God Gives…
November 4, 2014
God Gives…
‘Why’ questions are followed quickly by ‘How’
questions. The ‘Why’ of things we
encounter in this world begin with, “Why am I here?” “What am I to do?” “What’s in it for me?”
questions. The ‘Why’ of things we
encounter in this world begin with, “Why am I here?” “What am I to do?” “What’s in it for me?”
In studying the
Spiritual Gifts that the Holy Spirit gives us, I asked a “When’ question. When did the Why begin? When Adam and Eve came out of the Garden of
Eden, what did they do, or know how to do?
I surveyed the photographs and paintings of great architectural wonders
and in awe asked, “How did people so long ago know how to build things like the
pyramids or the Cathedrals in Europe?
How were the Egyptians able to build chariots?
Spiritual Gifts that the Holy Spirit gives us, I asked a “When’ question. When did the Why begin? When Adam and Eve came out of the Garden of
Eden, what did they do, or know how to do?
I surveyed the photographs and paintings of great architectural wonders
and in awe asked, “How did people so long ago know how to build things like the
pyramids or the Cathedrals in Europe?
How were the Egyptians able to build chariots?
God gave! Imagine learning a ‘how-to’ skill through the
Holy Spirit! What an awesome
teacher. When God had a need, He
equipped one of his created to fulfil that need by giving knowledge and
skill.
Holy Spirit! What an awesome
teacher. When God had a need, He
equipped one of his created to fulfil that need by giving knowledge and
skill.
Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of
those who dwell in tents and have livestock. His brother’s name was Jubal; he was
the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. Zillah
also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger
of all instruments of bronze and iron.
Genesis 4:20-22
those who dwell in tents and have livestock. His brother’s name was Jubal; he was
the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. Zillah
also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger
of all instruments of bronze and iron.
Genesis 4:20-22
And you shall make holy garments for
Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. You shall speak to all
the skillful, whom I have filled
with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him
for my priesthood. These are the garments that they shall make: a breast
piece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban,
and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his
sons to serve me as priests. Exodus 28:2-4
Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. You shall speak to all
the skillful, whom I have filled
with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him
for my priesthood. These are the garments that they shall make: a breast
piece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban,
and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his
sons to serve me as priests. Exodus 28:2-4
He has filled them with skill to do every
sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue
and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort
of workman or skilled designer. Exodus
35:35
sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue
and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort
of workman or skilled designer. Exodus
35:35
Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in
whom the LORD has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any
work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all
that the LORD has commanded.” Exodus
36:1
whom the LORD has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any
work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all
that the LORD has commanded.” Exodus
36:1
He was the son of a widow of the tribe of
Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze. And he was full
of wisdom, understanding, and skill for making any work in bronze. He came to
King Solomon and did all his work. I
Kings 7:14
Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze. And he was full
of wisdom, understanding, and skill for making any work in bronze. He came to
King Solomon and did all his work. I
Kings 7:14
As for these four youths, God gave them
learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had
understanding in all visions and dreams. Daniel 1:17
learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had
understanding in all visions and dreams. Daniel 1:17
And God gave Solomon wisdom and
understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the
seashore, so that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom
of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. I Kings
4:29-30
understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the
seashore, so that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom
of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. I Kings
4:29-30
In this day, the age of Google
and institutions of high learning; we learn from books, youtube videos and
masters of learning, perhaps we try to separate God from learning. From the learning that is instilled in
us.
and institutions of high learning; we learn from books, youtube videos and
masters of learning, perhaps we try to separate God from learning. From the learning that is instilled in
us.
My Dad taught school in
the panhandle of Oklahoma in 1928-1929.
His teaching methodology was bluff and study. When he didn’t know how to work a problem, he
would send it home with his students and study that evening until he
understood. Can you imagine Solomon
waking up to KNOWING all WISDOM. Or the women learning how to embroider with
gold thread? They didn’t buy the pattern
at Walmart. They KNEW.
the panhandle of Oklahoma in 1928-1929.
His teaching methodology was bluff and study. When he didn’t know how to work a problem, he
would send it home with his students and study that evening until he
understood. Can you imagine Solomon
waking up to KNOWING all WISDOM. Or the women learning how to embroider with
gold thread? They didn’t buy the pattern
at Walmart. They KNEW.
How awesome is our
God. When we know that, we know all we
need to know. God will supply the rest
of what we need. We choose to believe, we
choose to accept and follow God, we understand Psalm 110:10, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
God. When we know that, we know all we
need to know. God will supply the rest
of what we need. We choose to believe, we
choose to accept and follow God, we understand Psalm 110:10, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
These words from John
3:16, give us the knowledge of the greatest of the gifts of God. “For God so loved the
world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should
not perish but have eternal life.”
3:16, give us the knowledge of the greatest of the gifts of God. “For God so loved the
world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should
not perish but have eternal life.”
Thus a new age begins.
The age we live in is unparalleled, for we receive our purpose and the
gift of the Holy Spirit when we accept Jesus as our Savior. It is a hallelujah time. It is a time of rejoicing in the Joy of Jesus. This gift is given to everyone who accepts
Jesus. Even as those who lived long ago
were gifted with skills that would serve the Lord, the gifts we are given are
to serve the Lord.
The age we live in is unparalleled, for we receive our purpose and the
gift of the Holy Spirit when we accept Jesus as our Savior. It is a hallelujah time. It is a time of rejoicing in the Joy of Jesus. This gift is given to everyone who accepts
Jesus. Even as those who lived long ago
were gifted with skills that would serve the Lord, the gifts we are given are
to serve the Lord.
But you are not like that, for the
Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth. So I am
writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the
difference between truth and lies. John 1:20-21
Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth. So I am
writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the
difference between truth and lies. John 1:20-21
*There are diversities of gifts, but
the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.
And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works
all in all. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.
And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works
all in all. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
What are these gifts that
each of us as followers of Jesus possess? Are we using them in love? Oh, how exciting. These gifts are not skills or talents,
rather, they are passions. Our spiritual gifts are the means by which we
have been distinctively and divinely equipped to manifest God’s presence and
power. No one else can fulfill our
calling. (Beth Moore) The gifts are many and some have proclaimed that the
gifts are clustered under several designations. In the following weeks, it will
be joy to discover these gifts and what they mean.
each of us as followers of Jesus possess? Are we using them in love? Oh, how exciting. These gifts are not skills or talents,
rather, they are passions. Our spiritual gifts are the means by which we
have been distinctively and divinely equipped to manifest God’s presence and
power. No one else can fulfill our
calling. (Beth Moore) The gifts are many and some have proclaimed that the
gifts are clustered under several designations. In the following weeks, it will
be joy to discover these gifts and what they mean.
There are many gifts, and
many ways of categorizing them, but always, they are to be used to build up the
kingdom of God, and not to bring attention to ourselves. God gives us life, breath, sustenance,
comfort, unconditional love, salvation, purpose while teaching us His Way. God Gives!
many ways of categorizing them, but always, they are to be used to build up the
kingdom of God, and not to bring attention to ourselves. God gives us life, breath, sustenance,
comfort, unconditional love, salvation, purpose while teaching us His Way. God Gives!
Pursue love, and earnestly
desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
I Corinthians 14:1
desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
I Corinthians 14:1
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