SOAKED IN THE SPIRIT: part 2

SWIMMING LESSON: The Goal of the Spirit is Love
February 24, 2008
with Adam Waters

INTRODUCTION
• Are you ready for your second swimming Lesson?
• It's time to trust you out in the water a little bit.
• QUOTE: "Most people find out what they think the world needs most and go and do it. Instead of doing that, find out what makes you come alive and do that! Because what the world needs most is people who are live."

What the church needs most is SWIMMERS that are alive!
SWIMMERS
 …are WET because they can swim and they choose to swim.
 SATISFY the Spirit’s leading.
 WIN the battles of the flesh.
 INHERIT the Kingdom.
 MANIFEST the character of God.
 Today, we continue to get rid of our waste by getting SOAKED in the Spirit of God. Our beloved Gifter!

1 Corinthians 12:27 – 14:40
 12:27-31 “All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages. Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.”
 13:8 “Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!”
 14:1 “Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy.”
 14:39-40 “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.”

PRAYER
On June 25, 1967, the world first heard these words...
"Love, love love! Love, love, love! Love, love, love!
There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
There's nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn to play the game...it's easy.
There's nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be in time... it's easy.

"All you need is love. All you need is love.
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
Love, love love! Love, love, love! Love, love, love!
All you need is love. All you need is love.
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.

"There's nothin you can know that isn't known.
Nothing you can see that isn't shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be...it's easy.

"All you need is love. All you need is love.
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
Love, love love! Love, love, love! Love, love, love!
All you need is love. All you need is love.
All you need is love, love, love is all you need."

TODAY: All we need is love. All we need is God at the center of our growth. All we need is his power and his Spirit. All we need is Him alive and empowering the life of our church. All we need is the Spirit at the center of our "swimming."

12:31 “So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.”
For GROWTH we must understand:
 This list in 1Corinthians 12 is not exhaustive.
 Only 3 are given a position in the body (apostles, prophets, teachers) and that is due to their usefulness for the entire body.
 No one person has every single gift.
 Desire is KEY! (this desire must echo the need for air!)
 12:31
 14:1
Helping you SWIM!
 Don’t forget that we’re all in this together (12:27).
 Don’t forget that God is not a God of disorder, but of peace (14:33).
 Don’t forget that the Spirit of God ALWAYS has the goal of producing love (13)… for God is LOVE (1John).