Identifying your gifts and talents
Romans chapter 12:4-8
Introduction-
Most people do not even realize the gifts that God has given them.
Most people do not accomplish much more than surviving.
They never take chances so they never allow God to stretch them
Romans chapter 12:4-8
He (Apostle Paul) tells us that just like our human bodies made up of many different parts, so it is with the body of Christ. (Church) Our bodies are made up with many moving parts but function for one body.
The church is made up of many different people that when the body is functioning properly should be doing many different things.
Our bodies function best when our bodies do what they are suppose too.
Feet carry us from one place to another and keep our balance.
Our eyes help us so we can see.
Our arms are mechanical extensions to pick up and put down, to carry and to hold things.
When things in the body start doing their own thing or don’t do what they were created to do, they are repaired or removed from the body so the body can continue to function.
Apostle Paul tells us here that we have different gifts, according to the grace given to each one of us.
Let’s talk about that!
I believe the word of Gold is clear that each one of us is given gifts by God. (Repeat)
We have natural abilities.
We have learned skills. All given by God is one way or another.
When we were molded and created in the womb, I believe God gives us our personality, and abilities. He also gives talents to everyone of us. At least one, often more than one, and we can use those talents for personal satisfaction, to better the world, to build God’s church.
Each person decides if they will find and use their talents God has given them, and then decides if he/she will also use them to build God’s kingdom.
We have a choice – millions of people everyday take what God has given them and strictly use it for their own personal use.
Some even believe that God didn’t have anything to do with their gifts and do not even acknowledge God.
When a person becomes a Christian, a follower of Christ, God takes those talents that He has already given you and repurposes from only personal to also using for the kingdom of God.
The talents God gives is not restricted to the 4 walls of the church, but can be used for God.
Not everyone is a preacher, but everyone should be doing something for the kingdom of God.
Singing for the Lord
Building for the Lord.
Driving truck for the Lord.
Cleaning, maintenance, book keeping, painting, etc…
You can even work at a place that does not allow you to share your faith and you can still be doing it as unto the Lord.
Something else happens when a person comes to Christ- Christ Spirit draws you close to Himself, you respond and the Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit of God fills us and that He dwells within us.
That is why even if we feel alone, we are never alone because He promises to be with us and never leave us or forsake us.
The Holy Spirit of God dwells within us and takes up residency in you and I.
This is God’s spiritual gift to us. The promise of the Holy Spirit’s power working in your life, encouraging, empowering, directing, and fulfilling His purpose in our lives.
What we give back to Him is our spiritual gift to Him.
The question I am asked the most after a sermon like this is, “What gifts and abilities has God given me?”
How can I know my gifts?
After talking with you awhile, I could possible see your gifts and talents, but that question is better answered by spending time with the Lord and asking Him what can I give back and use for you.
Illustration-
Let me give you an illustration of a hypothetical situation and you figure what part would best fit for you.
Your driving down the road behind a truck filled with people and in the back of the pick up the truck is full of chicken cages. The truck suddenly swerves out of control and runs off the road and into the ditch. The cages go flying out and chickens are running all over the place. You and many others stop and try to help those in need.
Think what your first response would be.
Are you…the take charge person? You begin to figure out what happen and what is needed and you are telling people what is needed.
Are you… the person who organizes and oversees the details? You have people direct traffic, you have people chasing chickens.
Are you… the person who focuses strictly on the needs of the people? Forget the truck, forget the chickens, they can all wait.
Are you… the person who realizes this will take some time and you meet the needs of the rescue people by getting them food and water.
Are you… the person who walk up and asks, “What can I do, whatever you need, I will do it.”
See what is going here? Different gifts being taken by people who encounter the problem.
The role you would play indicates the gift that you have that would be of use.
Now if you are the one that could just drive away and have no desire to help or assist because it was not one of your family, not anyone you knew, than that would be something that you and the Lord would have to work out.
Illustration
This week I had a meeting in Philadelphia with pastors and met with my friend and mentor B.W. Hambrick. B.W had been the pastor of our Ephrata church for a very long time. He began before the meeting started saying that he had a story that he wanted to share with me. He said he was going west on the Pa. Turnpike and a little boy around 7years old was waving his hands and screaming at the top of his lungs. He pulled over and this boy was saying help me, help us! He walks to the side of the road and sees a boy about 10 years old lying in the snow. He thought this kid had been hit by a car. The 10 year old boy was exhausted from yelling and could not talk. What is wrong? We went into this tunnel and we got lost and we ended up at the road here and we do not know how to get home. They said they had been there for hours screaming and that no one would help! Why would no one help, the boy asked? B.W. could not answer that but asked where the kids lived? We don’t know. B.W. says he is not from the area but that he knows that across the street is a Nazarene church. I know that church says the boy! I live right by that church! It ended up these two boys live a couple of houses from here and B.W. took them home.
Did you catch what the boy said? Why would no one help?
Did you catch that you better be prayed up and ready because you never know what is going to happen at any given moment?
It was not a coincidence that a Nazarene pastor across the street from a Nazarene church was going to help two boys that lived 2 doors down from the church.
It was God’s intervention! That could possibly have saved those 2 boys life from getting hit or hurt.
The key idea is to know and figure out your spiritual gifts and use them as they are needed.
Consider this situation again.
First we have to be available.
Be willing to be used and do what we can when we can.
If no one stops, God’s plan is not accomplished.
When you became a member of the body of Christ, you joined a community of people who are under the authority and guidance of God.
Your contribution advances the kingdom of God.
Back to the text,
“If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”
Our spiritual gifts need to be recognized and used by a heart of grace and love for God.
We all have been commissioned by God to discover and use our gifts for his honor and glory.
Now the application,
Heard the Word, understand what God wants to see happen in our lives concerning the gifts and talents He has given.
What difference will it make in the way I live my life?
Some will not change- their gifts and talent s are used for personal use and never are used to build kingdom. That is a shame because that is not what God intended to happen.
Some need to discover quickly the gifts that they have- We need to discover it and begin in some way to use them and make an impact to those we come into contact with.
Some need to understand that the kingdom of God works best when everyone is a part of it.
We seek to serve and use our gifts.
We value and respect the gifts others have and we work together.
We use our gifts and talents and that gives us purpose.
Winding this down,
Have you ever wondered why God doesn’t give us more than a few gifts? He could of course,
He chooses for us to work together and cooperate with each other.
It creates in us a community of believers working together to meet the needs of a dying world and a needy community.
It also keeps us humble, we have seen so many times those that have had many talents get full of themselves only to be brought down.
It takes time with the Lord and let Him tell you where he wants you to fit in His plan at Rosedale.
Ask friends around you what they see as strengths you have that can be used by the Lord.
Then become available!
Allow God to use you- your personality, your abilities, your wisdom, for kingdom work!
Bring Energized by the Holy Spirit of God working in you and through you.
You will see and do far more than you could ever imagine Him ever doing!
Amen.
