Are spiritual gifts given to us when we receive Christ, or are they cultivated through our walk with God? What is the difference between a spiritual gift and a natural ability?
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Everyone has talents and abilities that are developed throughout life, often without conscious acknowledgement of God’s input or design. These are like so many seeds that must be nurtured and cultivated in order to bear fruit. When we receive Christ and go even further by dedicating our talents to Him, we recognized these gifts for what they truly are and often identify new ones. Recognizing spiritual gifts creates a great synergy between the individual, God, and those He desires to redeem.
ReplyDeleteIn this model natural ability and spiritual gifts sit along a continuum of experience that the Holy Spirit can manipulate for God’s purpose. Each individual is dynamically involved in working with Jesus Christ, the Father, and the Holy Spirit in recognizing, developing, and manifesting these gifts. What an opportunity!
There are both similarities and differences between talents and spiritual gifts? Both are from God. Both grown in effectiveness with use? Both are intended To be used on behalf of others And not for selfish purposes? But to whom and when these are given differs I believe. A person irregardless of their belief in God is given a natural talent as a result of a combination of things, genetics and the environment or even God decided to endow him or her with that particular talent. Spiritual gifts are given to all believers at the time they place their faith in the Lord? At that time the spirit gives the spiritual gift that the lord desires one to have.
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