EPISODE 569 – STEWARDS OF GOD’S RESOURCES 12

STEWARDS OF GOD’S RESOURCES 12

“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

1 Peter 4:10 (NKJV)

You don’t only serve God with supernatural gifts or what is known as Spiritual Gifts.

Every talent and gift or abilities come from God, therefore it must be used to serve His purpose.

There are times people assume the skills they develop are by their own diligence thus, those talents and skills are self-generated and cannot be God centered.

All of these are of God:

– Natural Talents. These are inherent or innate talents and abilities which people possess through the genetic material of their families. These are passed down from one generation to the next generation. Some families are mostly athletic, others are good at playing musical instruments, and some have a voice for singing but are not good at playing musical instruments. Some are good with artisanship and also technical skills because they inherited the genetic code which brings the skills naturally to them.

– Nurtured or developed Interest. If one has to become exceptional with their natural or innate talent, he or she has to nurture it through hard work, discipline and consistent training. No matter how talented you are, you have to develop it to the highest level of dexterity.
     
 Now there are people with certain skills which weren’t innate. They just developed an interest in those skills through association or the kind of environment they found themselves. For example, there are people who developed an interest in playing musical instruments simply because they found themselves among instrumentalists. They then begin to nurture their interests, through constant training till they become skillful at it. By the latent power of the mind, anyone can develop any skill he or she sets his or her mind on, whether it’s innate talent or not. Though the nurtured interest in a skill, may seem not to be directly from God, the latent power of the mind, is of God. And also remember, as a believer, it is God who works in you both to will and to do (Philippians 2:13).

Both the unsaved and the saved have natural talents and nurtured interests. Yet know that those abilities are to be used to glorify God.

– Supernatural gifts or Spiritual Gifts. These are the gifts distributed to the saved in Christ by the Holy Spirit. These gifts are given according to the will of God. And as people mature in their relationship with God, they are imparted by the Holy Spirit with special spiritual gifts. These gifts enable the believer to serve the Lord, His Kingdom and the saints.

“Now there are [distinctive] varieties of spiritual gifts [special abilities given by the grace and extraordinary power of the Holy Spirit operating in believers], but it is the same Spirit [who grants them and empowers believers]. And there are [distinctive] varieties of ministries and service, but it is the same Lord [who is served]. And there are [distinctive] ways of working [to accomplish things], but it is the same God who produces all things in all believers [inspiring, energizing, and empowering them]. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit [the spiritual illumination and the enabling of the Holy Spirit] for the common good. To one is given through the [Holy] Spirit [the power to speak] the message of wisdom, and to another [the power to express] the word of knowledge and understanding according to the same Spirit; to another [wonder-working] faith [is given] by the same [Holy] Spirit, and to another the [extraordinary] gifts of healings by the one Spirit; and to another the working of miracles, and to another prophecy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], and to another discernment of spirits [the ability to distinguish sound, godly doctrine from the deceptive doctrine of man-made religions and cults], to another various kinds of [unknown] tongues, and to another interpretation of tongues.