USING GOD'S GIFTS
(By Emerson Blythe)

TEXT: (Quoting from Psa. 68:18) Eph. 4:
"7 Christ has generously divided out his gifts to us. 8 As the Scriptures say,
“When he went up to the highest place, he led away many prisoners and gave gifts to people.”
9 When it says, “he went up,” it means that Christ had been deep in the earth. 10 This also means that the one who went deep into the earth is the same one who went into the highest heaven, so that he would fill the whole universe."
The Contemporary English [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1995 by the American Bible Society.

King James: (Eph 4:7-8)  "But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. {8} Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men."

(Eph 1:3)  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:"

Do you love to give people things?

Do you like to see people use and enjoy the things you give them?

Do you hate to give someone something, and they mever use it?

God gives us so much that it boggles the mind to think of it.

Ane He, Too, likes to see us use what He gives us!

Too many people treat God shamefully by not using the things He gives us!!!

(Heb 10:29)  "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?"

The Giving attitude of God is His Spirit of Grace.

When-ever we fail to use what He gives us, WE ARE TREATING THE SPIRIT OF GRACE SPITEFULLY!

Think of all the things here in this world that God gives us:

God gives us Food and Raiment

(Mat 6:25)  "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?"

(Mat 6:33)  "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Rain and fruitful seasons

(Gen 8:22)  "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."

(Gen 27:28)  "Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:"

(Lev 26:3-6)  "If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; {4} Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. {5} And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. {6} And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land."

Breath and life

(Isa 42:5)  "Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:"

Wisdom

(2 Chr 1:12)  "Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like."

(James 1:5)  "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

Peace

(Lev 26:6)  "And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land."

(1 Chr 22:9)  "Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days."

God wants His Gifts to be used and enjoyed

(Eccl 3:13)  "And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God."

(Eccl 5:19-20)  "Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. {20} For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart."

(1 Tim 4:4-5)  "For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: {5} For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."

Should cause us to remember God

(Deu 8:11-14, 17, 18)  "Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: {12} Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; {13} And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; {14} Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God... {17}  And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. {18} But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day."

All creatures partake of God's Gifts

(Psa 136:25)  "Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever."

(Psa 145:15-16)  "The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. {16} Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing."

Someone has said that even the lowly chicken, when drinking water, does not fail to look up to heaven to give thanks for every drop.  Let's make sure that we do nothing less!

The Bible teaches us to ask for God's gifts

(Zec 10:1)  "Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field."

(Mat 6:11)  "Give us this day our daily bread."

(Psa 84:11)  "For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly."

(1 Tim 6:17)  "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy..."

(James 1:17)  "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

(2 Pet 1:3)  "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue."

(1 Cor 4:7)  "For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?"

GOD GIVES US OUR ABLILITIES:

(Mat 25:14-15)  "For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. {15} And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey." 

(Rom 12:6-9)  "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; {7} Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; {8} Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness. {9} Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good."

	Prophesying
	Ministering (helping others)
	Teaching
	Exhorting
	Giving,
	Ruling
	Benevolence (showing mercy)

  Are we using the gofts that God has given us???

BUT THE GREATEST GIFT GOD GIVES IS SALVATION

(John 6:27)  "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed."

(Mat 11:28)  "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

(Rom 6:23)  "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

(John 3:16)  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

(John 4:10)  "Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water."

(Rom 8:32)  "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"

GOD EVEN GIVES US Repentance

(Acts 11:18)  "When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."

(2 Tim 2:25-26)  "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; {26} And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."

ANF GOD EXPECTS US TO USE THOSE GIFTS
(1 Pet 4:10)  "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

Salvation is kind of like a smile.  You can give it away, and still keep it!

HAVE YOU RECEIVED AND USED THE GIFTS GOD HAS GIVEN YOU???