Are You Using Your Abilities?

Definition of Abilities

1. power or capacity to do or act physically, mentally, legally, morally, or financially.

2. competence based on natural skill, training, or other qualification.

3. gifts, talents; special skills or aptitudes.

Where Do These Talents and Gifts Come From?

There is a great scripture that each one of us should want to claim and have it as the basis for our talents...

Exodus 31.1-3 "The Lord also said to Moses, “See, I have appointed Bezalel (son of Uri, and grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah), 3 and have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and skill in constructing the Tabernacle and everything it contains."

Isn't that wonderful?  4 things he gets from GOD

• Filled with the Spirit of GOD
• Given great wisdom
• Given gifts and talents
  
• Given skills

Ultimately, we are reminded that there are no "self-made" men or women. GOD gives us gifts or talents to accomplish our responsibilities or bent in life, and to provide for our needs.

We are stewards of talents received, and will be judged for what we do with them.

What options do we have using our talents or gifts?

1. We are to define or recognize talents, and gifts we have received
   
2. We are to learn how to use them, and where to use them
3. We must always use our gifts and talents for good and not evil...
   

How can we use our talents for good and not evil?

John 17.4 gives us the key..."I brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you told me to"

The mission of Jesus was to only please the Father and carefully follow the Father's will each and every day of His life, and in everything He did.

Isn't there a danger lurking when we have great talents?

Yes, there is.

Deuteronomy 8.11-14 "But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you don’t forget the Lord your God and begin to disobey him. 12-13 For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large, and your silver and gold have multiplied, 14 that is the time to watch out that you don’t become proud and forget the Lord your God who brought you out of your slavery in the land of Egypt.

The problem or danger is the creeping in of "pride." Pride always is at the door - hoping that we will forget the source of our talent and blessing and begin to think that we deserve it all!

Self-sufficiency also hangs around to get us to be convince that we no longer need GOD's help and strength.

Solomon came to the deception that he was the author of wisdom...and fell!

Within each ability lies a seed of rebellion...

We must be very careful not to use gifts or talents for self-promotion, or selfish ends - they will become a powerful force for evil and destroy the GOD given talent

What is the safety net here?

Attitude. Humility. Realize constantly where the talent and gifting comes from. Never forget it.

2 Chronicles 20.12 Be like Jehoshaphat..."O our God, won’t you stop them? We have no way to protect ourselves against this mighty army. We don’t know what to do, but we are looking to you.”

Total dependency on GOD, the Holy Spirit of GOD and being honest before the Lord that we do not have the answer - only He does, and we are totally dependent on His guidance, wisdom and strength.

We are no match against the power and strategies of our enemies. GOD alone opens the way for success.

Total dependence on His power only becomes possible when we have an accurate reading of how weak we are, and unable to do anything in our own strength.

Zechariah 4.6 "Then he said, “This is God’s message to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty—you will succeed because of my Spirit, though you are few and weak.’

Do not forget where our abilities, gifts and talents come from!

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