Grenada Conference of S.D.A. Stewardship Department Stewardship of Ability Created by Oliver Scott

Different Abilities God has given different abilities to each of us. Some abilities are talents that we possess even before accepting Christ. Created by Oliver Scott

Other abilities are spiritual gifts received on and after acceptance of Christ. “ For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them].” Ephesians 5:8-11 – “ For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them].” Created by Oliver Scott

1 Corinthians 12:1-11 – 1 “ Now concerning spiritual [gifts], brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and [that] no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. … Created by Oliver Scott

4 “… Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; … Created by Oliver Scott

9 “… To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” Created by Oliver Scott

Stewards of Abilities We are stewards and managers of the abilities God has blessed us with. As stewards we are to be faithful to God. Created by Oliver Scott

1 Corinthians 4:1,2 – “ Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” Created by Oliver Scott

Our abilities are to be used to glorify God 1 Corinthians 10:31 – “ Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” Created by Oliver Scott

Avoid Self-glory and Competition We should not seek to glorify self in the use of our abilities 1 Corinthians 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]? ” Created by Oliver Scott

Abilities must glorify God and not be a means of competition in the church 1 Corinthians 3:4-7 – “ For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I [am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who [is] Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” Created by Oliver Scott

John the Baptist did not compete with Jesus Christ John 3:25-27 – “ Then there arose a question between [some] of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all [men] come to him. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.” Created by Oliver Scott

Blessing Others Our gifts and abilities are meant to be blessings to others Ephesians 4:11-13 – “ And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: ” Created by Oliver Scott

The Greatest Ability The greatest ability that anyone can have is the ability to love. “ Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in 1Corinthians 12:27-31 – “ Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. [Are] all apostles? [are] all prophets? [are] all teachers? [are] all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.” Created by Oliver Scott

The more excellent way that is of more value than our abilities is expressed in 1 Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 – “ Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. … Created by Oliver Scott

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 – “… Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth. Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away. … Created by Oliver Scott

1 Corinthians 13:13 – “… And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity.” Created by Oliver Scott

The more excellent way that is of more value than your abilities is love. Created by Oliver Scott

As important as our abilities are, love is the greatest testament to our Christianity. John13:35 – “ By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” Created by Oliver Scott

Hebrews 13:1 – “ Let brotherly love continue.” Romans 13:8 – “ Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” Created by Oliver Scott

Too much debt is poor stewardship. The best managed life is a life of love. Created by Oliver Scott

The fruit of the Spirit “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-26 – “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” Created by Oliver Scott

Love for God and love for others must be the motivating factors in the use of spiritual gifts. Appeal Created by Oliver Scott