Bible Studies
Throughout the difficulties I have had in my life, there is an important lesson that I have learned. Often we cry to God for him to take us out of difficult situations, although He has already given us the things we need to overcome them. Not only in difficulties, but also we desire and pray for God to move in things all around us, while we fail to use the tools he has given us to affect that change. The answers to our prayers often come in the development and releasing of the things God have placed in us. Some of us pray for financial blessings, but are not fully utilizing our natural abilities, and learned skills to gather wealth. We desire a revival in our churches, but we fail to utilize the spiritual gifts God has given us. We complain about the problems in our community, but then fail to utilize the gifts, skills, and natural abilities to impact the community for change.
There are natural abilities, skills, and spiritual gifts that God has given us to use to His glory, to bless others, and to profit our own lives.
Proverbs 18: 16 - A man's gift maketh room for him and bringeth him before great men.
As the above scripture shows us, the maximization of our gifts can break barriers that are around us - make room for us, and bring us into new opportunity and favor with others - before great men.
First we all have been given natural abilities. An angelic voice that tingles the soul, physical strength and agility, a creative mind, attractive physique, a good memory, ultimately all natural strengths and abilities comes from God. Being God-given resources, we are responsible for using them wisely. The scripture says: "whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might" (Ecclesiastes 9:10) Laziness can keep us from maximizing our natural talents. The ant, though small, uses its natural instinct to gather food for themselves. This diligence gives them an advantage, despite their size. Our due diligence in realizing the natural gifts we have been given, and applying them can benefit our lives, family, and community. What are your natural gifts? Example: singing voice, eloquent speaking, natural leadership ability, athletic, analytical. Identify your natural strengths. How can you use them to glorify God, and bless your family and community? Allow the Lord to speak to you; God's empowerment on your life will energize your natural ability to produce supernatural results.
Skills
While we are all born with natural abilities, at different times in our lives we all began to learn a variety of skills. Skills are learned abilities. Learning to cook a good meal, for example, is a skill. Most of us gained our first skills in our home from parents or other siblings. Through formal and informal education, and even on the job training we pick up more skills. What are your skills? How can you use them to profit your family, community, and local church? We are usually hired for a job because of our skills. It is surprising that too often we fail to use our skills in ministry, or in a local church body. A goldmine of skills may lay dormant in a local church, never being utilized. We are quite familiar with singers, musicians, and teachers. However, other skills can be employed from the church membership, such as a business man preparing young adults for the workforce, a computer specialist helping to upgrade the church's use of technology, or a chef making meals for a church banquet and to reach out to the community. Use your imagination. There are many ways our skills can be used in ministry. And this is not new. God told Moses to appoint those who were skilled carving to help build the tabernacle.(Exodus 35:30-35) In the New Testament, Dorcas did good works by using her skills to make garments.(Acts 9:36-42)
Spiritual Gifts
Finally God has given us spiritual gifts. There are three passages in the New Testament that directly and thoroughly deals with spiritual gifts. God gives these gifts to edify the body of Christ.
1. Gifts of Grace - Romans 12:8
God enables us with a propensity toward a certain ministry function: prophecy, teaching, exhortation, service, giving, leadership/administration, mercy, giving. We are graced with the desire, and ability to regularly function in one or more of the above areas. You will find that you will have a natural inclination to function in your gift of grace.
2. Manifested Gifts - I Corinthians 12:7-11
The Spirit of God will manifest these gifts through a believer according to his will. They include word of wisdom - revelation of God's ways or plans for a specific situation; word of knowledge - knowledge of information or facts otherwise unknown; faith - a special gift of faith; gifts of healing - God uses a human vessel to impart physical healing to another; miracles - supernatural acts by God's power; discernment - recognition of the kind of spirit at work; tongues - the unction of the Spirit to speak in a language unknown to the speaker; interpretation of tongues - supernatural understanding of a language spoken by the gifts of tongues.
The Holy Spirit manifests these gifts when and in whom he likes. Unlike the gifts of grace, in which there is propensity to regularly function in an area of ministry, these gifts are manifested only when the Spirit chooses to move in a believer in that way. The Spirit manifests these gifts for the benefit of the body of Christ. We must be open to the Holy Spirit, so that he can use us in this way when he chooses.
3. Equipping Gifts.
These gifts are given by God to equip the body of Christ to do the work of the ministry: apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastors and teachers. God appoints individuals to these office gifts. Not everyone is called to these gifting.
Imagine for instance a pastor, he would have the equipping gift to pastor. However, his gift of grace may be in the area of mercy; therefore, his ministry would be marked by acts of mercy. On the other hand, if his gift of grace were in administration, then his ministry would be marked by strong organization. The Holy Spirit chooses to use this same pastor in any of the manifested gifts.
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As believers, we must understand that God gives these gifts to the body of Christ. Each of us must seek God to know what gifts he has placed in our lives, and be ready to be used by God according to his will.
God has a way of uniquely placing us in places and positions where we can use our natural abilities, skills, and spiritual gifts for his glory.
Let us receive the exhortation Paul gave to Timothy:
I Timothy 4:14-15 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate on these things give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
Let us maximize our gifts by reflecting on the gifts God has given us. Answer the questions - What are my gifts? How can I use them? What opportunities is the Lord giving me now to use them? Begin to use your gifts now, and join with others who can offer guidance toward using your gifts. Your community, your church, your country, the world can be powerfully impacted as you exercise your gifts.
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