Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

Gifts of God

1 Corinthians 12:4 Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.

What is a gift? Is a gift a gift if it is earned? Is a gift given because we are deserving of it, and if so, does that mean we must earn the gift?

How does one approach the subjects of gifts it certainly is controversial subject simple because there are so many Christian's struggling with what gift they have from God, and what to do with the gift in God's works? Yes! Some Christian's spend an entire life time seeking some gift so they can start doing the works of God.

1 Corinthians 4:7 For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn't receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

Who makes God children different? Are they created for themselves or someone else?

But why such a mystery? If one does not have the gift to sing do they spend the rest of their life thinking they can sing? If one has a fruit tree, are we to think it is a mystery that the tree has fruit on its branches? So what is the problem here honestly?

James.3:12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.

Does a tree bear fruit to glorify itself? Does a tree bear fruit to prove its a fruit tree?

Changing Species

None of us expect a fish to be a cat, we are not children living in a fancy world, but many Christian's think they can earn God's gifts from the desires of their flesh. However, the two are opposed to each other as darkness is to light.

Galatians 6:8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

1 Corinthians 1:29 that no flesh should boast before God.

Romans 8:8 Those who are in the flesh can't please God.

Now think about it? Here Paul was dealing with a fleshly congregation in Corinthian's and what were they concern with?

1Cor.3:1 Brothers, I couldn't speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ.
3:2 I fed you with milk, not with meat; for you weren't yet ready. Indeed, not even now are you ready,
3:3 for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren't you fleshly, and don't you walk in the ways of men?

Gifts! Yes gifts, why? Because they had powerful teachers in the flesh among them whom had charismatic gifts they thought if they had the same they would be a better Christian, closer to God, be more important among the brothers. Now how is that any different than when a person lives in a fancy world longing to be and entertainer, a musician that everyone looks up too?

1Cor.3:4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," aren't you fleshly?
3:5 Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed; and each as the Lord gave to him?

Are we drawn to the tree, the fruit, or to the God whom created both?

You see, they did not understand what a gift of God was for, or how they got a gift of God? They were worldly, striving for gifts from jealousy thinking it would make them happier, a better person, someone who was looked better, someone looked up to and so on . . .

Eve sought a greater gift than the gift of her headship

James. 4:1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your pleasures that war in your members?
4:2 You lust, and don't have. You kill, covet, and can't obtain. You fight and make war. You don't have, because you don't ask.
4:3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.

When Logic Does Not Matter

There is only one way we can define God and know God, if we can't figure that out we will never mature in Christ. Now we will state what we all know and repeat often that God as love! But does that simple truth, i.e., logic, if we will, matter, do we access everything we think of God first in love? For God is love!

Are God's children to prove they are his by gifts?

1 John 4:8 He who doesn't love doesn't know God, for God is love.

If we are striving for gifts, perhaps we should be striving to know God is love, and in his love no one is deny anything good, so why do we feel we are lacking something good? It is because we are fleshly thinking God's love is lacking, or isn't enough?

1Cor.13:1 If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing.
13:3 If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don't have love, it profits me nothing.

Why are gifts so important when the greatest gift is love?

Thus, we can't rest in God's love feeling its not enough proof. If we are in God's love should we not know he deprives none of his children anything good let alone his love? Do we want something we think we need by our good motives so God should entrust us with His gifts. In other words, we think God is a man, like us, and men deprive each others of privileges because they are lacking love, so why not God?

Do we see God only through the eyes and action of men and woman we think have gifts of God, or love?

John 3:27 John answered, "A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven.

Luke 19:21 for I feared you, because you are an exacting man. You take up that which you didn't lay down, and reap that which you didn't sow.' 19:22 "He said to him, 'Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant! You knew that I am an exacting man, taking up that which I didn't lay down, and reaping that which I didn't sow.

Here we have the logic, false logic as it is, these brothers and sisters were seeing their teachers as having done something through education, self-efforts, and that is why they were more gifted than the average person (they had earned more of God's love) within the congregation and they longed to be like them.

But did they long to be like their invisible Father in heaven, who loves, self-effacing and humility?

2 Peter 2:19 promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for a man is brought into bondage by whoever overcomes him.

Matt. 6:1 "Be careful that you don't do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 6:2 Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don't sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.
6:3 But when you do merciful deeds, don't let your left hand know what your right hand does, 6:4 so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Where does the feeling of deprivation come from, God, or our flesh?

Gifts Demanded

To feel good or bad about one self has nothing to do with God's gifts, nor why he gives them. Christ did not come to earth to have God's gifts: “I'll do this for you, and you do this for me!” Basic truth, to glorify oneself is of no value at all in Christ.

Romans 15:7 Therefore accept one another, even as Christ also accepted you,{TR reads "us" instead of "you"} to the glory of God.
John 8:54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God.

It is God's glory in the gifts given, not so we feel good, or better about ourselves by some gift. There are gifts of God that are very burdensome that few Christian's even want to know about. Gift of God do not mean a person suffer less, it mean they will suffer more.

Do we seek after the gift of filling up the measure of suffering for the rest of the body of Christ?

2 Corinthians 11:23 Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I am more so; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often.

Ephesians 4:7 But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Who is the measure out of gifts of God?

Gifts of God do not give anyone in Christ glory, why? Simply put, the gifts are not ours, they are Christ because there is only one body, not many, Christ is us, we are in him, and him in us. That is one person not many.

Does the fruit get the glory or the tree, and who planted the tree?

John 5:30 I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous; because I don't seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.

John 5:44 How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you don't seek the glory that comes from the only God?

Gifts of God do not mean a person is judged less, or that they are favored more than other parts of the same body in Christ. They are for a purpose that only God and Christ fully knows. They are given to whom Christ places in his body for the building up of the body to God's glory.

1 Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, isn't it a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, isn't it a sharing of the body of Christ?

1 Corinthians 6:20 for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

1 Corinthians 12:18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired.

Hebrews 2:4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, by various works of power, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will?

Who justifies God's gifts, the works of man or God?

Justifying

Many think having a gift or gifts justifies them in what they are doing in a work for God. They look for a magic button to push to solve their feeling or lack in skills of helping others, thinking such strong feeling of condemnation is proof of their love for God by their desire in wanting the gifts of God.

Galatians 5:4 You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace.

However, forgetting faith has nothing to do with competition one does not get more faith by their own will it is a gift of God, given to us that God apportion to each one of us.
1 Corinthians 6:11 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 in the Spirit of our God.

Rom.12:3 For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.

In other words, those lusting for gifts find themselves at God's mercy, they are faced with a choice that each one of us are in every day in all of our endeavors in Christ, and what is that?

Do we believe God is love? Can the love of God hurt us, or deprive us? If we don't have a gift can we rest in God's love His perfect love does no do harm, love does not impute evil, does not play favorites? Do we believe whatever God blesses us with is perfect love, its exactly what we need that there is no lack of God's goodness for those that love him?

Titus 3:7 that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

1Cor.13:4 Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, 13:5 doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;
13:6 doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 13:7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 13:8 Love never fails.

What are we being perfected in gifts, or God's love?

Can we thank God for the good and bad we find in our life, do we believe nothing put upon God's children is arbitrarily by happenstance that all is for a purpose that we are yet to find out in God's do time in Christ glory?
Romans 5:1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;

We are not justified by our desires or our works, we are justified freely from our sin in Christ by God's love, is that not enough? Well, frankly no its not in a world that demands rights of equality in all things! The flesh gains everything by hard work and merit based rewards, governments stay in power by entitlements spoiling the people. Satan demand the right to be like God, or God was evil, Eve sought the gift of knowledge over the knowledge of God's loving head he created for her, and Adam thought God would deprive him of his first love, his wife.

1 Corinthians 4:4 For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord.

1 Corinthians 6:11 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 in the Spirit of our God.

1 John 4:9 By this God's love was revealed in us, that God has sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

Being in Christ is the grandest gift God could give us, to be raised up in Christ is beyond what an eye can behold, or even the angels of God could have foreknown, not even the greatest of all the prophets prior to Christ were part of his body. To think God has foreordained us before the founding of this world to be God's prepared works for eternity to set creation free isn't enough honor and glory for sinner that are undeserving of such treatment?

Romans 8:30 Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.

1 Peter 1:12 To them it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you, they ministered these things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Good News to you by the Holy Spirit sent out from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.

Hebrews 2:16 For most certainly, he doesn't give help to angels, but he gives help to the seed of Abraham.

1 Corinthians 4:9 For, I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last of all, like men sentenced to death. For we are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men.

Human Logic

It is human logic that would trade the glory of God for a creation, a mist, a flower that's here today and gone tomorrow think that such a gift gives merit to our flesh. Those of the flesh put everything they do into this life into gaining some sort of goal they believe will make their life better. Such human logic is what dulls the illustrious light of Christ in them.

Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect to lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it.

Hebrews 13:5 Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, "I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you."{Deuteronomy 31:6}

Psalms 103:15 As for man, his days are like grass. As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

Isaiah 40:6 The voice of one saying, "Cry!" One said, "What shall I cry?" "All flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like the flower of the field. 40:7 The grass withers, the flower fades, because Yahweh's breath blows on it. Surely the people are like grass. 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever."

What is logically for a reasonable person to do living in this world? but none of God's children are of this world, or its thinking, its wisdom or ways, so what is logical in Spirit and truth is converse to worldly reasonableness.

Heb.12:2 looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Heb. 11:1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen. 11:2 For by this, the elders obtained testimony.
11:3 By faith, we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.

Subsequently, that was the logic, and the fleshly reasoning of the brothers and sisters in Corinthian's congregation they wanted the thinking of the world to apply to the mind of Christ in Spirit and truth. Thus, to hear that some had gifts while others seemingly did not, caused them to judge according to the flesh, each others, and unwittingly even God's love.

Matthew 7:1 "Don't judge, so that you won't be judged.

Romans 14:22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who doesn't judge himself in that which he approves.

Romans 14:4 Who are you who judge another's servant? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he will be made to stand, for God has power to make him stand.

Lost to the flesh is death! Why do we feel lost if we are in God's love?
The flesh can only judged what is a lost, not what is a gain in Christ, the lost is that one is not working hard enough to gain such gifts, and/or some are better because they have such gift which is all a lie to Spirit and truth.

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Philippians 3:7 However, what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.

James.1:16 Don't be deceived, my beloved brothers.
1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow. 1:18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 1:19 So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;

Being Content

Being content in Spirit and truth takes real faith and courage with all that is going on in our flesh pushing us into doing and being more in this world. Being content does not mean being complacent, or a lack of good works habits to obtain to something we need. Being content in Christ means our not doubting that anything good is lacking for us in Christ.

1Cor.3:20 And again, "The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless."{Psalm 94:11}
3:21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours,
3:22 whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. All are yours,
3:23 and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

When we are loved by somebody we don't seat and worry that we are doing every thing perfectly or we will lose their love. That type of worry is speaking a truth loud and clear which shouts; “they don't truly love us, or we don't love truly them?” We dwell on something they have done that makes us feel insecure about their love, in that type of love there is no contentment, there is however, a fear of their judgment of their disapproving us removing their love making us not worthy of their love.

Is God's love mankind's love? Is the gifts of God mankind's that they gotten by good habits?

Luke 21:26 men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Romans 8:15 For you didn't receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, "Abba{Abba is an Aramaic word for father or daddy, often used affectionately and respectfully in prayer to our Father in heaven.}! Father!"

2 Timothy 1:7 For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.

Thus, when God's children find that type of love in our Father they have found their own love they have not God's love. They are unwittingly, believing there is something they can do to earn God's love or keep God's love that is the love from their own heart. In that fleshly thinking they will naturally long for greater gifts believing God will love them more, or the gift proves he love them more because of the gifts.
In other words, it is a lack of love, a lack of God's love that makes them empty, feeling a lack believing that gifts is proof of God's love towards them and will fill them up with God's love.

1 Peter 3:14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "Don't fear what they fear, neither be troubled."{Isaiah 8:12}

If mankind had God's love then why is the world not a paradise of peace and love, without pain and sorrow?

We cannot compare ourselves to God's love, let alone judge it from a faulty mind born and conceived in sin. We should never think its about our personal worth that type of thinking is of the flesh. We could never be enough worth in our own merit to please God. God's love is not based on what we do, what we say, or how we look, it is from his love that surpasses any thought of flesh and what it does or thinks.

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:10 But may the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

1 Peter 4:10 As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.

The fruit of God is show in his love, what fruit is on mankind's tree? Let us not conflate the two as if light is darkness.

It is our faith in God, in giving us Christ worth that we must struggle to hang onto in our faith despite all wars being waged against us in the spirit realm. It is that same faith in Christ that God gives us gifts, while we don't claim why, or that we are worthy, we trust if we have them or not. We do not impute evil to God or to God's children. We return good of God's love like he has given his love freely to us.

Putting faith in ourselves falls far short of putting faith in Christ have we discerned the difference? One is of the flesh they other is of the Spirit!

2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we don't wage war according to the flesh;

2 Corinthians 5:16 Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.

Do all of God's children have Holy Spirit?

Christ is full of God's Holy Spirit we all know the fruit of the Spirit, could there be any better gifts that one would want to associate with then God's Holy Spirit. Well, if we say yes? Then lets us know we must be dead in our flesh and its thinking that can't please God. Then in that state at God's time table we experience the love of God that excels all thoughts of the flesh. One taste of that love is better than a thousand's years elsewhere!

John.1:12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God's children, to those who believe in his name:
1:13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

Resting in Faith, means to rest in Christ, it also means to rest in God's great sabbath day. Desisting from our works in justifying why we have to, do, or say, or why we don't have enough, or too much is to justify the flesh, its works, not the works of God in Christ our sabbath.

Can we justify ourselves by our works? But why do we justify our works to justify God's love for us?

To be blessed in knowing we need nothing but the Christ that each and every judgment from him is perfect, sinless, without prejudices or malicious that he does everything from love, should be enough for us. What a joy to have gain such freedom, so unlike the world?

Rom.8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.

Heb.6:17 In this way God, being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath; 6:18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us. 6:19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil; 6:20 where as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Heb.5:7 He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,
5:8 though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered.

Heb. 4:9 There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 4:10 For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his.
4:11 Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.

Completed: July 18, 2018

by: Daniel a Slave of Christ Jesus