(1 Cor. 12:18)
The fulfillment of the predetermined course God has set for you is dependent upon the proper use of the divine gifts that have been bestowed upon you.
Every year my family gets together on Christmas Eve. Because my family is so large, prior to Christmas we draw names to see whom we will buy presents for. One Christmas, while handing out the gifts, I noticed that my twin brother had received two presents. His name had accidentally been placed on two different gifts. When I opened my present, I was disappointed in what I received. I then looked at my twin brother and the two nice gifts he had. Later, sensing my disappointment, my wife came over to console me.
“Don’t worry, Terry,” she said, “when we get back home, we will exchange it for something you like better.”
Now the very same thing happens in the Body of Christ. We open the gifts God has given us, and we run to someone else to see what he has received. Then we hurry to another to see what gift he has been given. When we look at our gift from the Lord, we are unhappy with it and immediately think to ourselves, I know what I’ll do; I’ll swap it for something I like better.
This is why there are so many people running around in church circles today claiming to be an apostle or a prophet or a teacher. Many times what they are really doing is “gift swapping,” because they do not like the spiritual gift that God has bestowed upon them.
You had absolutely nothing to do with choosing the gifts that God has placed inside you. He bestows gifts according to His will, and it is up to you to receive the gift He’s given you and allow Him to add more gifts “as He wills.” (1 Cor. 12:11.)
- For a person to really understand his gifts and how to flow in them sometimes takes many years. First, you must recognize the gift God has given you. If you don’t know what it is, there are excellent Christian books and courses designed to help you discover it.
- Be thankful. A gift is a good thing. If you are coveting someone else’s gift, examine your heart as to why. And talk to your Father God. Ask Him to show you how your gift can be fully utilized to bless as many people as possible.
- Meditate on what God has to say about gifts. In addition to the ones below, also read Romans 12:4–8 and 1 Corinthians 12:1–12.
“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Rom. 11:29).
“A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men” (Prov. 18:16).
“God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well” (Rom. 12:6 TLB).
“For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that” (1 Cor. 7:7).
“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? 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” (1 Cor. 12:14–18).
Dear God, thank You for the gifts You’ve given me. Help me to recognize them, and provide me with opportunities to put them into practice. I ask You to forgive me for the times I’ve taken my gift for granted and coveted others’ gifts. I rejoice in my gift now and ask You to help me use it to bless many. Amen.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Terry has served as senior associate minister of a thriving congregation for over 23 years with over 40 years of experience in local church ministry. He is currently the senior pastor of Impact Church in Sherwood, Arkansas. Terry has authored four books. On the bestselling list, these books have motivated thousands of Christians to stand with their leaders in faithful service, helping them to fulfill God's purpose for their lives.
Terry is the Founder and President of Focus on the Harvest, Inc. He's traveled extensively, awakening believers to this strategic generation. Through his God-given passion, believers are ignited to discover their gifts and callings, commit to the vision of their local church, and focus on the harvest of souls throughout their city, state, nation, and world.
Terry holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Southwestern University, where he met his wife, Kim. They've been married for over 40 years and have three children; McCall, Alex, and McKenna.
In May 2008, Terry and Kim began Impact Church, a dynamic and growing, multicultural body of believers in Sherwood, AR. We believe that Christianity is not a religion; it's a relationship. God loves each person individually. He desires everyone to know him personally.