What Are You Doing With Your Gift?
Saturday, February 20, 2016 at 11:45PM Refer to “God needs a Body”
Collectively, we are the Body of Chirst
What makes a body healthy?
Eph 4:7-8
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore He says:
"When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men."
What are you doing with your gift?
Matt 25:14-19, 23-26
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.
15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
23 His lord said [to the first two], 'Well done, good and faithful servant;
you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
24 "Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent (hid myself) in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.'
26 "But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked (cause pain) and lazy servant.
It causes the Body pain when you hide yourself & your gift
Cancer: abnormal disease that spreads in the body
Fear is what causes you to hide
- Afraid of failure, criticism, making a mistake
- Fear of your deficiencies – lack of knowledge and/or ability
- Not knowing what your gift is
- Difficulty finding your place or fit
- Not feeling qualified spiritually
What do you do if you can’t identify your gift or are afraid or are incline to hide?
David was anointed, with gifts – but he was in hiding
1 Sam 22:1-2
David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.
1 Chron 12:1. Now these were the men who came to David at Ziklag while he was still a fugitive from Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men, helpers in the war,
Notice the transformation from 1 Sam 22 to 1 Chron 12
They didn’t come with all of their abilities
They became David’s Mighty Men of Valor
1 Chron 12, no longer defined by their deficits
Defined by their abilities & strengths
How did they transform from being in distress, debt & discontent
Into Mighty men (strength, wealth, influence), helpers in the war?
Helping the Body, instead of causing pain
Being with someone who is in distress, debt & discontent is draining
1. “David became captain over them”
They submitted to leadership & the vision. Sub Mission
The lazy servant didn’t catch the vision
2. They grew to understand their gifts & purpose by action, doing – taking risks
They had to fight in a weakened condition – assumed responsibilities
3. They worked together to become a mighty army (Body of Christ)
They learned to value ‘one-another’ – 1 Sam 30:21-25
4. They strengthened themselves with their leader – 1 Chronicles 11:10
Neuroplasticity: Challenge you past your ability, you will continue to grow
Accept the Challenge:
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