Gifts Given by God the Father- Introduction 7-14-25

The reason I started sharing the gifts given by Jesus first is because they are the foundation, and from that all the other gifts are built on that Foundation (Ephesians 4:11).

Before getting into the introduction of the second set of gifts of the three sets. I want to revert to something in yesterday’s message that was left out.

Paul said: Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.  

And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).  Your ministry will not be successful for this reason also. How can anyone minister affectively if they are leaning to their own understanding, which causes confusion?

Please be mindful of how important it is to know what your gifts are and to function in them. Many people do not understand what their gifts are, that why we need to start on the Foundational gifts who Jesus left to mature the saints; they also help them to know what their gifts are.

Peter emphasized the importance of gifts. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God (1 Peter 4:10). They are our earthly assignments as stewards (servants) who are commanded to fulfill God’s purpose which affects our eternal rewards.

We are Living Sacrifices

I beseech [urge] you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service [desired by God]. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The initial transformation transpired as soon as we were born again. However, there is a continual transformation that should take place in our lives. Having a renewed mind is necessary to grow and conduct ourselves godly. Being conformed to the world means to be doing worldly things. We must remember that we are in the world but not of the world. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world (John 17:16).

In order to do the will of God, we are told to be living sacrifices to God. In the Old Testament, certain animals were sacrifices that were on the altar. From my understanding staves were used to keep them from slipping off the altar. For us, the stave is symbolic of us staying on the altar with the Word of God, prayer, and being in fellowship with other saints. We need this to keep from slipping off the altar; which includes accountability.

Under the New Testament we are the living sacrifices that are on the altar of sacrifice. God requires us to live holy and unless we have gone through the initial steps something gets left out and it will not work that way. Today, we see so many ministries that have crumbled for various reasons. This is the reason: these people were operating in the flesh, which is obvious. How can anyone minister affectively if they are leaning to their own understanding; which causes confusion.

The reason is, these people have not done the Proverbs 3:5-7: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established (Proverbs 16:3).

His handmaiden, Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org