Our Gifts and How To Use Them

 Our Gifts and How To Use Them

by Pastor Mark Taylor - January 3, 2022

“Therefore I remind you to stir up (keep in full flame) the gift of God which is in you…”  2 Timothy 1:6

All Christians have at least one gift. . This is a picture of a fireplace that has some hot coals but no fire.  Those coals need to be stirred up and more wood put on those coals.  these coals are your gifts God has given you.

1.  The Gift that is in You

    

What gift is in you?  Some people have the gift of the mind which is accompanied with the gift of speech.  Not everyone who has the gift of the mind, has the gift of speech.  The person who has the mind, and the speech, and the gift of a fervent spirit has great power from God,  and is obligated to use it for our Lord Jesus Christ.  We are bought with a price.  “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”  1 Corinthians 6:20

Some people can not speak very eloquently with the tongue, but can speak with the pen.  Notes and letters and written sermons are gifts that have led to the salvation of many.  Can you write with simplicity and express the power of God?  It is a gift.  Music, art, leadership, and craftsmanship are also additional gifts that can be used for our Lord Jesus

Another form of a gift that is given to us in that of influence.  We all have some influence.  Parents mold children’s lives.  Those who are in the workforce have influence over employees and employers.  You are affecting those around you for good or for evil.  

Older adults have another gift.  It is experience.  It cannot be purchased or taught.  Experienced Christians are put into the Church to guide others without experience.  Use your experience in the visitation of the sick, your conversations with the poor, and your meetings with younger Christians.  Let your anointing fall on others.

Others have the gift of prayer.  Praying with power in private, within the church, and for sinners is a special gift.  These people know how to knock on Heaven’s door.  You will be able to judge a church by its prayer, as you can the temperature by a thermostat.   It is not only a gift for you but to help others.

Some of you have the gift of meaningful conversation.  Always say something worth saying.  Turn conversations back to Spiritual things and our Lord Jesus.  Always speak to visitors who come to church.  They need to know that they are welcomed.

Other gifts include nursing sick people, helping the poor, and  being content with your life.  Fan into a flame the gift of God that is in you.

2.  How are we to Fan into Flame the gifts of God.

  

    First we should examine what gifts we have.  Acknowledge the abilities we have. Let us ask others to help us identify them.  Let us ask ourselves:  “What gifts do we have?  Ask ourselves: “What can we do more?  

   Consider to what use we can put our talents to use.  Is there anything we can do more to help our families or neighborhoods spiritually?  You are to be a light in a dark places.  Let us ask ourselves:  “What can I do for my Lord by helping others?”  

    Use our gifts.  Not only examining and considering our gifts, but actually using them.  The person that does one thing, will find himself doing two. and doing two, will do four, and so on.

   Improve our gifts.  In addition to using our gift, each one of us should strive to improve it.  We should all be learning how to be better in our service of Christ.  Everyone of us should be students and learners.  Grow mentally and spiritually.  

   Pray over our gifts to fan them into a flame  Talk to God about our weaknesses in our gifts and callings, and ask for His assistant in using them.  Pray over yourself.

3.  Why is it we should Fan into the Flame the gifts God has given us?

    Everything we do for our Lord Jesus will fall far short of what He deserves, and for what He has done for us.  So we will never do enough.  This is not salvation by works. Yet, we should do it because He first loved us. Remember what obligations we have to our Lord for all He has done for us. Visualize all Jesus has done for us at the cross, and it will not be difficult to use of our gifts.  It will be an act of love and devotion.

   We must fan into a flame our gifts because they need fanning.  There are times we become indifferent.  At those times we need someone to rebuke us and remind us of our gift.   If we don’t we may lose our ability to use our gifts in the future.

   We must fan into a flame our gifts because our Lord Jesus is going to return and reward all of His children for using their gifts in service to Him.  

(Some notes from a sermon preached by Charles H. Spurgeon)