“For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.”  1 Corinthians 7:7

A gift is a divine gratuity, i.e. deliverance (from danger or passion); (specifically) a (spiritual) endowment, i.e. (subjectively) religious qualification, or (objectively) miraculous faculty: (Strong’s Concordance)

Every believer has to find out what their gift is and the only one who knows where you will be best used is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. If you never spend time praying and seeking God about your place in the body of Christ, you are robbing yourself as well as the kingdom God of a great blessing.

I will never forget in 1981 while praying in my bedroom in South Africa, I heard the Lord say to me, “I have called you to be an evangelist. “ I remember weeping with joy for the call of God on my life. It excited me so much that I studied Philip, the only mentioned evangelist in the Bible – how he was called to different parts of the country and the miracles, the signs and wonders God performed through him. Then I started putting it into practice and literally saw miracles of blind eyes seeing, deaf ears opening and lame legs beginning to run. We even had a lady raised from the dead, but all of this didn’t come overnight. You have to keep walking in faith, working at it and not back off, even when nothing seems to be happening. Remember the gifts and callings of God are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29) It means He never withdraws them when once they are given. God will have no regrets or repentance for calling you into His ministry. Hallelujah!

In Romans 11:29 the Amplified Bible puts it this way: “For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.]”

I would like to add 1 Corinthians 7:20 – “Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.”  The Apostle Paul repeats himself in verse 24 – “Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.”

I believe God uses us in a specific calling that relates to the lifestyle we have come out of, so that it won’t be unfamiliar to us as we share our testimony. The disciples and those the Lord used were ordinary people who did extraordinary things for their God. God didn’t change their personalities. He used them as they were to reach others.

God has so much more in store for us. We need to keep pressing on, pressing in and take hold of that which rightfully belongs to us in Christ Jesus.

When the Lord called the disciples he didn’t say follow me and I will make you to be famous, or rich. No, He said follow me and I will make you to be fishers of men. They were familiar with this trade. Some of them were fishermen and all they had to do now was to apply the same technique but just use a different method. For instance, when Peter stood up on the day of Pentecost and preached that wonderful message that led three thousand people to the Lord, he used the same fishing skills as he did to catch fish. It’s amazing how closely related the two are.

“As each of you has received a gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment), employ it for one another as [befits] good trustees of God’s many-sided grace [faithful stewards of the extremely Diverse powers and gifts granted to Christians by unmerited favor].” 1 Peter 4:10 (AMP)

If you were a body builder before you were saved, use it now to reach others who are body builders because you can relate to them more easily. Using this method is the easiest way the body of Christ can and will become more effective in the kingdom of God.

When the Lord delivered me from drugs and alcohol he sent me into the streets for fourteen years where we literally had one hundred thousand people come to Christ in the streets alone. We saw drug addicts, alcoholics, gangsters and killers delivered. We also saw mayors of towns and government officials give their lives to the Lord. I have preached in prisons where I shared my testimony. My experience was that the prisoners received hope and their faith was activated resulting in many giving their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ.

“A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.” Proverbs 18:16

A gift here means a present or a reward. It is given freely by the Lord as were the talents given in the New Testament. It would be to your advantage not to bury or hide your gift. We will all stand before the Lord and be judged for what we have done with our gifts. We, and our works, will be tested by fire.

“Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:13-15

God has made a way for us in every circumstance we are faced with in our lives so that we will be able to overcome every obstacle and every challenge. Hallelujah!

A man’s gift makes room for him – this means your gift will make a broad way for you where there are many opportunities to adventure, to explore and discover the greatness of what God has in store for you. God is well able to open many doors of success for you but you must be willing to hear His voice as He leads, guides and governs your life.

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Romans 8:14

Sons of God are defined as those who are led by the Spirit of God. The Spirit does the leading. The verb is in the present tense and in the passive – as many as are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God

Being constantly led by the Spirit of God allows us to mature in Him, because there is a difference between a child of God and a son of God. A child of God is literally a child and a son is one who is mature in age. As we submit to the influence and control of the Spirit of God, this keeps us in tune with what the Father and Son are saying to us through the Spirit.

The Lord Jesus put it this way: He said: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”  John 10:27

The Wuest translation puts our text this way.
“But each one has his own spiritual gift from God, one, on the one hand, in one way, and the other, on the other hand, in another way.” 1 Corinthians 7:7

Do Not Neglect the Gift
“14 Do not neglect the gift which is in you, [that special inward endowment] which was directly imparted to you [by the Holy Spirit] by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you [at your ordination]. 15 Practice and cultivate and meditate upon these duties; throw yourself wholly into them [as your ministry], so that your progress may be evident to everybody.” 1 Timothy 4:14-15 (AMP)

“In the technical Pauline sense of extraordinary powers distinguishing certain Christians and enabling them to serve the church of Christ, the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating in their souls by the Holy Spirit” (Thayer). The word refers here to a “special inward endowment which qualified Timothy for exhortation and teaching, and which was directly imparted by the Holy Spirit” (From Wuest’s Word Studies)

To keep your gift active and alive you must study and meditate on the Word of God to allow the Spirit to speak to you concerning your gift and talent and show you how to be more effective in the operation of your gift(s).
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.