ACTIVATING AND RELEASING YOUR GIFTS AND TALENTS
SUPERNATURALLY FITTED
One of the ways God prepares us to serve him better is to endow us with gifts and talents. We all are supernaturally equipped to fulfil our God ordained destiny. Paul wrote to Timothy urging him to stir the gifts of the Spirit that was in him, (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6).
The Bible says that “A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men” (Proverbs 18:16). Though this passage refers to physical gift, yet it is also true that our spiritual gifts and talents make way for us in life.
Supernatural gifts and talents are given to us to help bring us to our God-given destinies and sustain us through life. The gifts of the Spirit are given to us by God when we are born again while talents are inherent in us from birth. Talents are skill related while gifts are service related. Every one of us must take the time to develop our gifts, talents and skills. They are meant for kingdom service and to support us through life.
PREPARED FOR LIFE
A look at God’s servants in the Scripture shows that they were all uniquely wired by God to fulfil his purpose on the earth. Right in our DNA, we are equally wired with divine features that have prepared us for life.
Moses was a shepherd when God called him. When it was time for God to send him to Pharaoh, the only thing he had was his shepherd’s crook, which God converted to a rod of miracles. God starts with what we have to bring us to public service and recognition. God used the rod in the hand of Moses to launch him into the ministry.
When the tabernacle was to be built, God specially endowed Aholiab and Bezalel with special abilities of wisdom, knowledge and artistry, (Numbers 31:1-6).
When Joseph was given dreams of what his future would look like, unknown to him he was also supernaturally endowed with gifts that were to help him actualize his dreams. He was gifted with wisdom, knowledge and the ability to interpret dreams. God used these gifts to make him ascend in life. His gifts made a way for him to ascend from the Pit to the Prison and eventually to become the Prime Minister in Egypt, (Genesis 41:9-15).
God used Daniel’s gift of interpreting dreams to lift him to prominence in Babylon. He was described as a man who possessed an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, and the ability to interpret dreams, solve riddles and explain enigmas. These were all given to Daniel to equip him for the role he was to play in life, (Daniel 5:11, 12).
David was probably born with a trait of courage. However, as a shepherd boy, his courage for extraordinary feats grew as he encountered and killed wild animals. He must have developed the skill for the harp in the process of shepherding animals. Then, when Samuel anointed him he activated his latent gifts. God eventually used David’s skill and love for music to launch him into prominence and bring him before King Saul and eventually to confront Goliath, (1 Samuel 16:14-23).
Stephen and Philip were inconsequential members of the New Testament Church until when the Apostles laid hands on them to activate their God-given gifts, (Acts 6:3-7). Philip was later used by God to lead a revival in Samaria, (Acts 8:1-13).
Peter’s life is a challenge and lesson to every one of us that we can be gifted by God to do kingdom exploits. When Peter was called by Jesus he was a frustrated fisherman but little did he know how far God was going to use him in furthering his kingdom. His obedience to follow Christ marked a turnaround in his life. He was an unstable man in his character; he would say one thing and do another. He denied the Master three times and backslid after the death of Jesus. But, Jesus forgave Peter, and restored him after his resurrection; he gave him a second chance to serve him.
This same Peter was anointed on Pentecost day; he won three thousand souls and to played a great leadership role in the Church. In Acts 5:1-16, his words led to the death of Ananias and Sapphira. His words caused supernatural fear among the disciples and many of the sick were laid on the streets so that Peter’s shadow would fall on them. In Acts 8:14-25, we see Peter in Samaria consolidating the revival, which God used Philip to start off. In Acts 10, Peter healed Aeneas in Lydia and raised Dorcas from the dead in Joppa. All through the Acts of the Apostles, Peter was in the limelight as a miracle worker.
THE POWER OF PROPHETIC IMPARTATION
There is power in prophetic impartation. The gifts of the Spirit can be imparted by the laying on of hands as was done to Timothy, Stephen, Philip and many others in the Bible. Those who want to operate the gifts of the Spirit must desire and seek God earnestly to grant them the gifts. Self-satisfaction is inimical to spiritual growth, the blessings of God are available to those who thirst and hunger after God. Procrastinators, the lazy and idle people do not have a place in the kingdom of God. God is interested in empowering those who will use their gifts and talents for kingdom exploits.
REASONS WHY YOU MUST NURTURE YOUR GIFTS AND TALENTS
Each one of us will give an account of our gifts to God, (Matthew 25:14-30).
Your gifts and talents are the platforms for your promotion in life.
They are given to you by God to sustain and support you through life.
They give you a distinct and unique identity.
They reveal who you are; they are the features of your DNA.
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