Don’t Fake it, Take it!- In His Word 5-6-2024
God has given us great gifts, both in His grace and in His love. It is important to figure out what yours is and use it for the glory of God. Some people however try to be what God has not called them to be. They try to work in a ministry that He has not put them in for whatever reason. You can tell the difference!
The Holy
Spirit will identify with the Holy Spirit.
My litmus
test for a good sermon is when I hear it and I am compelled to write notes.
After 30 plus years of listening to preachers I have heard a lot of teaching. I
still have a lot to learn so I get excited when someone preaches, and I have
not looked at that portion of scripture the way it was presented. For instance,
recently a preacher taught on the Joshua and Caleb going to spy out thee land
with the group from every tribe along together. The amazing thing was the fact
he pointed out; the men were in the new potentially promised land for 40 days
and yet they were able to gather all the spoils to bring home. Giant grapes and
everything! During this time, they were not injured, they were not harmed, as
far as we know. Yet, the group that went in other than Joshua and Caleb came
back afraid. They saw things differently than it really was. Joshua was a
gifted leader. He tried to encourage everyone to go anyway because God had
promised the land to them.
Fear took
the lead of the larger group of God’s people, and they waited longer.
If you have
a gift to speak, you should speak, if you have a gift to teach, like this preacher
did, you should teach the Word of God! In doing this obedient act you will be
waking in the reality of your gift. Take the chance and do it!
Some people
are given a gift and they are afraid. They think that they are not good enough,
strong enough or able to do the thing they are given to do. If God gives you
leadership as your gift you can know He will qualify you! He will make it
possible for you to do what He gifts you to do. Just take it! Take the gift!
In his
grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So, if
God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God
has given you. If your gift is serving
others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to
encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has
given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you
have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
Don’t just
pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to
what is good. Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in
honoring each other. Never be lazy but
work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble
and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them.
Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecuted you. Don’t
curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy,
and weep with those who weep. Live in
harmony with each other. Romans 12:6-16
Of course,
if you have a gift of kindness you need to really show it. If you have a gift
of this nature you would think it would be easy right? But it is not!
Some people
are hard to be kind to!
There you go,
I said it. It is the truth! The thing is those things that are hard to walk in,
to encourage people, to be patient in trouble and still pray, to practice hospitality
eagerly? Those are not easy gifts or situations to navigate. Okay so here’s the
thing. Do not ignore your gift! Do not
pretend its not there, just like you don’t pretend to love someone, it’s a thing
that shows through. Love, real love for someone is obvious. Some people will
try to fake it, but you can tell.
The key is
to ask God to help you love one another. Seek Him for help with any of your
gifts then take the direction and run with it! Do the thing!
Trust God to
show you what to do, how to do it. When
He gives you gift He will gift you with
the ability as well. We just need to believe He has done it, know that He will
be with us as we learn how to walk in it, and then don’t fake it just take it
and do the will of the Lord. In Jesus’ name.
