially concerning his gift of speaking. He admits that over time, he has relied on his natural ability to communicate rather than seeking deeper spiritual inspiration. Recently, however, he has felt a need to change this approach by preparing sermons more intentionally while remaining open to the Holy Spirit’s direction.

The pastor shares how God disrupted his pre-planned message for this week, leading him to focus on the church’s need for the Holy Spirit’s guidance and unity against divisive forces. He recalls his spiritual journey from a non-charismatic background, explaining his struggle with the Pentecostal doctrine that emphasizes speaking in tongues as evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit. He does believe in the power of the Holy Spirit but feels that focusing on one specific manifestation (such as speaking in tongues) can limit God’s work.

The pastor then differentiates between types of tongues mentioned in the Bible: those spoken on Pentecost as recognizable earthly languages, the spiritual gift of tongues with interpretation for edifying the church, and a private prayer language. He emphasizes his desire for genuine spiritual experiences rather than forced displays, conveying his commitment to authenticity in his faith and ministry.