Getting to Know "The Force" 7

 Gift or Talent

We are back to our eight categories of “the spirit” as defined in The Word. The spirit or a driving force, is represented by eight, sometimes unique, categories, all working together as what could be called “the force.” Understanding these eight categories can help us to more accurately interpret the many uses of the word "Spirit" throughout the Bible.

1-The Divine Spirit: Referring to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, God himself.

2-The human spirit: The immaterial part of a human being, distinct from the soul and body, responsible for our thoughts, emotions, and will.

3-The breath of life: The animating force that gives life to all living creatures.

4-The wind: Often used as a metaphor for God's presence or power.

5-An attitude or disposition: Referring to a person or group's prevailing mental or emotional state.

6-A supernatural being: Angels, demons, and other spiritual entities are sometimes called spirits.

7-A gift or talent: Certain abilities or skills are attributed to the spirit in some contexts.

8-The essence or meaning of something: A thing's core quality or nature.

Today we will pick back up at number 7

7-A gift or talent: Certain abilities or skills are attributed to the spirit in some contexts.

The Bible talks about abilities and skills in two main ways: natural talents and spiritual gifts.

Natural talents are innate abilities or skills that people develop through practice and experience. These can be anything from artistic talents like music or painting to practical skills like carpentry or cooking. The Bible doesn't necessarily attribute these directly to the spirit, but they are seen as blessings from God and something to be used responsibly. We see some examples of this as such.

"See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.” Exodus 31:2-5

We read things like this.

“Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” Proverbs 22:29

Everyone has at least one natural talent. We are blessed with this as we are born. Some can build. I cannot. Some can paint. I cannot. Some can do marvelous things with computers and such. Some write. Etc.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17

This is why the old saying is so true. "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." If you are born with the gift of song? Sing. Dance? Dance. The love of writing? Write. Whatever it is, do that. It will be natural for you. It will be fun. It will be easy. However?

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:23-24

What about Spiritual Gifts?

“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” Romans 12:6-8

As much as we may like it, we are not all endowed with the same gifts. I would love to have the gift of healing. I would probably get arrested, because I would be going around slapping people in the head, yelling, BE HEALED. I do not have that gift. Some see the Pastor, oh yeah I’m going there. Some people see the Pastor and think to themself, that is the job I want. Only work one or two days a week for just a couple of hours. I want to lead a church. {Smiling} If you know you know. I am a sower of the seed, a teller of truth, a shower of the way. I am a writer and teacher. Pastors also not only deal with themselves, the temptations of riches, young women, and the sins they struggle with, but they also have to deal with everyone else’s sins in their congregation.

God knows you. He knows you better than you know you. He has a purpose and a plan for you and your life. He has Spiritual Gifts for you. When He knows you are ready. We are not all going to have the same.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gift of healing by the one Spirit, to another, the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another, the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

To understand it perhaps more clearly. Paul goes on to say it this way.

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-14

If everyone was an eye, who would hear? If everyone was an ear, who would speak? You get the point. If everyone went around healing, where would the teaching be? If everyone prophesied, where would the feeding be? The comforting be? We are all different with different abilities. Both natural and spiritual.

Natural talents come from individual abilities, while spiritual gifts come from the Holy Spirit.

Natural talents are for individual expression and fulfillment, while spiritual gifts are for building up the church and serving others.

Natural talents could include singing, writing, carpentry, or cooking. Spiritual gifts could include teaching, prophecy, healing, or serving.

If you want to be happy in life, find your abilities. Find your gifts. Do what you were literally created to do. Do what only you can do. Just be you. Be the child of God you are called to be.

Are you His child? Have you accepted His call? If you have not already done so, you need to ask Jesus into your life, then say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Jesus, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!