Summary: Understanding and appreciating your gifts and calling

7 THINGS ABOUT GIFTS & CALLING

2 TIM. 1:6-7; ROM. 11:29

Calling = Klesis – an invitation, a saint

God has invited us to live a crucified life, a life of victory, a kingdom-oriented lifestyle.

Gift = Charisma – root word – Charizomai

Root meaning: = deliverance from danger or passion

= miraculous faculty

= qualification (religious)

= divine gratuity

= to grant as a favour

= to forgive

1. It is a free gift – You don’t qualify for God’s gift, your gift actually qualifies you.

There are no strings attached that’s why your gift is to express God not to impress Him – 1 Cor. 12:28; Col. 1:27.

Whenever we express Him an impression is left in the hearts of man.

It is the proof that you are forgiven

It is the proof that you are saved / born again

In conclusion – every believer has been given a “free” gift by God

 A qualification for spiritual expression

 A miraculous faculty – you can now operate in that which is extraordinary

 A point of contact for deliverance from danger – Prov. 27:8.

2. You “cannot lose” your gift and calling – you can lose or cut off your opportunity or point of contact to express it – David/Samson/Eli

You can make it dormant:

 Samson’s righteousness didn’t increase with growth of his hair

 You cannot stop water from being in the mains but you can stop it from flowing into your house by tuning off the stopper or clogging the lines.

 Stir up your gifts 2 Tim. 1:6-7 – “If you don’t use it, you will lose it”.

3. Your gift is needed to complete or complement the body of Christ –

Eph. 4:16; Eph. 3:14ff, Rom. 12:1ff; 1 Pet. 4:10ff.

 Your gift is an integral part of the body of Christ – Eph.4:7-11.

4. Your spiritual gift needs a yielded body and a renewed mind to be properly expressed – Rom. 12:1-5; 1 Thess. 5:23.

 The usefulness of your gift is in this physical / material realm

 We have this treasure in earthen vessels – 2 Cor. 4:7.

 The material world helps us to appreciate the concept of growth

5. You can only express your gifts by faith – Rom. 12:3 & 6.

 You’ve got to believe in it – Prov. 17:8.

 Your faith in your gift expresses your faith in the giver; God – 2 Cor.1:19ff.

6. Your gift is your key to walking in love – Rom. 12:9; Gal. 5:6.

 God gave you the gift so you can express His love to others – 1 Cor. 12:31ff

 Through your gift you become a gift from God to men – Eph. 4:8.

 You cannot properly express your gift except in “love” – 2 Tim.1:6-7.

7. You will be rewarded for utilizing your gift properly and punished for utilizing it wrongly – 2 Tim. 4:7ff; Mt. 7:21ff.

 God always rewards our faithfulness / fruitfulness – Matt. 25:14-30.

Copyright © 2005 by Rev. Dr. David Ibeleme

Victorious Faith Ministries

Tel: (868) 625-6863 • Fax: (868) 623-1020