GIFTS AND TALENTS - PS. DAVID J LEET

INTRODUCTION

Genesis 2 V 15 - He Gave Adam and Eve work to do.

15 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

Deuteronomy 8 V18 - Gives us power to create wealth.

18 But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

Gifts from God to serve are different from God given Talents to learn.

Here are ways to discern your gifting:

1. What do people see in you?

2. Look for Gifts in ADVERSITY. (how do you get through it?)

3. Pray for help to recognise

1.  your gifts.

2. Don’t be afraid to branch out and step out and step up.

3. Search the Word of God (Bible)

4. Look outside yourself.  (See the bigger picture, find your purpose in life)

5. Think about people you look up to.

6. Reflect on your family and activities that give you ease.

7. Receive and study your patriarchal blessing.  Father blessing his children ie A declaration of a person’s lineage in the House of Israel and contain personal counsel fro the Lord.

Genesis 27 V 25-29:

25 And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine and he drank.

26 And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.

27 And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed:

28 Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:

29 Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.

WALKING IN THE GIFTS

1 Peter 4 V 10:

10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Don’t keep them to yourselves, but use them to serve others. (My Paraphrase)

These are the Gifts from God to service the body of Christ and to use in speaking with unbelievers, for their salvation - which is why they are called “Spiritual Gifts”

THER IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GIFTS AND TALENTS

Gifts are given by the Holy Spirit , and are therefore Spiritual Gifts

Romans 12 V 3 & 6 - “My Paraphrase”

V 3 - “Though grace is given unto me and others so as not to think ourselves better than another, but soberly according as God deals with us by means of our faith”

V 6 - Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophesy, then prophesy according to the proportion of faith.

1 Corinthians 12:11-12

11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.

Exodus 31 V 1-6:

1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

2 See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:

3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

4 To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

5 And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.

6 And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;

We can see that God gives us natural talents to work with our minds and hands.

Deuteronomy 8 V 18:

18 But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

The covenant oath or promise refers to was when God brought the Israelites out of Egypt.

So we can see that God gives us natural talents and abilities to work and earn a living, so as to gain wealth.

To some the ability for driving, others for house painting etc.

Step 1 - Receive the Baptism In The Holy Spirit.

Step 2 - Develop  a personal and intimate relationship with God.

Step 3 - Hunger for the Gifts of the Spirit

Step 4 - Take Action by Faith

Discuss These Steps:

We also need to look at the ministry office gifts.

Ephesians 4 V 11:

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers..

So then how does all of this sit with you, and fall into your thinking and belief in yourself.

GOD’S SPIRITUAL GIFTS TO YOU

1 Corinthians 12 V 4 - 11:

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

9 Gifts of the Holy Spirit:

1. Wisdom

2. Knowledge

3. Faith

4. Healings

5. Working of Miracles

6. Prophesy

7. Discernment

8. Tongues

9. Interpretation of Tongues

We need to combine our prayer life with work life, and our spiritual gifts along with our work talents, into our whole approach to life.

Just as the pieces of the a pie make up the whole pie.

So our talents and spiritual gifts can work together, as we walk with the Lord.

EXERCISES

Combine the 7 Points of Prayer with the 4 Patterns of Prayer in your Prayer Life.

Combine them into your working talents and abilities to earn a living and provide for you and your family.

Combine these with your ministry giftings, to be used with family, work, friends and church.