You are Gifted

Acts 1:8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
As we read the stories of God revealing himself to individuals and calling them to serve him, we are amazed at how God matches the call to the gifts and talents of the individual.

Acts 9:1-19
9 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

This story takes place approximately 1 year after the ascension of The Lord Jesus.  Before he became Paul, his name was Saul. Saul was born in Tarsus his father and mother were both native Jews. He was born into the tribe of Benjamin. Saul also was a tent maker, a profession common to scholars.  His education began in the schools of Tarsus, there he acquainted himself with the philosophy and poetry of the Greeks. Then he was sent to the university at Jerusalem, to study divinity and the Jewish law.  His tutor was Gamaliel, a well-known Pharisee and Saul excelled in learning.  Saul was so adamant about Jewish law that it was appalling to him for anyone to be a Jesus follower.

In fact it says that he would breathe out threats against Christians, to terrify them and to break their spirit. This ability to speak out came natural to Saul and he would use his gifting in communicating to get them to renounce the name of Jesus. And if he could not change their minds by threats, he would kill them.  He did these things thinking that he was doing God a favor.  He was a blasphemer of Christ otherwise he was a decent person. He was a man had morals, and was considered blameless when it came to keeping the law.  This is the person that God would chose to have a life changing experience that would be the launching of the Gospel of Jesus into the Gentile world.

3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

1.  Gifted For Good
Notice we will see two types of people here.  Those belonging to the Way (That is the way the truth and the life) and then you see in vs 3 that Saul “went on his way”  There are those who use their gifting for the advancement of the kingdom of God, then there are those like Saul whom uses their gifting and abilities for their own advancement.  I have a few examples of people who instead of belonging to “the way” chose to live for their own way.

R. Kelly
The Chicago native grew up in the church choir and his music has reflected his roots. However, R&B singer R. Kelly is known for his steamy (and raunchy at times) music but that is a stark contrast to some of his gospel-infused lyrics on other songs. Consequently, he made a name for himself with his sexually charged lyrics and his career took a serious hit when he faced child pornography charges.

Katy Perry
Katy Perry has emerged as a dominant force in the world of pop but she was once in the Christian music genre. Growing up in a strict household, Perry wasn’t allowed to listen to secular music and sang at her parents’ church. When she was ready to launch a professional singing career, Perry, who went by the name of Katy Hudson back then, first started out in gospel music. However, she soon gravitated to pop music and once she partnered with producer Dr. Luke for the smash hit “I Kissed A Girl,” Perry never looked back. (“Dark Horse”)

These individuals were in church, singing in the choir, had gifts but they used them for self-promotion and destruction.

Paul was uniquely gifted with Jewish and Roman educations. He had an ability to speak in a convincing way. However he was not using his education for good. He was not using his ability to vocalize for good. He was not using the passion that was in him for good.  Instead, he was using it for destruction. He was destined to be a missionary to the Gentile world but he was killing Christians.

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”

2.  Gifted To Go
Here is another person with a gifting, his name is Ananias.  Ananias, a resident of Damascus and a devout disciple, he recognized and was attentive to the Lord’s voice. His gifting was to hear the voice of God and relay His message on to others.  However, he was not willing at first to relay God’s message to this certain individual named Saul. He feared Saul.

Ananias was a follower of Jesus. Saul was a killer of those who followed Jesus.  God obviously picked Ananias knowing that he would be the only man willing to obey Him in regarding Saul.
We are no different from Ananias. We have gifts and abilities that God has given us but we don’t use them.  But what would make someone just shove their talents under the rug and not want to pursue and develop them?

Maybe it’s
• They have lost the desire and satisfaction in doing it or there is no heart’s motivation to be better at it, to devote time and thought to it.
• Distractions- the demands, priorities of daily life, 9-5,
• Perhaps you don’t know where to begin.
• Maybe all you need is a little encouragement.
• Perhaps it’s fear of something that is holding you back. For instance, fear of failure, of being in the public eye, that you are not good enough, that you lack the courage and strength to be dedicated to something.

For Ananias it was fear. Fear of being destroyed.
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

Notice the Lord was not concerned with excuses that Ananias had made rather he gives the command to Go.  You can continue to make excuses for why you cannot use your gifts and abilities for God, meanwhile God would say Go.  Go would imply movement, doing something, being creative, working your gifting.  Notice Saul’s conversion would not take place until Ananias would get up and go.  Perhaps there are people in your sphere of influence, whom are waiting for you to get up and go.

17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.

In the end Ananias was an obedient follower of Jesus who had the courage to follow God’s leading and find the persecutor of Christians.  The result of Ananias being obedient and choosing to walk in his gifting was a radically changed man now named Paul. A man now baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. A man that would eventually write nearly ½ of the New Testament.

All because Ananias walked out in obedience and used the gifting that he had.

What is a gifting that you have that has been put on a shelf?

What is the reason?

Is it fear, distractions, have you lost the desire?  Are you using your gifting for good, or has become about your self-promotion?  Think of someone who could be waiting on you to step out in your gifting and Go.  What will you do differently?

You will never regret when you walk in obedience to God’s will and use the gifting He has given you.  I would even pray that your talents would be used in ways that will bring satisfaction not only to you but to our God and that new uses of your talents emerge at the right time and the right way.