(Chapter 3) God so Loved the World that He Gave His Son:

God so Loved the World that He Gave His Son: As God Does His Part, What is Our Part #3?

In last week’s post, I included the Bible passage Matthew 25:14-30 (NKJV), and explained the purpose of a parable. If you didn’t see my previous post, I would encourage you to go back and take a look at it.  

It occurred to me that the person who was given five talents received a “Well done, good and faithful servant” from the land owner for doubling it to ten. I found it interesting though, that the person who received two talents also received a “Well done, good and faithful servant” from the land owner for doubling it to four. Wow! It’s not so much about the size or magnitude of the talent, as it is about what we do with whatever we’re given! The land owner even told the person who was given only one talent, that if he had even put it in the bank, it would have drawn interest. I’m not sure if he would have received a “Well done, good and faithful servant” but I’m sure he wouldn’t have had his one talent taken away, and he wouldn’t have been cast into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

In that parable about the talents, we came to the realization that it is a comparison or resemblance to the abilities, talents, or giftings that God gave each of us when we were created! So now… let’s apply this parable to those talents.

1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
¹⁰ Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

Each of us has been given certain talents according to God’s plan for our life:

• We can’t and shouldn’t compare our God-given talents to anybody else’s. What we have been given is uniquely chosen, specifically for us.
• We are only responsible for what we have been given.
• Prayer helps us determine our talents/giftings!
• Fervent prayer allows God to show us how to use the gifts we have been given!
• Don’t let fear keep us from using our talent. Fear is what caused the person to bury his one talent.
• Remember… fear comes from the enemy of our souls!
• As we are faithful with what we have been given, God will trust us with more!
• Through prayer and spending time with the Lord, we will have the faith to accomplish God’s
  plan for us.

James 1:16-18 (NIV)
¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. ¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

So the question must be asked: how am I using the giftings/talents I have been entrusted with????
Please don’t allow the enemy to use that question to bring condemnation! Instead… let it be an exciting, motivational question that will allow us to experience God’s grace and power in our lives!

Romans 12:4-6 (NIV)
⁴ Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.

As I write this post, there is a true Holy Ghost revival taking place in this country and spreading literally around the world. This move of Almighty God started in the United States at Asbury University in Kentucky, and has been spreading out to many other colleges and venues. As of this writing, there is word of a revival taking place in the East African country of Uganda. Please be in prayer for this move of God’s Holy Spirit!!!

Also… the movie “Jesus Revolution” just started showing today, February 24.  It stars Jonathan Roumie (Jesus from The Chosen) who plays Lonnie Frisbee the Hippy-evangelist, and Kelsey Grammer who plays Pastor Chuck Smith. It’s about the Hippy revival of the 1970’s. It certainly comes along at a perfect time! You don’t want to miss it!