Category — Leadership

The greatest gift you can give to the world is to use the gift you brought into it. Selah!

Some of the following questions may arise:

Q.  What is my gift?

Ans.  Your gift is the thing that you do naturally without prompting or coercion. The thing that you can do instinctively that others struggle and strain to do.  The thing that will always bring you genuine satisfaction and fulfilment. The thing that makes you feel you have made a difference.

Q.  Is it too late to use my gift?

Ans.  Ask the person you help! Ask the person you encourage! Ask the person you comfort!  Be aware that a gift only truely becomes meaningful when it is has been given.

Q. What is the best gift?

Ans.  On the surface a puzzling question but only on the surface.  Is the best gift the gift of healing, or helps or one of the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit…and of the latter which is the best?  There is a simple and powerful answer – the best gift is the one you need at the time.  The perfect gift is the one that perfectly meets the need. Never belittle or sideline the gifts that you have for they are the perfect answer to someones pressure and problem.

Q.  What’s the secret to getting started?

Ans.  Accepting what Christ has done for you (Romans 6:10 – 11).  Accepting what the Holy Spirit can do through you (Zechariah 4:6; John 14:11-17).  Accepting what God thinks of you (Jeremiah 29:11; Hebrews13: 5-6).  Please note that most holds ups are caused by hang ups!

Q. Is the actual gift and calling enough on their own?

Ans.  No!  Any gift and calling that is not married to a mature character will ultimately be self serving and in the worst case scenario even dangerous to all concerned.  There are no exceptions to good character – Luke 2:25; Luke 2:37; Luke 2:40; Acts 6:3. Don’t just be a “big character” be a mature one.

Q. What is the key to using your gifts and fulfilling the call of God?

Ans.  Be    F.A.I.T.H.F.U.L.     in…

Fear

Adversity

Instruction

Trial

Hurt

Fame

Unity

Love

Share the gift and God will make sure you win the prize!! See Luke 16:10.

If you want to be a power preacher, flowing in spiritual gifts with the confirmation of God’s word through mighty signs and wonders then be faithful in every ordinary, necessary and even menial though legitimate task set before you. What you do in an ordinary day is who you really are.  Selah!

There is a powerful promise in Luke 16:10. This portion of scripture reveals that when a Christian is faithful in daily life and everyday responsibilities Christ’s character will explode inside them. The promise is that this person will be fully prepared for the important things in life and ministry.  What you do, what you say, the attitude that you have when “only” God is watching is who you really are. Selah!

Watching “those few sheep” faithfully with care and commitment way beyond the call of duty turned David into a giant killer and crushed the accusations of the jealous and proud. Hidden in Eliab’s outburst in 1 Samuel 17:28 is the accusation that David had left their father’s sheep helpless and unprotected. David rebuked and ignored Eliab in verses 29-30 partly because he was sick of being falsely accused.  This young man David took care of all his responsibilities and because he did the loud mouthed Eliab couldn’t have been more wrong. David according to verse 20 left the sheep in the safe hands of a “keeper” despite the fact that he couldn’t wait to get to the battle field.  There is nothing wrong with being eager to press forward as long as it is not at the expense of what you are responsible for.  You will never be last when you put what is right first.  

While Eliab viewed David as nothing more than an immature, insignificant brat God loved him deeply and nurtured the heart of a servant and warrior.  David completely ignored Eliab, refused to be distracted or discouraged by him and remained consumed with the cause to which he had been called (1 Samuel 17:29-30).  Be faithful in what you are doing commit your future to God and it is He that will direct your paths not the opinions, ignorance, prejudices or arrogance of others (Psalm 37:1-6; Proverbs 3:5-6). What you do despite what others think of you and say about you determines what type of person you become as a believer as well as a leader.

Remember in all of God’s dealings He is always thinking of the end result, the battles to come and the victories that need to be won. David wanted a sword and God gave him a harp and a sling shot.  David longed to be in the army of God and God gave a few sheep to care for and protect…at all costs and against every enemy.  David yearned for a breakthrough in life and ministry. His big day came when he was asked to be a messenger boy delivering lunch to the “real” soldiers. This was such a menial task and right at the point in his life when he felt the power of God on him to literally take on the world. We know that David didn’t get discouraged or lose focus simply by the fact that he ensured those few sheep were taken care of, the sandwiches were safely delivered and in his instinctive Spirit filled defiance of Goliath.  In everything be faithful believing that God is faithfully doing everything needed to make the blessing and call of God a reality.  David’s harp made demons flee (1 Samuel 16:23).  David’s sling made a giant fall (1 Samuel 17:48).  David’s opportunity came on an ordinary day doing an ordinary task but fulfilling it with extraordinary faithfulness.

Thought: satan’s trade mark is the “short cut” so don’t let him leave his stamp on your life. Christ didn’t…refusing satan’s ultimate short cut of gaining the whole world without the cross He set His face to win it just the way God had planned (Luke 4:6-8).