This Sunday at Lifong Church, Pastor John continued our EMPOWERED message series with an inspiring message titled “I am Gifted.” Through Scripture and powerful personal stories, he reminded us that every believer is uniquely called, equipped, and gifted by the Holy Spirit — not for personal recognition, but for the purpose of serving others and building God’s Church. Drawing from Acts 6, Romans 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Corinthians 12, we explored how the early church grew strong because ordinary believers were empowered to serve faithfully where they were planted.
One of the main takeaways from this message is that “God calls every believer to serve, not sit.” In Acts 6, a simple complaint about food distribution became the setting for God to reveal the gifts of leaders like Stephen — men and women full of the Spirit and wisdom. Pastor John reminded us that spiritual gifts are not given for status, but for service. The Holy Spirit empowers us with gifts such as wisdom, faith, healing, and discernment so that the body of Christ can function in unity and strength. Every act of service — whether preaching, praying, or simply showing hospitality — becomes powerful when it’s done with the right heart and under the anointing of the Spirit.
Another powerful moment came when Pastor John shared the difference between gifting and anointing. Gifting may open doors, but anointing sustains you in the calling. Without humility and connection to the Father, even the most talented people can lose sight of why they were gifted in the first place. Like the prodigal son in Luke 15, we can sometimes take our gifts and try to use them apart from God — but true restoration and power come when we return to the Father, who reminds us that our greatest gift is being His son or daughter.
This message challenged and encouraged us to step into our God-given gifts with humility and faith. As we continue the EMPOWERED series, may we be reminded that the Holy Spirit doesn’t just fill us for a moment — He empowers us daily to live with purpose, serve with passion, and reflect Christ in everything we do.
KEY SCRIPTURES
Acts 6:1–7 — The choosing of Stephen and the seven
Romans 12:6–8 — Different gifts according to grace
Ephesians 4:11–13 — Equipping the body for service
1 Corinthians 12:4–11 — The gifts of the Spirit
Luke 15:11–24 — The prodigal son returns
