“And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.” (Judges 7:20)
We all know how the Hebrews defeated the Midianites. In obedience to God’s instructions Gideon whittled down the number of fighting men. First twenty-two thousand men were let go who were fearful and that left ten thousand fighting men. God said that was still too many. Nine-thousand and seven hundred were then let go who got on their knees to drink water which left three-hundred fighting men. (Judges 7:1-8)
This is an important lesson for us. With the original thirty-two thousand men, the Hebrews could say their strength had delivered them from the Midianites. With only three hundred men it was humanly impossible to defeat the Midianites. Gideon listens to the Lord’s military strategy and defeats the Midianites. The people could see plainly that it was the hand of God that delivered them. Likewise, today, it is so easy to fall into the trap that our wisdom, our knowledge, our capabilities or our numbers are what got us prosperity, position, fame or victory over whatever challenge we face. Yes, God has gifted us with many gifts and talents, but we have to understand that any gift, talent or ability can fail us if God is not in it. I know I have experienced this. We are asked to do something in the church that in our eyes looks simple. We say to ourselves, “Easy. I’ve got this.” And the thing turns to poop. We’re astonished. What could have gone wrong? The answer is that we were depending on ourselves and not in God.
Some of you by now are raising the question as to why God would gift us with abilities, capabilities, gifts and talents if He didn’t want us to use them. The answer my brothers and sisters is that they are to be used as God wants, not as we want. When we leave God out of the equation, we’re doing things how we think they should be done not how God wants us to use those capabilities, gifts and talents. Like Gideon learned, the strength or numbers we depend on will not give God the glory. This is the hardest thing for capable people to do. And yet if we depend on the Lord, no matter how inadequate we are, success will bring God glory.
We are set in a church body to fulfill God’s purposes. It’s not to vent our gifts and talents. I do admit that these gifts and talents are biting at the bit to be used. If we have the right perspective that they are for God to use, we will not just want to use our gifts and talents but will reserve them for God only. They are holy because they come from God. “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.” (1Co 12:4) Like the instruments used in the ancient temple they are not to be used however and whenever we want. This is especially true of singers and musicians who can be easily tempted to use their gifts and talents in the world. “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him.” (1Corinthians 12:18) It is God’s plan and prerogative to use the gifts and talents as it pleases Him for His purposes. These are God’s gifts and talents, not ours and we must be very careful that we check with Him when and how to use them, be that organizational skills, mental prowess or knowledge and wisdom to do anything. “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will.” (1Corinthians 12:11)
This is a strange and new concept for those who use their God-given gifts and talents nilly willy when and how they want. If we recognize them as God given for His purposes, we would be more careful and guarded with this treasure God has given us. But why are we to be so protective of these abilities, gifts, talents and capabilities? The answer is because they were given for a holy purpose. “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22) We become part of that spiritual, eternal temple with all the believers, past, present and even future when we praise and worship, a spiritual temple offering the sacrifice of praise before the Lord as surely as the praise offerings offered in the temple of old but better.
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