Review of Class Two
- Hindrances can be categorized as emotion, condition, or circumstance
- The Role of Truth in Processing Hindrances
Process hindrances through the Grid of Truth using the Four What’s
- What does God’s Word say?
- What is the character of God?
- What is the character of man?
- What is my biblical response to this hindrance?
- Scriptural Frameworks for Gifts: Ephesians 4, 1 Corinthians 12, Matthew 22:37-40
- Identify source of the gift – self or Holy Spirit
- Stewardship of the gift requires serving God’s people
- Serving it an outward illustration of loving God and our neighbor
Natural vs. Spiritual Gifts
We have been discussing both natural and spiritual gifts. Both are gifts from God but it’s important to know the difference.
Natural Gifts:
Natural gifts or strengths are given to us by God as He created us. They are included in your DNA. This can include intelligence, personality, strength, abilities, etc.
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Ps. 139:13-14 NIV)
Spiritual gifts:
Spiritual gifts come directly from the Spirit of God and are not imparted unless one has the Spirit of God through relationship with Jesus Christ. The gifts are given by the Holy Spirit to the believer to equip the believer to serve. (1 Corinthians 12:7, NIV and Ephesians 4:11-13, NIV).
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” (1 Cor. 12:4-11)
Shortcuts and Substitutions to Serving with our Gifts – What Are You Doing With What You’ve Been Given?
Matthew 25:14-30
Wriggling and Wiggling
Our human nature does all it can to avoid pain. It is a natural response. Notice “natural”, not “spiritual”… We wriggle and wiggle to get out of tight situations, uncomfortable circumstance, and yes…serve with our gifts. We justify and deny so we don’t have to do the tough stuff… Many of us have developed “fall back habit patterns” that we use when we get “cornered” to avoid stepping outside of our comfort zones.
- MINIMIZING OR JUSTIFYING
- A common tool to enable our “wiggle out” behavior is minimizing or justifying. We can obey only so far, but have put boundaries around what we will give. We must hold the behavior up to the standard of God’s Word, not our justification of lack of serving based on the situation. If serving or sitting on the sidelines can be determined by how difficult the circumstance, then we move away from obeying the call of God to serve using our gifts.
- GOD’S RESPONSE
- “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Eph. 4:15-16)
DENIAL
Denial is another biggie. “That’s just the way I am…Not capable. Someone else will do it.” We use this when we are afraid or unwilling to step out. Women are more likely to be the peacemakers at any cost, and that is not necessarily a good thing. We scramble around for an excuse that makes us feel better about not doing what God has called us to do. When we deceive ourselves, it will not lead to the joyous life of serving that we were created for. We shortchange ourselves and those we are called to love and serve. We bury our talent.
What is God’s Response to Shortcuts and Substitutions? Get Moving!
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:12-14
