Tag: Ability

44.k. “Wilderness” – 8.q. “For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God”

 

 

Exodus 28:1  “Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests—Aaron and Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 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.

 Hebrews 5:1-5   For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.  He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people.  And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.  So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”;

 Exodus 31:3-5  The LORD said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah  and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship,  to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze,  in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.

God appointed those who were called from the people to serve as priests. He also gave intelligence and ability, with knowledge for craftsmanship to others who were called to make the garments for the priesthood. God called and appointed those who were to serve as priests. As well, God gifted those who were to make special garments for this priesthood. (A calling and gifting with a filling of the Spirit of God ) 

We are all called to repent, believe, trust, follow, and obey. Likewise, upon answering this call, we are filled with the Holy Spirit of God and gifted for service to the honor and glory of Him. The natural talents of people are still gifting from God. No one can say it is by their own hard work and dedication, for the seeds of talent are planted by God, watered by God, and harvested for His intended plans and purposes. Whatever the gifting it is essential to note that these gifts of talent are for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ. Any use of your talents for self-reliance, worth, honor, or praise is robbing honor and glory from Jesus. Being good with your hands and/or brains are gifts from God to be used for His honor and glory. Use your gifts for His honor and glory.

34.q. “For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out”

Matthew 26:69  Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

 Romans 7:18-20   For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.  Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

1 Peter 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

What can a person do when they have intentionally chosen to do that which they have said they would not? Some may deny the act or give it no thought. Its significance of it to them is like a passing of a gust of wind, they felt it but give it no thought. They may even give an excuse for it – I had no choice, I was just following the crowd, it wasn’t my idea, it really isn’t that bad, It didn’t adversely affect anyone else, no one saw me do it, etc…….. People like this may come to a place where they are sorry but never come to a place where they repent.

There are then those who become aware of the fact that they did exactly what they said they would not.  Their heart is ripped in two and their sorrow is soul deep. Oh, that we would have hearts so tender as to be broken easily for the sins we commit. How sad is it if you are not aware of the sins you are committing? If our sole purpose in this life on this side of eternity is to honor and glorify Jesus Christ, then being aware of how we may be falling short would be a good thing to know and repent of.  Having a tender heart that is open at all times to the leading and correcting Spirit of God will always lead us down paths of growth, maturity, grace, love, mercy, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding – And yes, it will lead us down paths of repentance if we would.

Our strength is not in ourselves but in the power of the Holy Spirit.

34.m. “‘Well done, good and faithful servant”

 

Matthew 25:14 For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Christ keeps no servants to be idle: they have received their all from him, and have nothing they can call their own but sin. Our receiving from Christ is in order to our working for him. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. The day of account comes at last. We must all be reckoned with as to what good we have got to our own souls, and have done to others, by the advantages we have enjoyed. It is not meant that the improving of natural powers can entitle a man to Divine grace. It is the real Christian’s liberty and privilege to be employed as his Redeemer’s servant, in promoting his glory, and the good of his people: the love of Christ constrains him to live no longer to himself, but to Him that died for him, and rose again. Those who think it impossible to please God, and in vain to serve him, will do nothing to purpose in religion. They complain that He requires of them more than they are capable of, and punishes them for what they cannot help. Whatever they may pretend, the fact is, they dislike the character and work of the Lord. The slothful servant is sentenced to be deprived of his talent. This may be applied to the blessings of this life; but rather to the means of grace. Those who know not the day of their visitation, shall have the things that belong to their peace hid from their eyes. His doom is, to be cast into outer darkness. It is a usual way of expressing the miseries of the damned in hell. Here, as in what was said to the faithful servants, our Saviour goes out of the parable into the thing intended by it, and this serves as a key to the whole. Let us not envy sinners, or covet any of their perishing possessions. (Henry)

The manifestation of the grace of God in believers is for the single purpose of honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ. Though this manifestation might be in the form of helping others, giving, kindness, generosity, serving, proclaiming the Gospel, works of the hands, or wisdom of the mind they are all singularly for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ.  Any intent we have to keep some of this glory for ourselves robs its intended glory and honor from Jesus Christ. From Him, the talents are given and to Him, they belong with all their accumulated interest.  

Pray that God would open your eyes and ears to your heart, mind, and soul to the talents He has given to you, and then be a workman that uses these talents for His honor and glory. Anything kept for our own glory and honor is stealing from the King of Kings.

28.e. “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless”

Ephesians 6:11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

 Romans 13:14    But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

 Romans 13:12    The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

 1 Thessalonians 5:8    But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

 1 Corinthians 10:13   No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

 Jude 1:24    Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,

 2 Corinthians 2:11   so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

 1 Peter 5:8    Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

“The tactics of intimidation and insinuation alternate in Satan’s plan of campaign. He plays both the bully and the beguiler. Force and fraud form his chief offensive against the camp of the saints.” (Simpson) Equipped with God’s armor we are more than conquerors. (Guzik) How aware are we of spiritual battles, attacks from Satan, lies from Satan, deception from Satan, and temptations from Satan?  If we are not aware how will we arm ourselves against the battle for our soul?  Too often we lack discernment.  Too often we lack Godly wisdom and understanding.  Too often we are blind and deaf to the battle for our soul.  Too often we even try to battle in our own strength and power.  We don’t stand a chance. How many times have we asked our children, What were you thinking??????  99 times out of 100 we hear, I don’t know.  

God tells us of His power and might and strength.  There is none like Him, He is the creator.  He is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. In Him is all truth. He knows all about Satan’s lies, deceptions, and influences.  God warns us about Satan. God empowers us, if we avail ourselves to it, for the battle(s) we will face.  He says “Arm yourselves”, “Put on the whole armor”, “I will be your rock, refuge, strength, power, might, and shield against the fiery attacks of Satan”, “I will never leave you or forsake you”, “I will not let you be tempted beyond what you can overcome”, “I am with you always”.  And yet, we don’t acknowledge Him or avail ourselves to Him or rely on, trust in, or cling to Him.  We go about our days without giving thought to spiritual battles.  Is it possible that Satan doesn’t even need to bother attacking us because there is little to no spiritual activity in our lives?  Can we not see the times we are living in?  Can we not see and understand the influence Satan is having on people across our nation?  Oh, that God would open our eyes to see and our ears to hear all that is false, cunning, and deceiving in our country.  Oh, that God would awaken our soul to the battle before us and cause us to bow before Him as willing servants for this battle.

15.b. “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John 3:22  After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison). Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Jeremiah 1:5    “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

1 Corinthians 4:7    For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

Matthew 25:15     To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

1 Corinthians 12:11    All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Romans 12:6   Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us

1 Corinthians 15:10    But by the grace of God I am what I am,

James 1:17    Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

1 Peter 4:10-11  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:  whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 John’s disciples seemed alarmed, but it didn’t bother John one bit. John would not allow envy or the fickle crowds make him forget his mission: to announce that the Messiah had come, and then to step back and let the attention be focused upon the Messiah. John first answered his worried disciples that everything he had – including those who responded to his ministry – were a gift from God. If they are God’s gift, then they should be received gratefully. John then reminded his disciples that he knew who he was, and he also knew who Jesus was. Understanding that, he could keep his proper place; not too high (thinking he was the Christ) and not too low (thinking he had no call or place in God’s plan). John explained to his followers that he was like the best man at a wedding; he isn’t the bridegroom. He isn’t to be the focus of attention, but to supervise the bringing of two people together.  “John had no sense of envy or rivalry. It is not easy to see another’s influence growing at the expense of one’s own; it is even less easy to rejoice at the sight. But John found his joy completed by the news which his disciples brought.”  John the Baptist understood it was good for him to become less visible and known, for Jesus to become more visible and known. In even larger aspects, this should be the motto of every Christian, especially leaders among God’s people. Jesus should become greater and more visible, and the servant should become less and less visible. John that Baptist also did not quit his work just because Jesus was doing a similar work and doing it for more people. He labored on, content to do what God called him to do even though Jesus gained more and more attention and John less and less.

9. For he is rightly instructed; his God teaches him.

Exodus 28:3  You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill,

Exodus 31:3-6     and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship,  to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze,  in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.

Exodus 35:35    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 36:1-2    “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.”

Proverbs 2:6     For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

Isaiah 28:24-26    Does he who plows for sowing plow continually? Does he continually open and harrow his ground?  When he has leveled its surface, does he not scatter dill, sow cumin, and put in wheat in rows and barley in its proper place, and emmer as the border?  For he is rightly instructed; his God teaches him.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11    To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,  to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.  All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Ephesians 1:17    that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,

James 1:17     Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

In the light of our culture and the endless withdrawal of God from having any place in social norms, it is no wonder people see their individual gifts as a product of their own making.  They rely on self and give credit to self for their accomplishments.  Without God, who is there to give credit.  Our abilities are God-given and can be used for the honor and glory of God or in the absence of believing in God they can be used to drive us further and further into the pride of self.  It is very hard to deny pride and self-accomplishment when denying God.

As believers, we are not immune to being tempted by pride and self-accomplishment.  These both can happen when we neglect His word or become complacent in our walk with Him.  Being a humble servant comes from our understanding and knowledge of God.  Our understanding and knowledge come when we desire and seek it Him and time in His word.  There is no shortcut to this knowledge and understanding – it is either growing or becoming stagnate and forgotten.  Being a humble servant comes from reverence to God through what we learn and understand His holiness and love for us.  We all can improve our humbleness and service to God.  Cast out pride. Seek and desire to be rightly instructed.  Seek that which honors and glorifies God.

 

Faithful to the Master

Enter into the joy of your master

How much has God entrusted with you?  What has He placed within your control to use the talents He has given you?  How do we use these talents?  Are we using them in a way that honors and glorifies God?  Or are they buried way down within us and never to see any fruit?  God has given us great promises in light of His grace and mercy.  He has entrusted each of us with talents to be used to honor and glorify Him alone.  These talents take on many different forms – generosity, kindness, patience, love, joy, hope, encouragement, discipleship, teaching, gentleness…..   Notice I did not say any profession…  that is because no matter what vocation we are in we are given these other talents to be used in what we do every day to bring honor and glory to God.   To have talents given to us and then not use them for His purpose, honor and glory is to fall into the category of “Wicked and Slothful servant”.  Choose this day to live for Him with your talents.

 

Matthew 25:14
“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more. ’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. ’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more. ’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. ’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours. ’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth