Stewardship of Talents/Gifts

There can be miracles when you believe Though hope is frail It's hard to kill Who knows what miracles You can achieve when you believe somehow you will You will when you Believe…

1 Peter 4:10-11  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him d o it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever.

We are God’s image bearers Made in His image and likeness Fearfully and wonderfully made Possessing His creative nature Redeemed by the blood of Jesus

Every Christian possesses both natural talents and spiritual gifts. Our natural abilities come to us at physical birth and are developed through life. Our spiritual gifts are imparted by the Holy Spirit, enabling us to minister to others in behalf of Christ.

What talents and natural abilities do you have? Your Talents belong to God. What do you have that you did not receive? 1 Corinthians 4:6

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the father through Him.

Your Spiritual Gifts Major passages on spiritual gifts in the Bible are: Romans 12:3-8, I Corinthians 12:1-31, Ephesians 4:4-8,11-16, I Peter 4: From these passages make a complete list of spiritual gifts (combine any two that might be identical). Give your brief description of the gift.

EXHORTATION GIVING LEADERSHIP MERCY PROPHECY SERVICE TEACHING ADMINISTRATION APOSTLE DISCERNMENT FAITH HEALING HELPS KNOWLEDGE MIRACLES TONGUES INTRPRETATION OF TONGUES WISDOM

ADMINISTRATION: To steer the body toward the accomplishment of God-given goals and directives by planning, organizing and supervising others. APOSTLE: One sent forth to new frontiers with the gospel, providing leadership over church bodies and maintaining authority over spiritual matters pertaining to the church. DISCERNMENT: To clearly distinguish truth from error by judging whether the behaviour or teaching is from god, Satan, human error, or human power.

EVANGELISM: To be a messenger of the good news of the gospel EXHORTATION: To come alongside of someone with words of encouragement, comfort, consolation and counsel to help them be all God wants them to be. FAITH: To be firmly persuaded of God’s power and promises to accomplish His will and purpose and to display such a confidence in Him and His Word that circumstances and obstacles do not shake that conviction. GIVING: To share what material resources you have with liberality and cheerfulness without thought of return.

HEALING: To be used as a means through which God makes people whole either physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually HELPS: To render support or assistance to others in the body so as to free them up for ministry HOSPITALITY: To warmly welcome people, even strangers, into one’s home or church as a means of serving those in need of food or lodging. KNOWLEDGE: To seek to learn as much about the Bible as possible through the gathering of much information and the analyzing of that data.

LEADERSHIP: To stand before the people in such a way as to attend to the direction of the body with such care and diligence so as to motivate others to get involved in the accomplishment of common goals MERCY: To be sensitive toward those who are suffering, whether physically, mentally or emotionally, so as to feel genuine sympathy with their misery, speaking words of compassion but more so caring for them with deeds of love to help alleviate their distress MIRACLES: To be enabled by God to perform mighty deeds which witnesses acknowledge to be of supernatural origin and means

PROPHECY: To speak forth the message of God to His people SERVICE: To identify undone tasks in God’s work, however menial, and use available resources to get the job done TEACHING: To instruct others in the Bible in a logical, systematic way so as to communicate pertinent information for true understanding and growth

INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES: To translate the message of someone who has spoken in tongues WISDOM: To apply knowledge to life in such a way as to make spiritual truths quite relevant and practical in proper decision- making and daily life situations TONGUES: To speak in a language not previously learned so unbelievers can hear God’s message in their own language or the body be edified

Follow these steps to more fully understand your part in the Body of Christ: Realize that you have at least one spiritual gift, probably more (Romans) Pray that God will make your gifts know to you

Determine which of your activities the Lord seems to bless and inquire of other mature Christians who know you well what your spiritual gifts might be. List what you believe your spiritual gifts are

Seek to develop your gifts in the power of the Holy Spirit. Realize that you may have other gifts of which you are not presently aware, so exercise various gifts. Be aware that you are accountable to God for stewardship of your spiritual gifts.

Give, as a deliberate act of worship, your Talents and Gifts to God.