Get the Gifts out!!

a group of wrapped presents sitting on top of a wooden floor

Did you encounter God the last time you went to church? If there is one place where we should expect to sense, know, or feel God, it’s in church!

Let’s See the Gifts in Action!

Church isn’t meant to be a dusty, drab, polite nod to God but a powerful place of encounter with His very presence, open to all nations—a presence that changes, transforms, renews, calls, and sends. When it comes to living and walking in step with the Spirit, a truly charismatic church doesn’t shy away from the gifts; it leans in wholeheartedly with faith and expectation.

Let’s be honest: a church that truly lives in the Spirit’s power should look a bit wild—not swinging on the chandeliers, but certainly full of life! We’re talking about tongues, prophecy, healing, discernment, and more—the full spectrum of God’s generous outpouring, all here, right now, and for our blessing.

These gifts, given directly and sovereignly by the Holy Spirit to the Church with intent and purpose, aren’t about a past event; they’re about today. In the face of calamity, hardship, discouragement, and heartache, the gifts come like a bulldozer, smashing through walls of despair, hopelessness, and despondency, bringing breakthrough and rescue and turning our hearts to God. They’re proof of a God who never stopped giving—a God who still gives what He has not taken away! Paul urged the church, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7).

Paul is adamant: every believer, without exception, has something to bring, say, and do; every gift has a purpose, and God intends each one for building up His church. Ignoring them means missing out on how God wants to make Himself known among us. Someone is missing out for sure—the person who could be used by God to bring blessing and, sadly, the one who counted on the gifts being used to encourage their weary heart or bring healing to them. So why the silence in many churches when it’s time to ‘bring out the gifts’? God’s at work—you can count on it…

Stepping into the Real Deal

If we’re serious about being a Spirit-led church (and most of us are), then here’s the truth: the gifts are not optional. God didn’t hand them over just for a select few or as a temporary fix for the early church’s needs. Much the opposite! Consider Acts 2 and the birth of the church when the Spirit descended in tongues of fire, and people were filled with His power in ways that stunned everyone around. The Spirit showed up, tongues rolled, prophecies flowed, and outsiders couldn’t help but pay attention.

It wasn’t a mere spectacle; it was God meeting people, inviting them to know Him in a way words alone could never achieve. At the height of it, Peter echoes the prophecy of Joel, “Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy… your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams” (Acts 2:17). And they will, and they do—and they are.

This was never meant to be a ‘slam-dunk’ “one and done” moment; it was a launch into the deep of something timeless, something we’re called to experience today—in our city, in our church, and at such a time as this.

When the church moves in the gifts of the Spirit, mobilising all its lovers-of-Jesus, it’s not about chasing emotion but bringing real transformation. Prophecy, tongues, and interpretation are as vital to the church’s health as teaching and fellowship. And while these gifts bring a sense of awe and wonder when done in a scripture-honouring way, their purpose is never about the dramatic; it’s about making God known. A charismatic church isn’t merely traditional in belief but radical and reformed in practice. Our role is to make space for the Spirit, to welcome His gifts—not with fear or a hint of nostalgia but with the expectation that God wants to work here and now. That’s a breath-taking concept. God—moving among us—in power…

Beyond a Label, It’s Our Calling

“Charismatic” isn’t just a label; it’s a call to live out what we believe about God’s presence with us. And who wouldn’t want to? Who really wants a God that has saved them but now stays silent? We’re called to welcome—really welcome—and let God’s Spirit move freely, to bring tongues, prophecy, healing, and wisdom from the side-lines, from the back rows of church as well as the front, to the heart of our gatherings. These gifts aren’t for show; they’re instruments of God’s grace, touching the here and now. The Corinthians were a lively bunch, sometimes using the gifts chaotically, but Paul doesn’t tell them to back down. Instead, he teaches them to steward these gifts maturely, urging them to “strive to excel in building up the church” (1 Corinthians 14:12). Gifts are meant to bring God’s tangible presence to us; they make Him known and felt in our lives in ways that can’t be faked or manufactured. They do something in, to, and for us that other things cannot.

The church—your church—isn’t meant to be a place where the supernatural is reserved for the few; rather, it’s where every believer, even the quietest mouse, is encouraged to step into their gifting. Prophecy should bring words of life and encouragement to hearts weighed down by despair. Tongues and their interpretations reveal mysteries of God that words alone can’t reach. Healing and miracles are not just for the hopeful; they’re demonstrations of a God who touches physical and spiritual lives alike. I hope I am getting to you! When we let the Spirit’s gifts move and stir us, we become part of God’s blessing to the Church and beyond—what a privilege! He didn’t have to do that, but He uses us to bless and encourage others, using our hands, lips, and actions as His own!

Stewarding the Gifts Together

Here’s a big point often missed: stewarding these gifts isn’t just the job of church leaders; it’s on all of us. The beauty of a charismatic community is that we all carry responsibility. 1 Corinthians 12:27 highlights that we’re each “individually members” of one body. In fact, we’re not called to be passive spectators but active participants in a shared mission. The gifts belong to the church as a whole. Leaders are there to guide, but we each carry the responsibility to steward what God has given us—to bring our gifts with humility, boldness, and readiness, not with reticence or cynicism.

Think about the early church: it wasn’t one person healing and another interpreting; everyone brought their gift. They depended on one another, and the gifts flowed in unity and power, showing the world something radically different—here comes the church! When we bring our gifts to the table, we embody a community that loves, treasures, and honours God’s Spirit by letting Him work through us all. Yes, it’s messy sometimes, sure, but God is seen not only in our triumphs but in our shared journey, our efforts to serve one another, stewarding what He’s given.

Honouring God with Bold Expectation

Let’s be clear: the gifts of the Spirit aren’t pristine, dust-free items to be admired from a distance. They’re dynamic, sometimes unpredictable, and always purposeful, “every good and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” God doesn’t hand out these gifts lightly, nor are they without purpose. And while the church’s history with the gifts may include some rather bizarre missteps, these should never scare us away. Instead, they call us to engage with greater love, understanding, and reverence. God’s gifts come not with a list of cautions but with a command to use them to build up the church. Use them! You—not someone else! Honouring Him with our gifts means stepping into the role He’s given us with faith and anticipation, expecting that He’ll use even our human efforts for His glory.

The world outside, tired of empty promises and cynicism, needs a church unafraid to step into the fullness of the Spirit’s power and show them God at work in a crushed, broken world. This isn’t about a show; it’s about putting God on display for real—throwing open the curtains that the world has pulled to cover up the sheer magnificence of the Cross, Christ, and the Church. A church moving in the Spirit is a church that’s alive, willing to bring the power of the Gospel not just in word but in deed, seeing lives changed, hearts healed, and hope restored.

When God Shows Up, We Show Up

Imagine a church unafraid to embrace the Spirit’s gifts—such places already exist, and you can be one. A place where prophecy, tongues, healing, and wisdom aren’t sporadic but part of the intentional, faith-led, and inspired fabric of our gatherings. This is the kind of church I want to be part of, and to some degree, I am—a place where we expect to see God show up in real, tangible ways, where His presence isn’t just a hope but a reality. As a charismatic church today, let’s take up the challenge to live in the Spirit’s fullness, making His gifts visible, accessible, and unmistakable. This isn’t about elevating ourselves; it’s about letting a broken world see that God is here, active and present, still speaking, still healing, still loving beyond measure. A God worth following, treasuring, and worshipping—wholeheartedly.

So let’s go, church! We’re here, Spirit-filled, and ready to be God’s vessels of grace and power in a world desperate for hope. The Spirit’s gifts are the heartbeat of a church alive with God, and when we put them to use, we don’t just encounter church—we encounter God Himself.

More than a high-value stash?

treasure

Where’s Your Treasure?  Not a box of gold or hidden stash—more like, what’s that thing, or those things, you place the most value on?

I’ve got a very nice guitar, and a camera I don’t really know how to use, but beyond that, very little, if anything, by way of “treasure.”   Maybe, for you, it’s the job you’ve built, the reputation you’ve nurtured, or the lifestyle you take pride in. Some of the treasures that fill our lives can anchor our identities, create labels of achievement, and give us a sense of worth and purpose. But if we look at Philippians 3:1-11, Paul isn’t just asking us to examine our treasures; he’s calling us to imagine a whole new basis for what truly matters. He doesn’t just suggest an alternative; he invites us to a complete reset of our values, a radical trade-off of all those treasured securities for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.

Great treasure

Several parables of Jesus echo this theme. The Parable of the Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44) and the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13:45-46) both illustrate the kingdom of God as a treasure so valuable that it’s worth giving up everything else to gain. These parables affirm that true worth is found in God’s kingdom, making it worth sacrificing all other “treasures” to possess.

Paul’s tone in Philippians shifts here, and he urges us, “Rejoice in the Lord!” (Phil. 3:1). These are simple words—not patronising words either—but it’s crucial to notice the context: Paul is writing this from a Roman prison cell. His joy isn’t some feel-good platitude; it’s a deep conviction that real joy doesn’t come from freedom, achievements, or accolades—it’s found in the Lord alone. We need to take Scripture seriously, perhaps more seriously than the Church in the West generally does at this time. This verse, Philippians 3:1, is God’s Word! This is so challenging and relevant because we’re surrounded by messages that tell us happiness comes from having more, achieving more, being more. But Paul cuts right through that mindset. He’s learned, personally, to anchor his joy not in circumstances, but in something—or rather, someone—unshakable.

Great credentials?

Paul goes on to issue a strong warning about people who put their confidence in outward achievements—he calls them “dogs” ( kynes) and “evildoers” (v. 2). These unnamed people place high value on the superficial, insisting that religious credentials or social markers make one righteous. By doing so, they attempt to add prerequisites to God’s grace, but Paul is having none of it. He uses himself as an example, rolling out a very impressive spiritual résumé: he’s a Hebrew of Hebrews, faultless in following the law, from the tribe of Benjamin (v. 5-6). If anyone had reason to boast in outward credentials, it was Paul. But his perspective has completely changed. It’s like he’s applying for a job with a PhD and three master’s degrees, along with the privileges of birth and position—yet he’s having none of it when it comes to his new reality now that Christ has transformed him.

Surpassing worth…

It’s a moment to raise the eyebrows of all of Paul’s readers as he goes on to call all his former accomplishments “garbage” (v. 8, NIV). The Greek word he uses, skubalon, doesn’t just mean trash—it’s closer to refuse, something foul and worthless. Paul is saying that all the status, achievements, and religious merit badges he once held dear now mean nothing to him. Why? Because he’s discovered something, or rather someone, far greater. All those things he once treasured are now utterly insignificant compared to “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (v. 8). Here’s the big idea: Paul isn’t knocking hard work or saying success is inherently bad; rather, he’s making it clear that these things are worthless as ultimate sources of worth or joy. Christ alone fills that role. Knowing Jesus is the greatest thing this world has to offer—take note, Mr Musk!

Paul’s language then shifts to the relational. He doesn’t say he wants to know just an historical, textbook Jesus; he wants to know Him personally. This isn’t some intellectual pursuit, a Wikipedia overview, or a 20-point checklist of correct beliefs—it’s a deep, intimate, heart-level knowing. Think of the difference between knowing facts about a friend and actually having a relationship with them. That’s the difference Paul is describing here. He’s saying, “I want to experience Christ in such a profound way that my life is utterly rooted in Him, not in my own achievements or so-called reputation.” When Christ becomes our treasure, the magnificent obsession of our hearts, our relationship with Him becomes the very foundation of our identity and joy.

The immense power of the resurrection

Paul’s desire to know Christ isn’t limited to the good parts; he goes on to say that he wants to know “the power of his resurrection and [to] share his sufferings” (Philippians 3:10, ESV). It’s easy to desire resurrection power—the victory, the strength, the overcoming. But Paul calls us to embrace both the highs and the lows of walking with Jesus. It’s a long journey, with every step challenging who and what we are. This includes “sharing in his sufferings,” recognising that following Christ involves fully sharing in His life, which encompasses both His suffering and His glory.

The journey is one of ups and downs. Paul is brutally honest: true joy and true treasure don’t come from avoiding suffering but from finding Christ in the midst of it. It’s far removed from any superficial happiness; it’s a joy that goes deep, forged in both light and dark.

This vision of faith is bold. Paul’s journey with Jesus has moved him beyond simply collecting accomplishments or religious accolades. His goal, he says, is “to attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:11). He isn’t fixated on death but filled with an unshakeable hope that even death cannot defeat him, for he is anchored in Christ’s victory. Resurrection isn’t merely a future event for Paul; it’s his entire frame of reference. His life, choices, and values are all centred on the hope of eternal life in Christ. Knowing Christ gives him a perspective that no earthly treasure could ever offer.

Locating your treasure

Back to the original question: where is your treasure? If we’re honest, we often place it in what feels tangible—success, relationships, security, and things we can measure and control, like bank accounts and savings plans. There’s nothing inherently wrong with these things, but are they a lasting, eternal treasure? Paul’s message is clear and countercultural: if our treasure isn’t in Christ, it’s ultimately a dead end. Those things, as good as they may be, simply won’t last. When we let Christ be our treasure, we’re freed from the cycle of proving ourselves, of living in comparison or competition. We discover a joy rooted not in what we scramble to achieve, but in who Christ is and who we are in Him.

This is a call to truly let go of the things that can never satisfy if we saw them as loss in comparison to knowing Christ. That’s the invitation here: to make Christ our treasure. You can still have your ‘stuff’, but you learn to hold on to it with an open hand; what really matters is Christ, allowing every other part of our lives to overflow with the joy we find in Him.

When Jesus is truly our treasure, we find, encounter, and participate in a joy, peace, and freedom that no other treasure can give.

Everything else fades in comparison, leaving us free to live fully, knowing that our worth is secure in Him, who is of infinite worth to us.