This document discusses the differences between gifts and talents, and how they relate to spiritual gifts from God. It provides several Bible passages that illustrate how God gives spiritual gifts to His people to glorify Him and benefit the church. While people can give physical gifts, only God can bestow spiritual talents and abilities. The document emphasizes that within the diversity of gifts in the church, there should be unity and harmony as all members work together under Christ as the head. It concludes with a call to prayer.
2. Today as we conclude our discussion
on GIFTS and TALENTS, are they the
same, I hope that we found the talents
God has blessed us to acquire and put
them to proper use for his honor and
glory. We are discussing gifts and its
impacting influence on our lives and
the lives of others, let’s see what we
can grasp, learn and apply.
3. “Paul urged his brethren to ask
themselves what influence their
words and deeds would have upon
others and to do nothing, however
innocent in itself, that would seem
to sanction idolatry or offend the
scruples of those who might be
weak in the faith. “Whether
therefore ye eat, or drink, or
whatsoever ye do, do all to the
glory of God. Give none offense,
neither to the Jews, nor to the
Gentiles, nor to the church of God.”
Acts of the Apostles, Pg. 316.2
4. “The apostle’s words of warning to
the Corinthian church are applicable
to all time and are especially adapted
to our day. By idolatry he meant not
only the worship of idols, but self-
serving, love of ease, the gratification
of appetite and passion. A mere
profession of faith in Christ, a boastful
knowledge of the truth, does not
make a man a Christian. A religion
that seeks only to gratify the eye, the
ear, and the taste, or that sanctions
self-indulgence, is not the religion of
Christ.
Acts of the Apostles, Pg. 317.1
5. Gifts mean:
(a) A thing given
willingly to someone
without payment.
(b) A natural ability
or talent.
6. JESUS compares
gifts from humanity
and gifts from God,
therefore there are
physical gifts and
spiritual gifts:
7. Mt. 7:7-11
[7] Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall
find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
[8] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that
seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be
opened.
[9] Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask
bread, will he give him a stone?
[10] Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
[11] If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts
unto your children, how much more shall your Father
which is in heaven give good things to them that ask
him?
8. Mt. 5:23,24
[23] Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and
there rememberest that thy brother hath ought
against thee;
[24] Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy
way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come
and offer thy gift.
Heb.11:4
[4] By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent
sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that
he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it
he being dead yet speaketh.
9. Jn.4:10
[10] Jesus answered and said unto her, If
thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is
that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou
wouldest have asked of him, and he would
have given thee living water.
10. “You must respect your own faith in order
successfully to introduce it to others. By
example as well as precept, you must show
that you reverence your faith, speaking
reverently of sacred things. Never allow one
expression of lightness and trifling to escape
your lips when quoting scripture. As you
take the Bible in your hands, remember that
you are on holy ground. Angels are around
you, and could your eyes be opened, you
would behold them. Let your conduct be
such that you will leave the impression upon
every soul with whom you associate that a
pure and holy atmosphere surrounds you.
One vain word, one trifling laugh, may
balance a soul in the wrong direction.
Terrible are the consequences of not having
a constant connection with God…..
11. …..Our actions have a twofold influence; for
they affect others as well as ourselves. This
influence will either be a blessing or a curse
to those with whom we associate. How little
we appreciate this fact. Actions make habits,
and habits, character, and if we do not
guard our habits, we shall not be qualified
to unite with heavenly agencies in the work
of salvation, nor be prepared to enter the
heavenly mansions that Jesus has gone to
prepare; for no one will be there except
those who have surrendered their will and
way to God’s will and way. He whose
character is proved, who has stood the test
of trial, who is a partaker of the divine
nature, will be among those whom Christ
pronounces blessed.”
Christian Education, Pg. 92.2,1
13. Acts. 8:18-22
[18] And when Simon saw that through laying on of the
apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them
money,
[19] Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I
lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
[20] But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee,
because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be
purchased with money.
[21] Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy
heart is not right in the sight of God.
[22] Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God,
if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
14. Rom.11:29
[29] For the gifts and calling of God are without
repentance.
Lk.11:11-13
[11] If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father,
will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a
fish give him a serpent?
[12] Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
[13] If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto
your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father
give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
15. Heb.2:3, 4
[3] How shall we escape, if we neglect so great
salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by
the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that
heard him;
[4] God also bearing them witness, both with signs
and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts
of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
16. 1Cor.12:1-11
[1] Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
[2] Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye
were led.
[3] Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God
calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy
Ghost.
[4] Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
[5] And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
[6] And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in
all.
[7] But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
[8] For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of
knowledge by the same Spirit;
[9] To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
[10] To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of
spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
[11] But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man
severally as he will.
17. 1Cor.12: 28-31
[28] And God hath set some in the church, first apostles,
secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles,
then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of
tongues.
[29] Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all
workers of miracles?
[30] Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues?
do all interpret?
[31] But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you
a more excellent way.
18. “By a comparison of the church with the
human body, the apostle aptly illustrated
the close and harmonious relationship
that should exist among all members of
the church of Christ. “By one Spirit,” he
wrote, “are we all baptized into one
body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles,
whether we be bond or free; and have
been all made to drink into one Spirit.
For the body is not one member, but
many. If the foot shall say, Because I am
not the hand, I am not of the body; is it
therefore not of the body? And if the ear
shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am
not of the body; is it therefore not of the
body? If the whole body were an eye,
where were the hearing?...
19. …If the whole were hearing, where were the
smelling? But now hath God set the members
every one of them in the body, as it hath
pleased Him. And if they were all one
member, where were the body? But now are
they many members, yet but one body. And
the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no
need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I
have no need of you.... God hath tempered the
body together, having given more abundant
honor to that part which lacked: that there
should be no schism in the body; but that the
members should have the same care one for
another. And whether one member suffer, all
the members suffer with it; or one member be
honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now
ye are the body of Christ, and members in
particular.”
Acts of the Apostles, Pg. 317.2
20. “The vine has many branches, but
though all the branches are different,
they do not quarrel. In diversity there is
unity. All the branches obtain their
nourishment from one source. This is an
illustration of the unity that is to exist
among Christ’s followers. In their
different lines of work they all have but
one Head. The same Spirit, in different
ways, works through them. There is
harmonious action, though the gifts
differ. Study this chapter. You will see
from it that the man who is truly united
with Christ will never act as though he
were a complete whole in himself.”
Bible Commentary, Bk.6, Pg. 1090.11
21. “The 12th and 13th chapters of 1st
Corinthians should be committed to
memory, written in the mind and
heart. Through His servant Paul, the
Lord has placed before us these
subjects for our consideration, and
those who have the privilege of being
brought together in church capacity
will be united, understandingly and
intelligently. The figure of the
members which compose the body
represents the church of God and the
relation its members should sustain to
one another.”
Bible Commentary, Bk.6, Pg. 1090.13
22. Ps.48:14
[14] For this God is our God for ever
and ever: he will be our guide even
unto death.