Lesson 14 – Use Your Gift
Read Ephesians 4:1-16 - https://www.bible.com/bible/59/eph.4.esv

We walk worthy so we can be part of God’s work here on earth. In this lesson we look at what that work is. And just as the source of our salvation is Jesus Christ, so the source of our ability to work for God is Jesus Christ. In verse 8 of this passage we are reminded how powerful He really is – He went to the grave, claimed those who were His own and led them to freedom with Himself when He broke the bonds of death.

Now that His journey to death and back is complete, He can give us gifts – the gifts that make it possible to do His work. There are gifts that are given to each one who has believed in Him: grace, mercy, faith, the Holy Spirit to name just a few. There are also gifts that are given to individuals for specific purposes in His kingdom, these are not ours to choose but we accept what He gives.

In verse 11 we see a short list of some of the gifts. Others are listed in Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 1 Peter 4:7-11, and then a few more throughout Scripture. This list is a partial list of the most common gifts: administration, apostle, celibacy, discernment, evangelism, exhortation, faith, giving, healing, helps, hospitality, knowledge, leadership, martyrdom, mercy, miracles, missionary, pastor, prophecy, service, teaching, tongues, tongues interpretation, voluntary poverty, and wisdom.

Let’s look briefly at what our responsibility is with the gifts we receive, and how we recognize what gifts we have. In the next lesson we’ll look more closely at how these gifts are to be used.

Our first responsibility with the gift or gifts we’ve been given is to use them. Look at a story Jesus told in Matthew 25:14-30 about a man who gave something to his servants while he was going away. Two of those servants used what their master has given them and returned what they’d been given plus the increase they’d earned to their master upon his return. One did not use what he’d been given, and he lost all that he’d been given by the master.

Jesus expects us to use the gifts He gives us for His kingdom. We can use them unwisely or not at all, but we will suffer loss of reward upon His return, because of our unfaithfulness.

How do we know what our gifts are? Some of them are things He has given to us naturally, while others are not natural to us at all. For example, He gave me the gift of writing naturally – I’ve been doing that since I was a child. He also gave me the gift of teaching – something that is absolutely not natural to me. Writing I can do without really thinking about it. It is, however, my responsibility to use it for God and not for my own purposes, so for that focus I know I need His help. Teaching is something I can’t do in and of myself at all. I’m totally uncomfortable in front of more than 2 or 3 people. Fright takes over and ties my tongue in knots. I need His help to do that every single time.

How do you know what gifts God has given to you? There are many websites that can help you discover this. But also ask your fellow Christians at church – they probably recognize your gifts far more easily than you can.
*The source of our ability to work for God is _____
*Of those gifts listed, is one or more of them yours? _____ If so, which one?
*What are we to do with our gift(s)?