DID YOU EVER RECEIVE A GIFT THAT WAS SO FANCY THAT YOU ALMOST FELT BAD BECAUSE YOU KNEW THAT IT WAS AN EXPENSIVE HIGH QUALITY GIFT?
Yet grace [God’s undeserved favor] was given to each one of us [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and abundant] gift. Therefore it says, “ When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive , And He bestowed gifts on men .”
Ephesians 4:7-8 AMP
THREE DIFFERENT STAGES OF GIFTS & TALENTS:
1.JUST STARTING OUT!
FIRST OFF, KNOW THAT THE LORD KNOWS YOU AND EXACTLY WHERE YOUR ARE AT IN YOUR LIFE. HE CAN MEET YOU ANYWHERE ANYTIME IN ALL SEASONS AND SITUATIONS.
And the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” And he said, “A staff.”
Exodus 4:2 AMP
YOUR FAILURES AND MISTAKES CAN BE YOUR GREATEST TEACHERS OR YOUR GREATEST PRISONS!
YOU NEED TO HAVE THE HEART IN THE RIGHT POSITION TO USE YOUR GIFTS AND TALENTS RIGHTLY
WHEN THEY WERE LOOKING FOR THE FUTURE KING OF ISRAEL DAVID WASN’T EVEN AROUND,HE WAS NOT EVEN CONSIDERED FOR THE POSITION BY HIS FATHER, BUT HE WAS GODS PICK BECAUSE HE HAD THE HEART AFTER GODS OWN HEART.
IN FACT HE WAS TAKING CARE OF THE SHEEP OF THE VERY FATHER WHO DID NOT EVEN CONSIDER HIM TO BE KING MATERIAL!
And when He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king: of him He testified and said, ‘ I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart [conforming to My will and purposes], who will do all My will.’
Acts 13:22 AMP
NO LONGER I WHO LIVE BUT CHRIST THAT LIVES IN ME!
ALSO WHEN I SPEAK ABOUT HAVING THE HEART FOR YOUR GIFTS AND TALENTS,YOU COME TO THE PLACE WHERE YOU KNOW IT IN YOUR GUT THA THIS IS WHAT YOUR BORN TO DO,THIS IS YOUR DESTINY AND NO MATTER WHAT NOTHING CAN CHANGE THAT!
HUMBLE ORIGINS!
ITS VITALLY IMPORTANT TO BE HUMBLE AND TEACHABLE TO PERFECT AND HONE YOUR GIFTS AND TALENTS!
GIDEON DID NOT CONSIDER HIMSELF WHAT THE ANGEL SAID HE WAS!
And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O brave man.”
Judges 6:12 AMP
YOU NEED TO HAVE A LOVE FOR PEOPLE AND THE HEART OF A SERVANT TO USE YOUR GIFTS AND TALENTS TO THERE FULL POTENTIAL AND POWER!
GIFTS & TALENTS ARE FOR SERVANTS!
Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor]. Whoever speaks [to the congregation], is to do so as one who speaks the oracles (utterances, the very words) of God. Whoever serves [the congregation] is to do so as one who serves by the strength which God [abundantly] supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified [honored and magnified] through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:10-11 AMP
2. I KNOW WHERE MY GIFTS & TALENTS ARE AND I'M USING THEM,NOW WHAT?
BE FAITHFUL & TRUSTWORTHY WITH WHAT YOU’VE GOT SO FAR.
In this case, moreover, it is required [as essential and demanded] of stewards that one be found faithful and trustworthy.
1 Corinthians 4:2 AMP
Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve.
Colossians 3:23-24 AMP
FAITHFUL WITH SMALL TASKS AND SMALL BEGINNINGS,BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE GOD WILL HAVE YOU START,BUT MORE THAN LIKELY IT WILL NOT BE AT THE TOP LET ME BE CLEAR ON THAT ONE!
Do not despise these small beginnings!
Zechariah 4:10 NLT
“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?
Luke 16:10-12 NLT
YOUR GIFTS AND TALENTS WILL OPEN DOORS TO PLACES YOU COULD NEVER IMAGINE,TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL ANYTHING WE THINK ASK OR IMAGINE!
A man’s gift [given in love or courtesy] makes room for him And brings him before great men.
Proverbs 18:16 AMP
The right gift at the right time can open up new opportunities
Proverbs 18:16 VOICE
3. I USED TO SERVE AND USE MY TALENTS BUT I WALKED AWAY FROM THEM OR MY CHANCE TO BE GREAT WAS TAKEN FROM ME.
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable [for He does not withdraw what He has given, nor does He change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call].
Romans 11:29 AMP.
MOSES WAS CALLED TO BE A GREAT LEADER AND WAS BEING GROOMED FROM A YOUNG AGE LIKE SOMEONE TRAINING TO BE A PHAROH!
BUT AT THE HEIGHT OF HIS CAREER AT ABOUT FORTY YEARS OF AGE HE MADE A SERIOUS MISTAKE WHICH FORCED HIM TO LEAVE THAT LIFE BEHIND,AND THE ONLY PEOPLE HE ENDED UP LEADING WERE THE SHEEP OF HIS FATHER IN LAW JETHRO!
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT HE WAS FAITHFUL WITH WHAT HE HAD AND FAITHFUL WITH SOMEONE ELSES FLOCK.
JOSEPH WAS A DREAMER AND AN INNOVATOR WHOM THE BIBLE SAYS HAD A SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE,HE WAS FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD BUT HE WAS IMPRISONED FOR A LONG TIME.
JOSEPH WAS FAITHFUL WITH WHAT HE HAD EVEN THOUGHT IT WAS FIRST POTIPHARS HOUSE AND POSSESSIONS. HE WAS ALSO FAITHFUL IN PRISON WITH THE POSITION HE HAD.
AND ONE DAY BECAUSE JOSEPH WAS FAITHFUL AND BECAUSE GOD ALWAYS HAS A PLAN!
For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you. Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ says the Lord, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and I will [free you and] gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ says the Lord , ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’
Jeremiah 29:11-14 AMP
MAYBE TODAY YOUR DOWN AND OUT BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN TOMORROW AND EVERYDAY OF YOUR FUTURE HAS TO BE LIKE THAT!
WHEN MOSES LEFT EGYPT HE LEFT HIS ENTIRE LIVE BEHIND,THE ONLY LIFE HE EVER KNEW,HE LEFT HIS LOVED ONES BEHIND,FRIENDS,POSSESSIONS,TITLES,AUTHORITY,HE LOST IT ALL BECAUSE OF THAT MISTAKE,BUT GOD HAD A PLAN.
FAITH,HOPE,& LOVE!
Comments