Operate in your gifts,
in spite of the skeptics and critics!

This word is for encouragement to those whom God has called and placed gifts within them.

Many people have giftings and callings from God, but they are afraid to operate in their gifts due to the fact of what others may say or think. Some people are going to be critical and skeptical of anything that is positive and especially, if you say God has called you, or gifted you, in a particular area. More than likely, the first skeptics that try to down play your gifts are those whom you know.

A lot of time it’s jealousy, pride, or just simply they are so familiar with you, that don’t believe that God is using you! A lot of times jealousy, pride, and envy is the main cause. Or they just may be so familiar that don’t believe God is using you.

The backlash can come from those in your church, family/relatives, people in your community, people you grew up with that know you. These will be the first to “whisper” and discuss you among themselves. Likewise, don’t leave out those in the “church” and in church leadership. A lot of time control is a major issue. The truth is, God has not instilled gifts in anyone just to have them to sit still all the time in the pews; just to sit there and not use them!

Next, if God has called, appointed, and anointed you for a gift, you have nothing to prove to anyone. And, when you have a gift from God, you don’t have to depend on anyone to allow you to use you because the gift will make room for you. Sometimes, when we have been in a particular church or place for years, or “raised” in a church, we tend to think that’s where we are to stay, that is not necessarily true. It is good to be trained and educated in the word of God, but gifts are not just meant to be used within the four walls of a building!

Next, God’s gifts are irrevocable and you and others will see or recognize your gift long before you will. Eventually, God will begin to allow you to see your own giftings through confirmations, and will make ways for you to utilize them.

Finally, if God has called you, and confirmed a gift within you, then you are held accountable to Him and no one else!

“⁷ But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. ⁸ This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”
⁹ (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? ¹⁰ He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) ¹¹ So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” Ephesians 4:7-13 (NIV).

“¹Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. ² You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. ³ Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. ⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ⁸ To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines” 1 Corinthians 12:1-11.

– by Geraldine Coleman

Geraldine Coleman: Is a teacher and educator and ministers to prisoners at a prison facility where she is an instructor.